Pro wrestling is a non-stop machine, filled with drama, romance, tragedy, and action, creating a cinematic spectacle week after week. These wrestling stories have naturally inspired Hollywood, and while there may not be quite as many movies about wrestling as boxing, there are stillplenty of movies about wrestling across all genres. Be it through family comedy, animation, heartwarming biopics, or the drama of what it is to suffer within the realities of being a wrestler, plenty ofmoviesbased around wrestling are great accompaniments to the weekly hard-hitting actions of Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns.
The best wrestling movies range from a title that has been nominated for multiple Oscars to a film that helped to sink a wrestling promotion with a 20+ year legacy. From sublime to stupid and via the stupidly sublime, movies on wrestling have, admittedly, more mixed results than otherinspirational sports movies, be they based on real events or entirely fictitious. However, there’s no doubt that they’re entertaining, and will appeal to wrestling and non-wrestling fans alike.
Early inJohn Cena’s acting career, he took a more serious role in this quiet family drama.Legendarytakes a look at a grieving family who was torn apart following the death of their patriarch. Cal (Devon Graye), the book-smart but smaller youngest brother of the family, seeks to unite the rest of the troubled family members by pursuing the family’s legacy in the world of wrestling.
It is interesting to see Cena playing the supporting role as the character outside of the ring, but he is entertaining as the darker and trouble-making older brother who agrees to coach his inexperienced brother. It is a sweet sports drama about a brave attempt to defy the odds and how it inspires the loved ones around Cal to come together to cheer him on as a family.
After stepping into the boxing ring in an iconic way, but before launching theRockyfranchise with his sequels, Sylvester Stallone entered the world of wrestling inParadise Alley. Serving as his directorial debut, Stallone stars in the movie as Cosmo, a con artist who, along with his skeptical brother, Lenny (Armand Assante), attempts to make big money by managing their younger brother, Victor (Lee Canalito), as a wrestler.
Upon its release,Paradise Alleywas unfairly and unfavorably compared toRocky, but decades later, it stands on its own as a solid sports movie. Stallone seems less interested in the world of wrestling than he was in the world of boxing, but there are still some fun fighting elements. However, the film is really a story about brothers, with the shifting dynamics between the three brothers making for the most interesting aspect of the movie.
Queen of the Ringis an exciting new entry into the genre of wrestling movies as it deals not only with a look back at a long-ago era of the sport but also with the women of the sport. The film is a sports biopic aboutthe trailblazing wrestler Mildred Burke, who became the highest-paid female athlete in the world during the 1930s, expanding the role of women in the wrestling world and even taking on (and defeating) male opponents.
The film also features real wrestlers Toni Storm, Trinity Fatu, and Britt Baker.
Emily Bett Rickards brings humor, strength, and charm to the lead role, leading this entertaining story. It is as much about the fights outside of the ring as the ones inside the ring, as Burke sought to be taken seriously in the sport, and then sought to be involved in the business side of the sport. It makes for a terrific underdog period sports story. The film also features real wrestlers Toni Storm, Trinity Fatu, and Britt Baker.
Wrestling is an internationally celebrated sport and there are a lot of figures from around the world who have put their mark on the sport.Cassandrotells the story of one such athlete, Saúl Armendáriz, who rose to fame as the wrestler Cassandro. Gael García Bernal steps into the lead role as this gay man living in Texas who travels across the border to compete as the eye-catching and bold luchador.
Bernal delivers a winning performance in the lead roleas the movie showcases Cassandro’s rise to fame in the 1980s and the ways in which his popularity changed the sport forever. The mix of the queer lifestyle story set within the stereotypically macho world of wrestling makes for an entertaining and funny ride with a feel-good element to the whole thing that makes it so satisfying.
Unstoppableis based on a true storyof another hero of the sport of wrestling. Jharrel Jerome stars in the movie as Anthony Robles, a young man who was born without a leg but does not let that stop him from pursuing his passion for wrestling. Backed by his supporting mother and loved ones, Robles went on to become an NCAA Division I wrestling champion.
While similar to many other sports films of its kind, seeing this kind of true story in a wrestling movie is fresh. The film isan inspiring and uplifting story about determination in overcoming adversity. Jerome really sells the struggles of the journey with his powerful performance, showcasing Robles' unbelievable strength in the face of endless obstacles.Unstoppablealso features a terrific supporting cast, including Jennifer Lopez as his loving mother and Don Cheadle as his coach.
Rumble
Cast
Rumble is an animated film released in 2021 that delves into the world of monster wrestling. Set in a universe where monsters are celebrated athletes competing in professional wrestling, the story follows a young girl named Winnie who seeks to coach an inexperienced monster to become a champion. Directed by Hamish Grieve, the movie features voice performances by Will Arnett, Geraldine Viswanathan, and Terry Crews.
An animated movie that WWE Studios created in association with Paramount,Rumblefeatures an all-star sports-flavored cast and a plot around monster wrestling. This intergalactic sport revolves around creatures of all shapes and sizes, competing in the squared circle.Featuring wrestling legends Roman Reigns and Becky Lynch, basketball royalty Charles Barkley, broadcaster Stephen A Smith, actors John DiMaggio, Tony Danza, and Terry Crews as a villainous half-shark, half-octopus heel champion,Rumbleis a harmless if unspectacular offering around family, with Will Arnett as the lead as a big ol’ suplexing reptilian called Steve.
Given that description and this well-assembled cast,Rumblereally should be far better than the movie itself ever manages to be.Colorful and vibrant,Rumbleis good, clean funfor anyone below the age of 8.
The second that Paul Giamatti’s name is attached to a movie, there is a comfortable assurance that there will be a relatively high level of quality to the project at hand.Win Winis a relatively obscure movie centered around a middle-aged man named Mike Flaherty (Giamatti) and a troubled teenage boy named Kyle Timmons (Alex Shaffer) both searching for meaning in their lives and learning/relearning life’s fundamentals through their experiences around competitive mat-based high school wrestling. It’s jaunty, well-acted, and charming without ever being particularly affecting.
Win Winis definitely more of an artsier film than other movies about wrestling, and the sport takes a backseat to the human drama experienced by Mike and Kyle. However, the Independent Spirit Award-nominated film will definitely give a good dose of nostalgia to those who participated in high school wrestling.
Of every film in existence, the bottom-of-the-barrel “comedy"Ready To Rumbleis the movie to have the most lasting effect on pro wrestling itself, with lead actor David Arquette being made WCW champion during the promo for the movie. Essentially a vehicle for the rapidly declining WCW, several superstars (and John Cena as a backstage extra) appeared as Arquette and Scott Caan bumbled on screen, playing fans caught up in an actual pro wrestling storyline.Step Brothers, it is not.
David Arquette’s record in WCW is 3-1, including a victory over former UFC fighter, Tank Abbott.
Amazingly,Ready To Rumble(23%) is not director Brian Robbins’ lowest Rotten Tomatoes score, as he also helmed the much-maligned Eddie Murphy vehicle,Norbit(9%). Ultimately,Ready to Rumblewas a box office bomb, earning just $12.5 million against a $24 million budget. However, if wrestling fans go intoReady to Rumbleknowing what they’re in for, the movie is worth the watch, if only for its bizarre place in the sport’s history.
Foxcatcher
Foxcatcher is a biographical drama film based on the true story of brothers Mark and David Schultz, two Olympic wrestlers who become part of John E. duPont’s team Foxcatcher as they prepare for the 1988 Olympic games. The union seems promising initially, but a terrifying tragedy soon brings the dream crashing down.
Following 2011’s fantasticMoneyballwith another sports-themed movie, Bennett Miller’s unsettling 2015 dramaFoxcatcherfocuses on the mat-wrestling that the likes of Olympic gold medal winner Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar (who appears in the background of a wrestling weigh-in scene), excelled in before enlarging their names and reputation in WWE. The movie isbased on the story of Olympic wrestlers Mark and David Schultz, played by Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo respectively, and the effects of their subsequent relationship with eccentric billionaire heir, John du Pont (Steve Carell).
Foxcatcher was the first movie to be nominated for Best Director but not Best Picture at the Academy Awards since 2008.
It’s beautifully shot by cinematographer Greig Fraser, who’d go on to make the gorgeousDunemovies with Denis Villeneuve and the equally visually stunningThe Batmanwith Matt Reeves.Like other true-story movies about wrestling,Foxcatcheris rooted in tragedy, and will haunt viewers long after the credits roll.
Fighting With My Family
Written and directed by Stephen Merchant, Fighting with My Family is a Comedy and Drama Sports-based film based on a true story. Starring Florence Pugh, Dwayne Johnson, Lena Headey, and Nick Frost, the series chronicles the career of Saraya Jade Bevis as she rises through the ranks of the WWE to become iconic women’s wrestler, Paige.
The story of Saraya “Paige” Knight’s journey to the WWE, produced in part by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Seven Bucks, is a charming movie in and of itself, but its strength lies in some brilliant casting and production decisions. Florence Pugh is excellent in the lead, Lena Heady and Nick Frost are a dream duo as her parents, Saraya and Ricky Knight, and the comedy is as sharp as audiences would expect with Stephen Merchant directing. There are a ton of savvy nods to WWE’s past and present history too.
Former WWE superstar AJ Lee is played by current SmackDown alumni Zelina Vega.
Overall, this isa solid and endearing, family-friendly look at the inner workings of the modern pro wrestling machine. Seasoned fans will recognize characters and the NXT brand’s large presence, The Rock’s cameo is charming and perfect for fans of The People’s Champ, and the film has an enormous heart at its core.
