The new biographical sports drama The Iron Claw tells the true story of the Von Erich brothers who made history in the competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s while also chronicling both the tragedy and triumph they endured.
Currently playing in theaters, the cast consists of Zac Efron (The Greatest Beer Run Ever), Jeremy Allen White (The Bear), Harris Dickinson (A Murder at the End of the World), Stanley Simons (Angelfish), Holt McCallany (Mindhunter), Maura Tierney (The Affair), Lily James (Pam & Tommy), Michael J. Harney (Orange Is the New Black), and AEW World Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman.
After you’ve checked out The Iron Claw, here are 10 wrestling themed movies to watch next ranging from biopics to comedy and drama.
Cassandro (2023)
Cast: Gael García Bernal, Roberta Colindrez, Perla De La Rosa, Joaquín Cosío, Raúl Castillo, El Hijo del Santo, Bad Bunny
Synopsis: “Follows the true story of Cassandro, the ”exotico” character created by Saúl Armendáriz, gay amateur wrestler from El Paso who rose to international stardom.”
Where to watch: Prime Video
Fighting With My Family (2019)
Cast: Florence Pugh, Lena Headey, Nick Frost, Jack Lowden, Vince Vaughn, Dwayne Johnson, James Burrows, Hannah Rae, Thea Trinidad, Kim Matula
Synopsis: “Based on a true story, Fighting With My Family follows reformed gangster Ricky, wife Julia, daughter Paige and son Zak as they make a living wrestling together in tiny venues. When Paige and Zak get the opportunity to try out for WWE, the family grabs a once-in-a-lifetime chance to turn their wildest dreams into a dazzling future. However, brother and sister quickly discover that to become superstars, both their talent and their relationship will be put to the test.”
Where to watch: FilmBox+
Golden Arm (2021)
Cast: Mary Holland, Betsy Sodaro, Olivia Stambouliah, Dot-Marie Jones, Kate Flannery, Dawn Luebbe, Ron Funches, Eugene Cordero
Synopsis: “A tough lady trucker trains her girly best friend to compete in the National Ladies Arm Wrestling Championship.”
Where to watch: Hoopla, Kanopy
Legendary (2010)
Cast: John Cena, Patricia Clarkson, Danny Glover, Devon Graye, Madeleine Martin, Tyler Posey, John Posey, Teo Olivares, Chris Whetstone
Synopsis: “A book-smart teenager joins his school’s wrestling team as a way to reunite his surviving family members, who split apart after the death of his father, a college wrestling legend, 10 years ago.”
Where to watch: Pluto, Tubi
Nacho Libre (2006)
Cast: Jack Black, Ana de la Reguera, Héctor Jiménez, Silver King, Carla Jimenez, Richard Montoya, Moisés Arias, Enrique Muñoz, Darius Rose, Peter Stormare, Diego Eduardo Gomez, Donald Chambers
Synopsis: “Berated all his life by those around him, a monk follows his dream and dons a mask to moonlight as a Luchador.
Where to watch: Hoopla, Paramount+, Pluto
The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)
Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Zack Gottsagen, Dakota Johnson, Bruce Dern, Zack Gottsagen, Jon Bernthal, Thomas Haden Church, Yelawolf
Synopsis: “After running away from a residential nursing home to pursue his dream of becoming a pro wrestler, a man who has Down Syndrome befriends an outlaw who becomes his coach and ally.”
Where to watch: Fubo, MGM+, Paramount+, Prime Video
Ready to Rumble (2000)
Cast: David Arquette, Oliver Platt, Scott Caan, Rose McGowan, Joe Pantoliano, Martin Landau, Ahmet Zappa, Chris Owen, Richard Lineback, Caroline Rhea
Synopsis: “Two slacker wrestling fans are devastated by the ousting of their favorite character by an unscrupulous promoter.”
Where to watch: The Roku Channel, Tubi
Vision Quest (1985)
Cast: Matthew Modine, Linda Fiorentino, Michael Schoeffling, Ronny Cox, Frank Jasper, Harold Sylvester, Daphne Zuniga, Charles Hallahan, Forest Whitaker, Raphael Sbarge, R.H. Thomson
Synopsis: “A high school wrestler in Spokane, Washington has trouble focusing on his training regimen when a beautiful young drifter takes up temporary residence at his home.”
Where to watch: The Roku Channel, Tubi
Win Win (2011)
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Alex Shaffer, Bobby Cannavale, Jeffrey Tambor, Burt Young, Melanie Lynskey, Margo Martindale
Synopsis: “A struggling lawyer and volunteer wrestling coach’s chicanery comes back to haunt him when the teenage grandson of the client he has double-crossed comes into his life.”
Where to watch: Apple TV, Prime Videom Vudu
The Wrestler (2008)
Cast: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, Mark Margolis, Todd Barry, Judah Friedlander
Synopsis: “Director Darren Aronofsky presents a powerful portrait of a battered dreamer, who despite himself and the odds stacked against him, lives to be a hero once again in the only place he considers home inside the ring.”
Where to watch: Apple TV, Vudu
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