The Wrestler

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The Wrestler

R

2008

1h 49m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

99%

Tomatometer

227 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Aging wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson (Mickey Rourke) is long past his prime but still ready and rarin' to go on the pro-wrestling circuit. After a particularly brutal beating, however, Randy hangs up his tights, pursues a serious relationship with a long-in-the-tooth stripper (Marisa Tomei), and tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter (Evan Rachel Wood). But he can't resist the lure of the ring and readies himself for a comeback.

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Critics Consensus

Mickey Rourke gives a performance for the ages in The Wrestler, a richly affecting, heart-wrenching yet ultimately rewarding drama.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Aug 29, 2018

A story of personal ruin and while it certainly does echo Mickey's own life, it wouldn't be fair to say he is playing himself. Sure, Rourke's performance must have been informed by his own past, but that is different, as well as peculiarly powerful.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Mar 21, 2017

A

Great performances, great story.

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Eddie Cockrell

Sydney Morning Herald

Jan 22, 2009

4.5/5

Who better than Rourke to sell the idea of a battered, yet proud pugilist in search of redemption?

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Gayle Sequeira

BFI

Aug 27, 2025

Aronofsky makes movies about people who suffer for their art, but in The Wrestler, suffering is the art, the spectacle that people are so drawn to. A distillation of his most enduring themes, it still foregoes his more disorienting visual tricks.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Apr 6, 2024

“Warm” and “human” are not two words you associate with Darren Aronofsky, but in 'The Wrestler' he is both, thanks in large part to the heartbreakingly open and vulnerable performance from Mickey Rourke, the comeback story of 2008.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Sep 5, 2023

3/4

The Wrestler presents one of those rare occasions where the performance of its lead actor outweighs a film’s conventional story.

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Oaklee D

@ODie63 Sep 14, 2026

captivating and devastating, a must watch for fans of wrestling and drama films alike.

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Joel K

@RT55426271 Jul 23, 2026

I had high hopes for this film, but ultimately I found it fell a little short of the mark. I really wanted to like it more. It was quite slow and difficult to watch at times. I'm not sure that patience was rewarded by the time the credits hit.

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Hevi D

@RT58947813 Jul 8, 2026

Raw performance by Mickey Rourke. Amazing,fantastic,emotional,heart opening. Thank you all who created it.

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Sapere A

@RT77933623 Mar 27, 2026

Rourke ruptures our hearts too. Aronofsky directs without affectation.

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Jack F

@MovieFan111 Feb 20, 2026

This is definitely one of the best movies I've ever seen. It was something different that really tugged at the heart strings. Yes, I can confidently say it's a masterpiece.

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Suzanne D

@Suzanne13 Feb 5, 2026

Tragically, beautiful and difficult to watch at times. This is a brutal look at the slow decline of an aging wrestler and the industry that chews up and spits out it’s performers.

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Darren Aronofsky

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Robin Ramzinski

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Synopsis

Aging wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson (Mickey Rourke) is long past his prime but still ready and rarin' to go on the pro-wrestling circuit. After a particularly brutal beating, however, Randy hangs up his tights, pursues a serious relationship with a long-in-the-tooth stripper (Marisa Tomei), and tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter (Evan Rachel Wood). But he can't resist the lure of the ring and readies himself for a comeback.

Director: Darren Aronofsky
Producer: Scott Franklin, Darren Aronofsky
Screenwriter: Robert D. Siegel
Distributor: Fox
Production Co: Protozoa Pictures, Wild Bunch
Rating: R (Nudity|Language|Sexuality|Some Drug Use|Violence)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 17, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 12, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $26.2M
Runtime: 1h 49m

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