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The Wrestler (2008)

R  |   |  Drama, Sport  |  30 January 2009 (USA)
7.9
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Ratings: 7.9/10 from 241,843 users   Metascore: 81/100
Reviews: 545 user | 388 critic | 36 from Metacritic.com

A faded professional wrestler must retire, but finds his quest for a new life outside the ring a dispiriting struggle.

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(as Robert Siegel)
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Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 50 wins & 64 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Ernest Miller ...
Dylan Keith Summers ...
Necro Butcher (as Dylan Summers)
Tommy Farra ...
Mike Miller ...
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Admissions Desk Woman
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Storyline

This is a drama about an aging professional wrestler, decades past his prime, who now barely gets by working small wrestling shows in VFW halls and as a part-time grocery store employee. As he faces health problems that may end his wrestling career for good he attempts to come to terms with his life outside the ring: by working full time at the grocery store, trying to reconcile with the daughter he abandoned in childhood and forming a closer bond with a stripper he has romantic feelings for. He struggles with his new life and an offer of a high-profile rematch with his 1980s arch-nemesis, The Ayatollah, which may be his ticket back to stardom. Written by Matlock-6

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

Love. Pain. Glory.

Genres:

Drama | Sport

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, sexuality/nudity, language and some drug use | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

|

Language:

Release Date:

30 January 2009 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

El luchador  »

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$202,714 (USA) (19 December 2008)

Gross:

$26,236,603 (USA) (8 May 2009)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

| |

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Randy "The Ram" Robinson's van is a Dodge Ram. See more »

Goofs

Prior to his last fight, whilst he is preparing, Randy is seen shaving his armpits. However, whilst at the fight venue, he can clearly be seen to have hair under his armpits. See more »

Quotes

Randy 'The Ram' Robinson: When you live hard and you play hard and burn the candle at both ends... in this life, you can lose everything you love, everything that loves you. Alot of people told me that I'd never wrestle again, they said "he's washed up", "he's finished" , "he's a loser", "he's all through". You know what? The only ones gonna tell me when I'm through doing my thing, is you people here. You people here... you people here. You're my family.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #20.140 (2012) See more »

Soundtracks

Soundtrack to a War
Written by Georg Dolivo, Robert Downes, Bryan Forsythe, Stefan Sigerson, and Jackie Enx
Performed by Rhino Bucket
Courtesy of Acetate Records
By Arrangement with pigFactory USA, LLC
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Amazing film that focuses on two often misjudged professions.
1 December 2008 | by (Washington) – See all my reviews

Mickey Rourke returns to the big screen in Darren Aronofsky's brilliant character study, The Wrestler. Mickey Rourke gained about 35 pounds of muscle to play Randy 'The Ram' Robinson and looks the part of an old beaten down wrestler. Aronofsky creates a cold atmosphere that leaves the audience feeling as old and depressed as Rourke's character. The Wrestler doesn't have the look or feel of any previous Aronofsky film, it is mainly hand-held and has a gritty look to it that gives it a documentary feel. This film sucked me in. I really felt for the main character. I felt his pain and anger throughout the film. I felt his desperation. When a film has you reflecting the emotions expressed on the screen then it has accomplished something. I also appreciated that the story focused on two professions that are frowned upon in society, that being professional wrestling and stripping. Both professions are linked in the film and has the audience realize how similar they are. We also see the hardship of carrying out such a profession. I really enjoyed this film and had the pleasure of meeting the director after the showing. I was most impressed with him and can't wait till this film gets released.


175 of 243 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

Message Boards

Recent Posts
Wonder what happened to Ram's money jk80
If he died at the end, did his daughter come to the funeral? father247
Nicholas Cage? godwulf1
Watched it in black & white last night mherch2833
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