The Wrestler

Name: The Wrestler
Genre: Drama, Sport
Released: December 17, 2008
Duration: 109 min
Rating: 80
Cast: Evan Rachel Wood, Marisa Tomei, Mickey Rourke

2008

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 36 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 396 Ratings

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8.2

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 396 Ratings

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The Wrestler

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Movie Details & Credits

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: December 17, 2008 | R

Starring: Evan Rachel Wood, Marisa Tomei, Mickey Rourke

Summary: Back in the late ‘80s, Randy “The Ram” Robinson was a headlining professional wrestler. Now, twenty years later, he ekes out a living performing for handfuls of diehard wrestling fans in high school gyms and community centers around New Jersey. (Fox Searchlight)

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Genre(s): Drama, Sport

Rating: R

Runtime: 109 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Owen Gleiberman

The Wrestler is like "Rocky" made by the Scorsese of "Mean Streets." It's the rare movie fairy tale that's also a bravura work of art. Read full review

100

Ty Burr

The Wrestler is a character study, no more and no less, yet it's open-ended enough to function as many things. Read full review

Anthony Lane

What Rourke offers us, in short, is not just a comeback performance but something much rarer: a rounded, raddled portrait of a good man. Suddenly, there it is again--the charm, the anxious modesty, the never-distant hint of wrath, the teen-age smiles, and all the other virtues of a winner. Read full review

Noel Murray

Mostly though, the movie feeds off Rourke, who plays a genuinely decent guy who never lets his dawning self-awareness interfere with his responsibility to give the fans a show. Read full review

J.R. Jones

He looks like a truck ran over him, but at 52 he's still ripped enough to get away with the role; in the end the movie is about Rourke's indomitability more than the character's. Read full review

Stephanie Zacharek

Whatever Aronofsky did -- or didn't -- do, Rourke's performance comes off beautifully. The Wrestler may not be the "best" Aronofsky movie in any technical sense. But the director clearly feels a great deal of tenderness toward his lead character. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

The Wrestler doesn't add up. It's constructed with great care around a lead performance that is everything it could possibly be, but the picture itself is off-putting and disappointing. Read full review

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User Reviews

BobB

Dec 27, 2008

Dead-solid perfect.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

RealGameReviews

Mar 9, 2014

Instant Classic, and it is a must see for any wrestling fan, but it is still excellent even if you don't watch wrestling. The story was amazing and Mickey Rourke played the part amazingly. Pure excellence.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

The3AcademySins

Jun 7, 2016

The Wrestler is one of those rare, perfect films. It excels on every level of film making, and tells the haunting story of a man faced with his own mortality, and the conflict between the world inside and outside of the ring. Mickey Rourke gives a career defining performance, and his costarsThe Wrestler is one of those rare, perfect films. It excels on every level of film making, and tells the haunting story of a man faced with his own mortality, and the conflict between the world inside and outside of the ring. Mickey Rourke gives a career defining performance, and his costars are all equal to the task. The writing is breath taking, and the beautifully executed tracking shots completely put the audience in the emotional states of the characters. The Wrestler is a must-see movie.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

LiefS.

Jan 21, 2009

Anti-hollywood in every sense; i believe its going to become a cult classic in due time. The directing, performances, script, writing, scenery, everything was on point. For once I wasnt angry at the open ending it had; it left the rest up to imagination which is exactly why it was so strong Anti-hollywood in every sense; i believe its going to become a cult classic in due time. The directing, performances, script, writing, scenery, everything was on point. For once I wasnt angry at the open ending it had; it left the rest up to imagination which is exactly why it was so strong and moving.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Spangle

Aug 25, 2014

I am not even a wrestling fan, but I loved this. It is truly more than your average sports film, thanks to the brilliant performance by Mickey Rourke as the aging wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson. He truly embodies his character, possibly because his career so closely resembles it, since heI am not even a wrestling fan, but I loved this. It is truly more than your average sports film, thanks to the brilliant performance by Mickey Rourke as the aging wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson. He truly embodies his character, possibly because his career so closely resembles it, since he used to be huge and then fell off the map for a while. However, here, he firmly cements his place in history with a phenomenal acting performance. Marisa Tomei is also great here (she makes a great stripper, as expected) and Evan Rachel Wood does a great job as Rourke's daughter. The direction from Darren Aronofsky is also characteristically strong. While I personally prefer "The Fountain" and "Black Swan", "The Wrestler" is a fantastic addition to his filmography. The film is touching, triumphant, and moving, in all the best ways and will have you standing up and cheering by the end. The soundtrack is also great here with all the tracks from the 80's being a clear throwback to the days when "The Ram" reigned supreme. The cinematography is great and whole look and feel work really well here. Overall, The Wrestler is a film that succeeds in really every way imaginable thanks to the dynamite pairing of Aronofsky and Rourke.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Mike

Jun 8, 2009

A very good movie. The camera work on this film, makes it look like a documentary. Very real. maybe too real?

0 of 0 users found this helpful

luis

Dec 17, 2008

The wrestler is the most overrated film of the year.I think the film is bored and I don't like the Rourke's performance.I think Rouke's performance in The Wrestler is worst than Eastwood's performace in Gran torino,Josh Brolin's performance in Milk,FrankThe wrestler is the most overrated film of the year.I think the film is bored and I don't like the Rourke's performance.I think Rouke's performance in The Wrestler is worst than Eastwood's performace in Gran torino,Josh Brolin's performance in Milk,Frank Langella's performance in Frost/Nixon , Richard Jenkins' performance in the visitor or Benicio del Toro's performance in Che.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful

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35	#35 Best Movie of 2008
44	#44 Most Discussed Movie of 2008
65	#65 Most Shared Movie of 2008