The Wrestler (2008)

The Wrestler (2008) — Overview The Wrestler is a raw, intimate character drama about Randy “The Ram” Robinson, an aging pro wrestler whose glory days are long behind him. Now scraping by on weekend bookings at small halls and a part-time job at a supermarket, Randy faces mounting health problems and the painful prospect of retirement. When a chance for a high-profile rematch with an old opponent appears, he must choose between seeking one last taste of fame or trying to build a life outside the ring — reconnecting with the daughter he abandoned and forming an awkward, fragile relationship with a stripper who sees him clearly. What you’ll experience watching it: - A gritty, unglamorous portrait of physical and emotional decline — the film is intimate and sometimes stark, emphasizing the toll that years of fighting and self-neglect have taken on Randy’s body and spirit. - Deeply sympathetic, often heartbreaking character work that draws you into Randy’s loneliness, stubbornness, and longing for redemption; the movie is more a character study than a spectacle. - Moments of visceral wrestling action set against quieter, mournful scenes of daily life — the contrast highlights how the ring is both his identity and his ruin. - A melancholic, cathartic tone: expect to leave moved and unsettled, with empathy for a man clinging to a past that no longer exists. If you like emotionally powerful, actor-driven dramas that explore aging, regret, and the search for dignity, The Wrestler delivers a hard-hitting, human story rather than a conventional sports film. Content note: adult themes, physical violence in matches, and mature subject matter.

Actors: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Runtime: 109 min

Genres: Drama, Sport

7.2 /10 80 /100 7.9 /10 7.7 /10