The Wrestler (R, 2008)

common sense media says

Brilliant drama about rough redemption is for adults only.


parents & educators say
  • 50% say violence is an issue
  • 50% say sexual content is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this critically acclaimed indie drama is a strong, brilliant, fierce film -- for adults only. The acting, direction, and writing are of Oscar caliber, but there's extensive nudity, unflinching violence, drinking, drug use/abuse, and swearing. The film is also moody and complex, depicting the physical and moral consequences of the characters' work as "professionals" in the economy of entertainment.

Positive messages: The movie thematically looks at the appeal of wrestling and violent entertainment, as well as adult "entertainment" like stripping.
Positive role models: Most parents would not want their kids to be like anyone in the movie.  A wrestling character, "The Ayatollah," is a racist
caricature. A nude female dancer is mocked due to her age. The main
character cluelessly theorizes that his daughter is a lesbian. On the plus side, the lead character makes an effort to reach out to his estranged
daughter.
Violence: Repeated, extensive and graphic "fake" wrestling action violence, which nonetheless involves real pain and blood. Characters use concealed razors to create bloody wounds for show in the ring; a lead character is battered, pummelled, slapped, struck with furniture, beaten with a window, and even assaulted with a staple gun (with staples punched into his flesh) in the ring. The lead character also inflicts abuse on others in the ring, striking an opponent with a table, a crutch wrapped with barbed wire, and more. The consequences of this violence are depicted in extensive detail, in terms of both long-term physical trauma and immediate suffering. Some fighting and scuffling outside of the ring. A character suffers a heart attack and must have a bypass; surgical scars are seen. A character rams his thumb into a meat slicer.
Sex: Extensive female full-frontal nudity, with many scenes set at a strip club; the club is presented in a fiercely realistic way, without much glamor or gloss. There's a sex scene between two consenting adults who are under the influence of drugs. Male buttocks are seen as a character injects steroids.
Language: Extensive strong language, including "godammit," "f--k," "s--t," "p---y," "ass," "t--s," and much more.
Consumerism: Some brands are visible or mentioned on screen, including Nintendo, Call of Duty 4, Polaroid, bands like RATT and Poison, and more. Some real-world brands are briefly glimpsed in a grocery store.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Characters smoke, drink beer and hard liquor, and abuse drugs like cocaine and steroids, as well as painkillers. References to marijuana and amphetamines; prescription drug abuse. There are clear negative health effects from the main character's misuse of alcohol, steroids, and other drugs.

More on The Wrestler

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk aboutthe nature of the "fake" violence depicted in the wrestling matches -- is it really "fake" if people are bleeding?
  • What's the appeal of professional wrestling to begin with? What makes it compelling entertainment?
  • Is it as popular now as it was in the '80s? Why or why not?
  • Discuss the similarities between Randy and Cassidy, who both make low pay selling their bodies (he wrestles, she strips). What effect does that have on their self-esteem? Their relationships with others?

What's the story?

What's the story?
In THE WRESTLER, Mickey Rourke plays professional wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson, an '80s star who's fallen from grace, reduced to working in a grocery store and taking part in low-rent, low-pay bouts on the weekends. Randy's life is changed when, after a match, he suffers a massive heart attack -- which means the end of his wrestling career. Randy reaches out to his estranged daughter, Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood), and Cassidy, (Marisa Tomei), a stripper he feels a bond with. But he also feels the pull of the ring as the 20th anniversary of his greatest bout -- with a wrestler known as "The Ayatollah" -- promises both money and glory.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

One of the best American films of 2008, The Wrestler is a brilliant, heartfelt, and unsentimental drama anchored by an incredible performance from Rourke as a washed-up athlete whose '80s heyday is long, long gone. Rourke's Randy relies on past glories, a part-time job at the grocery store, and massive doses of steroids to keep his bills paid and his career going. But his heart attack changes that, and Randy has to try to channel his charm and need for the spotlight into different areas of life, reaching out to Stephanie and Cassidy instead of playing to the crowd.

The Wrestler sounds intense, and it is, but it's also quite funny, thanks to the script by ex-Onion editor Rob Siegel. "I have two words to say to you, dude," a promoter pitches to Randy in anticipation of the approaching anniversary of his bout with theAyatollah: "Re. Match." Rourke is also charming, showing us a man who not only craves attention but also has a spark that makes people want to watch him, whether it's performing in the ring or dishing out cold cuts. Director Darren Aronofsky's previous films -- Pi, Requiem for a Dream, and The Fountain -- were all gorgeously shot and impressively smart. But with The Wrestler, he's working in much more emotional territory than he's explored before -- and clearly marking a new phase of his career with a film that combines the style and feel of modern European dramas with very American cultural concerns. Tough, rough, and impressive, The Wrestler's wounds and bruises hide a mighty heart.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Fox Searchlight
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Cast: Evan Rachel Wood, Marisa Tomei, Mickey Rourke
Genre: Drama
Run time: 105 minutes
Theatrical release: December 17, 2008
DVD release: April 21, 2009
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: violence, sexuality/nudity, language and some drug use

This review was written by James Rocchi
 
 

Review It

 

Review The Wrestler





Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
 

What parents & educators say

16
Based on 8 parent & educator reviews:
  • 50% say violence is an issue
  • 50% say sexual content is an issue
  • 50% say language is an issue
  • 50% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking

Most useful reviews by all members

whyhellomister144
teen, 16 years old
 
Fantastic movie
I love this movie so much. It is quite graphic, so not all teens should watch it, but if you've seen other graphic R-rated movies, it is one of the saddest, most beautiful movies ever. Definitely not for pre-teens or younger teens.

FutureWWEDiva2010
teen, 18 years old
 
Horrible,Depressing movie!
Horrible. depressing! it looks at all the horrible points of pro wrestling and doesn't show the good things! I hated this movie!

Doxy125
teen, 14 years old
 
Fine for teens, not so much kids.
This is a very well done movie; though it's very sexual and I wouldn't really recommend it to my friends because they're a bunch of hippies... Anyway, this is actually a very sad movie, almost made me cry at the end. But it teaches a good message I think- Make good choices, don't screw your life up. Or something like that.

 
Don't go to this.
This is boring. Extremely disturbing.

Yeah.
teen, 14 years old
 
Check out my page for other great recommendations.
I'm not here to give a review because if it shows up on my page its a 5 star movie and so therefore you know what i think about it.

Plague
parent
 
The Wrestler
Great movie. Very violent, but touches the heart at the same time. Is Randy a good role model? You be the judge.

Yldnole
adult
 
Outstanding and depressing
Outstanding perfomances by Rourke and Tomei. Very nasty at times but also realistic. Let my 15 year old watch and 20 minutes in the movie he got up and said booring.It was well done but DEFINATLY not for kids.

 
Waste of time. Its really bloody and disgusting. And sexual content is way too much for any teen. And drugs are apart of this movie.

 
"The Wrestler" Crackles With Realism And Emotional Poewer
A powerful film that grabs you with its poetry and intensity, especially with its graphic violence, Darren Aronofsky achieves his zenith with "The Wrestler". A beaten-down '80's professional wrestler seeks former glory in the new century amidst familial turmoil. One of the best films of 2008, "The Wrestler" features the excellent performance of Mickey Rourke as wrestler Randy "The Ram" and the courage and strength of Marisa Tomei's acting as Cassidy, a nightclub stripper and single mother. Evan Rachel Wood is bracing in a small role as Randy's daughter. The film's authenticity is its best asset. The film isn't for young teens, with its occasionally graphic violence and sexual content (topless women and highly suggestive dancing) with 17 as the cut-off point, "The Wrestler", an emotionally compelling film, is for adults, even as the film's title may lure those much younger than 17. The film isn't about wrestlers at all; only about adults who wrestle themselves in the sport called life. *://*popcornreel*/htm/wrestlerrev.htm

mr. movie
teen, 15 years old
 
Outstanding
This film was amazing. I know that common sense said NO Kids for this movie but if you can handle breif nudity and cursing it is not that bad I recomend it to everyone ages 14 and up

tiggerdylan
teen, 17 years old
 
dont ever let kids under 17 see it
my dad saw it he said it had strong sexuality laguange such as f*** and S*** and it is very violent

ssrex
teen, 15 years old
 
I saw this about a year ago with my dad. We didnt know what to expect. Some boobs and a random sex scene that had my dad shaking his head. I don't remember language but im sure there was, and the violence isnt too bad. The ending had me and my dad asking ourselves, "why did we watch this?"

cashed12
parent of 12 , and 14 , 16 year old
 
Extreme violence and graphic content makes this movie a no-gooder for kids
This movie contains graphic content,Persuasive strong language,And EXTENSIVE consumer products like Call Of Duty 4,RATT,And Polard,I rate that NO ONE under 17 can WATCH THIS MOVIE!

eastside01
teen, 17 years old
 
The Wrestler is one of the best of '08
The Wrestler is faded actor Mickey Rourke's comeback role as Randy the ram robinson and it is his best work the movie is very gritty explaining what he has gone through and what he is going through presently. Marisa Tomei also stars as a stripper named Cassidy who has some feeling for Randy but also feels bad for him. The movie is an example of two performers who perform for money or the people who actually care and need. The Wrestler deals with weighty issues and should be seen by a mature audience.

AcesMom
parent of 15 year old
 
The Wrestler
One thing Common Sense Media failed to mention in their review under the "sex" category is that there is also a scene where The Ram walks into his bosses office without warning and catches him watching a pornographic movie. This is a very well-made movie - gripping, realistic and perfectly acted-out (especially by Rourke). However, while I can appreciate how masterfully this film was crafted, I can also say I wouldn't watch it again. It is extremely depressing.

dfk1010
adult
 
I LOVED IT SO MUCH I WILL SEE IT SO MANY TIMES
this movie is so great. it dose have nudity and sex that are graphic and many sence at a strip club witch you might not want your kids to see. there also is blood blood and more blood. they use staple guns in a wrestlering match witch i thought was creepy. Also there is some bad words and randy the ram uses drugs. SEE THIS MOVIE IF YOU ARE 15 AND UP. I MEAN IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

lolfaceman
teen, 16 years old
 
e.g. Perfect for older kids, but not for tweens
i too violet secnce with a staple gun other than that fine for 13+

evolinag
teen, 15 years old
 
This Aronofsky is charming, emotional and untypical for him. Worth watching!
The movie was made by Darren Aronofsky, who is known for making fairly disturbing movies (his movie "Black Swan" is the only movie i have rated "not for kids" so far). You should know that this movie is not disturbing, rather talky, emotional and calm, but also has its violent moments. The violence is very infrequent, but also very bloody and brutal: -During a wrestling scene near the beginning, we see the wrestlers all covered in blood and gore, one of them has a large cut across his forehead. -The second fight is very grizzly and gory: The wrestlers use staples to harm themselves and the other one. Then one of them takes a fork and violently but carefullysticks it into the other one's head (very bloody, but not that this is a wrestling movie, the scenes are not disturbing or sadistic). Then heavy objects are used to beat each other, resulting in much visible blood. This scene is very brutal and gory, but then a long time without any violence is present. -Then a character cuts his finger at a razor, resulting in much blood (but it is pretty much what would pass at PG-13). -The last wrestling fight is without any blood. Most of the movie, however, is very calm and nothing compared to other Aronofsky movies. There is typical R-profanity. Some scenes take place in a strip bar. Nothing explicit is shown. A brief scene of sex, no genitalia is shown. Right before this brief scene we briefly see the wrestler do drugs, but however, the wrestler is depicted as not very admireable and as a loser, so it is rather unlikely children will see a role model in him. The violence in this movie is very strong, but also very VERY infrequent, most of it happens at the beginning, and after the second fight the violence gets PG-13. It is very unlikely viewers 14 and up will have problems with the movie, and don't worry because it is an Aronofsky flick, it is a very untypical movie for him.

An independent voice for families
Age-appropriate reviews
 

vote now

Will you see The Wrestler?


Already seen it? What do you think?

 

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors


About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age