Parents' Guide to

Fighting with My Family

By Michael Ordona, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Some language, lots of pro wrestling in funny biopic.

Movie PG-13 2019 108 minutes
Fighting with My Family Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 17 parent reviews

MinionMom345
MinionMom345 Adult
June 24, 2019
age 2+

Too realistic

It’s too similar to real life. My parents fight all the time

This title has:

Too much consumerism
2 people found this helpful.
Michelle T.
Michelle T. Parent of 15 and 17-year-old
May 23, 2021
age 14+

Great movie about being true to yourself, loyal to family and appreciating what you have

Yes, there are some mature aspects to the movie (swearing, sexual references, skimpy outfits in the WWE, wrestling-related violence) but if your kids are old enough to handle them the story and acting shine. It teaches great lessons about being true to oneself, being loyal to and supportive of family and being proud of who you are and where you come from. My 14 and 16 year old loved this, as did my husband and I.

This title has:

Great messages
1 person found this helpful.
See all 17 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on the true story of pro wrestling superstar Paige, FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY follows a family of rough-hewn wrestlers from Norwich, England. Young Raya (Florence Pugh) doesn't look like the standard WWE supermodel/grappler, but wrestling is in her blood. It's also in the DNA of her loving brother, Zak (Jack Lowden), and adoring-parents-with-sketchy-pasts Julia and Ricky (Lena Headey, Nick Frost). When Raya gets her shot at joining the WWE, can she make it through Coach Hutch's (Vince Vaughn's) demanding program and join the galaxy of WWE stars such as The Rock (Dwayne Johnson as himself)?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (17):
Kids say (21):

This funny, heartfelt movie represents a huge step up for WWE Studios. To date, World Wrestling Entertainment has mostly been a conveyor belt for violent macho fantasies (The Marine through The Marine 6: Close Quarters) and low-bar humor (Santa's Little Helper, Jingle All the Way 2). Fighting with My Family is something totally different: a genuinely well-made film about a family. That's due largely to the writing and direction of Stephen Merchant, who's probably best known for co-creating the original version of The Office. Merchant's script follows the contours of a scrappy-underdog sports movie, but it's also filled with quirky details about Raya/Paige's family (all wrestlers) and class differences in England. Before Zak brings his fiancée's parents over for dinner, for example, he begs his parents to clean up their act a little. He asks of his dad, "Can he put on a shirt?" To which jolly, mohawked, alcoholic ex-con Ricky bellows, "How posh are they?" Most important, Merchant and his cast convincingly create a family. Viewers believe that these people have loved each other forever and that this is a lifelong dream.

Pugh is great in the lead role. She allows herself to be "unpretty," both physically and in the mistakes Paige makes. As her loving but deeply frustrated brother, Lowden (Dunkirk) is charming and complex. Both seem headed for big things. Headey and Frost are endearing and lively as their parents, Vaughn is well-cast as the tough coach, and Merchant is funny in a small, all-reaction role as the fiancée's dad. The movie's wrestling action, including the training, is enjoyable. While it may be hard to deeply invest in the outcome of fixed matches (just don't call them "fake," at least not around Paige's clan), the film sufficiently involves us in Paige's struggles so that predetermined "winning" and "losing" outcomes are secondary to the experience.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in Fighting with My Family. Does the fact that the wrestling action is staged affect how you react to it? Did the movie have an impact on your opinion of pro wrestling?

  • How do the characters and their journey show the importance of courage and perseverance?

  • What would you say are the movie's themes? What did you think of Raya's unconventional family?

  • If you're familiar with the WWE, you knew going in that Raya would become a star. How did it affect your experience of the film? Did it still hold any suspense for you? Were you able to lose yourself in the moments of her struggle?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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