The Wrestler (2008)
Kernel Score: 85% · 3,939 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama, Romance
Released: 2008-09-07
Runtime: 109 minutes
Is The Wrestler worth watching?
Must-watch. An ageing pro wrestler tries to hold on to the only life he knows. Mickey Rourke gives a raw, aching performance, and the film is small, rough and very moving.
Watch it if you
- like character studies about people past their prime
- want a performance that really lands
- can handle a sad, bruising story
Skip it if you
- want an uplifting sports film
- dislike gritty, physical realism
Best for: Serious solo night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Wrestler
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Aging wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson is long past his prime but still ready and rarin' to go on the pro-wrestling circuit. After a particularly brutal beating, however, Randy hangs up his tights, pursues a serious relationship with a long-in-the-tooth stripper, and tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter. But he can't resist the lure of the ring and readies himself for a comeback.
The Wrestler parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that The Wrestler is an R-rated drama about an aging wrestler dealing with steroid use, injury, and estrangement from his daughter.
- Violence & scariness: Strong — Contains brutal pro-wrestling matches, including a barbed wire fight and a serious heart attack from physical strain.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: Strong — Features steroid use and illegal pain medication as part of the wrestler's declining physical state.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Wrestler
If you liked The Wrestler, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Black Swan (2010) — 86%: Same director, another body-punishing devotion to a craft
- The Whale (2022) — 88%: Sad, sensitive portrait of a man at his limit
- Southpaw (2015) — 83%: Hard-hitting fighter drama about a fall and a fight back
- Requiem for a Dream (2000) — 89%: Same director's brutal study of obsession
- Cool Hand Luke (1967) — 85%: Defiant outsider drama with a great lead
Director
Cast
- Mickey Rourke as Randy
- Marisa Tomei as Cassidy
- Evan Rachel Wood as Stephanie
- Mark Margolis as Lenny
- Todd Barry as Wayne
- Wass Stevens as Nick Volpe
- Judah Friedlander as Scott Brumberg
- Ernest Miller as The Ayatollah
- Dylan Keith Summers as Necro Butcher
- Tommy Farra as Tommy Rotten
The Wrestler FAQ
Is The Wrestler worth watching?
Must-watch. An ageing pro wrestler tries to hold on to the only life he knows. Mickey Rourke gives a raw, aching performance, and the film is small, rough and very moving.
Where can I watch The Wrestler?
In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Wrestler OK for kids?
The Wrestler is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that The Wrestler is an R-rated drama about an aging wrestler dealing with steroid use, injury, and estrangement from his daughter.
What movies are like The Wrestler?
If you liked The Wrestler, try Black Swan, The Whale, Southpaw and Requiem for a Dream.