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The Iron Claw
The Iron Claw
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The Iron Claw

The Iron Claw

2023
2h 10m
The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. (imdb)

Directed by:

Sean Durkin

Screenwriter:

Sean Durkin

Starring:

Holt McCallany, Maura Tierney, Zac Efron, Michael Harney, Jeremy Allen White, Lily James, Aaron Dean Eisenberg, Harris Dickinson, Stanley Simons, Brady Pierce, Kevin Anton

Countries:

UK, USA

Language:

English
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The Iron Claw

2023
2h 10m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 62.51% from 457 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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p_u_l_pP u l p
Rated 16 Feb 2024
63
58th
Four Funerals and a Wedding
Rated 16 Feb 2024
velvet_croweVelvet Crowe
Rated 05 Jan 2024
66
70th
Less about the wrestling and more about the tragedy, but I think it loses a lot by not capturing the charisma of the Von Erich's and what gave them such high renown. The drama itself hits its notes strongly on individual scenes but holistically it doesn't tie together and comes off as lacking focus, especially since it seems like the writers don't know what events to adapt and cut out a lot of things that would put more weight on the tragedy. Also, that is the worst Flair impression ever!
Rated 05 Jan 2024
billyshearsBillyShears
Rated 16 Feb 2024
80
77th
Toretto has nothing on the familial bond of a Von Erich.
Rated 16 Feb 2024
darrenDarren
Rated 20 Jan 2024
74
63rd
Pure American melodrama. Something so delightful in the symmetry of phoniness in masculinity between wrestling and the other big post WWII masculine Texas obsession the American Western. The fights in this choreographed like a bar fight in a movie long forgotten by a new generation. The same way the Von Erich’s were and the same way we all will be. “We’ll be your brothers dad”
Rated 20 Jan 2024
therealj_roTheRealJ-Ro
Rated 26 Dec 2023
80
70th
A few points away from truly special. The tragedy of the Von Erichs is told pretty faithfully, aside from a few glaring omissions: the absence of Chris, and that Fritz got heat in wrestling as a Nazi heel. I feel like both belonged (and could have been smartly employed) in the narrative, but for the most part, this is a worthwhile retelling of the story of the supposed Von Erich curse, as well as an exploration of a particularly-rigid patriarchy, that's well-executed and made with care.
Rated 26 Dec 2023
doyler29doyler29
Rated 03 Jan 2024
80
68th
I have never had any interest in wrestling, so I went into this knowing nothing about the Von Erich family and why I would want to see a film about them. Oh. Holt McCallany is pretty astonishing as the patriarch of a family he steers into oblivion. Zac Efron is amazing ... something I never really thought I'd say. For a film that's just completely suffused with tragedy, it's not a dour and unpleasant experience.
Rated 03 Jan 2024
jlfmJLFM
Rated 28 Dec 2023
76
71st
Listen, if you make a movie about men learning to express their emotions and their love for each other, I will cry while watching it. I don't make the rules, I just abide by them.
Rated 28 Dec 2023
obdurateObdurate
Rated 26 Dec 2023
80
67th
Truly tragic subject matter. Efron did a good job, matching the emotion and physicality of the character. Really appreciate the emphasis on brotherhood, especially, but it does a good job of showing how their father's stunted emotionality stunted them a bit. Doesn't do anything wrong, even if I don't absolutely LOVE it. Just a good story told well.
Rated 26 Dec 2023
kem1kem1
Rated 23 Dec 2023
90
93rd
It's a heartfelt and tragic story. You can tell it's trying to cram so much into its runtime, it's a bit unbelievable the lives this family actually had. It's well written, well acted, and well directed. Really liked it.
Rated 23 Dec 2023
guy-piranhaguy piranha
Rated 18 Jun 2024
65
54th
There are issues with pacing and tone, fritz gets away pretty good for a dad whose ambitions cost his family everything, but strangely it's zac efron who kept me hooked with his powerhouse performance and transformation. His (re-)chiseled jaw and beast physique turned him into a prime candidate for he-man in a masters of the universe movie. Or at least he could now play his own AND the rock's role in the next baywatch crap thing.
Rated 18 Jun 2024
fredericg54frederic_g54
Rated 17 May 2024
7
58th
Much like the 'sport' itself, the film felt somewhat contrived and overly rehearsed, at least compared to a cinéma-vérité grounded alternative like Aronofsky's The Wrestler. I also felt the film's emotional core didn't manifest itself until right before the final act, which turned everything else leading up to it into somewhat of a passive viewing experience, at least for me. It goes without saying everyone is spectacular in the film, but it didn't rock to my core as much as I'd hoped.
Rated 17 May 2024
ytadelYtadel
Rated 30 Mar 2024
7
84th
Wrestling is firmly in the “stuff I don’t know FUCK ALL about” territory but the film’s earnest emotion sucked me in regardless. Zac Efron is excellent; now Zac please don’t fuck your body up this bad with whatever steroids you were on for this ever again.
Rated 30 Mar 2024
kevin_ruffoKevin Ruffo
Rated 02 Mar 2024
70
57th
the virgin suicides with huge arms and no pants
Rated 02 Mar 2024
thedenizenTheDenizen
Rated 29 Feb 2024
80
84th
Depressing biopic about the lives and deaths of the Von Erich family, who were Texas pro wrestling superstars throughout the 80s and 90s. Leaves out Chris Von Erich entirely, but the movie has more than enough tragedy even without his suicide. Efron is surprisingly good, managing to convey some genuine emotions through the lens of a musclebound meathead, but I feel like the actor who played the family patriarch Fritz was even better. A tough film about the bonds of brotherhood and family.
Rated 29 Feb 2024
difontaineDifontaine
Rated 20 Feb 2024
84
85th
Zac Efron should have earned an Oscar nomination at least. His pain acts as the connecting spine through the film. It's a hard watch at times but a worthwhile one.
Rated 20 Feb 2024
leonardisLeonardis
Rated 27 Jan 2024
93
74th
This was really good. Starts off like your standard sports drama and feels perfectly 80s, but quickly gets very moody and becomes a pretty miserable watch that’s so delicately made that it’s hard to NOT watch til the end. Paced really well, and Durkin’s directing is very solid. Efron is at his best here, without question. I do like the supporting cast quite a bit too though. I don’t think it’s a perfect biopic, but this is still a solid screenplay that’s effective. The ending is fantastic.
Rated 27 Jan 2024
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 16 Jan 2024
75
84th
It has some broad brush strokes, and clearly implicates dysfunctional fatherhood as the culprit in the uniquely tragic misfortunes of the Von Erichs, and yet the family dynamics it portrays remain thoroughly, undeniably authentic and credible. Though it doesn't go into detail here either, it also conjures up a true sense of what "pro wrestling" was like in the 1980s - inside and outside the ring. Heartfelt and powerful.
Rated 16 Jan 2024
gnalkhereGnalkhere
Rated 09 Jan 2024
85
82nd
Godspeed You! White Wrestler
Rated 09 Jan 2024
screenzealotscreenzealot
Rated 08 Jan 2024
88
87th
At times unbearably sad, this beautifully made (and brilliantly acted) film chronicles the rise, fall, and unfathomable misfortune that befell one of the most influential families in the sport of wrestling.
Rated 08 Jan 2024
enigmazweb24enigmazweb24
Rated 03 Jan 2024
95
86th
Effectively tragic, as the true story demands. However, the film can sometimes feel emotionally stunted, which is possibly an artistic choice designed to reflect the true nature of the people invloved. The casting is exceptional, and the film is very compentently made. A fantastic addition to the newly blossoming world of pro wrestling cinema.
Rated 03 Jan 2024
stuie299stuie299
Rated 03 Jan 2024
75
45th
The Iron Claw is the type of movie that if it weren't real you wouldn't believe it. The performances are mostly good, but nothing too special. Another reminder how much I like Lily James, and want to see her in something more substantial. Unfortunately everything is rather surface level, and ultimately it's just kind of tragic and sad. Not a bad watch by any means, but it's also kind of "eh whatever", with no real standout aspect to really grab your attention.
Rated 03 Jan 2024
khamulKhamul
Rated 29 Sep 2024
62
23rd
More an assortment of scenes than a coherent story. Yes, it's touching at times, but that's mainly because of the real events behind it. There's good things about it, and the actors do a mostly good job, but it's not a very strong movie.
Rated 29 Sep 2024
jschlanskyJSchlansky
Rated 24 Sep 2024
73
63rd
It has a tendency to slip into feeling a bit generic here or there, but its heavy moments all land with their full weight (Kevin and Ric Flair totally fucked, right?)
Rated 24 Sep 2024
chwkfan73Chwkfan73
Rated 22 Sep 2024
73
12th
A very sad but well acted film
Rated 22 Sep 2024
silentjakesilentjake
Rated 15 Sep 2024
65
44th
The acting is good but the story revolves around 20 years and it is not written as a character-driven story so it feels like it moves too fast at times.
Rated 15 Sep 2024
djrossdjross
Rated 10 Sep 2024
55
53rd
Unusually rigid parenting style fails to yield intended results. Apart from that message, it’s never clear what the audience is supposed to think apart from “wow that’s sad”. Still, all the elements, apart from the protagonist’s wig, are assembled well, although the opening nod to RAGING BULL might lead one to expect higher ambitions. The final scene, in which we are explicitly told exactly what kind of bittersweet emotions we are supposed to have upon exiting the theatre, is poorly handled.
Rated 10 Sep 2024
driscarpindriscarpin
Rated 09 Sep 2024
81
68th
Quando a verdadeira maldição da família são seus pais escrotos do caralho. Estive lendo sobre a família e no filme deixaram de fora um sexto irmão que também morreu de suicídio. Normalmente não gosto de filme sobre esportes, especialmente sobre um que abomino como luta livre, mas esse é bem bom. Telecine no Globoplay.
Rated 09 Sep 2024
sirstuckeySirStuckey
Rated 18 Aug 2024
75
67th
The on screen wrestling was pretty bad, and I was aware enough of the family tragedy to know some of the stuff they changed. Still all of the acting, excluding the guy who they got to play Ric Flair, was very solid and carried the film
Rated 18 Aug 2024
yorgoyorgo
Rated 13 Aug 2024
86
73rd
A crazy story, told the simplest way. Heartbreaking movie with good performances overall.
Rated 13 Aug 2024
srmt99srmt99
Rated 10 Aug 2024
84
64th
Beautifully depicted a true story with the director’s opinions integrated within it. Minor flaws here and there with the actor’s appearance and their reactions but overall a good show.
Rated 10 Aug 2024
myfavchordsmyfavchords
Rated 05 Aug 2024
77
64th
Zac Efron gives the best performance of his career so far in this film. The rest of the cast also do good work here. The script is not fancy but it works. Overall I would recommend this film.
Rated 05 Aug 2024
dawdlingpoetDawdlingPoet
Rated 21 Jul 2024
70
49th
This is a reasonable film. Its based on a true story which is interesting, though it felt a bit bland mid way through. I reckon you ought to be a fan of wrestling if you really want to get the most from this film, if that isn't an obvious thing to say. Its a bit bleak and thoughtful at times. Nothing especially memorable, this is a watchable and somewhat intriguing film at times.
Rated 21 Jul 2024
pratchett3Pratchett3
Rated 14 Jun 2024
7
50th
Too many characters, you never got to know any of them well enough, although it's a true story so it's not like they had a choice. I respect that they had the guts to depict brain damage.
Rated 14 Jun 2024
kasperlKasperL
Rated 12 Jun 2024
75
77th
The acting and Durkin's direction make this tragic tale compelling.
Rated 12 Jun 2024
actionbergActionberg
Rated 26 May 2024
55
22nd
Middling Texploitation
Rated 26 May 2024
wayofthegunwayofthegun
Rated 12 May 2024
70
40th
Falls short of The Wrestler, for me, as far as wrestling movies go, but the performances are strong and it’s a wild real-life story.
Rated 12 May 2024
jnydamjnydam
Rated 07 May 2024
88
93rd
I really appreciated the story, sad as it is, about Kerry Von Erich (Texas Tornado), who was one of my childhood memories. I loved wrestling growing up, and as I learned about the tragedy commonplace to the industry, it broke my heart. This film elevated my awareness about yet another wrestling family that had its demons and did so impressively.
Rated 07 May 2024
gwaihir15Gwaihir_15
Rated 03 May 2024
86
79th
This is my first Sean Durkin movie. And, well... I have no interest in wrestling or any knowledge of the Von Erich family involved. But, oh boy, he did such a beautiful work. I loved the way that he portrays the scenes that contained many emotions in the same frame, as well as the fact that the film examined many implicit issues around the main theme without expose them. Efron, McCallany and White does brilliant jobs too.
Rated 03 May 2024
pistolpetePistolPete
Rated 01 May 2024
65
44th
Efron was great here. I expected to rate this higher than the 6.5 it's getting. Tragic story told well by a great writer/director in Sean Durkin. That said, when looking over a lot of the chosen omissions and just how the film itself made me feel or failed to make me feel, I just couldn't get to where I thought I'd be when watching it. For a great review of more of the story I recommend checking out b&s about movies dot com. I'm unaffiliated, but enjoyed learning what I wasn't aware of there.
Rated 01 May 2024
apos26apos26
Rated 15 Apr 2024
70
55th
aderfia amerikania alla touchy melodrama me palaistes
Rated 15 Apr 2024
moraesfelipemoraesfelipe
Rated 17 Mar 2024
65
61st
Solid film about destructive power of masculinity. Love ensemble cast more than the film itself -- first hour didn't quite work for me and hated decision to omit one of the brothers --, specially Efron. Curse thing is really haunting and it's nice how Durkin turns it into a family melodrama than a traditional sports biopic. Ending might seem too nice, but hey, it's how Kevin survived -- by making his own choices and taking care of his family in a way his father didn't.
Rated 17 Mar 2024
punqPUNQ
Rated 05 Mar 2024
80
99th
A real life story so tragic that they had to remove brothers/deaths from the movie version of the Von Erich Family. Being a lifelong wrestling fan, the Von Erich legacy is well known and this was actually a heavy watch, because I knew when the blows would come and the film does real well to take you back to the time all this happened. To me Holt McCallany really channeled Fritz. A downer that needed to be told, and perhaps the minimalistic approach was needed too in a story so depressing.
Rated 05 Mar 2024
vinegarbobVinegarBob
Rated 29 Feb 2024
50
24th
Despite the fact that broadly speaking everything in here is true I found myself laughing at the ridiculousness of it all - it's almost like a parody of those sappy biopic tragedies they pump out on the Hallmark channel (it didn't help that I was also being asked to take professional wrestling seriously). Your mileage will vary depending on your cringe tolerance but for me this was almost too cheesy to finish.
Rated 29 Feb 2024
hologramhologram
Rated 24 Feb 2024
83
52nd
It's OK For You To Cry: The Movie
Rated 24 Feb 2024
bownBown
Rated 21 Feb 2024
85
75th
Had no idea how emotional this was going to be - the understated filmmaking, the incredibly powerful performances, the exceptional depiction of believable familial bonds that becomes genuinely tragic as it all falls apart. While absolutely everybody in this is good you really gotta give special props to Efron who gives an absolutely gut-wrenching performance.
Rated 21 Feb 2024
deaddillydeaddilly
Rated 20 Feb 2024
45
10th
You get the feeling so much is missing in the in the spaces before and between these unthinkable tragedies. Telling the story in this stylized, minimalist way feels wrong. They even completely omitted the existence and tragic life of Chris Von Erich. Found myself just wanting to read a book or watch a documentary about this.
Rated 20 Feb 2024
luordluord
Rated 20 Feb 2024
87
95th
Simply put, it's a gut wrenching drama/biopic with a fantastic cast.
Rated 20 Feb 2024
bzymusbzymus
Rated 19 Feb 2024
81
70th
audiovisual 82 acting 80 overall feeling 81 avg 81
Rated 19 Feb 2024
ysincYSinc
Rated 18 Feb 2024
77
83rd
+acting +style
Rated 18 Feb 2024
anotherbullanotherbull
Rated 17 Feb 2024
44
21st
flat
Rated 17 Feb 2024
daveypdaveyp
Rated 17 Feb 2024
83
81st
Incredibly tragic true story. Great performances, not least in the ring. Its quite amazing how they took on these roles, bulking up loads and learning to pull off the moves in the ring in such a short time. Thought provoking topics of toxic masculinity and pushing people too far.
Rated 17 Feb 2024
rudolph101Rudolph101
Rated 15 Feb 2024
79
41st
The Iron Snore more like
Rated 15 Feb 2024
war_machineWar Machine
Rated 15 Feb 2024
60
25th
Sovietnoolympicssowrestle+saysdontjap-diesrupturedintestine+shouldersurgerycoma-suicide+shootself it's a great story but stopped engaging me
Rated 15 Feb 2024
sproostsproost
Rated 14 Feb 2024
75
79th
A more succesful biopic in a genre that, let's face it, often sucks. The number of tragedies this family racks up is almost incomprehensible. I hope the patriarch is proud of his doings. It's not exactly subtle but the performances and pleasant direction are worth it. This would definitely be getting oscar nods, were it nod that A24 apparantly released it too late to be admitted.
Rated 14 Feb 2024
ericamblerericambler
Rated 14 Feb 2024
82
81st
Wrestling. Texas. Brothers. Competition. “Tom Sawyer” by Rush. Jeremy Allen White’s perfect sunset flip. Zac Efron pretending he can’t dance. Emotions. Curses. Ric Flair promo. Tears. Words fail me. More tears. Fuck. Fuck! I wanna live that way forever.
Rated 14 Feb 2024
shockularSHOCKULAR
Rated 13 Feb 2024
76
62nd
Good film telling the tragic story of the Von Erich wrestling family. There are scenes that lay it on pretty thick (the afterlife scene and final scene in particular), but the wrestling stuff is well handled (except terrible casting/performance of Ric Flair (thankfully only a bit part.) Efron and McCallany both give Oscar nom worthy performances. Holt, playing father Fritz, is especially tragic as a deluded man who believes he's doing his best for his family when in fact he's destroying them.
Rated 13 Feb 2024
tpbradburytpbradbury
Rated 10 Feb 2024
72
78th
Good. Really good performance from Efron
Rated 10 Feb 2024
nothingsgoodNothingsGood
Rated 28 Jan 2024
35
27th
Tells a compelling story middling, meandering and voiceless. Some of the visuals are phenomenal, but often it's just film student 101 with no flavor or pacing. Watch the Dark Side of the Ring episode instead it's way more gut wrenching and emotional.
Rated 28 Jan 2024
bencgauldbencgauld
Rated 19 Jan 2024
78
55th
An epic tragedy worthy of the absurdly heightened drama present in professional wrestling. Among the least subtle movies I've seen in recent memory and many of the leads often look and act like Muppets which deflates the litany of tragedies over the final 2 acts. The pacing has a bit of a desensitizing effect for a few of the moments, but some of them did hit very close to home.
Rated 19 Jan 2024
montycircusMontyCircus
Rated 19 Jan 2024
60
69th
Kind of like if the teacher from "Whiplash" was your dad. The downfall of the family felt like watching dominoes fall one after the other in slow motion, in heartbreaking fashion. I don't think any other family has been through worse outside of war.
Rated 19 Jan 2024
indyatmnINDYATMN
Rated 11 Jan 2024
80
59th
Knowing nothing about this family I found this story compelling & moving. I was also initially impressed by the subtlety the director uses in his portrayal of the father. My problem w/ the film is that it wants to (one-sidedly) illustrate the idea that traditional "masculinity" is "toxic"/bad (the director admits this). The problem is that he is confusing "masculinity" with the kinds of extreme behaviors that ARE required to become the genuine "best" in any field & women champions do the same
Rated 11 Jan 2024
nobambanobamba
Rated 09 Jan 2024
70
76th
I knew nothing about this family or their tragedies. With all the bad stuff happening to them, I was surprised Vince McMahon didn't make an appearance to make things worse. The dad was pretty reasonable until the end so I would have liked to see more of a progression. Not sure why they combined the IRL brothers. I glazed over the wrestling scenes since they all felt the same. More build up or fan reactions may have helped. Efron was huge. Fav scene: talking with kids at the end.
Rated 09 Jan 2024
newtothelytenewtothelyte
Rated 25 Dec 2023
62
11th
A visually well-made film that asks it's viewers to go through a suffer journey with the Von Erich family. I usually don't mind tragedies or sad films, but I need my main character to have more agency and awareness, instead of being a mindless object that just takes what comes at them. I felt the same way about Killers of the Flower Moon and Priscilla. It'll just ruin your day to watch this film and leave you feeling empty
Rated 25 Dec 2023

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