# The Wrestler (2008)

> An aging New Jersey wrestling star clings to the ring while attempting to rebuild the family and intimacy he sacrificed for fame.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/movie/6959

## Facts

- Runtime: 109 min
- Genres: Drama, Romance
- Director: Darren Aronofsky
- Cast: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, Mark Margolis, Todd Barry, Wass Stevens, Judah Friedlander, Ernest Miller
- TMDB rating: 7.5/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1125849/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: brutal
- Mood: bleak, sincere, melancholic, reflective evening, character drama night

## Synopsis

An aging wrestler fights for redemption both in and out of the ring, confronting his past and seeking a second chance at life.

## Movies like The Wrestler

- [Welcome to the Rileys (2010)](https://ember.film/movie/19323)
- [The Smashing Machine (2025)](https://ember.film/movie/539037)
- [Play It to the Bone (1999)](https://ember.film/movie/12520)
- [Sherrybaby (2006)](https://ember.film/movie/7493)
- [Win Win (2011)](https://ember.film/movie/38149)
- [God's Pocket (2014)](https://ember.film/movie/139591)
- [Bleed for This (2016)](https://ember.film/movie/211810)
- [Beyond the Mat (1999)](https://ember.film/movie/8417)
- [Big Fan (2009)](https://ember.film/movie/17923)
- [Legendary (2010)](https://ember.film/movie/28735)

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