Overview
A powerful story of family and determination unfolds as two sisters break barriers in a male-dominated sport.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- inspiring
- witty
- intense
- inspirational viewing
- family movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Dangal as an emotionally resonant and technically accomplished sports biopic that combines authentic wrestling, humor, feminist themes, and compelling performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Geeta and Babita are trained by their father to enter wrestling, a field where girls are not expected or accepted.
Mahavir functions simultaneously as Geeta and Babita’s father, coach, disciplinarian, and strongest source of motivation.
The wrestling matches foreground authentic choreography, tactics, training, and competitive technique.
The family’s wrestling ambitions confront small-town Indian traditions and prejudice against female athletes.
Films like Dangal, and why
Chak De! India
inspiring sports drama centered on teamwork, discipline, and challenging gender expectations
Mary Kom
biographical sports drama pairing rigorous training with family conflict and triumph over social barriers
The Fighter
uplifting true-story sports drama about an unconventional coach and a determined young athlete
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
emotionally resonant underdog sports film featuring demanding mentorship and hard-won empowerment
Movie Details
- Director
- Nitesh Tiwari
- Release Date
- 2016-12-21
- Runtime
- 161 min
- Rating
- 7.9 / 10 (1225)
Cast
- Aamir Khan
- Fatima Sana Shaikh
- Sanya Malhotra
- Zaira Wasim
- Suhani Bhatnagar
- Aparshakti Khurana
- Girish Kulkarni
- Sakshi Tanwar
- Vivan Bhatena
- Ritwik Sahore
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
- Rent
- Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Dangal about?
- A determined father trains his daughters to become elite wrestlers, turning a family struggle against gender prejudice into an exhilarating sporting triumph.
- What is Dangal like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Dangal as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Dangal violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Dangal as mild.
- What did critics think of Dangal?
- Critics broadly praised Dangal as an emotionally resonant and technically accomplished sports biopic that combines authentic wrestling, humor, feminist themes, and compelling performances.
- Which films are like Dangal?
- Films with a similar feel include Chak De! India, Mary Kom, The Fighter, and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.
- How long is Dangal?
- Dangal runs 161 minutes.
- Where can I watch Dangal?
- In United States, Dangal streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
