Good movies about/involving pro wrestling

[JaseSF]

Yeah I know they do seem a rarity but actually there are a number of underrated little films about pro wrestling that are in actuality fairly well-done.

The most obvious one is of course The Wrestler starring Mickey Rourke. That's a given and arguably the best of the bunch bar none.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61-GFxjTyV0

But here's a few others you might have missed that are surprisingly effective. The following two focus on women's wrestling. And yes they are what I'd consider good movies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2yKz7_FpK0

All the Marbles...(1981)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSZns0yPljA

Below the Belt (1980)

This kayfabe film about pro wrestling from the 1970s starring Verne Gagne and Ed Asner I personally consider half decent. There's also brief scenes of classic wrestling characters including Dick Murdoch, Dusty Rhodes, Dick the Bruiser, The Crusher, Billy Robinson amongst others. This one should be in the collection of any 70s AWA wrestling fan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Mf0qoUTcCY

The Wrestler (1974)

This movie was meant to be an over the top comedy/parody that's actually ended up being not too far from the mark with regards to modern era pro wrestling of the last 20 years or so...so yeah perhaps this one is a stretch as it's production values are really bad and it's a bit cheesy but it's definitely in the so bad it's good arena...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR-OBOmzwQE

Grunt! The Wrestling Movie (1985)

Actually there's a few others that come to mind as well. Anyone have any additions to this list?

[Jack]

All The Marbles has been sitting on my "to be watched" shelf for 8 months now.  Gotta get around to it one of these days   

[bob]

Beyond the Mat - not really a movie, more a documentry but it's great

[The Burgomaster]

??????

Sadly, I paid to see this in the theater . . .

[Ted C]

The Princess Bride - Starring Andre the Giant as a super-strong wrestler mook with a heart of gold.

http://youtu.be/DwN6IncWcjk

[JaseSF]

I actually kind of liked The One and Only...doesn't fully succeed but not half-bad try.

Some more I consider good.

Man on the Moon (1999): the biopic of Andy Kaufman focuses a lot on his involvement with pro wrestling in the early 80s and his now legendary feud with Jerry "The King" Lawler. If Kaufman had the physical gifts to go with the gift of natural heel charisma, he might well have been the greatest wrestling heel of all time. The film doesn't fully succeed either but again it's a pretty solid attempt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ezPotNSNqg

Nacho Libre (2006): sure it's largely a silly Jack Black comedy but believe it or not, it's actually loosely based on a true story. There's some scenes in this that are actually kind of moving albeit often in an odd way. Again it's one that doesn't fully work but I still consider it to be a good and fun movie.Pro wrestling itself is certainly filled with unusual real-life characters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvItBleg0M4

Night and the City (1950): a film noir focusing on the continued failed exploits of a hustler Harry Fabian (Richard Widmark) who sets his sights and gaining control over the pro wrestling industry out of the hands of a mob boss. Pro wrestlers Stanislaus Zbyszko, a former World Champion, and Mike Mazurki appear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTQw_tNGA7Q

Hey, even Ed Wood has some brief pro wrestling scenes as Ed discovers Tor Johnson (here protrayed by George "The Animal" Steele).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8jqlEf8XHs

[skuts]

Barton Fink

[Jack]

Not exactly good, but there's Doctor of Doom / Wrestling Women vs. the Aztec Mummy

[Hammock Rider]

Ready to Rumble with David Arquette. Also, I didn't care very much for The Wrestler. mickey Rourke's nasty fingernails alone grossed me out. When he was selling food in the deli and handing it to people with those nasty paws of his, I wanted to barf.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmPtyZDvoUI&feature=related

[bob]

Ready to Rumble with David Arquette. Also, I didn't care very much for The Wrestler. mickey Rourke's nasty fingernails alone grossed me out. When he was selling food in the deli and handing it to people with those nasty paws of his, I wanted to barf.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmPtyZDvoUI&feature=related

I hate Ready to Rumble 

[HappyGilmore]

Ready to Rumble is great...as a stupid comedy meant to entertain.

Makes me laugh.

[66Crush]

I watched "Beyond The Mat" (1999) again last night. It's hands down one of the best documentaries I've ever seen. It was cool to see a young Rock and Mankind square off in the piece on Mick Foley's family. Plus the segment on Jake "The Snake" Roberts was heartbreaking. "Bret Hart: Wrestling with Shadows" is also very good. Both films show Vince McMahon in a less than flattering light. There is one film about World Class Championship Wrestling that I'd really like to see. I have the official WWE DVD about World Class, but this film is supposed to be better.

[JaseSF]

Highlander pretty early into the film features a wrestling match between the Freebirds and Von Erichs if I'm not mistaken and despite the rather huge reaction the wrestlers get characters in the film promptly go on to insult pro wrestling as a form of entertainment shortly thereafter.

[A_Dubya]

The Wrestler and Beyond The Mat are at the top of my list.

Racket Girls was good for completely different and hilarious reasons.

[66Crush]

Yeah "Racket Girls," Ive got the MST3K DVD of that. Love it!