Great cast. Fantastic acting. Compelling storytelling. Sean Durkin was able to draw me in and hold me there for the whole time. So impactful that I was literally tearing up riding my motorcycle home afterwards. Very dangerous 😝

78%. 3/31/25. Starts off as a story of a family with 4 boys, the sons of a former wrestler, competing for the belt their father never got. I'm not a big fan of watching wrestling so the first hour was just ok to me. But you could see how intense the dad was. Then the second half really gets dark with one of the brothers dying from an intestine infection, then two taking their lives. Actually another brother killed himself but they left it out of the film. It's cool to see how hard they work and how dedicated they are, but it's sad how they clearly felt so much pressure from there dad and couldn't take the lifestyle anymore. Pretty sad to rewatch. 2.5./5 rewatch

what a insane true story bring tissues

Great acting great film! But when I looked up the family after I was really disappointed how much they left out. Such as marriages, children, Chris. I just don't like films about people where they leave so much out. They could have filmed 3 second scenes of the brothers getting married, having kids ect and still included all the wrestling. One of those films where if you want to talk about it you have to say 'well actually this happened' I

The Iron Claw works best when it’s striking potent and devastating emotional chords. The last third may be a chore to sit through due to its bleakness but I was sucked in and, in what is a very rare occurrence for me, found myself tearing up.

I'm surprised by all of the rave reviews. Maybe I would be less critical if I was not familiar with the story. Hard to do justice to the whole story in two hours, so I understand taking liberties. But leaving one deceased brother (Chris) out of the story seems unforgivable. The actor playing Fritz is terrific.

It does a pretty poor job of telling the Von Erich story. Skips a lot of important parts, doesn't include Chris Von Erich either. Anybody who is a true fan of professional wrestling and knows a lot about its history will be very disappointed watching this film. Watching it, I felt as if a lot of things were rushed. They misrepresented Fritz Von Erich too, making him out to be some kind of soft fatherly figure, which he wasn't. They didn't delve into the drug problems these guys had either, they showed a quick clip of them "using" drugs and that was it. Made it seem like they had a small problem, when in fact they had a big problem with drug usage. Could've at least shown David in his hotel room in Japan, with Bruiser Brody disposing of the drugs too. Didn't show Kevin going into a gun store to steal a gun and having the locals still tell him they loved him. As I mentioned earlier, didn't even include Chris... just a really poor job at telling the Von Erich story.

Broke my heart. So many great scenes and touching moments, and hats off to Zac Efron.

Wow. Incredible acting from all performers. It’s more about family, masculinity, grief, loss, and mental health than wrestling. One of the best movies I’ve seen in years actually. Tragic, true story, heartbreaker of a film.

Slow emotional movie but a great one on a great family!

I used to be a brother. Now, i'm not a brother anymore. Tive uma experiência completamente transformadora, The Iron Claw transcende os limites de um filme biográfico. Não é apenas sobre a história da família Von Erich, mas sobre como traumas e conquistas possam se entrelaçar. A direção cria um universo onde cada cena, cada movimento e cada silêncio carregam um peso simbólico que potencializa a experiência do espectador. A montagem do filme é cuidadosamente estruturada, acompanha o ritmo das jornadas individuais dos personagens, equilibrando momentos de glória com cenas de introspecção fudida. O que torna o filme singular é a maneira como as relações familiares, especialmente os laços de fraternidade e paternidade, são exploradas com uma honestidade amarga. O drama nunca é gratuito, encontrando no espectador uma identificação universal com as questões de perda, legado e resiliência. Isso aqui é um poema visual, uma obra que celebra a força de persistir, mesmo quando tudo parece desmoronar. O filme nos ensina que é no caos da vida que encontramos o verdadeiro sentido da força, não apenas a força física, mas a força de persistir, de amar e de nos reconciliarmos com nossas próprias histórias.

The Iron Claw is an exceptionally goldenly acted and tough-to-watch film during its adaptation of a tragic real-life story about this well-known professional wrestling family. The outstanding performances from Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, and the rest of the cast bring this real-life story to life as a wrestling drama that will resonate with wrestling fans like me. In my opinion, Zac Efron’s performance is the best of the career, and it’s a missed opportunity for an Oscar. Grading: A+

A brilliantly crafted tensely tragic family drama wrapped around the exciting conventions of the sports biopic genre. The cast is incredible with their physical transformations, believable physicality in the stunts, and channeling such emotionally powerful performances. Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White in particular especially deserve praise for their amazing performances. You really grow to care for this family despite the obvious dangling threads of patriarchal toxicity that is so deeply strung within their wrestling family dynasty dynamic that sadly overshadows their simultaneous familial love. Their father is so close to loving his sons, but sadly his obsessive desire for them to complete his wrestling world champion legacy grossly overshadows his genuine love for their happiness, health, or genuine well-being. He’s often tender to them, but his subtle grasp over their everyday lives and constant competition for his validation is subtly felt throughout the film and carefully and seldomly rears its ugly head whenever Fritz’s sons need him the most, but instead his cruel disregard for their mental wellbeing and aversion to taking accountability are out on full display. His rigorous unflinching campaign for glory is the very catalyst for his so-called “family curse” that strikes tragedy once after another until the unbearable weight of its impact finally overpowers his hubris. The fighting sequences are riveting and feel squeamishly real despite the false performative nature of televised wrestling. The cinematography, lighting, and set designs are terrifically gripping and visually striking. I love the late-70's/early 80's aesthetic with the sets, costumes, and hair styles. It’s a gripping family drama that perseveres through its deeply rooted tragedy with strong family bonds felt between the brothers throughout the film, with a strong sense of hope shining through the end as Kevin finally embraces the love and chance for something better with his wife and children to fill the hole that the rest of the film had been carving out of him all this time. The movie is guaranteed to give you an emotional gut punch (no pun intended) by the end, all culminating in its final scenes that will leave you in tears. It’s an amazing film and easily one of my favorites of 2023.

A heart wrenching story that had me captivated the entire time. Zach Efron’s performance was beyond beautiful; it was compelling, raw, and deeply powerful. It brought forth great emotion within me and truly made me feel like I was experiencing each moment of Kevin’s life seen in the film. Jeremy Allen White, delivered a stellar performance and showcased himself in a similar darkness seen in The Bear. His ability to display rage is such a deeply powerful skill. Harris Dickinson’s comedic lightness and passion that he displayed was a force to be reckoned with and I look forward to seeing him in future roles. Stanley Simons provided a depth to his role that made me feel the love that a youngest child needs in a family of such strong male roles. His performance adds a very much needed balance to the strength and masculinity displayed by his three co-stars. Holt McCallany’s performance was impressive and I believe an actor that is capable of deriving sincere distaste is quite amazing. Overall, this will certainly be a movie I rewatch in the future and I suggest you take the time to do so as well!

Thought this was overrated!

This movie brought me to tears. Everyone did an excellent job embodying their roles but I have to give a long hand clap to Zac Efron he really needs an Oscar for that phenomenal acting!

Depressing as **** but a great watch.

I had my doubts. But A24 does it again! "Why did I doubt them?!." Very powerful acting across the board, from all actors. Great direction. Nice editing. So, so tragic. Glad the end ended the way it did. Absolutely recommend this film. (Based on a true story)

At first I felt like ‘The Iron Claw’ was dragging as despite the time jumps and action packed wrestling, the pace felt very slow. The redeeming quality was the deeply emotional closing acts which beautifully tied the film together, despite the somber conclusion. ‘The Iron Claw’ explores the struggles of mental health, family relationships, grief and toxic masculinity with the deeper narrative that ‘men don’t cry’.

The Iron Claw is a powerful and emotional film, driven by stellar performances and a gripping narrative. The acting is exceptional across the board, with special mention to Lily James, who seamlessly transforms into her role, and Zac Efron, whose recent career choices culminate in a performance that truly shines here. The film is visually captivating, with impressive cinematography and editing that perfectly complement its intense storyline. The heart of the film lies in the complex family dynamics. The way the parents try to push their children toward success, with the father focusing on wrestling and the mother on religion, creates a tragic irony. The siblings, all deeply impacted by their upbringing, struggle with the pressure, leading to heartbreaking outcomes. The movie delves into the curse that seems to plague them, showing how their father’s well-intended actions only end up harming them. One standout aspect of the film is its portrayal of brotherhood. The moments of mutual support between the siblings, whether it’s standing up for each other or quietly offering comfort, are poignant and authentic. Zac Efron’s character, as he becomes increasingly superstitious about the family’s curse, is a compelling transformation, with one of the most interesting scenes being when he changes his son’s surname out of fear. The film also does an excellent job in building suspense around the curse, with each bad event making you question its reality. The way the film handles the unexpected deaths of the characters is particularly effective, providing emotional gut punches that resonate deeply, especially when the consequences of their father’s drive for perfection are revealed. A particularly remarkable moment in the film is its depiction of the afterlife. Instead of opting for a typical representation of heaven, the filmmakers choose a minimalist, emotional scene where the three brothers embrace one another. This was by far one of the most moving moments in the movie. In terms of flaws, The Iron Claw is nearly flawless. While the film’s pacing is steady, I found myself engrossed in the emotional depth and character arcs, leaving me with little to criticize. The movie is a compelling and thought-provoking exploration of family, ambition, and the weight of expectation. In conclusion, The Iron Claw is a beautifully crafted film with brilliant performances and a hauntingly powerful story. It’s a film that lingers long after the credits roll, and I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a deeply emotional cinematic experience.