The Wrestler (1974): cast, story & where to watch
1974 · Film · ★ 4.2
Released in 1974, The Wrestler is an action, drama and crime film directed by James A. Westman, running about 95 minutes. “Athletes...? Actors...? Assassins...?” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Frank Bass (Ed Asner) is an honest guy trying to make a living in the cut throat world of professional wrestling, and he's gonna make it work - even if he dies trying! But first - he'll have to strong-arm his way through all the mobsters, gamblers, promoters and fight fixers and help his past-his-prime wrestler once again win a championship belt. Features appearances from real-life legendary wrestlers and AWA superstars Verne Gagne, Rick Flair, Superstar Billy Graham, Dusty Rhodes, Dick the Bruiser, Ray Stevens, Dory Funk Jr., Ken Patera, Billy Robinson, Dan Gable, Eddie Graham, Dick Murdoch, Vincent J. McMahon, and more.
Who’s in it. The Wrestler stars Ed Asner as Frank Bass, Elaine Giftos as Debbie, Verne Gagne as Mike Bullard and Billy Robinson as Billy Taylor, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 4.2/10, The Wrestler has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on YouTube TV, Midnight Pulp, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel and Cineverse Amazon Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Wrestler page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Wrestler tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Wrestler (1974)?
- In US, The Wrestler is available to stream on YouTube TV, Midnight Pulp and Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Wrestler worth watching?
- The Wrestler holds an audience score of 4.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, drama and crime. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Wrestler?
- The Wrestler stars Ed Asner, Elaine Giftos, Verne Gagne, Billy Robinson and Jerry Wade.
- When was The Wrestler released?
- The Wrestler was released in 1974, with a runtime of about 95 minutes.