Queen of the Ring

Greetings again from the darkness. Even among sports fans and women's activists, Mildred Burke is not a household name. Writer-director Ash Avildsen and co-writer Alston Ramsay set out to correct this by adapting Ms. Burke's own writing and the 2010 book "The Queen of the Ring: Sex, Muscles, Diamonds and the Making of an American Legend" by Jeff Leen. Avildsen is the son of Oscar winning director John Avildsen (ROCKY, 1976; THE KARATE KID, 1982).

Mildred Burke was a three-time World Champion in Women's Wrestling, and the first million dollar female athlete. Her career spanned the 1930's into the 1950's, and the film opens in the ring during the brutal 1954 Women's World Championship match. Rather than finish that match, filmmaker Avildsen holds that until the finale and instead flashes back to Burke's early obsession with her desire to wrestle. Emily Bett Rickards ("Arrow") stars as Mildred, and she possesses the physicality and charm to pull off what we'd expect from a pioneer in women's sports. She displays toughness, determination, and talent in the ring - plus the savvy needed for marketing herself and the sport.

There are some issues with the movie. At times it's difficult to follow the timeline and it is uncomfortably choppy in its storytelling approach. However, the dynamics of this woman and her true story are such that we focus on the good stuff and appreciate her accomplishments. Additionally, there are some strong supporting performances. Josh Lucas plays wrestler Billy Wolfe, who recognizes Mildred's potential and becomes her promoter, her loving husband, her cheating husband, and her business partner. Walton Goggins plays legendary promoter Jack Pfefer, Tyler Posey plays Wolfe's son and Mildred love interest G Bill, Francesca Eastwood (yes, Clint's daughter) plays wrestler Mae Young, Adam Demos plays Mildred's friend and popular wrestler Gorgeous George, and Gavin Casalengo portrays Mildred's son.

We learn her story dates back to a time when many laws prohibited women from wrestling, and Mildred's early opportunities took place at traveling carnivals. Her motivation led to her pledge to her toddler son that they would not live an ordinary life ... and wrestling got her out of the apron at her mom's café. There is an obligatory training montage, and there is even a moment when Mildred's impact is compared to Jackie Robinson breaking the race barrier in baseball. The terrific soundtrack (not quite to the level of AMERICAN GRAFFITTI) helps offset some of the cheesy posing and strutting, even though these were keys in Mildred gaining popularity. Filmmaker Avildsen ends the film with photos and bio profiles on each of the characters as the closing credits begin. It's a fitting end and tribute for those who drove the early days of Women's wrestling.

The film opens in theaters on March 7, 2025.

I let my friend pick this one out I may not have chosen it just from the subject matter. I'm not a wrestling fan especially women's wrestling. But this movie was done very well. The writing the acting the movie always kept moving there was no slow points. And it showed all the characters and who they played there was a true story. Which I like. I was rooting and cheering at the end which surprised me. I really recommend seeing this I don't understand why it didn't win more Awards rather than that movie that did when the Oscars in 2024. This movie should have won more Awards. Not a kids movie. I was impressed they hardly used any language in it cuz that's the time. Like I say the quality was a good film.

Ask any reviewer how many sports biopics they have seen and the answer will always be "too many." QUEEN is an ambitious little project, you can tell that by the over-two-hour runtime. The pacing, the script, the editing, everything is just slightly uneven and unpolished. However, to compensate, there is a legitimate sense of fun imbued in the film, something not common in these sorts of tales. Lots of hidden talent both in front of and behind the camera. Emily Bett Rickards will shock her fans from the Arrowverse as she digs into the lead role and gives it everything she has got. Behind the camera is the son of one of America's best-known directors, and playing the "heel" in the story is a young woman with sharply defined features not seen since the days of Clint Eastwood. His daughter, in fact. Entertaining. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Too many modern movies today dig right into the dark and gritty side of things for shock value. I feel this is a weak technique in the same way some modern wrestling companies go right for the shock value rather than story. Don't be fooled, Millie's story could have done that easily, but Ash and Alston dug into the heart of the inspiring side of Mildred's story and made it complete movie that can be enjoyed by an entire family without having to cover eyes or ears. Determination, hard work, and following your dream is what this story is about. It's about seeing your goals and realizing it without loosing yourself and your values in the process.

With a period pieced setting which looks and feels authentic without being obvious I think the cinematography was done very well. Also with the writing and Ash's directorial style there is thus feeling like this could have been a long lost movie from the 80s that could stand side by side with his legendary father John Avildsen's movies, which I grew up on. I could see myself playing in the arcade then heading into watch a back to back matinee at my local mall theater.

This movie was a breath of fresh air that made you think, invest, and ultimately feel good after watching it. First movie in a while I've wanted to watch multiple times because it does what movies are supposed to do. Take me out of my life's challenges for a second and inspire me to want to get right back into them swinging afterwards.

Queen of the Ring is the inspiring story of legendary women's wrestler Mildred Burke who went from waitressing at her mom's diner to go on and become the first ever millionaire women's athlete in history. Queen of the Ring shows Mildred break down barriers for women in wrestling and also shows the story of how wrestling evolved from circus side shows to sell out arenas, and in Mildred's case, who took it one step further to main event said sold out arenas.

This true to life story brings out an eclectic cast of women from Hollywood and the actual pro wrestling world to portray the pioneers of women's wrestling spanning from the late 1930's through the 1950's. Wrestling fans will appreciate not only the wrestlers portrayed in the movie, but many of the actors are from today's insanely popular world. Names such as Toni Storm, Kamille, Naomi, Mickie James and Jim Cornette are featured in this film.

But I cannot fail to mention Emily Bett Rickards whom portrayed the Queen of the Ring herself and was an absolute knock out. Emily transformed her body and trained professional wrestling to absolutely crush this role with precision.

Whether you want a wrestling story or an empowering triumph in women's history, this movie is well worth your time to check out!