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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))

Queen of the Ring brings a winning combination of biopic, sports drama, and period piece with such precision and warmth, you feel you could step into Millie Burke's (Emily Bett Rickards) wrestling ring, take the blows, and be happy to experience history as it was lived. It's early 20th century, and Millie Burke, waitress, longs to entertain by wrestling men and women.

As the record has it, she becomes women's world wrestling champion three times while suffering the slings of ambition, from making a fortune, losing it, and wrestling personal relations with the same mixed results. Rickards invests herself physically and mentally in Burke's checkered career, with a fierce ambition and beauty that seems to set the standard for women's liberation.

Her tumultuous relationship with her manager and then husband, Billy Wolf (Josh Lucas), parallels the give and take of the business that grows in front of us from mid-west home style to east-coast complicated, from scripted matches to shoot events with no script. Millie's dogged ambition, which laudably always includes her son, Joe (Gavin Casalegno), is not only remarkably intrepid, but it is also inspirational, rooted as it is in historical fact.

Millie Burke, first million-dollar female athlete in history, is initially seen as a Kansas diner waitress always under the protection of her mother (Cara Buono) but longing to leave and become an entertainer. Given that she can't sing or dance, her muscles show her the way to liberation-wrestling, even if women's wrestling is outlawed in many states.

Despite the sometimes-incoherent, episodic telling, Millie's arc is much like fictional sports stories as she loses everything she's built to Billy but wins back heroically. The Queen of the Ring is a rousing biopic, mostly true, yet faithful to the chronicle of women on the ascendent in the last century. And then there's Rickards' breakout performance . . . .

I used to be a wrestling fan, especially women's wrestling-until I found out it was all scripted. But this movie completely changed my perspective.

The film is incredibly well done. The writing, acting, and pacing are top-notch-there were no boring moments. The story kept moving, and it beautifully introduced all the key characters. I loved that it was based on a true story-that always gets me. To my surprise, I found myself genuinely cheering by the end.

The movie is both inspiring and educational, blending history and sports in a powerful way. It tells the story of Mildred Burke, the first million-dollar female athlete and a true pioneer in wrestling. Her journey is captivating, and the film does justice to her incredible legacy.

If you're a female wrestling fan, or just someone who loves real stories of grit and glory, this movie is a must-watch. It's a brilliant production, and honestly, it might just win you over again-like it did for me.

Queen of the Ring does deal with a fascinating real-life personality and story, and though all of it is well-performed and shot, the film has a "there's a lot going on" feel to it.. which is true, no doubt. Even at 2h 19m, the film can't put all of its weight behind its storytelling. There were several issues faced by women in (professional?) wrestling, and most of those is put across through one easy-to-hate, misogynistic bully named Billy Wolfe (Josh Lucas does a very decent job). The film, however, will be remembered for Emily Bett Rickards -- what a showstopper she is, bringing so much grit and heart to the titular character!

Mildred Burke's story is brushed over in broad strokes, covering her greatest hits and misses. The more you read about Burke, the less those frequent dissolve transitions start to make sense. This can't be told in a couple of hours, but at least the director's heart is in the right place. It was good to see some actual wrestling personalities in the film -- "Timeless" Toni Storm, Jim Cornette, Naomi, and Kamille play important characters, while legendary names like Gladys Gillem, Mae Young, Jack Pfefer, and Gorgeous George are played by more seasoned actors.

You'll also hear a lot of wrestling terminology and a few celebrated quotes. The film, with its limited budget, succeeds in taking us back to a bygone era with its lighting and aesthetics. The wrestling attire and the actual moves? I'm not so sure. They look a lot more contemporary than they're meant to be. But it's CINEMA after all. And a film about wrestling? I'll always be all eyes and ears!

I watched Queen of the Ring expecting a wrestling movie similar to The Iron Claw. As a wrestling fan, I was excited to see familiar wrestlers' faces I currently watch, but the movie felt rushed. The subpar supporting actors and the hurried storyline made it hard to form an emotional connection with the characters. I'm not familiar with the main character's background, but I wish the film had explored her origins and upbringing in more details. What I enjoyed most was the soundtrack, which set the mood and carried me through the movie, despite its challenges. The main villain, June, was a standout-her minimal dialogue and badass presence were perfection. Overall, the story felt underdeveloped, and with more time, a detailed narrative could have elevated the film significantly.

Ash Avildsen is the son of Oscar winner John G Avildsen who made Rocky and The Karate Kid.

Queen of the Ring is dedicated to his father as well as the pioneers of women wrestling.

The movie is a dramatisation of the life of Mildred Burke (Emily Bett Rickards) a single parent working as a waitress in a cafe.

When she watches a wrestling match in the carnival in the 1930s. She persuades wrestler Billy Wolfe (Josh Lucas) to train her.

He does so reluctantly, it was a time when female wrestling was banned.

Eventually Wolfe becomes Mildred's lover, husband and business partner but they have a complex and abusive relationship.

Mildred does go on to become a world wrestling champion in the 1950s.

Avildsen has crafted a well made period piece. Unfortunately it is very much a made by numbers biopic. The characterisation is and the story is shallow.

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.

A question I ask a lot these days, who funded this trash?!

Why say it's based on a true story only to kill one of the girls in the ring, who actually lived till she was 90 in reality. And it did absolutely nothing for the story.

Also, the Vince Jr line was about as cheap as the production design. Zero attention to detail, the modern hotel doors with keys cards in the 1940's? Come on guys.

But all that aside this is just a really poorly written script with and directed with zero attention to detail. Even the end credits are thrown together with some AI tool. How do you go through all that work to make a film only to have AI throw the end credits together for you?!

This movie is a fantastic family watch, filled with emotional depth. The performances are outstanding, especially Emily Bett Rickards as wrestling icon Mildred Burke. Josh Lucas also delivers a memorable performance. The film is both inspiring and educational, blending history and sports beautifully. Fans of wrestling and history will appreciate the attention to detail. The production is top-notch, with an excellent script and great pacing. It's an impressive cinematic adaptation of the novel. Mildred Burke's story, as the first million-dollar female athlete and wrestling pioneer, is truly captivating. The film does justice to her legacy. Highly recommended!

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!

Fantastic movie! Incredibly moving and great to watch with the whole family! Highly recommend!

Outstanding performances from the cast and an amazing script!

Great for fans of wrestling and and history alike!

Incredibly well produced as well. Is truly an inspiring performance and message.

Incredible casting with Emily Bett Rickards as the leading role of Mildred Burke. Josh Lucas shines in this as well.

As a wrestling fan, I would highly recommend learning about the queen of the ring herself. Amazing cinematic adaptation of the novel as well.

Praise for cast and crew through the whole film!

This movie is a perfect blend of the drama us wrestling fans love & female empowerment. Single mom Mildred Burke had a dream and made it happen no matter what obstacle was thrown at her. Emily Bett Rickards did an exceptional job making us feel what she was portraying on screen - disappointment, anger, determination, love & excitement. You can not help but yell out in support of Millie!

Especially exciting to see the portayal of old school wrestlers. Cannot wait to see it again! Highly recommend for anyone, from wrestling fans to parents trying to teach their children to fight for what they want and never give up.

This film has it all. It's a thrill of a ride, tracing the great Mildred Burke and her incredible journey. So many cool cameos, awesome action, and it's beautifully shot. There are so many captivating scenes, and seeing the ups and downs of these compelling characters, from Mildred (Emily Bett Rickards is phenomenal) to Wolfe (Josh Lucas outstanding) to the badass Mae Young. It's a slice of wrestling history that few likely know, but will know after seeing this that without Mildred, the women's division would never be what it is today. This film illustrates that masterfully.

It is well cast and the performances are fantastic. A must-see for any wrestling fan and fan of great stories.

Queen Of The Ring is the feel good story of the lady wrestler Mildred Burke considered the first millionaire female athlete I don't know much about the real Mildred Burke she was ahead of my time But I did check Wikipedia from what I read it seems like they got a lot of the story correct One big mistake Gladys "Kill 'Em" Gillem didn't die after a match In reality she lived to be 89 and died from Alzheimer's in her home It's probably not to far off the mark that a lady wrestler may well have died in a ring You hear stories of wrestlers dying all the time in accidental deaths in the ring and it makes for good drama in the movie But why pick a real wrestler who is easy enough to look up Why not just create a fictional lady wrestler? There's probably other blunders if you deep dive into the real story But overall it's a good movie Great to see some familiar wrestlers in smaller parts Jimmy Cornette and Trinity Fatu I hope this gets a physical release Because I definitely would buy this.

I applaud Ash Avidsen's production of this film. I have listened and waited for many years for the film portraying Mildred. What a great job!! It made me cry to see the struggles and success of their family on screen. All the actors fit so perfectly. As I watched it was as if I was there. Emily Rickard's, as Mildred showed the heart and soul of the strong woman I had always heard of. Thank you. Gavin Casalegno, as Joe portrayed as much compassion as the person I knew. Thank you. The props were all spot on. It was definitely Top Side. I loved it!

Jeff Leen Has an eye for greatness. Kelly would be proud. Namasta.

Queen of the Ring (2025) was my second most anticipated movie of 2025 just behind Superman (2025). This is a movie that I've been waiting for since I found out about it on Instagram a couple of years ago. Well I finally watched it today and as of this review, this is my favorite movie of 2025 so far.

Positives for Queen of the Ring (2025): First off, this is just a classic underdog story about one woman wanting to be a pro wrestler and this leading to other women joining her as pro wrestlers and help make women's wrestling possible. This is helped by the fact that you have Ash Avildsen who is the son of the legendary John G. Avildsen, the director of Rocky (1976) and The Karate Kid (1984) to where you get those underdog feels through the character of Mildred Burke who is basically the Rocky Balboa / Daniel LaRusso of this story. Then, you have one of the most insanely stacked all-star ensemble cast including Emily Bett Rickards, Josh Lucas, Tyler Posey, Walton Goggins, Francesca Eastwood, Marie Avgeropoulos, Deborah Ann Woll, Kamille, Gavin Casalegno, Adam Demos, Kelli Berglund, Damaris Lewis and Martin Kove. You even have cameos from women wrestlers including "Timeless" Toni Storm, Trinity Fatu, Mickie James and Dr. Britt Baker, D. M. D.. This movie was my first experience with Emily Bett Rickards, who is best known for her role as Felicity Smoak in Arrow (2012-2020), but this was my first time watching her act in a role and she was an awesome lead for this movie as she brings a lot of charisma to the role for Mildred Burke and I hope she gets more roles after this movie. I really enjoyed Josh Lucas as the main villain of Billy Wolfe who starts off as a nice guy only to slowly show off his true colors and he was just a very captivating villain. I also loved the supporting cast and aside from Josh Lucas and Kamille, there wasn't a character who I found to be unlikable or even acts out of character throughout the entire movie which is something I appreciated a lot as a movie fan. This is a long and slow-paced movie and they absolutely earned every minute of that lone runtime as there wasn't a point during the movie where I was bored or wanted to get to the end faster. And finally, I loved all of the wrestling matches in this movie and especially the final match between Emily Bett Rickards and Kamille.

Overall, Queen of the Ring (2025) is a masterclass of filmmaking and it is my favorite movie of 2025 which is saying given that Superman (2025) will be coming later this year.

Queen of the Ring is based on a true story and book turned screenplay about Mildred Burke, the first woman pro wrestler. Millie's life dream is beautifully portrayed and the story telling in this is so powerful. We got to see the extreme dualities of what a woman is capable of doing but also, capable of enduring and overcoming. We saw Mildred Burke as a single mother, pursuing her dream as a pro wrestler, being a business woman, a disciplined athlete, a female dominating in a predominantly man's world and sport, and pioneering the way for other women in her profession - all while still entertaining the glitz and glam of all that embodies the femininity of a woman.

Not only did she overcome her own personal battles and hardships, she broke through stereotypes and the widely accepted misogyny of her time and still came out on top with a legacy to be proud of.

There are many scenes in this movie that make you reach deep about what we as a society still believe about women, but the beauty of this film is that before the modern woman today, there were many others before who the world simply were not ready for.

Mildred Burke is one of them to be remembered and thankfully, this movie honors exactly that.

I attended the Coronado Film Festival and saw that this movie was PG-13 and decided to take a chance with my kids, 13, 10, and 8. I am so grateful I was finally able to share my love of film with them with a movie that so perfectly embodies the dynamic world of womanhood and that my girls can do absolutely ANYTHING they want if they are determined to succeed.

In a world of pro-wrestling films that end in tragedy, this one is triumphant and empowering.

This film will keep you entertained and teach you a few lessons along the ride. Guys are offend depicted as being the underdog. But the reality of the world we all know; is that women can be one too. Also, other films show that women are the weaker gender. This is not the case in this film.

This film shows no matter your background or your surroundings. That if you don't let them define you and set your eyes on the goal ahead. You can do anything that you set your mind to do. So, if you are a lady and don't have a boyfriend or husband; you are reading this. Please gather your lady friends and go out to see this film. You won't be sorry that you did.

"Queen of the Ring" is an inspiring and action-packed journey that brings the story of the first female wrestler to life with heart and intensity. The lead actress delivers a powerhouse performance, balancing strength and vulnerability perfectly.

The wrestling scenes are electrifying, and the film goes beyond the sport, tackling themes of perseverance and breaking barriers. With stunning cinematography, a gripping story, and a fantastic soundtrack, this movie is a true underdog triumph.

Director Ash Avildsen masterfully blends emotion and adrenaline, crafting a film that's both powerful and unforgettable. A must-watch for sports drama fans and anyone who loves an empowering story!

History is too often forgotten. When it comes to women, their stories are more so lost to time. Considering our current digital age has the means to memorialize those who came before us, now's the time we're told the story of Mildred Burke.

Like other fierce women before her, Mildred paved the way for so many others, women and men alike, without getting nary a mention. It's inexcusable, but it's the norm. Luckily for us, we can finally learn who this incredible human is in the feature film Queen of the Ring.

Lovers of history. Lovers of sharing in women's success. Lovers of costume design. Lovers of wrestling. Lovers of story telling. Lovers of true stories. Lovers of love stories. Lovers of life itself will love the story that unfolds as Mildred traverses the turbulent world of wrestling as a single mother following her dreams during a time when dreams were legally banned from state to state and coast to coast.

This period film follows Ms. Burke and her eclectic group of beautiful women challenging the status quo, while normalizing women in the spaces so often occupied solely by men. Before Rosie the Riveter became popularized, there was Mildred.

The actors casted honored not only their characters but the real persons themselves. I truly believe each person fit the bill - or in this case the G. Bill 😉 - well, respecting and portraying each historical person in this story with accuracy. The chemistry with the actors casted was on the mark as well. They were easy to root for and fall in love with. Emily Bett Rickards made Mildred come alive in all the best ways possible.

The set designs and costumes were incredibly dimensional and vibrant. The transition scenes to include bits of true historical documentation and data, sound bites and visual clips really transported the viewer back into 1935. The dresses and costume designs were a treat to the eyes. No details were missed. The choreography for the wrestling scenes were intense and for a lack of a more creative word - raw, yet vulnerable and compelling.

Every high and every low, every win and defeat was truly felt along with Mildred. We're so lucky this world got a sliver of time with this incredible woman, and this film does her incredible justice. Truly crafted from the heart. You feel the love for the woman, for HER story, and the importance on how she changed and shaped our world for the better.

No better person to take down a heel than Ms. Mildred Burke in her high heels.