Queen of the Ring (2024)

A single mother fights her way from underground matches to become the sport's first million-dollar female athlete.

The story

The film chronicles the life of revolutionary female wrestler Mildred Burke. In an era when women were barred from the ring, Burke shattered every rule in the book. As a single mother with unstoppable grit, she fought her way from underground matches to the pinnacle of professional wrestling, becoming the sport's first million-dollar female athlete. Defying skeptics, opponents, and a system determined to shut her out, Burke carved her legacy as the longest-reigning champion in history—proving that the fiercest battles are not just fought in the ring, but against the world itself.

First release year

2024

Runtime (minutes)

140

Production countries

United States

Original languages

English

Directors

Ash Avildsen

Writers

Ash Avildsen · screenplay

Cast and characters

Emily Bett Rickards · Mildred Burke; Josh Lucas · Billy Wolfe; Tyler Posey; Francesca Eastwood; Marie Avgeropoulos · Babe Gordon; Deborah Ann Woll; Cara Buono; Walton Goggins

Genres

biographical; sports drama

Themes

female empowerment; perseverance; breaking barriers

Tone and mood

vintage; sepia-tinged

Premise and plot tags

biographical; sports drama; women's professional wrestling

Source material / true-story basis

The 2010 book The Queen of the Ring: Sex, Muscles, Diamonds, and the Making of an American Legend by Jeff Leen, and Burke's own manuscripts.

Reception

The film received generally favorable reviews, with critics praising its vintage setting, cinematography, and the lead performance.

Reported review scores

Metacritic · score: 65 · scale: 100 · review count: 9

Production trivia

Principal photography took place in Louisville, Kentucky.; The film received dispensation to continue filming during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.

Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.

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