New Movies: Queen of the Ring (2024) by Ash Avildsen

Queen of the Ring (2024) by Ash Avildsen: A Knockout Biopic

Queen of the Ring is a biographical sports drama that chronicles the extraordinary true-life journey of Mildred Burke, a pioneering figure in professional wrestling. Directed by Ash Avildsen, the film brings to life the inspiring story of a single mother who defied societal norms and a male-dominated industry to become the first million-dollar female athlete and the longest-reigning champion in the sport's history.

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28070202/

Link Review: https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/queen-of-the-ring-review-wrestler-mildred-burke-1236331799/

About movie: https://www.queenofthering.movie/

Link to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/queen-of-the-ring (US)

Detailed Summary

Set in the 1930s, Queen of the Ring introduces Mildred Burke (Emily Bett Rickards), a young, determined single mother from the South with an unyielding ambition for greatness. At a time when professional wrestling for women was largely illegal and unheard of across most of America, Burke sets her sights on becoming a wrestler. Her path crosses with Billy Wolfe (Josh Lucas), a carnival wrestler and promoter. Impressed by her natural talent and sheer strength after she defeats a male wrestler, Wolfe agrees to train her. Their professional relationship quickly evolves into a complex personal one.

As Mildred's popularity grows, she and Billy travel across the South, participating in wrestling acts in local fairs and circuses. Mildred becomes a genuine star, captivating national attention and inspiring other women to enter the sport. The film showcases her rise to dominance, her groundbreaking achievements in an era that actively resisted female athletes, and her battles both inside and outside the wrestling ring. While Mildred's star ascends, Billy's influence becomes increasingly toxic, marked by his womanizing ways and tendency to exploit her success. Queen of the Ring portrays Mildred's triumphs and setbacks, her efforts to build a supportive community of female wrestlers, and her unwavering fight for equality and recognition in a sport determined to shut her out, ultimately cementing her legacy in professional wrestling history.

Plot Summary

The plot of Queen of the Ring follows Mildred Burke's life from her humble beginnings as a single mother in the 1930s to her ascent as a wrestling legend. It details her initial entry into the underground world of women's wrestling, her relationship with manager/promoter Billy Wolfe, and her journey to becoming a champion. The narrative focuses on her defiance of societal bans on female wrestling, her physical prowess in the ring, and her personal struggles as she navigates fame, a tumultuous relationship, and her fight for control and recognition within the industry. The film showcases her revolutionary impact on establishing women's professional wrestling as a legitimate sport.

Director's Vision

Ash Avildsen, known for films like American Satan and inheriting a legacy from his father, John G. Avildsen (director of Rocky), brings a vision of a rousing and inspirational sports biopic to Queen of the Ring. His aim was to tell Mildred Burke's extraordinary true story with a "throwback, slambang style," full of "grandstanding speeches and pounding action" in the wrestling sequences. While critics note a conventional storytelling approach, Avildsen's vision is clearly centered on the "Girl Power" message and celebrating Mildred's journey of female empowerment. He seeks to highlight her determination, hard work, and her ability to pursue her dreams and build a sisterhood, despite facing significant gender prejudice and a toxic relationship.

Themes

• Female Empowerment and Breaking Barriers: The film champions Mildred Burke's defiance against societal norms and bans on women's wrestling, showcasing her strength and determination to carve out a place for women in a male-dominated sport.

• Pursuit of Dreams and Determination: Mildred's unwavering ambition to become a wrestler despite incredible odds underscores the theme of pursuing one's passion and working tirelessly to achieve goals against adversity.

• The Dark Side of Relationships: The complicated and increasingly toxic relationship between Mildred and Billy Wolfe explores themes of exploitation, control, and the challenges faced by women whose success outshines their male partners.

• Sisterhood and Solidarity: As Mildred rises, the film touches upon the burgeoning community of female wrestlers, highlighting the importance of women building each other up in a challenging environment.

• Legacy and Historical Significance: The movie aims to shed light on Mildred Burke's vital role as a pioneer who paved the way for future generations of female athletes and entertainers in professional wrestling.

Key Success Factors

• Emily Bett Rickards' Breakout Performance: Her portrayal of Mildred Burke has been consistently praised for its physical and emotional depth, capturing Burke's strength, vulnerability, and resilience across several decades.

• Compelling True Story: The extraordinary real-life narrative of Mildred Burke, a legendary and pioneering figure, provides a captivating foundation for the film.

• Engaging Wrestling Sequences: The choreography by Heath Hensly and Jett Hansen is highlighted as entertaining and effective, contributing to both the action and characterization within the film.

• Strong Female Empowerment Message: The film's sincere focus on female strength, determination, and solidarity resonates with audiences seeking inspiring narratives about women overcoming obstacles.

• Accessible Biopic Format: While conventional, the film's narrative approach makes the complex life of Mildred Burke accessible and engaging for a broad audience, even those not deeply familiar with wrestling history.

Summary Short

Queen of the Ring is an inspiring biopic that tells the true story of Mildred Burke, the trailblazing 1930s female wrestler who battled societal prejudice and a tumultuous relationship to become the first million-dollar female athlete and champion, pioneering women's professional wrestling.

Awards and Nominations

Queen of the Ring premiered at the Buffalo International Film Festival on October 15, 2024. It also received recognition at other festivals, including:

• Twin Cities Film Fest, US: 1 Win & 1 Nomination

• Portland Film Festival, US: 1 Win & 1 Nomination

• Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, US: 1 Win & 1 Nomination

Specific details of the wins were not consistently available across sources, but the film clearly gained traction in the independent film festival circuit.

Critics Reception

Critical reception for Queen of the Ring has been generally mixed to positive.

• Next Best Picture: Noted that while Mildred Burke's story is inherently interesting, the film "leaves much to be desired" by focusing too much on wrestling and less on Burke's internal struggle or relationships. It praised Emily Bett Rickards' "fiery" and effortless transformation across decades.

• SLUG Magazine: Described the film as a "rousing and likeable sports movie" that chronicles a "turning point in history." It praised the strong and sincere female empowerment message and Avildsen's focus on "the power gained by women working to build each other up."

• Screen Rant: Gave the film a positive score, stating it "uses the story of Mildred Burke to expertly explore women's pro wrestling in a time when they weren't allowed in the sport."   

• Film Festival Today: While acknowledging its "powerful concepts" and "electrifying wrestling moments," it criticized the film for "weak storytelling" and a "conventional way" of presenting Burke's life, feeling that many key moments were "breezed over."

• The Hollywood Reporter: (Review from November 2024) Praised Emily Bett Rickards for bringing "soul and strength" to the role, describing the film as a "spirited portrait" of the wrestling pioneer.

• Variety: (March 2025) Was more critical, calling the film "more of a montage of the highlights of Burke's illustrious life, rather than an entertaining film," finding it "perfunctory, paint-by-numbers."

• Metacritic: Based on 11 critic reviews, it received a Metascore of 64, indicating "generally favorable reviews," with 64% positive and 36% mixed.

Overall Summary of Critics Reception: Critics widely commend Emily Bett Rickards' compelling performance as Mildred Burke and acknowledge the inherent inspirational power of Burke's true story. The film is praised for its strong female empowerment message and engaging wrestling sequences. However, a common criticism is that the screenplay sometimes feels conventional, episodic, and tends to skim over the deeper complexities of Burke's personal life and struggles, leading to a narrative that, while entertaining, might lack deeper cinematic artistry for some reviewers.

Reviews

Reviews from both critics and early audiences reflect a shared appreciation for the film's inspirational narrative and the central performance. Viewers often highlight the film as an "entertaining" and "inspiring" look at a historical figure. Some reviews note that it's a "must-see for lovers of sports films, biopics, and period pieces," particularly for those interested in women's wrestling history. Concerns raised in some reviews echo the critics regarding the narrative's pacing or depth, but overall, the film is seen as a likable and important historical account.

Overall Summary of Reviews: Reviews generally suggest that Queen of the Ring is a solid, inspiring biopic that effectively showcases Mildred Burke's significant contributions to professional wrestling history. While it may not be considered a groundbreaking cinematic achievement, its compelling true story and strong central performance make it an enjoyable and impactful watch, especially for its target audience.

Box Office

Queen of the Ring had a limited theatrical release in the United States. As of March 28, 2025, its worldwide box office gross was $632,366. Its domestic opening weekend on March 7, 2025, in 825 theaters, generated approximately $380,000. These figures are typical for independent films with a targeted release strategy.

Production

Queen of the Ring is a biographical sports drama directed by Ash Avildsen, who also co-wrote the screenplay. The film is based on the 2010 book The Queen of the Ring: Sex, Muscles, Diamonds, and the Making of an American Legend by Jeff Leen, and Mildred Burke's own manuscripts. Jim Ross, a renowned professional wrestling commentator, served as an executive producer. The film was produced with a relatively limited budget but achieved a slick production quality.

Production Companies

• Sumerian Pictures (United States)

• Intrinsic Value Films (United States)

Sales Companies; Myriad Pictures (United States)

Distribution Companies

• Sumerian Pictures (United States)

  • Sumerian Pictures handled the film's theatrical release in the United States. Given its limited theatrical run, it is highly likely the film is or will soon be available on VOD (Video On Demand) and streaming platforms.

Theatrical Release

Queen of the Ring premiered at the Buffalo International Film Festival on October 15, 2024. It was released in theaters in the United States on March 7, 2025.   

Why to Recommend This Movie

• Inspiring True Story: For anyone interested in stories of real-life trailblazers who overcame significant obstacles to achieve greatness, particularly in sports and women's history.

• Powerful Female Lead: Emily Bett Rickards delivers a compelling and physically demanding performance as Mildred Burke, making her journey deeply engaging and relatable.

• Female Empowerment Narrative: The film carries a strong and sincere message about women breaking barriers, building sisterhood, and asserting their power in a male-dominated world.

• Sports Drama Appeal: If you enjoy sports biopics that showcase the grit, determination, and drama inherent in athletic pursuits, especially those with historical significance.

Why to Watch Movie

• Discover a Historical Icon: To learn about Mildred Burke, a groundbreaking figure in professional wrestling whose impact extended beyond the ring, influencing generations of female athletes.

• Engage with a Story of Resilience: To witness a narrative about a woman who faced personal hardships and societal resistance but persevered through sheer will and talent.

• Enjoy a Crowd-Pleasing Biopic: If you're looking for an entertaining and uplifting film that celebrates human spirit and achievement, even if its storytelling is more conventional.

• Fans of Wrestling History: For those interested in the origins and evolution of women's professional wrestling and the unsung heroes who shaped the sport.

What Movie Trend Film is Following

The film is following the trend of "Biographical Sports Dramas with a Female Empowerment Focus." This trend sees an increasing number of films chronicling the lives of pioneering female athletes or figures who broke barriers in male-dominated fields, often aiming to inspire and educate audiences about their historical significance and struggles. It aligns with the popular "underdog hero" archetype, reimagined through a female lens.

What Big Social Trend is Following

Queen of the Ring aligns with the significant social trend of "Women's Empowerment and the Recognition of Overlooked Female Contributions to History." The film contributes to the ongoing societal movement to highlight and celebrate the achievements of women who defied limitations, challenged gender norms, and made lasting impacts in various fields, particularly in areas where their contributions may have been previously marginalized or forgotten.

Final Verdict

Queen of the Ring is a heartfelt and inspiring biographical sports drama that effectively brings the remarkable story of Mildred Burke to the big screen. While its narrative approach is conventional and may sometimes prioritize plot progression over deeper character exploration, Emily Bett Rickards' powerful performance and the inherently compelling true story elevate the film. It serves as a powerful tribute to a trailblazing athlete and a significant contribution to the genre of female empowerment biopics, proving that the fiercest battles aren't just fought in the ring, but against the world itself.

Recommendations for Filmmakers

• Leverage Compelling True Stories: Real-life narratives, particularly those of groundbreaking individuals, offer a rich foundation for compelling and inspiring cinema. Invest in thorough research to capture the essence of the subject.

• Prioritize Character Depth: While depicting a full life story can be challenging, find ways to delve into the internal struggles, motivations, and emotional complexities of the protagonist to create a more resonant and impactful character arc.

• Embrace the Spirit of the Story: For inspirational biopics, ensure the film's tone and pacing effectively convey the spirit of perseverance, determination, and triumph, allowing the audience to truly connect with the protagonist's journey.

Recommendations for Movie Industry

• Continue to Champion Female-Led Biopics: Support and fund more projects that tell the stories of influential and overlooked women throughout history, as these narratives are crucial for representation and inspiration.

• Invest in Diverse Sports Stories: Expand beyond traditional sports narratives to explore a wider range of athletic achievements and the diverse individuals who shaped them, bringing fresh perspectives to the sports drama genre.

• Strategic Distribution for Independent Films: Develop tailored distribution strategies for independent films and biopics, recognizing that limited theatrical releases coupled with robust VOD/streaming availability can effectively reach target audiences and maximize revenue.

Final Conclusions

Queen of the Ring stands as a testament to the enduring power of an individual's will to defy expectations and reshape their world. Ash Avildsen's film, anchored by Emily Bett Rickards' strong performance, effectively brings Mildred Burke's revolutionary life to a wider audience, celebrating her legacy as a pioneer of women's professional wrestling. It serves as an important reminder of the unsung heroes who broke barriers and the ongoing societal need to recognize and amplify female voices and achievements, particularly in areas historically dominated by men.