Film Review: Queen of the Ring – A True Knockout of Grit, Glamour and Heart.
There’s something about a true story that always pulls me in. I’ve always believed real lives – the struggles, the resilience, the impossible victories – can be far more powerful than anything scripted. Queen of the Ring is exactly that kind of story. It doesn’t just entertain, it makes you stop and think about how one woman’s determination reshaped what was possible, not only in sport, but for women everywhere.
Opening in UK cinemas on 19th September, Queen of the Ring tells the remarkable story of Mildred “Millie” Burke, the first million-dollar female athlete in history and the longest reigning champion of women’s wrestling. The film boasts an impressive cast – Emily Bett Rickards, Josh Lucas, Francesca Eastwood, Deborah Ann Woll, Walton Goggins (and many more) – but what really struck me wasn’t just the line-up, it was the weight of Millie’s story itself.
A single mother in small-town America during the 1930s, she stepped into a ring at a time when female wrestling was illegal in most states. Not exactly the “respectable” path society would have chosen for her. And yet, against every obstacle, she built an extraordinary career. Watching her balance life on the road with motherhood, grief, and a difficult relationship with her manager and ex-husband, Billy Wolfe, was both moving and, at times, heart-breaking.
The film doesn’t shy away from the darker side of Millie’s world – the dangers of the ring, the politics behind the curtain, the personal sacrifices – but it also celebrates her legacy. She wasn’t just winning matches; she was changing culture. She brought women of colour into the sport, headlined events over men, and even participated in the first female “shoot match” – a fight without a script. In doing so, she made history, whether society was ready for her or not.
Director Ash Avildsen captures all of this with both grit and glamour. Knowing that he’s the son of John G. Avildsen – the director of Rocky and The Karate Kid – gives an added sense of poetry to this story. You can feel the influence of those classic underdog tales, but with a rawer, more intimate edge. Avildsen has said that reconnecting with his father later in life shaped his approach to storytelling. That personal connection, that hunger to tell a story with meaning, really comes through in every scene.
For me, Queen of the Ring is more than just a sports drama. It’s a reminder of how women before us fought – sometimes literally – for the chances we now have. Millie Burke wasn’t just wrestling opponents, she was wrestling the expectations of a whole society, and she came out on top.
I walked out of the screening not only entertained but inspired. This isn’t just a film for wrestling fans. It’s a film for anyone who loves a good story about courage, persistence and breaking barriers. It’s about what happens when someone decides to stop asking permission and instead steps into the ring to claim their place.
Queen of the Ring is powerful, moving, and, quite simply, unforgettable.
Poppy Watt