Latest news with #VonErich
Daily Mirror
10-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Netflix viewers in tears after watching heartbreaking biopic with Hollywood star
Netflix fans have been left in tears after watching The Iron Claw on Netflix, which stars Zac Efron in a role that is worlds away from the Disney Channel film that made him famous Netflix fans have been left in tears after The Iron Claw made its debut on Netflix. The 2023 film stars Zac Efron as wrestling legend Kevin Von Erich, and was released on the streaming platform on Friday, almost two years on from when it first came out in cinemas. The film charts lives of the Von Erich brothers and their careers, and High School Musical star Zac, 37, stars alongside the likes of Jeremy Allen White, Harrison Dickinson, Lily James and Maura Tierney. A synopsis for the sports drama reads: "The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s." Critics were immediately grabbed by the film's premise, with Rolling Stone's David Fear writing: "It's a messy movie about messy lives, occasionally in ways you wish it wasn't. But The Iron Claw is also a story of redemption… That's partially why Efron's performance is the one that sticks with you." It comes as BBC viewers cringe at Kemi Badenoch's 'fields of wheat' moment. READ MORE: Zac Efron looks unrecognisable on set with Phoebe Dyvenor as they hold hands for new film One critic said: "Zac Efron really gives it his all in this heartbreaking wrestling film about the Von Erich family. The biopic details the complexity of the family," whilst another added: "As a wrenching American heartland saga, The Iron Claw is certainly compelling, and to anyone unfamiliar with the Von Erichs' history, each jolt of fresh anguish delivered to the family will be startling. " A third shared: 'The Iron Claw looks and feels like a pre-streaming TV movie – and not just any old TV movie but a strangely entertaining, darkly tragic, completely gripping TV movie." Fans have also been quick to flood social media with their opinions after the film arrived on Netflix. One said: "The ending of the iron claw has just ripped my heart out," and another said bluntly: "Haunting good story, that left me in an emotional wreck. Excellent performance from Zac Efron. Really just hits different." A third said: "Watching the final scene of The Iron Claw and I think someone must have been cutting onions next to me. Seen it like 5 times and it always hits like a punch to the gut." One viewer, who had been particularly moved by the events depicted in the film, said: "The Iron Claw is the saddest fkn film I've ever seen. Who can be happy again after seeing this?! WHO MADE THIS??!!!" and another wrote: "Watching the Iron Claw knowing fully well I would cry but the AMOUNT of crying was underestimated." The film has also caused a stir on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where it has managed to reach a score of 89%. One reviewer said on the famed movie website: "A tragic story, told impeccably well. More wrestling biopics please! Didn't think this would be one of the best films I've seen, really surprised me... No popcorn needed! Maybe just tissues.' An absolutely fantastic film that had to be dialled down to make it believable. Tragic family story that was worse in real life but too unbelievable to put all in the movie.' A second film buff added: "Phenomenal movie. Amazing performances from the actors. I've lost people close to me so I really felt this one. Truly beautiful movie," and a third said: "Wow. Incredible acting from all performers. It's more about family, masculinity, grief, loss, and mental health than wrestling. One of the best movies I've seen in years actually!" Zac previously reflected on his difficult training for the sports flick. He told USA Today: "You think you're getting the hang of it, and you speed up a few times and your confidence gets built up. Then you slam into one of those things just an inch too high and your rib is like gone. You can't breathe for a couple days. I don't know how these guys do it, man ... it's shocking that first time you do it. You're like, 'This is not as easy as it looks on TV.'" And around the same time, he explained to Deadline: "Nothing could prepare me for the wrestling. The physical preparation and the training, that's something that I've always found very interesting. I've always admired people's transformations, in particular for movie roles. I just find that dedication fascinating and special when I see it. "So in training for this, I got to train essentially for my championship, my belt match. It all came down to, how precise is my training? How dedicated am I to this? How hard can I push? I think I shed a skin somewhere in those seven months where Kevin was really at the wheel. It felt honest, it felt real. "I felt like I was physically there; I felt mentally there, as a direct result of the training, and then from there, the wrestling, surprisingly, was fun."
Daily Mail
10-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Netflix fans break down in tears at 'heartbreaking and messy' film based on true story with all-star cast
Netflix fans broke down in tears at a 'heartbreaking and messy' film based on a true story with an all-star cast. The Iron Claw, directed and written by Sean Durkin, was released back in 2023, but is about to find a new audience on the popular streaming service. Viewers will be able to watch the sports movie on Netflix from August 9, 2025. The blockbuster is based on the lives of the Von Erich brothers and their careers as wrestlers, under the training of their dad. 'The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s,' IMDb's synopsis reads. It stars the likes of Zac Efron as Kevin Von Erich, Jeremy Allen White as Kerry Von Erich, Harrison Dickinson as David Von Erich, and Maura Tierney as Doris Von Erich. The Iron Claw, directed and written by Sean Durkin, was released back in 2024... but it is about to land on the popular streaming service Stanley Simons plays Mike Von Erich, Michael J Harney is Bill Merce, Holt McCallany plays Jack Von Erich and Lily James as Pam Adkisson. Many have rushed to share their rave reviews about the film. Rolling Stone's David Fear said: 'It's a messy movie about messy lives, occasionally in ways you wish it wasn't. But The Iron Claw is also a story of redemption… That's partially why Efron's performance is the one that sticks with you.' Meanwhile Screen Rant's Mae Abdulbaki added: 'Zac Efron really gives it his all in this heartbreaking wrestling film about the Von Erich family. The biopic details the complexity of the family.' 'As a wrenching American heartland saga, The Iron Claw is certainly compelling, and to anyone unfamiliar with the Von Erichs' history, each jolt of fresh anguish delivered to the family will be startling,' The Hollywood Reporter's David Rooney wrote. The Irish Times' Tara Brady said: 'The Iron Claw looks and feels like a prestreaming TV movie – and not just any old TV movie but a strangely entertaining, darkly tragic, completely gripping TV movie.' Others have rushed online to other websites to give their thoughts. The movie has got a whopping 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. One said on the critic site: 'A tragic story, told impeccably well. More wrestling biopics please!' 'Didn't think this would be one of the best films I've seen, really surprised me... No popcorn needed! Maybe just tissues.' 'An absolutely fantastic film that had to be dialled down to make it believable. 'Tragic family story that was worse in real life but too unbelievable to put all in the movie.' 'Phenominal movie. Amazing performances from the actors. I've lost people close to me so I really felt this one. Truly beautiful movie.' 'Wow. Incredible acting from all performers. It's more about family, masculinity, grief, loss, and mental health than wrestling. One of the best movies I've seen in years actually. 'Tragic, true story, heartbreaker of a film.' 'Ultimately, heart wrenching.' High School Musical legend Zac previously opened up about the work he had to put into his physique ahead of filming with Deadline. The actor said: 'Nothing could prepare me for the wrestling. The physical preparation and the training, that's something that I've always found very interesting. 'I've always admired people's transformations, in particular for movie roles. I just find that dedication fascinating and special when I see it. 'So in training for this, I got to train essentially for my championship, my belt match. It all came down to, how precise is my training? How dedicated am I to this? How hard can I push? 'I think I shed a skin somewhere in those seven months where Kevin was really at the wheel. It felt honest, it felt real. 'I felt like I was physically there; I felt mentally there, as a direct result of the training, and then from there, the wrestling, surprisingly, was fun.
Metro
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
'Brutal' film based on harrowing true story finally comes to Netflix
A movie about a real-life wrestling family that left its star Zac Efron 'messed up' is about to be released on Netflix. First hitting screens in 2023, The Iron Claw told the story of the Von Erichs, a family of professional wrestlers who were 'cursed' by tragedy. Despite the sons of wrestling company owner Fritz Von Erich achieving great success', the family also faced many struggles. The synopsis for the film teased this of its plot: 'The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. Through tragedy and triumph, under the shadow of their domineering father and coach, the brothers seek larger-than-life immortality on the biggest stage in sports.' Mindhunter star Holt McCallany played the family's patriarch, while Zac Efron played Kevin Von Erich, Jeremy Allen White was Kerry Von Erich, Harris Dickinson was David Von Erich, and Stanley Simons played the youngest son, Mike Von Erich. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. Produced on a $15.9million (£11.9million) budget, the film ended up grossing over $45million (£33.7million). To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video It was a hit with critics and audiences alike, with many praising Efron's performance and the 'brutal' retelling of the grief that enveloped the Von Erich's. 'Zac Efron really gives it his all in this heartbreaking wrestling film about the Von Erich family. The biopic details the complexity of the family,' Screen Rant wrote in its review. 'As a wrenching American heartland saga, The Iron Claw is certainly compelling, and to anyone unfamiliar with the Von Erichs' history, each jolt of fresh anguish delivered to the family will be startling,' The Hollywood Reporter shared. 'It's a messy movie about messy lives, occasionally in ways you wish it wasn't. But The Iron Claw is also a story of redemption… That's partially why Efron's performance is the one that sticks with you,' Rolling Stone added. Meanwhile, viewers called it a 'deeply emotional story about brotherhood and loss', adding you didn't need to be a wrestling fan to enjoy the movie. For fans of the movie – or those yet to have watched – it will soon be added to Netflix, with subscribers able to tune in from August 9. Some may remember photos of the staggering transformation Efron, who found fame as a teenager starring in High School Musical, undertook for this project. He faced a gruelling diet and training schedule, gaining around 15lbs in pure muscle. Speaking to Metro at the time, Durkin was asked whether he felt guilt over, or sympathy for, what his actors were doing to get up to shape. 'I didn't, because I respected what they did but I also left it to them, to go on their own journeys for whatever they wanted to do physically to get into the shape they felt was right for the character,' he said. 'We never talked about getting to a certain size or anything like that, I didn't want to put any sort of framework on [what] they should be hitting – so, they did the work they wanted to do, and obviously, signing up for a role like this, that's a part of it. 'But I appreciated every second of it, and I saw the effort and the hard work, we're all working to get to the same place and the same page.' Efron later revealed he needed to undergo stem cell therapy to treat a back injury he sustained while filming The Iron Claw. Posting about the treatment on Instagram, he shared: 'I fully commit to my roles, which I love.' However, he went on to explain that even after months of physical therapy, his back was still 'messed up' and he had to seek other treatments, which he explained had made a noticeable difference. Hailing from Texas, the family's actual surname was Adkisson, but every member who worked in wrestling took on the ring name Von Erich. Since Fritz made his debut in 1953, 10 members of the family have been professional wrestlers. Between 1952 and 1969, Fritz and his wife Doris had six sons. By the time he died of cancer aged 68 in 1997, five of his sons had predeceased him. The couple's first son – Jack Jr. – died in a freak accident when he was just six years old in 1959. More Trending In subsequent years, David died from enteritis in 1984 at age 25, and Mike, Chris, and Kerry all died by suicide, respectively in 1987 at age 23, 1991 at age 21, and 1993 at age 33. Kevin, Fritz, and Doris' only surviving son retired from wrestling in 1995. Doris died in 2015, with the cause of death never being publicly revealed. The Iron Claw is streaming from August 9 on Netflix. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Myleene Klass caught ex-husband cheating on her with celebrity known for 'family values' MORE: Mind-bending' TV drama that had fans calling in sick races up Netflix chart MORE: Iconic rapper announces sudden death of son aged 20
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Iron Claw' Wrestler's Daughter Slams 'Inaccurate' & 'Heart-Wrenching' A24 Film
Nearly two years after A24 immortalized the wrestling family's tragic story on the big screen in The Iron Claw, the Von Erichs are speaking up. In an upcoming episode of Investigation Discovery's Hollywood Demons, airing Monday at 9pm, Lacey Von Erich criticized the Sean Durkin-helmed 2023 film for its 'inaccurate' and 'heart-wrenching' depiction of her father Kerry Von Erich (portrayed by Jeremy Allen White). More from Deadline 'The Iron Claw' Cast On The Power Of Brotherly Love In A24 Wrestling Drama Zac Efron Left It 'All On The Field' With 'The Iron Claw' & Was Transformed In The Process: 'It's Rekindled A Fire In Me' – The Deadline Interview 'The Mandalorian & Grogu' Teases New Footage Of Sigourney Weaver & Jeremy Allen White - Star Wars Celebration 'My sister and I were not in the movie as my dad's children and he didn't have a wife or anything,' said Lacey, who is also a wrestler, in a preview. 'And that was a really big part of my dad. So how he was portrayed in the movie is so inaccurate that it was heart-wrenching.' Although The Iron Claw addressed Kerry's motorcycle crash that led to his foot being amputated, his abuse of painkillers and his death by suicide in 1993, his wife Catherine Murray and daughters Hollie and Lacey were not included in the film. Kevin Von Erich, the last surviving wrestler brother who was portrayed by Zac Efron, added, 'Kerry in the movie was not a family man, but in real life he was.' Although Lacey said the family was not consulted about the movie, which they learned about on social media, Kevin noted that he 'endorsed' Durkin's film. Based on a true story, The Iron Claw follows the rise and fall of the Von Erich family, a dynasty of wrestlers who made a huge impact on the sport from the 1960s to the present day. The film specifically hones in on the supposed 'Von Erich curse,' which would see one Von Erich brother after another meet their untimely end, leaving just Kevin Von Erich left. Best of Deadline 'Ransom Canyon' Book Vs. Show Differences: From Quinn & Staten's Love Story To Yancy Grey's Plot Everything We Know About Netflix's 'Ransom Canyon' So Far 'Ransom Canyon' Soundtrack: All The Songs You'll Hear In The New Netflix Western Romance Series
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Iron Claw' Wrestler's Daughter Slams 'Inaccurate' & 'Heart-Wrenching' A24 Film
Nearly two years after A24 immortalized the wrestling family's tragic story on the big screen in The Iron Claw, the Von Erichs are speaking up. In an upcoming episode of Investigation Discovery's Hollywood Demons, airing Monday at 9pm, Lacey Von Erich criticized the Sean Durkin-helmed 2023 film for its 'inaccurate' and 'heart-wrenching' depiction of her father Kerry Von Erich (portrayed by Jeremy Allen White). More from Deadline 'The Iron Claw' Cast On The Power Of Brotherly Love In A24 Wrestling Drama Zac Efron Left It 'All On The Field' With 'The Iron Claw' & Was Transformed In The Process: 'It's Rekindled A Fire In Me' – The Deadline Interview 'The Mandalorian & Grogu' Teases New Footage Of Sigourney Weaver & Jeremy Allen White - Star Wars Celebration 'My sister and I were not in the movie as my dad's children and he didn't have a wife or anything,' said Lacey, who is also a wrestler, in a preview. 'And that was a really big part of my dad. So how he was portrayed in the movie is so inaccurate that it was heart-wrenching.' Although The Iron Claw addressed Kerry's motorcycle crash that led to his foot being amputated, his abuse of painkillers and his death by suicide in 1993, his wife Catherine Murray and daughters Hollie and Lacey were not included in the film. Kevin Von Erich, the last surviving wrestler brother who was portrayed by Zac Efron, added, 'Kerry in the movie was not a family man, but in real life he was.' Although Lacey said the family was not consulted about the movie, which they learned about on social media, Kevin noted that he 'endorsed' Durkin's film. Based on a true story, The Iron Claw follows the rise and fall of the Von Erich family, a dynasty of wrestlers who made a huge impact on the sport from the 1960s to the present day. The film specifically hones in on the supposed 'Von Erich curse,' which would see one Von Erich brother after another meet their untimely end, leaving just Kevin Von Erich left. Best of Deadline 'Ransom Canyon' Book Vs. Show Differences: From Quinn & Staten's Love Story To Yancy Grey's Plot Everything We Know About Netflix's 'Ransom Canyon' So Far 'Ransom Canyon' Soundtrack: All The Songs You'll Hear In The New Netflix Western Romance Series
