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American Wrestler: The Wizard

American Wrestler: The Wizard

Drama · 2017

In 1980, a teenage boy escapes the unrest in Iran only to face more hostility in America, due to the hostage crisis. Determined to fit in, he joins the school's floundering wrestling team.

Movie details

American Wrestler: The Wizard

“He escaped one war, only to face another.”

2017 Drama 1h 57m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.2 / 10

Community rating

In 1980, a teenage boy escapes the unrest in Iran only to face more hostility in America, due to the hostage crisis. Determined to fit in, he joins the school's floundering wrestling team.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over American Wrestler: The Wizard?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Alex Ranarivelo

Written by

Ali Afshar · Brian Rudnick

George Kosturos

George Kosturos

Ali

Jon Voight

Jon Voight

Principle Skinner

William Fichtner

William Fichtner

Coach Plyler

Lia Marie Johnson

Lia Marie Johnson

Kristi Larsen

Kevin G. Schmidt

Kevin G. Schmidt

Rowan Knox

Gabriel Basso

Gabriel Basso

Jimmy Petersen

Shannon Collis

Shannon Collis

Wendy

Court is in session

Put American Wrestler: The Wizard on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.