Queen of the Ring (film)

{{Infobox film

| name = Queen of the Ring

| image = Queen of the Ring (film) poster.jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Ash Avildsen

| producer = {{Plainlist|

Aimee Schoof
Isen Robbins
B. D. Gunnell
Ash Avildsen

}}

| screenplay = Ash Avildsen

| based_on = {{Based on|The Queen of the Ring: Sex, Muscles, Diamonds, and the Making of an American Legend|Jeff Leen}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music = Aaron Gilhuis

| cinematography = Andrew Strahorn

| editing = Craig Hayes

| production_companies = {{Plainlist|

Sumerian Pictures
Intrinsic Value Films

}}

| distributor = Sumerian Pictures

| released = {{Film date|2024|10|15|Buffalo International Film Festival|2025|3|7|United States}}

| runtime = 140 minutes

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget =

| gross = $632,366{{Cite web |title= Queen of the Ring |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2804449281/?ref_=bo_we_table_16 |website=Boxofficemojo |access-date=March 28, 2025}}

}}

Queen of the Ring is a 2024 Canadian biographical sports drama about female professional wrestler Mildred Burke. The film is written and directed by Ash Avildsen. It stars Emily Bett Rickards as Burke, with Josh Lucas, Tyler Posey, and Walton Goggins in supporting roles.

Premise

The film chronicles the life of revolutionary female wrestler Mildred Burke.

In an era when women were barred from the ring, Mildred Burke shattered every rule in the book. 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 aren’t just fought in the ring, but against the world itself.

Cast

{{castlist|

}}

Production

File:Mildred Burke Worlds Champion Lady Wrestler.jpg

The film is written and directed by Ash Avildsen, inspired by 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.flaunt.com/blog/ash-avildsen|website=Flaunt.com|accessdate=18 April 2024|title= ASH AVILDSEN - CREATING HIS OWN DESTINY, CROSSING OVER INTO FILM, AND HIS HIT SERIES 'PARADISE CITY'}} Jim Ross is executive producer on the film. Aimee Schoof and Isen Robbins of Intrinsic Value Films and TV and B.D. Gunnell are the producers on the film.{{cite web|url= https://wrestlingheadlines.com/wwe-stars-to-appear-in-new-movie-on-the-life-and-career-of-a-wwe-hall-of-famer/amp/|website=Wrestling Headlines|accessdate=18 April 2024|title= WWE Stars to Appear In New Movie on the Life and Career of a WWE Hall of Famer|date=22 May 2023}}

Principal photography took place in Louisville, Kentucky.{{cite web|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/09/business/media/sag-waivers-strike.html|website=The New York Times|accessdate=18 April 2024|title= Confusion in Hollywood as Some Productions Are Allowed to Continue|first=Nicole|last=Sperling|date=9 August 2023}} In July 2023, the film received dispensation to continue filming during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/actors-strike-movies-tv-shows-still-filming-1235538864/|website=The Hollywood Reporter|accessdate=18 April 2024|title=SAG-AFTRA Strike: Which Movies and TV Shows Are Still in Production|first=Rick|last=Porter|date=19 July 2023}}

=Casting=

File:Emily Bett Rickards Photo Op GalaxyCon Austin 2023.jpg

In May 2023, Emily Bett Rickards was cast as the lead in the film as Mildred Burke while Josh Lucas was cast as Billy Wolfe. At this time, Marie Avgeropoulos was cast as Babe Gordon.{{cite web|url=https://moviesr.net/p-emily-bett-rickards-josh-lucas-to-star-in-wrestling-movie-queen-of-the-ring#google_vignette|website=Midgard Times|accessdate=18 April 2024|title= Emily Bett Rickards, Josh Lucas to Star in Wrestling Movie 'Queen of the Ring' [Exclusive]|date=23 May 2023}}

In June 2023, Walton Goggins, Francesca Eastwood, and Deborah Ann Woll joined the cast, {{cite web|date=3 June 2023|url=https://moviesr.net/p-walton-goggins-and-deborah-ann-woll-join-wrestling-movie-queen-of-the-ring|website=Midgard Times|accessdate=18 April 2024|title= Walton Goggins and Deborah Ann Woll Join Wrestling Movie 'Queen of the Ring' [Exclusive] }} with Gavin Casalegno cast as Mildred's teen age son Joe later that month.{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2023/film/news/the-summer-i-turned-pretty-star-gavin-casalegno-wrestling-movie-queen-of-the-ring-1235641245/|website=Variety|accessdate=18 April 2024|date= June 13, 2023|title='The Summer I Turned Pretty' Star Gavin Casalegno Joins Wrestling Film 'Queen of the Ring' (EXCLUSIVE)|first=Rachel|last=Seo}} Charlotte Flair and Liv Morgan had to withdraw from their roles as June Byers and Clara Mortensen due to scheduling and injury issues, respectively, and were replaced by NWA Women's Champion Kamille and AEW Women's Champion Toni Storm.{{cite web|url= https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/queen-of-the-ring-biopic-moves-forward-amidst-strike-charlotte-flair-liv-morgan-replaced/articleshow/102258804.cms|website=The Economic Times|access-date=18 April 2024|title= Queen of the Ring biopic moves forward amidst strike, Charlotte Flair, Liv Morgan replaced|date=31 July 2023}} In June 2023, Trinity Fatu joined the cast.{{cite web|website=Post Wrestling|accessdate=18 April 2024|url=https://www.postwrestling.com/2023/06/26/trinity-fatu-to-be-in-queen-of-the-ring-film/|title= Trinity Fatu to be in 'Queen of the Ring' film|date=June 26, 2023|first=Andrew|last=Thompson}} Kelli Berglund was cast in August 2023, having previously also played a wrestler on the television series Heels.{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/heels-star-kelli-berglund-season-2-interview-1235558922/|title= How 'Heels' Star Kelli Berglund Became the Heart and Soul of the Wrestling Drama|date=9 August 2023|website=The Hollywood Reporter|accessdate=18 April 2024}}

Release

Queen of the Ring premiered at the Buffalo International Film Festival on October 15, 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/mildred-burke-biopic-queen-ring-premiere-october|title=Mildred Burke Biopic 'Queen of The Ring' To Premiere In October|last=Lambert|first=Jeremy|work=Fightful|date=October 11, 2024|access-date=January 23, 2025}} It was released in theaters in the United States on March 7, 2025, by Sumerian Pictures.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/queen-of-the-ring-trailer-mildred-burke-emily-bett-rickards-2-1236249000/|title='Queen of the Ring' Trailer: Emily Bett Rickards Becomes Legendary Wrestler Mildred Burke (EXCLUSIVE)|last=Stephan|first=Kacy|work=Variety|date=December 17, 2024|access-date=January 23, 2025}}

Soundtrack

Sumerian Records released the soundtrack album for the film featuring ten songs from the movie. It includes songs produced by the films composer, Aaron Gilhuis.

{{Track listing

| headline = Queen of the Ring (Music from the Motion Picture) track listing

| extra_column = Performer(s)

| title1 = Dust in the Wind

| writer1 =

| extra1 = Corey Taylor feat. Bad Omens & Aaron Gilhuis

| length1 = 4:19

| title2 = Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning

| writer2 =

| extra2 = Zoe Wees & Aaron Gilhuis

| length2 = 2:40

| title3 = Dead Beat Lover

| writer3 =

| extra3 = Lanie Gardner

| length3 = 3:06

| title4 = Never Ending Moment

| writer4 =

| extra4 = Des Rocs & Aaron Gilhuis

| length4 = 4:17

| title5 = Burned You

| writer5 =

| extra5 = Zhavia

| length5 = 3:18

| title6 = God's Gonna Cut You Down

| writer6 =

| extra6 = Larkin Poe & Aaron Gilhuis

| length6 = 3:53

| title7 = The Seeker

| writer7 =

| extra7 = Danny Worsnop & Aaron Gilhuis

| length7 = 3:24

| title8 = The Unforgiven

| writer8 =

| extra8 = Kittie, DIAMANTE, & The Pretty Wild & Aaron Gilhuis

| length8 = 5:52

| title9 = A Woman Scorned

| writer9 =

| extra9 = Lanie Gardner

| length9 = 2:58

| title10 = House of the Rising Sun

| writer10 =

| extra10 = Kat Von D

| length10 = 4:41

| total_length = 38:28

}}

Reception

{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|74|6.4|53|Emily Bett Rickards is terrific in this straightforward sports biopic, which puts on a good show even if it only glancingly grapples with the surface details of its true story.|ref=yes|access-date=March 22, 2025}} {{Metacritic film prose|65|9|ref=yes|access-date=March 22, 2025}}

Nick Bythrow of Screen Rant gave the film a positive score, stating, "Queen of the Ring uses the story of Mildred Burke to expertly explore women's pro wrestling in a time when they weren't allowed in the sport."{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/queen-of-the-ring-movie-review/|title=Queen Of The Ring Review: I’m Impressed By Ash Avildsen’s Consistently Compelling Wrestling Biopic Starring Emily Bett Rickards|website=Screen Rant|date=March 8, 2025|access-date=March 19, 2024}}

Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter also provided a positive review, writing, "Despite its low budget, the film looks terrific, effectively conveying its vintage settings thanks to Andrew Strahorn's handsome, sepia-tinged cinematography and Sofija Mesicek's period-perfect costumes." He praised the strong performances of the cast, in particular lead Emily Bett Rickards, whose performance he credited as giving the film its heart and soul".{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/queen-of-the-ring-film-review-1236063810/|title=‘Queen of the Ring’ Review: Emily Bett Rickards Brings Soul and Strength to Female Wrestling Biopic|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=November 18, 2024|access-date=March 19, 2025}}