Netflix viewers in tears after watching heartbreaking biopic with Hollywood star

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.

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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."

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