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\n\t\tA \u2018harrowing\u2019 movie about the tragedies experienced by a real-life wresting dynasty is about to be released on Netflix (Picture: Brian Roedel\/A24\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tA \u2018harrowing\u2019 movie about the tragedies experienced by a real-life wresting dynasty is about to be released on Netflix (Picture: Brian Roedel\/A24\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
A movie about a real-life wrestling family<\/a> that left its star Zac Efron<\/a> \u2018messed up\u2019 <\/a>is about to be released on Netflix<\/a>.<\/p>\n First hitting screens in 2023, The Iron Claw told the story of the Von Erichs<\/a>, a family of professional wrestlers who were \u2018cursed\u2019 by tragedy.<\/p>\n Despite the sons of wrestling company owner Fritz Von Erich achieving great success\u2019, the family also faced many struggles.<\/p>\n The synopsis for the film teased this of its plot: \u2018The 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.\u2019<\/p>\n Mindhunter star Holt McCallany played the family\u2019s patriarch, while Zac Efron played Kevin Von Erich, Jeremy Allen White<\/a> was Kerry Von Erich, Harris Dickinson<\/a> was David Von Erich, and Stanley Simons played the youngest son, Mike Von Erich.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tGet personalised updates on all things Netflix\t\t\t<\/p>\n Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro\u2019s TV Newsletter.<\/p>\n Sign up to our newsletter<\/a> and then select your show in the link we\u2019ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.<\/p>\n Produced on a $15.9million (\u00a311.9million) budget, the film ended up grossing over $45million (\u00a333.7million).<\/p>\n \t\t To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web It was a hit with critics and audiences alike, with many praising Efron\u2019s performance and the \u2018brutal\u2019 retelling of the grief that enveloped the Von Erich\u2019s.<\/p>\n \u2018Zac Efron really gives it his all in this heartbreaking wrestling film about the Von Erich family. The biopic details the complexity of the family,\u2019 Screen Rant wrote in its review.<\/p>\n \u2018As a wrenching American heartland saga, The Iron Claw is certainly compelling, and to anyone unfamiliar with the Von Erichs\u2019 history, each jolt of fresh anguish delivered to the family will be startling,\u2019 The Hollywood Reporter shared.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s a messy movie about messy lives, occasionally in ways you wish it wasn\u2019t. But The Iron Claw is also a story of redemption\u2026 That\u2019s partially why Efron\u2019s performance is the one that sticks with you,\u2019 Rolling Stone added.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, viewers called it a \u2018deeply emotional story about brotherhood and loss\u2019, adding you didn\u2019t need to be a wrestling fan to enjoy the movie.<\/p>\n \t\t For fans of the movie \u2013 or those yet to have watched \u2013 it will soon be added to Netflix, with subscribers able to tune in from August 9.<\/p>\n Some may remember photos of the staggering transformation Efron, who found fame as a teenager starring in High School Musical, undertook for this project.<\/p>\n He faced a gruelling diet and training schedule, gaining around 15lbs in pure muscle.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u2018I didn\u2019t, 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,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n \u2018We never talked about getting to a certain size or anything like that, I didn\u2019t want to put any sort of framework on [what] they should be hitting \u2013 so, they did the work they wanted to do, and obviously, signing up for a role like this, that\u2019s a part of it.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018But I appreciated every second of it, and I saw the effort and the hard work, we\u2019re all working to get to the same place and the same page.\u2019<\/p>\n Efron later revealed he needed to undergo stem cell therapy to treat a back injury he sustained while filming The Iron Claw.<\/p>\n Posting about the treatment on Instagram, he shared: \u2018I fully commit to my roles, which I love.\u2019<\/p>\n However, he went on to explain that even after months of physical therapy, his back was still \u2018messed up\u2019 and he had to seek other treatments, which he explained had made a noticeable difference.<\/p>\n What happened to the Von Erich family?<\/p>\n Hailing from Texas, the family\u2019s actual surname was Adkisson, but every member who worked in wrestling took on the ring name Von Erich.<\/p>\n \t\t Since Fritz made his debut in 1953, 10 members of the family have been professional wrestlers.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The couple\u2019s first son \u2013 Jack Jr. \u2013 died in a freak accident when he was just six years old in 1959.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Kevin, Fritz, and Doris\u2019 only surviving son retired from wrestling in 1995.<\/p>\n Doris died in 2015, with the cause of death never being publicly revealed.<\/p>\n The Iron Claw is streaming from August 9 on Netflix.<\/p>\n Got a story?<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page \u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n \t\t\tComments Arrow Arrow![\"Undated](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SEI_201866363-2bb6.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe Iron Claw follows the Von Erich\u2019s (Picture: House Claw LLC)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tThe Von Erich brothers are played by Harris Dickinson, Zac Efron, Stanley Simons and Jeremy Allen White (Picture: House Claw LLC\/ Eric Chakeen)<\/p>\n![\"Undated](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SEI_201866356-e80c.jpg\")
\n\t\tFans urged others to tune in \u2013 adding \u2018you don\u2019t need to be a wrestling fan to enjoy it\u2019 (Picture: House Claw LLC\/ Brian Roedel)<\/p>\n![\"A24](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SEI_184112742-be53.jpg\")
\n\t\tFive of the Von Erich sons tragically died before their parents (Picture: Brian Roedel\/ A24)<\/p>\n
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