Tonight the Oscars Academy Awards will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California. This will be the 90th time that the world-renowned Academy reveals their choices for Best Picture; coincidentally, 90 is also the number of years that the Canon-McMillan Wrestling Program has been around. With that in mind, we’ve decided to rank the Top 7 Wrestling Movies of All Time.

7. Legendary (2010)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 17%
Where to watch: Netflix, Hulu

The world knows John Cena as a famous WWE big shot, but he tested his skills as an amateur wrestler in this 2010 film. Cena plays the older brother to a Cal (Devon Graye), a nerdy teenager just looking to find his way in the world through wrestling. Hardships fill Cal’s life in the way of girls, bullys, family, and wrestling nerves.

This movie is pretty cheesy, but it does a good job of promoting the sport of wrestling to a generation of John Cena fans. It’s free on Netflix and Hulu, so it’s worth a watch one night.
 

6. Foxcatcher (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%
Where to watch: Amazon (Rent), *or watch the Team Foxcatcher documentary on Netflix

Foxcatcher is based on the true story of Mark Shultz (Channing Tatum) and Dave Shultz (Mark Ruffalo) as they train for the 1988 Olympic Games in South Korea. They receive some unwarranted aid from eccentric millionaire John du Pont. The dark side of du Pont is shown throughout the film, which was quite the casting change for Steve Carell who was used to comedic roles. The eventual murder of Dave Shultz is shown in a dramatic way that shocks those not familiar with the story.

The movie received five Oscar nominations in 2015, including Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. However, it was snubbed for Best Extra performances by Canon-McMillan Wrestling’s own coaches, Chris Mary and Brian “Slack” Krenzelak.

5. Win Win (2011)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
Where to watch: Amazon (Rent)

One of the most overlooked wrestling movies of the past decade is Win Win. Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti), a lawyer and high school wrestling coach, struggles to find a way to improve his failing practice and team. When an surprising stud wrestler joins his family and team, Mike’s life start to change, for the better or for worse. Wrestling is a vehicle for Mike to connect with the troubled wrestler, but the movie also presents some of the stereotypes of the sport in a fun way. From watching online film (FloWrestling?) to going on morning runs to make weight to making up amusing names for moves, the film captures the essence of high school wrestling.

Win Win was nominated for an ESPY in 2011 for Best Sports Movie.

4. Terry (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: N/A
Where to watch: FloWrestling

Terry Brands is a name known by any college wrestling fan today as one half of the iconic Brands brothers coaching duo at Iowa Wrestling. “Terry” shows the namesake’s long journey to become an Olympic medalist in the shadow of his twin brother Tom. The FloFilms documentary shows the incredible highs and absolutely horrific lows of one of wrestling’s most iconic figures as a wrestler and as a Hawkeye coach.

For any wrestler looking to see what type of training goes into making the Olympic tournament or for any fan that just wants to know more about the life of Brands, Terry is one of the best documentaries on the sport of wrestling.

3. Takedowns and Falls (2010)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: N/A
Where to watch: Vudu

Sweigard and Peppelman are two names that Big Mac fans may be familiar with if they followed the team’s State Championship runs in the early 2010’s. Takedowns and Falls details the story of Central Dauphin’s own coaches and wrestlers as they train to become PIAA Team State Champions. Pains strike the team in the form of individual losses and a coach’s cancer diagnosis. Getting views into the daily lives and routines of the team is something that resonates with high school athletes and wrestlers that have a common goal.

Perhaps the best part about this movie coming out in 2010 is that Canon-McMillan wrestlers could watch the movie with their own goals in mind: beat Central Dauphin.

2. Warrior (2011)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82%
Where to watch: Amazon (Rent)

Brendan (Joel Edgerton) and Tommy (Tom Hardy) are brothers both looking to improve their lives from damaged childhoods. When a Mega MMA Tournament opens allowing a winner to take home $5 Million, the brothers take up arms against each other. Though the sport isn’t about wrestling, Brendan was a former wrestler whose father was tough on him and his brother -- a theme that may echo with many former wrestlers. The movie’s emotional twists and turns can get even the most hardcore wrestling fan to shed a tear.
 
In addition to being one of the most motivating movies of all time, CM fans may enjoy Warrior because of its Pittsburgh references and cameo appearances by Kurt Angle. 

1. Vision Quest (1985)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 54%
Where to watch: Amazon (Rent)

Is there any other wrestling movie that can be the best besides Vision Quest? The coming of age movie tells the story of Louden Swain, played by Matthew Modine. Louden is a high school wrestler who has his sight set on beating a seemingly invincible opponent and proving everybody wrong. Louden keeps his mind and body focused on winning his match with the support of his love interest, Carla. Through shadow wrestling, rope climbing, running, weight loss, and hard work and training, Swain fulfills his vision quest.

It would behoove older fans to share this movie with their younger wrestlers so that this great piece of wrestling cinema isn’t lost over the course of history.

That’s our list of the 7 Best Wrestling Movies of All Time. Throughout all of these movies, the common theme seems to be setting a goal and doing “whatever the F*$% it takes” to win -- to steal a line from Win Win. And, that’s what wrestlers do the best. From Austin DeSanto beating Spencer Lee to Adam Coon beating Kyle Snyder, these movies aren’t just fictitious; they show what really goes on inside these crazy wrestler’s heads.

We want to know your thoughts: will you be watching the Oscars and did we forget any movies?