IMDb 7.1 2017 HD

American Wrestler: The Wizard

American Wrestler: The Wizard

2017
Drama
117 min PG-13 USA
7.3 / 10
7.1 IMDB

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…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Alex Ranarivelo
Starring
George Kosturos / Jon Voight / William Fichtner / Lia Marie Johnson / Kevin G. Schmidt / Gabriel Basso / Shannon Collis / Courtney Hope Turner

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

earnest uplifting dramatic predictable resilient historical challenging inspiring conventional heartfelt functional affecting

Reviews

S
Sophia Chen
Apr 13, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

The journey of a young Iranian refugee in 1980s America forms the heart of 'American Wrestler: The Wizard.' George Kosturos brings a compelling earnestness to his role as a boy seeking belonging amidst the fallout of the hostage…

B
Benjamin Carter
Apr 13, 2026
2.5 / 5
2.5

'American Wrestler: The Wizard' attempts to weave a tale of an immigrant’s struggle for acceptance through the lens of high school wrestling. Set in 1980, it capitalises on the cultural tensions of the era, with George Kosturos playing…

I
Isabelle Dubois
Apr 13, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

A surprisingly affecting tale of courage and adaptation, 'American Wrestler: The Wizard' shines a light on a often-overlooked aspect of recent history. George Kosturos delivers a nuanced performance as a teenager fleeing turmoil in Iran only to face…

M
Marcus Thorne
Apr 13, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

This is a story of resilience forged in the crucible of prejudice. 'American Wrestler: The Wizard' follows a young Iranian refugee’s difficult assimilation into 1980s America, a period fraught with anti-Iranian sentiment. George Kosturos embodies the spirit of…

E
Eleanor Vance
Apr 13, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

George Kosturos anchors 'American Wrestler: The Wizard' with a performance that conveys both vulnerability and grit. The film tackles the weighty subject of xenophobia with earnestness, set against the backdrop of the 1980 Iran hostage crisis. While the…

FAQs

The wrestling team serves as a crucial microcosm for the protagonist's integration into American society. Joining the struggling team offers him a structured environment to prove himself, not just physically but also as a valuable member. It provides a platform for him to overcome prejudices and build connections, using the discipline and camaraderie of the sport as a pathway to acceptance.