World Wrestling Leisure, higher generally known as WWE, is the highest title in skilled wrestling and sports activities leisure. The corporate earns the E of their title not solely with jaw dropping matches however charismatic stars, a few of who’ve even transitioned into performing and develop into huge time names in Hollywood. John Cena has confirmed to be a terrific comic. Dave Bautista will get rave evaluations for his work in both the Guardians of the Galaxy movies and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Thriller. Then there’s Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who, regardless of the combined response to Black Adam, is the most important star on the planet.
The E doesn’t solely stand for entertaining matches and wrestlers although. WWE has aimed larger than merely being only a skilled wrestling firm. Since 2002, they’ve even had their very own movie firm, referred to as WWE Studios. They’ve put out some duds over time, however plenty of nicely obtained movies as nicely. Some had been field workplace leaders, and some even helped to launch the careers of Hollywood’s largest successes. Right here’s eleven of WWE Studios greatest releases over the past twenty years.
The Scorpion King (2002)
WWE Studio’s first characteristic movie was an necessary one. In 2002, The Rock was the most important title in wrestling and The Mummy franchise was huge business. It was a threat to make a wrestler the star of a derivative to one thing that had been so worthwhile, but it surely labored, thanks partially to introducing his character in The Mummy Returns the 12 months earlier than. It wasn’t nearly as good as The Mummy movies, but it surely was a enjoyable film, and The Rock confirmed why he had been entrusted with such an enormous endeavor. Many made jokes a few wrestling firm producing their very own Hollywood film, however the finish consequence confirmed that, whereas it wasn’t excellent, the movie was the proper place to begin for The Nice One, and confirmed how critical WWE was with their objectives.
The Rundown (2003)
Over a 12 months later, WWE Studios produced one other automobile for The Rock. Right here he obtained to be an motion star, full with a cameo from the king of motion motion pictures, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the place he briefly appeared in a passing of the torch second. Whereas this couldn’t reside as much as a few of Arnold’s greatest movies, it really works because of the good chemistry between The Rock and Sean William Scott. This was an above common buddy motion flick, with huge names like Christopher Walken and Rosario Dawson in supporting roles. It’s nothing you haven’t seen earlier than, with a cool hero, witty one-liners, and thrilling fights, but it surely hits all of its marks and offers audiences what they got here for.
Strolling Tall (2004)
WWE Studios accomplished their trio of movies starring The Rock with this remake of the 1973 cult favourite of the identical title. It follows plenty of the identical formulation of The Rundown. You’ve obtained a charismatic and funky badass within the lead, now with Johnny Knoxville within the supporting buddy function. The story of an Military veteran as a Sheriff cleansing up crime in his city runs a little bit skinny, but it surely makes up for it once more within the chemistry between The Rock and Knoxville, competent motion scenes, and the entire consciousness that the lead was so nice at pulling within the viewer, that there wasn’t something he couldn’t do. The one drawback could be that they relied on The Rock an excessive amount of to hold the film.
See No Evil (2006)
For his or her subsequent movie, WWE Studios took an enormous gamble. The Rock wasn’t there this time to attract in moviegoers and woo them along with his pure appeal. As a substitute, they turned to a wrestler named Kane (Glenn Jacobs), a person who was in style in wrestling fandom, however not a family title. He didn’t must be. He was the other of The Rock, for right here, on this slasher movie, he was the villain, much like the strolling seven-foot-tall nightmare he was on WWE TV. It’s your commonplace slasher, with skinny characters, however enjoyable kills, and manages to work because of its distinctive villain. As Jacob Goodnight, an ax wielding, spiritual zealot maniac, Kane confirmed how scary he could possibly be with out the masks he’d worn for therefore a few years. He made sufficient of a memorable affect that a sequel was made eight years later.
The Marine (2006)
The identical 12 months, WWE turned to the following face of their firm, a younger John Cena, in his movie debut. This one tries onerous to be the final word motion flick, with Cena because the muscled up robust man Marine who’s again residence and has to battle for his life when he finds himself within the flawed place on the flawed time along with your stereotypical dangerous guys. It’s a bit tacky and over-the-top, however Cena is a presence you may’t look away from. This might not be Die Onerous, however you may see a star being born, and he’s helped alongside the way in which with the same old top-notch work of Robert Patrick because the villain. The movie could be in style sufficient to result in 5 direct-to-video sequels over time starring a number of different WWE wrestlers.
Legendary (2010)
WWE Studios made a collection of ordinary motion flicks for the following few years earlier than making an attempt one thing completely different with this one. John Cena was again, however he wasn’t wielding a gun and taking out dangerous guys. Right here he obtained to indicate off his dramatic performing chops alongside proven veterans Patricia Clarkson and Danny Glover. Cena performs the brother of a youngster (Devon Graye), a nerdy bullied child who tries to affix the wrestling workforce. Cena is his reverse, the onerous one who has been in plenty of hassle. The movie reveals their struggles and achievements. Yeah, it’s melodramatic and formulaic, however WWE aimed to make you’re feeling one thing that wasn’t the usual adrenaline rush they had been identified for. In that, they succeeded.
That’s What I Am (2011)
WWE Studios actually aimed to be completely different this time, for right here there isn’t any wrestler starring, exterior of Randy Orton in a small function. As a substitute, they landed Academy Award nominated actor Ed Harris on this admittedly hokey however efficient drama. Set in a center faculty with Harris as a principal outed for being homosexual, the film deserves credit score for addressing critical subjects like bullying and acceptance. It’s a tragic movie at occasions with plenty of onerous truths, and generally it will get slowed down underneath its personal weight, however for a wrestling firm to provide a coming-of-age movie with such huge subjects is kind of spectacular.
The Name (2013)
This one was a shock hit for WWE Studios. It’s simple to see why, with a megastar like Halle Berry within the lead, and a talented director behind the digicam in Brad Anderson, the person who gave us Session 9 and Christian Bale in The Machinist. When Abigail Breslin’s character is kidnaped, Berry shines as a 9-1-1 operator who takes issues into her personal palms to save lots of the teenager. Whereas critics had been combined of their evaluations, theatergoers turned out to present Berry her first hit in years. It really works by taking a singular premise and discovering new methods all through to amp up the stress. Although the final act type of squanders that uniqueness, we glance previous it for giving us such thrilling twists and turns and serving to to reinvigorate Halle Berry’s profession.
Scooby-Doo! WrestleMania Thriller (2013)
You’d be forgiven for pondering {that a} wrestling firm producing a direct-to-video animated movie based mostly on a beloved cartoon was destined to be a flop. Certain, there’s a WWE tie-in with Scooby and the gang fixing a thriller that happens at WrestleMania, but it surely’s a cute and intelligent movie, surprisingly good and humorous, with crisp animation and nice voice work from the likes of a returning Matthew Lillard as Shaggy and the looks of many WWE wrestlers equivalent to Cena, Kane, Vince McMahon, and Triple H enjoying themselves. Youngsters will find it irresistible. Old skool Scooby-Doo followers will get pleasure from it. And wrestling followers will get a kick out of it as nicely. It really is a movie for the entire household.
Oculus (2013)
Should you’ve seen this one, chances are high you by no means even knew it was a WWE Studios movie until you occurred to catch its title within the credit. Whereas the studio had accomplished horror earlier than, it was tacky, typical slasher materials used to advertise certainly one of their abilities. Right here we get zero wrestlers turned actors for a film that’s completely not typical. Directed by the now unstoppable Mike Flanagan, this movie was solely his second characteristic and the one which propelled him to stardom. Based mostly on his personal quick movie a few possessed mirror, it’s additionally credited for beginning the mainstream profession of its lead, Karen Gillan. It’s a terrifying psychological characteristic, and proof {that a} wrestling firm knew good leisure once they noticed it.
Preventing With My Household (2019)
WWE Studio’s newest success is a coming-of-age story in regards to the rise of ex WWE ladies’s wrestler Paige, as she battles arising via developmental to profitable the championship on her first night time on Uncooked. The Rock was a producer who helped get the movie off the bottom (he has a cameo as nicely). We get a feisty heroine in Paige, alongside together with her at occasions loopy however passionate and shut household. It put Florence Pugh on the map within the lead function to inform a true story about failure and perseverance. It could be a wrestling film, however there’s one thing larger happening than that. Its coronary heart and nice characters made it an enormous hit with critics and audiences alike, turning it maybe into WWE Studios’ greatest movie.
