The Iron Claw Trivia | 50 facts about the sports drama

“The Iron Claw” is a biographical sports drama starring Zac Efron that is garnering raves by critics and the audience.

Let’s find out some trivia and facts about the film.

1. The Iron Claw is a 2023 biographical sports drama film written and directed by Sean Durkin
2. It is based on the life of professional wrestler Kevin Von Erich and the Von Erich family
3. In the film stars Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Maura Tierney, Holt McCallany, and Lily James
4. The Iron Claw premiered at the Texas Theatre in Dallas on November 8, 2023
5. It was released in the United States by A24 on December 22, 2023
6. It is scheduled to be released by Lionsgate UK in the United Kingdom on February 9, 2024
7. The film received positive reviews from critics
8. It was named one of the top 10 films of 2023 by the National Board of Review
9. Durkin had a long-term aspiration to create a film based on the Von Erich family
10. He was a fan of professional wrestling during his youth and he was personally saddened by the string of Von Erich family deaths
11. In 2015 he began research for the film’s initial screenplay
12. Chris Von Erich, the youngest member of the family, was not included in the screenplay because, as Durkin described, the script couldn’t withstand one more tragedy
13. Chris died by suicide in 1991, a year and a half prior to Kerry Von Erich
14. He was the fourth family death (after Jack Jr., David, and Mike)
15. In June 2022, the film was announced to star Efron and to be produced and distributed by A24
16. Later, it was also developed by House Productions, with the support of Access Entertainment and BBC Film
17. In September, White and Dickinson were announced as joining the project to portray the Von Erich brothers, alongside Efron
18. One month later, McCallany and James were cast, and Juliette Howell, Angus Lamont, Maura Tierney, Tessa Ross, Derrin Schlesinger, and Harrison Huffman were confirmed as producers
19. In November, Friedman was cast and was later credited as an executive producer
20. Principal photography began in Baton Rouge, in October 2022
21. It lasted six weeks
22. Instead of filming the wrestling scenes in multiple edited sequences, however, the cast performed full-length, one-take wrestling matches, in front of a live audience, which was held in a furniture store that was converted to appear as the Dallas Sportatorium
23. Chavo Guerrero, who portrays The Sheik, also acted as the film’s primary wrestling consultant
24. Guerrero also spoke to the cast about premature deaths in professional wrestling, including that of his uncle, Eddie Guerrero
25. The film received special dispensation from SAG-AFTRA, to continue production and promotion during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike
26. This was due to the acceptance of certain conditions and stemming from A24’s positive relationship with the union
27. Richard Reed Parry of Arcade Fire composed the film’s score
28. In the United States and Canada, The Iron Claw was released alongside Migration, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and Anyone but You
29. It was projected to gross around $6 million from 2,774 theaters in its four-day opening weekend
30. The film made $2.5 million on its first day, including $640,000 from Thursday night previews
31. It went on to debut to $4.9 million, finishing sixth at the box office
32. In its second weekend the film made $5 million
33. Finishing seventh at the box office
34. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 88% rating
35. Based on 171 critics’ reviews are positive
36. With an average rating of 7.7/10
37. The website’s consensus reads: “Powerfully acted and profoundly sad, The Iron Claw honors its fact-based story with a dramatization whose compassionate exploration of family ties is just as hard-hitting as its action in the wrestling ring”
38. Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 74 out of 100
39. Based on 40 critics
40. Indicating “generally favorable” reviews
41. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of “A–” on an A+ to F scale
42. The best ever for an A24 title
43. While PostTrak reported 91% of filmgoers gave it positive score
44. With 72% saying they would definitely recommend the film
45. In October 2023, Marshall Von Erich praised Guerrero’s role as a wrestling consultant
46. Highlighting the accuracy of the film’s wrestling sequences and complimented Efron’s performance
47. Kevin Von Erich also positively highlighted Guerrero’s contributions, stating, “He did a great job, pushing [the cast] and getting them ready. It is a lot more difficult than it looks, and they did so well”
48. Von Erich met Efron, and he endorsed his portrayal and the overall film
49. Efron, later, stated was “the most important review”
50. Von Erich stated he believed the film accurately portrays his late father, Fritz