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Beyond the Mat

Play trailer Poster for Beyond the Mat R 2000 1h 42m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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82% Tomatometer 66 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
"Beyond the Mat," Barry Blaustein's honest, intimate, revealing, highly entertaining, and critically acclaimed behind-the-scenes look at wrestling, takes viewers beyond the ring and into the lives of the men and women who inhabit this colorful, competitive, and surprisingly complex world.
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Beyond the Mat

Beyond the Mat

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Critics Consensus

Even if you aren't a fan, Beyond the Mat provides a riveting, perceptive look into the world of professional wrestling by taking a closer look at the people beneath the personas.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media 10/14/2010
4/5
WWF documentary is OK for older teens. Go to Full Review Lisa Alspector Chicago Reader 03/23/2007
Documentaries are almost always more interesting if the filmmakers fess up about their relationship to the subject, as unabashed pro-wrestling fan Barry Blaustein does in this naively made, compelling homage to the sport. Go to Full Review Robert Koehler Variety 03/23/2007
A gently and genuinely observed film whose subject is a garish, artificial display of mayhem. Go to Full Review Kaleem Aftab The List 04/13/2019
3/5
There's no need to be a fan of American wrestling to enjoy Beyond the Mat. Blaustein concentrates on the idea of people living out dreams rather than the life of a wrestler, and in doing so succeeds in showing the brutal reality behind the pantomime. Go to Full Review Michael Dequina TheMovieReport.com 01/03/2010
3/4
Am engrossing watch, but it's far from the most fascinating and incisive look at its subject. Go to Full Review Richard Luck Film4 07/31/2008
Blaustein, Foley and Funk layeth the smack well and truly down. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 Jun 25 Real footage in 1 hour and 42 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $2,000,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Violent Content and Language!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Kevin C 08/09/2022 Barry Blaustein directs this fascinating documentary focusing on his childhood obsession, the world of pro wrestling. Featuring unprecedented access to Vince McMahon and the WWE, this is just riveting from start to finish. Even non wrestling fans would find this incredibly engaging. Featuring segments on Mick Foley, Terry Funk, Jake Roberts, New Jack and more. Funny, shocking and heartbreaking at times. No other documentary has gotten such great footage of behind the scenes at WWE. A must see. See more 10/06/2020 The access and footage Blaustein gained here was extraordinary. There’ll never be another wrestling documentary like it. See more russell h 09/24/2020 I loved this documentary. A real story of the professional wrestling business that is very eye-opening. See more Ted W 08/30/2020 Great interesting fantastic phenomenal documentary that I learned a lot from. Yes, I already knew about 90 percent of the stuff they talked about but I did learn a couple new things. The Mick Foley parts were the best because they showed his family side and how they're effected by this buisness and it's so sad but that's what you have to do in this type of business. See more Rich S @RPS1963 08/10/2020 Wrestling legend Rowdy Roddy Piper described this film as "the best documentary ever made on professional wrestling." That's all I need to hear. Beyond the Mat is a must-see for anyone who was ever a wrestling fan. It won't turn many viewers into new fans of the sport. It might leave those of us to wonder, who liked it growing up, what we ever saw in this sport that has hypnotized millions of fans. See more Read all reviews
Beyond the Mat

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Cast & Crew

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Barry W. Blaustein

Director

Terry Funk

Self

Mick Foley

Himself

Jake "The Snake" Roberts

Self

Vince McMahon

Self

Roland Alexander

Self

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Beyond the Mat

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Movie Info

Synopsis "Beyond the Mat," Barry Blaustein's honest, intimate, revealing, highly entertaining, and critically acclaimed behind-the-scenes look at wrestling, takes viewers beyond the ring and into the lives of the men and women who inhabit this colorful, competitive, and surprisingly complex world.
Director
Barry W. Blaustein
Producer
Barry W. Blaustein, Barry Bloom, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Michael Rosenberg
Screenwriter
Barry W. Blaustein
Distributor
Image Entertainment Inc., Universal Pictures, Lionsgate Films
Production Co
Imagine Entertainment, Lions Gate Entertainment
Rating
R (Violent Content|Language)
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 17, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.0M
Runtime
1h 42m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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