Warrior

Welcome back to Wheel of Film! This week, we’re stepping into the cage with Warrior (2011), Gavin O’Connor’s gritty sports drama that blends heart, family, and hard-hitting MMA action. The film follows estranged brothers—played by Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton—who find themselves on a collision course at a high-stakes mixed martial arts tournament, all while grappling with their fractured past and complicated relationship with their recovering alcoholic father, portrayed by Nick Nolte. Written by O’Connor and Anthony Tambakis, Warrior wasn’t a massive box office hit—earning about $23 million against a $25 million budget—but it’s become a cult favorite, praised for its emotional depth and authentic fight sequences. The film earned Nick Nolte an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, cementing its place as one of the most powerful underdog stories of the last decade.

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