The Sheik

2014Movie1 h 35 min

74
GoodGoodWatch score

A cathartic, nostalgic documentary movie about a real life story and sports, with standout characters.

Good for friends night · teens · thought-provoking

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for scares, laughs or romance.

Movies with

Story

When Khosrow Vaziri became the World Wrestling Federations Iron Sheik and camel-clutched his way to fame in the 1980s, he achieved the American Dream by personifying a foreign villain. Losing his world championship belt to Hulk Hogan became a defining moment in professional wrestling. These days, the Sheiks smackdowns are on Twitter, where hes gained a new following. Once an Olympic hopeful, bodyguard to Irans Shah and pop culture icon, we witness Vaziri struggling with addiction and despair as a family man. But with the help of Torontos Magen brothers, the Sheik begins a road to redemption and renewed status as a public figure. Showcasing his powerful past and at times painful present, this is an insightful look at one of wrestlings biggest stars, but also a powerful story of personal sacrifice that, in the Sheiks own words, will make you humble.

Feels like

  • Biographical Documentary
  • Wrestling Legend
  • Redemption Story
  • Pop Culture Icon
  • 80s Nostalgia
  • Addiction & Recovery
  • Family Drama
  • Unflinching Portrait
  • Sports History
  • Charismatic Figure

Cast

Crew

Directed by
Igal Hecht
Produced by
Jian Magen

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

April 26, 2014 · 1 h 35 min · Drug Use, Strong Language

Released
April 26, 2014
Runtime
1 h 35 min
Content
Drug Use, Strong Language
Genres
Documentary
Original language
English
Made in
Canada
Available in
130 countries

Tropes

Author Vocabulary Calendar, Nurture over Nature, Gratuitous Foreign Language +9

  • Author Vocabulary Calendar
  • Nurture over Nature
  • Gratuitous Foreign Language
  • Near-Rape Experience
  • Exposition Bomb
  • Bloodless Carnage
  • First Father Wins
  • Faux Action Girl
  • Break the Cutie
  • Rape Portrayed as Redemption
  • Pass Fail
  • Fetishized Abuser

12 of 67 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

4 questions, like "Where can I stream The Sheik?"

Questions about The Sheik

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Sheik?

In the United States, The Sheik streams on FlixFling, and it is free with ads on Pluto TV, Fawesome, and Xumo Play. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store and FlixFling. It also streams in 129 other countries.

Is The Sheik worth watching?

74
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 74 (IMDb 7.1).

Is The Sheik plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and dialogue centrality (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

What tropes does The Sheik use?

Author Vocabulary CalendarNurture over NatureGratuitous Foreign LanguageNear-Rape ExperienceExposition BombBloodless CarnageFirst Father WinsFaux Action GirlBreak the CutieRape Portrayed as RedemptionPass FailFetishized Abuserand 55 more

TV Tropes lists 67 tropes for it, including Author Vocabulary Calendar, Nurture over Nature, and Gratuitous Foreign Language.