WWE Studios was developed as a strategic initiative by World Wrestling Entertainment to expand its brand into the film industry. Initially, the studio produced movies featuring wrestling talent to capitalize on their existing fan base. While early releases received mixed reviews, they gave Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and John Cena a chance to get their foot in the door of mainstream Hollywood productions.
Over the years, WWE Studios has continued to produce films that blend wrestling with various genres, seeking to appeal to both wrestling fans and general audiences. Here are the best WWE movies (in no particular order) and where you can find them on Prime Video, Apple TV+, and more.
The Scorpion King (2002)
The Scorpion King was Dwayne Johnson's first leading role in a feature film. He plays Mathayus, a stoic and cunning warrior-for-hire living in the harsh deserts of ancient Egypt. When a tyrannical warlord named Memnon (Steven Brand) gains power using a Sorceress named Cassandra (Kelly Hu) who can foresee the outcome of every battle, Mathayus is hired to eliminate her.
What unfolds is part revenge tale, part epic origin story, and all delivered with the kind of sweaty, sand-crusted bravado that only early 2000s action films could pull off with a straight face. Johnson arrives fully formed as an action star, radiating charisma even when the dialogue feels awkward. Fans of Conan the Barbarian (2011) or The Mummy films will relish the practical stunt work and earnest grandeur.
The Rundown (2003)
The Rundown sees Dwayne Johnson take on a more grounded, gritty role as he steps into the boots of Beck, a debt collector with a conscience and a serious distaste for guns. But Beck isn't your average action hero. He's competent, but he also carries the weariness of a man who's spent his life cleaning up other people's messes and is finally ready to chase his own dreams. However, his retirement plans are put on hold when he's sent to the Amazon jungle to find his boss' reckless son (Seann William Scott).
The film is best described as an adventure full of over-the-top action. The jungle setting becomes a character itself, with the mud, vines, and booby traps echoing the playful peril of Romancing the Stone (1984). Viewers who enjoy buddy-comedy dynamics will find this one entertaining from start to finish.
The Marine (2006)
The Marine introduces us to John Triton, played by John Cena in his feature film debut. Triton is a recently discharged Marine who returns home only to have his wife kidnapped by a gang of jewel thieves led by a villainous, over-the-top Robert Patrick. What follows is a high-stakes rescue mission that barrels through forests, gas stations, and half the state's infrastructure.
The Marine never apologizes for being an adrenaline-drenched star vehicle. Cena plays Triton like a man who has nothing to lose and everything to prove, not just to the characters around him, but to an audience who still wasn't sure if this wrestling superstar could carry a movie. Fans of movies like Hard to Kill (1990) will appreciate the stripped-down thrills.
Legendary (2010)
With Legendary, WWE Studios pivoted hard from gunfire to heartstrings. This sports drama centers on Cal Chetley (Devon Graye), a bookish teenager who joins the wrestling team to reconnect with his estranged older brother Mike (John Cena). It's a story rooted in grief, family tension, and the quiet resilience it takes to repair broken relationships.
Wrestling is the backdrop in Legendary, while healing is the main event. Overall, the film feels fresh, especially coming from a studio best known for body slams and explosions. For Cena, still a rising star at the time, it gave him a chance to swap his action hero persona for something deeper. Fans of sports dramas like Friday Night Lights (2006) will love it.
Fighting with My Family (2019)
Fighting with My Family isn't just a great wrestling movie—it's just a great movie. Based on the real-life rise of WWE superstar Paige, the film follows Saraya Knight (Florence Pugh) as she navigates the unlikely leap from a scrappy wrestling promotion in Norwich, England, to the grand stage of WWE stardom. It's a fish-out-of-water story, a family dramedy, and an underdog sports tale all wrapped into one emotionally resonant package.
Dwayne Johnson, playing a heightened version of himself, adds just the right amount of meta-wisdom to the story, bridging the past and present of WWE's Hollywood experiment. But the film's heart comes from learning where you belong when your dream collides with reality. If you loved Bend It Like Beckham (2002), this underdog gem features the same uplifting vibe.
Rumble (2021)
Rumble is what happens when WWE's over-the-top theatricality meets Pixar-style optimism. Set in a whimsical world where giant monsters are the celebrities of the professional wrestling world, the film follows Winnie (Geraldine Viswanathan), an ambitious teenage girl who sets out to train a lovable underdog monster named Steve (Will Arnett) into a championship contender.
It's a classic sports story full of zany humor, big lessons, and larger-than-life personalities, both human and otherwise. Viewers drawn to films like Monsters University (2013) will love Rumble's warmth since the story champions perseverance and self-worth, which wrestling fans of all ages will also rally behind.
