IMDb RATING
4.4/10
7.2K
YOUR RATING
A TV-network boss pits a wrestler called Zeus against a wrestler called Rip in a wrestling match.A TV-network boss pits a wrestler called Zeus against a wrestler called Rip in a wrestling match.A TV-network boss pits a wrestler called Zeus against a wrestler called Rip in a wrestling match.
Tom Lister Jr.
- Zeus
- (as Tom 'Tiny' Lister Jr.)
Patrick O'Bryan
- Craig
- (as Pat O'Bryan)
Richard Klinger
- Mr. Greene
- (as Dick Klinger)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe movie was produced by star Hulk Hogan and his boss, World Wrestling Federation head honcho Vince McMahon, only to be distributed by New Line Cinema after completion. When the first draft of the script was turned in, Hogan and McMahon disapproved of it, so they checked into a hotel in Redington Beach, Florida, and stayed up for 72 hours rewriting the script together.
- GoofsIn the ring scenes, Hogan wears the WWF "Winged Eagle" belt, the one used by the WWF from 1988-1998. In the dressing room scenes before his match with Zeus, he has the "XL" championship belt, the one never used by the WWF but designed to be worn by Andre The Giant.
- Quotes
Rip Thomas: What's that SMELL?
Limo Driver: Dooo... dooo... doookie!
Rip Thomas: [disgusted] "Dookie"?
- Alternate versionsIn the theatrical version, the film ends with a shot of Rip alone in the ring giving the "Rip 'Em!" sign before fading out to the end credits. In the original home video release, the film ends with a shot of Rip and Randy hugging each other in the ring, though the sound Rip makes as he does the "Rip 'Em!" sign is still audible before fading to the end credits. The 2012 DVD from WWE Studios restores the original theatrical closing shot.
- ConnectionsFeatured in WrestleMania V (1989)
Featured review
Poor wrestling move for Hulk Hogan
My review was written in May 1989 after a Cannes Film Festival Market screening.
A disappointing big-screen vehilce for wrestling champ Hulk Hogan, "No Holds Barred" should nonetheless birng out the Hulkster's legions of fans to generate good opening but wobbly legs this summer for New Line.
Despite pro wrestling's renewed popularity in recent years, the films about grapplers have all flopped, even with casts including Sylvester Stallone, Roddy Piper and Sgt. Slaughter.
Here Hogan plays himself, still the World Wrestling Federation champ (pic's executive producer is WWF's head honcho Vince McMahon). He's nmed Rip for story's sake. He strikes the same poses, makes the same grimaces and uses the same holds the fans are accustomed to, and is even accompanied by the same announcers (in cameos): Mean Gene Okerlund, Jesse (The Body) Venturaa and Howard Finkel.
Extremely lame plotline has tyrannical tv network boss Kurt Fuller unable to coax Rip away from a rival ewb. Fuller' countermove i to telecast live tough-guy contests, with muscular and mean black wrestler Tiny Lister emering the winner. In cliched fashion, Rip must meet Lister (as Zeus) in the octagonal ring while a race against the clock goes on to find his kidnapped girlfriend (Joan Severance) or Rip will have to "throw" the match to save her pretty neck.
Fan are bound to be disappointed by the uninteresting wrestling action on display here poorly photgraphed to boot. Toilet humor abounds and far too much footage is devoted to Fuller' wimpy, bumbling henchmen Charles Levin and David Palmer.
Best scenes, sure to please smallfry, are when Hogan as Rip takes his rassling into the street and applies it comicbook-style to smash up limos and anyting else in his way.
Unfortunately, Hogan's acting is poor, his line readings lacking any conviction. His talented and beautiful leading lady Severance has to carry all their scenes together, including a misjudged homage to Frank Capra's famous Walls of Jericho bedroom scene in "It Happened One Night".
As archvillain, Fuller closely resembles Bill Murray in "Scrooged", but overacts unbearably. Lister, with frightening crossed eyes, is physcially right but tuck with unfortunate stereotyping, as is the rest of the film's black cast. An engaging and funny supporting role is essayed by another pro wrestling champ, Stan (The Lariat) Hansen.
A disappointing big-screen vehilce for wrestling champ Hulk Hogan, "No Holds Barred" should nonetheless birng out the Hulkster's legions of fans to generate good opening but wobbly legs this summer for New Line.
Despite pro wrestling's renewed popularity in recent years, the films about grapplers have all flopped, even with casts including Sylvester Stallone, Roddy Piper and Sgt. Slaughter.
Here Hogan plays himself, still the World Wrestling Federation champ (pic's executive producer is WWF's head honcho Vince McMahon). He's nmed Rip for story's sake. He strikes the same poses, makes the same grimaces and uses the same holds the fans are accustomed to, and is even accompanied by the same announcers (in cameos): Mean Gene Okerlund, Jesse (The Body) Venturaa and Howard Finkel.
Extremely lame plotline has tyrannical tv network boss Kurt Fuller unable to coax Rip away from a rival ewb. Fuller' countermove i to telecast live tough-guy contests, with muscular and mean black wrestler Tiny Lister emering the winner. In cliched fashion, Rip must meet Lister (as Zeus) in the octagonal ring while a race against the clock goes on to find his kidnapped girlfriend (Joan Severance) or Rip will have to "throw" the match to save her pretty neck.
Fan are bound to be disappointed by the uninteresting wrestling action on display here poorly photgraphed to boot. Toilet humor abounds and far too much footage is devoted to Fuller' wimpy, bumbling henchmen Charles Levin and David Palmer.
Best scenes, sure to please smallfry, are when Hogan as Rip takes his rassling into the street and applies it comicbook-style to smash up limos and anyting else in his way.
Unfortunately, Hogan's acting is poor, his line readings lacking any conviction. His talented and beautiful leading lady Severance has to carry all their scenes together, including a misjudged homage to Frank Capra's famous Walls of Jericho bedroom scene in "It Happened One Night".
As archvillain, Fuller closely resembles Bill Murray in "Scrooged", but overacts unbearably. Lister, with frightening crossed eyes, is physcially right but tuck with unfortunate stereotyping, as is the rest of the film's black cast. An engaging and funny supporting role is essayed by another pro wrestling champ, Stan (The Lariat) Hansen.
- How long is No Holds Barred?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $8,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $16,093,651
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $4,957,052
- Jun 4, 1989
- Gross worldwide
- $16,093,651
- Runtime1 hour 33 minutes
- Sound mix
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content