WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Unstoppable.
The 2024 sports biopicUnstoppablechronicles theremarkable true story of Anthony Robles, which continued long after his historic wrestling career at Arizona State University. As depicted at theend ofUnstoppable, Robles faced obstacles and challenges both on and off the wrestling mat before becoming the 2011 NCAA wrestling champion. Directed by Oscar-winning editor William Goldenberg in his feature film directorial debut,Unstoppableis based onRobles' 2012 bookUnstoppable: From Underdog to Undefeated: How I Became a Champion. Emmy winner Jharrel Jerome leads anoutstandingUnstoppablecastincluding Jennifer Lopez, Michael Peña, Don Cheadle, and Bobby Cannavale.
Unstoppablehas received mostly positive reviews, earning a Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 74%. Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, andthe real-life Anthony Roblesproduced the film. Robles also appears in the film as his own double in certain scenes. Robles remains the only NCAA wrestler with one leg to win a national championship and the first athlete to be signed by Nike after retiring from a sport. Because Robles was a direct part of the film’s creation and production,Unstoppableaccurately depicts his inspiring true story.Unstoppablebecameavailable to stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video on June 21, 2025.
Anthony Robles Became A Wrestling Commentator In 2012
He joined ESPN as an NCAA wrestling analyst and won 2 ESPY Awards
As depicted before the end credits ofUnstoppable, Anthony Robles' story has inspired millions, including Nike Founder and CEO Phil Knight, who said “After what he accomplished, Anthony Robles will be a Nike athlete for life.” Robles retired from wrestling after winning his 2011 NCAA Title and became a motivational speaker, currently working with Keppler Speakers and Washington Speakers Bureau. In 2011, Robles won the prestigious Jimmy Valvano ESPY Award for perseverance as well as Best Male Athlete with a Disability. He became an NCAA wrestling analyst for ESPN in 2012 beforePresident Obama appointed him to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition in 2013.
Robles wrote his bookUnstoppablesoon after winning the 2011 NCAA Title. It was published in 2012 and acts as the inspiration for the movie of the same name. In recent years, Robles took over as wrestling coach at Mesa High School, where he went undefeated and earned an impressive 96-0 record during his junior and senior years under coach Bobby Williams. His mother, Judy Robles, graduated from Arizona State University in 2014 and earned her Doctorate of Education in 2022. She is currently the Assistant Dean of Students at Arizona State University.
Anthony Robles' Book Was Turned Into A Movie Through Ben Affleck & Matt Damon’s Production Company
Other producers and actors were attached before Affleck & Damon stepped in
Unstoppablepremiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on June 04, 2025 before getting a limited release in theaters on December 6. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon were two of the producers of the film along with the real-life Anthony Robles under their production company Artists Equity. The Los Angeles premiere of the film was scheduled for July 03, 2025 but was canceled due to the Palisades Fire.The making ofUnstoppableexperienced many pauses and setbacksbut everything finally came to fruition in the hands of distributor Amazon MGM Studios.
Robles endured another difficult path just to get hisUnstoppablebook made into a film. After producers David Crockett and Andy Fraser initially bought the rights to his book in 2014, not long after its publication in the afterglow of Robles' 2011 NCAA championship victory, the project lost momentum. In November 2019,Unstoppablewas acquired by 101 Studios with Seven Bucks Productions, Dwayne Johnson, and Dany Garcia attached to produce. Jason Mitchell (Straight Outta Compton) was set to star before Jharrel Jerome landed the role. After Affleck and Damon took over, production was halted by COVID-19 and the SAG/WGA strikes.Just like in his sport, Robles stayed committed to the project and made it a reality.
What Else Anthony Robles Has Done After Graduating From ASU
Robles broke the world record for most pull-ups in 1 minute in 2018
Apart from being an author, film producer, ESPN analyst, motivational speaker, and NCAA national champion, Robles returned to Mesa High School to coach their wrestling team. Robles also was a double for his own character inUnstoppable, particularly during the competitive wrestling scenes that combined shots of Jerome’s face with Robles' signature techniques on the mat.Robles also remarkably set the Guinness World Record for Most Pull-ups in 1 Minutein November 2018 during halftime of a New York Jets game reaching a total of 62. Both theUnstoppablemovie and book prove that Anthony Robles is truly an unstoppable force both in life and on the wrestling mat.
Unstoppable
Cast
Despite being born with one leg, Anthony Robles overcomes significant challenges both at home and in the competitive world of wrestling. His determination and relentless drive lead him to become an NCAA Division 1 wrestling champion, earning him national recognition and a place in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
