Greatness lies on the other side of our greatest fears, and Anthony Robles has proven himself unstoppable time and time again.

In the new sports film Unstoppable, Jharrel Jerome morphs into the inspiring Robles, who gained recognition for excelling to extraordinary heights as an athlete born without his right leg due to a rare congenital condition. He was raised by his singer mother, Judy Robles, who he credits with playing a pivotal role in his ability to excel as a wrestler at the high school and collegiate levels. 

What is ‘Unstoppable’ about?

According to an official film synopsis, Unstoppable “showcases Anthony’s rise from a novice wrestler to a national champion, emphasizing themes of perseverance, resilience, and the power of self-belief. The film culminates in his triumphant victory at the 2011 NCAA Wrestling Championships, serving as a testament to overcoming adversity and redefining the limits of physical ability.”

Judy, portrayed by Jennifer Lopez, played a significant role in her son’s work as an athlete by instilling the character trait of what it takes to be unstoppable, leaning on her faith and wits to see their family through many hard times reflected in the film. 

During a previous interview with Blavity’s Shadow and Act, Judy recalled the nervousness of reliving some of the traumas that she and her children experienced, including domestic violence and the loss of their home due to foreclosure.

“I didn’t realize just the impact that it would have and the necessity to tell the full story, and then having to talk to different people, in different times, and then share with Jennifer everything that we went through,” she said. “Being vulnerable was something that I didn’t necessarily want to do, but then again, I wanted to do it because I knew that it needed to show who we really are, and I knew it needed to be done authentically. And Anthony is very respectful, and I think that if I would have pulled back, he would have allowed me to, which would have made the story very different.”

Judy added, “So, in order for me to impact lives like we want it to, I had to be vulnerable. So, there was no preparation; there was just tears on set, and there was tears knowing that was happening. But I’m grateful for it because I think it helped. It’s helping me heal from a lot of it.”

Who else stars in the film?

Along with Jerome and Lopez, other notable cast members include Don Cheadle as Robles’ Arizona State University coach, Shawn Charles; Bobby Cannavale as his stepfather, Rick Robles; and Michael Peña as his high school wrestling coach, Bobby Williams. 

What happens at the end of ‘Unstoppable’?

Viewers see Robles take on the 125-pound NCAA title in collegiate wrestling.

After an uphill battle to make it to the NCAA Wrestling Championships for a second time in 2011, Robles is victorious in making his dream of becoming a national champion come true when he defeated former champion and rival the University of Iowa’s Matt McDonough in the finals. 

Robles won the championship and maintained an undefeated record throughout his senior year at ASU.

Unstoppable is now available to stream on Prime Video.