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Jennifer Lopez's “Unstoppable” receives standing ovation and praise in Toronto

Unstoppable, starring Jennifer Lopez receives approval from Anthony Robles, whose story inspired the film, and from audiences at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The film, which received a standing ovation from the audience during the credits, tells the true story of wrestler Robles, who was born with one leg and won an NCAA national championship for Arizona State University in 2011. Lopez plays Robles' mother, Judy Robles. Anthony served as a producer and is credited as a stunt double for actor Jharrel Jerome, who plays Anthony.

During the film's premiere in Toronto on Friday, September 6, Robles tells PEOPLE in an exclusive interview what it's like to have his life story made into a film.

“I would say the hardest part was sharing the uncomfortable things,” he says. “But I felt like in order to properly tell my story and really reach as many people as possible, people needed to know my pain. They needed to know what scars I had and what I was dealing with. I think that was hard for me, but it was also therapeutic.”

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Jennifer Lopez at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024.

Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty


Although there were “a few things here and there that didn't fit into the movie,” Anthony, who gave the film a standing ovation during the credits, told PEOPLE that he was happy with “the overall message.”

“We did it, and this team did it,” he says, adding, “It means no matter what you're struggling with, you can overcome it. You can be unstoppable.”

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Judy was also present at the screening and hugged Lopez after the superstar introduced her to the audience, as seen in a video posted by The Hollywood Reporter.

During the Q&A, Lopez said Anthony and Judy trusted the filmmakers with “all the information they could give us and knew that we would not abuse it in any way, but would only use it to tell their story in the best and most beautiful way it deserves,” adding, “Because I believe it is one of the most beautiful and inspiring stories I have ever seen on screen.”

Together with Lopez and Jerome Unstoppable The film stars Michael Peña, Don Cheadle and Bobby Cannavale. Ben Affleck and his long-time friend Matt Damon produced the film through their production company Artists Equity. Damon and his wife Luciana also attended the film's premiere in Toronto on Friday.

William Goldenberg, who previously worked with Affleck as an editor on “2023” Air and 2012 Argo — made his directorial debut with the film. It Also is Lopez's latest film since Atlas began streaming on Netflix earlier this year.

Unstoppable will be in select theaters in December and soon on Prime Video.