September 27, 2008
Whoooo yes sir.
Arnold Schwarzenegger,
Lou Ferrigno,
Matty Ferrigno,
Franco Columbu,
Mike Katz
... see more 
Arnold Schwarzenegger gained his first real notoriety outside body-building circles with this documentary about a group of men training for the Mr. Olympia contest. Arnold had already won the title si... read more
Directed by: George Butler, Robert Fiore
DVD Release Date: November 11, 2003
Your Rating
Flixster Reviews (884)
-
-
January 5, 2007Docu-drama about bodybuilders featuring a very young arnie. Sound entertaining? Thought not...
-
June 15, 2010Part documentary, part mockumentary the film manags to both portray the (then) underground bodybuilding culture of the 1970s and slyly mock it.
Smarter than it is given credit for, though that is hardly saying much.
Arnold is, surprisingly, not much of a stickler for form... -
-
January 2, 2011Got this DVD as a gift and it was sitting on a shelf for some time after I finally got around to watch it. It turned out a lot more entertaining than I expected! The film focuses more on behind the scenes rather than the actual competition, and the filmmakers goosed up the story ... read more
-
April 10, 2009Pumping Iron is a piece of nostalgia due to its leading subject, Arnold Schwarzenegger. This entertaining look at professional bodybuilding captures Arnold in his last year competing, just on the cusp of becoming a movie star. Lou Ferrigno who we all know as The Incredible Hulk i... read more
-
March 8, 2008I lift...Arnold, Nubret and Franco at their best...Notice the great shapes and tight midsections they had back then (The "V" shape), unlike most of todays pro-bodybuilders (The "X" shape). The 25th SE has some great outtakes and a reunion scene not to be missed, especially when A... read more
-
January 13, 2008Just a documentary on Arnie preparing for the Mr. Olympia where he beat Lou Ferrigno. Lots of weightlifting. Lots of broken English.
-
January 12, 2008Arnold's first film ever, this dramamentary shows that his career was no fluke he was a star from the begining
-
August 29, 2007Arnolds days before movies and politics, Franco Culumbo is awesome when he lifts up the front end of a car without a sweat!
Critic Reviews
August 3, 2008
Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine
March 14, 2007
Variety
The most fascinating aspect of this film is the dedicated training that turns average-built young men (frequently they refer to themselves as weaklings in their early youth) into superbly-created phys... Full Review
May 9, 2005
Richard Eder, New York Times
An interesting, rather slick and excessively long documentary about the small but intensely competitive world of body-building. Full Review
January 6, 2004
Glenn Abel, Hollywood Reporter
Its in-your-face images of the bodybuilding subculture's well-oiled narcissism both startled and fascinated viewers, making for an unlikely boxoffice hit.
March 14, 2009
Louise Keller, Urban Cinefile
Pumping iron is as satisfying as having sex with a woman and reaching orgasm, says Arnold Schwarzenegger in this fascinating1977 documentary Full Review
April 6, 2007
Lori Hoffman, Atlantic City Weekly
Arnold's "reality" debut
March 14, 2007
Empire Magazine
Fascinating stuff when viewed in the context of Arnie's now notorious political career. Full Review
March 14, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Directors George Butler and Robert Fiore never allow their film to turn into a freak show, but neither do they illuminate the appeal of body building, either to those who participate or those who watch. Full Review
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams, Time Out
The movie is a very shrewd mixture of documentary and realistic fiction, put together with both eyes and ears on entertainment value. Full Review
August 24, 2005
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
Sort of entertaining. Arnold is a prophet.
View more
Pumping Iron
reviews
Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
