MOVIE · 1977

Pumping Iron

Documentary86 min

As the 1975 Mr. Olympia and Mr. Universe contests approach, top bodybuilders train, pose, and size each other up on the way to the stage. Arnold Schwarzenegger is the five-time Mr. Olympia champion, mixing supreme confidence with relentless preparation as he defends his title. Opposite him, Lou Ferrigno emerges as a younger, quieter challenger, with Serge Nubret and Franco Columbu also in the field. The film stays close to workouts, backstage nerves, and the psychological sparring around competition, showing how bodybuilding turns muscle, presentation, and personality into a public contest.