Pumping Iron (1977)

Before he was the Terminator, and then the Governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger was a full-time bodybuilder.Pumping Iron follows him and other professional bodybuilders in the months leading up to the 1975 Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia competitions. It gives viewers an entertaining and often educational look into this insanely competitive world, from the way the athletes train mentally and psychologically to the pressure they feel as their big days draw close. It also gives us a chance to see these larger-than-life men in a new light — as humans, enjoying time at home and celebrating after their competitions are over. Some of the best segments inPumping Iron feature Schwarzenegger’s rivalry with fellow bodybuilding bigwig Lou Ferrigno, including their in-depth demonstrations of how they built their world class physiques.