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Poster for Pumping Iron

Pumping Iron

1977 · 1h 26m · PG Documentary
Directed by George Butler , Robert Fiore

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Overview

Amateur and professional bodybuilders prepare for the 1975 Mr. Olympia and Mr. Universe contests as five-time champion Arnold Schwarzenegger defends his Mr. Olympia title against Serge Nubret and the shy young Lou Ferrigno.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
91%
Tomatometer
Fresh

A very good film, beautifully shot and edited, intelligently structured and -- to risk what will surely seem at first a highly inappropriate term -- charming.

Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine
Fresh

The movie is a very shrewd mixture of documentary and realistic fiction, put together with both eyes and ears on entertainment value.

Derek Adams, Time Out
Fresh

An interesting, rather slick and excessively long documentary about the small but intensely competitive world of body-building.

Richard Eder, New York Times
Fresh

Its in-your-face images of the bodybuilding subculture's well-oiled narcissism both startled and fascinated viewers, making for an unlikely boxoffice hit.

Glenn Abel, Hollywood Reporter
Fresh

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 physical edifices.

Variety

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