Throughout Hollywood history, there have been some sports movies that are considered undeniable classics, like Rocky, Bull Durham, Miracle, and Raging Bull. However, one 1977 film that was once considered a guaranteed flop went on to leave such a lasting legacy that it has been ranked among the greatest sports movies ever.
Why Critics Now Rank It Among the ‘Best Sports Movies of All Time’
In May 2026, Time Out updated its ranking of the “best sports movies of all time.” The highly respected outlet ranked the 1977 documentaryPumping Iron, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno, at No. 33. Notably, it was listed higher than some iconic films like A League of Their Own, The Fighter, and even Field of Dreams. Additionally, when Sports Illustrated published an article about the “best sports movies” in July 2007, it also included Pumping Iron.
The acclaimed documentary has long been celebrated for how effectively it captures the extreme level of dedication it takes for athletes to excel at their sport of choice. Furthermore, the way that it builds Schwarzenegger up as a pseudo-villain and Ferrigno as the underdog hero helps it craft a truly compelling story. After all, in addition to being a fascinating subject in general, the psychological warfare unleashed by Schwarzenegger is breathtaking to observe.
One of the most impressive elements of Pumping Iron has to be how it captured the action. For example, during a competition, cameras were filming backstage, from the crowd, and on the stage beside the bodybuilders. Cutting between footage from each of those cameras helped the movie feel very cinematic. Amazingly, these are only some examples of the elements that make Pumping Iron worthy of going down in movie history.
Why the Film Was Expected to Fail
Since he is one of the biggest movie stars of all time, it can be easy to forget how Arnold Schwarzenegger was initially counted out. Long before he starred in several movies that many fans consider masterpieces, myself included, movie producers thought he was likely to be box office poison. In fact, the people behind Schwarzenegger’s first film, Hercules in New York, had so little faith in him that they had an American actor dub over all his lines.
In October 2024, Pumping Iron’s director, George Butler, was interviewed by The Barbell about the documentary and its origins as an article and book. While speaking to the outlet, Butler revealed that when the manuscript for the book was handed in, Doubleday’s editor-in-chief told him nobody would read it. “I want my money back. No one will ever read this book, and no one will ever be interested in Arnold Schwarzenegger.”
Once he began work on the documentary, Butler sought investors and was ultimately able to raise just $400,000. He explained that he was warned by a notable potential backer that a movie about Schwarzenegger would be “laughed off.”
“We shot a test film, and I screened it in New York for a hundred investors and [actress] Laura Linney’s father [playwright Romulus Linney] got up and said, ‘George, if you ever make a movie about Arnold Schwarzenegger, you’ll be laughed off 42nd Street.’ And, of course, Arnold is now the king of 42nd Street.”
Next: 1968 Classic Ranked ‘Best Movie of All Time’ — And It Still Has People Obsessed
This story was originally published by Men’s Journal on Jun 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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