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TOP 30 MUSCLE MOVIES (#7)

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GI Team
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Expendables 1#7. THE EXPENDABLES (SYLVESTER STALLONE, 2010)

For many, The Expendables is a dream come true. A fusing of every single classic action star put together into one movie. Shaken around with some explosions, guns, knives, fist fights – resulting with one hell of a film.

This is the class reunion of muscle men. Everyone who has shown up on our list so far teams up into one super group. You have Stallone, Lundgren, Statham, and Rourke. Heck you even have a cameo of Arnold thrown in there. Sure these guys are all older now, but that doesn’t change the fact that this film is the greatest hits of powerhouse muscles.

There’s also some great “newcomers” to our list as well. Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Jet Li, and Steve Austin all provide some extra strength to pad out the ultimate ensemble of a muscle movie.

They even tried to get Van Damme and Seagal into this film, which would ultimately complete the 80s/90s action reunion. But sadly it didn’t work out. (Van Damme would eventually sign on for Expendables 2).

The Expendables is basically the Top Muscle Movies list put together into one non stop action packed film. So we can’t deny placing this in the top ten of our list. These guys are all icons – and with this movie they prove that they’re time isn’t up just yet.

 

What do you guys think about The Expendables? Let us know in the comments section below. You can always like us on Facebook too. Follow us on Twitter here: @GI_Athletics

 

Photo courtesy of: Gamemoir

TOP 30 MUSCLE MOVIES (#8)

By
GI Team
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Gerard Butler 1#8. 300 (ZACK SNYDER, 2006)

300 men. 300 swords. 300 shields. As Gerard Butler would scream: “This. Is. Sparta!” The ultimate story about perseverance, strength, and the pure power of will. 300 Spartans stand off against the entire Persian army. No one backs down. No one runs.

Gerard Butler plays King Leonidas as he leads his small army of soldiers to protect Sparta from the invading forces of the Persian army. Every single Spartan in this movie is shirtless, ripped, and fueled with vigor. It is the ultimate display of what raw strength and willpower can achieve. It’s about rising above. About being fearless of defeat.

Butler spent an average of four hours every day training in a gym for four months before shooting. Since the script demanded all of the soldiers’ screen time to be shirtless, the entire cast underwent intense training for 8 weeks right before the shoot. World record holding mountain climber Marc Twight set the regime so that the same exercise was never repeated twice, preventing the body from becoming too content with any one routine. Butler admitted that it was the hardest thing he had ever had to do in his life.

Just watching 5 minutes of the film is proof enough that this is one of the greatest muscle movies of all time. Jump into any scene and you’ll find action, strength, and an amazing display of will. Ranking it #8 on the list.

 

Having secret desires of kicking someone down an infinite hole? Want to talk about it? We’re ready to listen in the comments section below. You can also follow us on Facebook or Twitter: @GI_Athletics

 

Photo courtesy of: Hotflick

TOP 30 MUSCLE MOVIES (#9)

By
GI Team
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Conan Schwarzenegger 4#9. CONAN THE BARBARIAN (JOHN MILIUS, 1982)

Okay, let’s just get this out of the way first: Arnold punches a camel in the head. It’s inhumane, but come on, it’s also pretty hilarious. Conan the Barbarian was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s first staring role and immediately skyrocketed him into a Hollywood celebrity. We can see why. He’s completely jacked; wields gigantic swords; and obliterates every enemy in his path.

Here’s the best part, Arnold was actually too big for the role of Conan. His muscles were so huge that he couldn’t wield a sword properly – so he had to tone down his workout in order to perform in the film.

And to top it all off, Arnold received weapons training, martial arts training, and horse riding lessons in order to do all his own stunts. He trained with an 11 pound broadsword for two hours a day. He learned climbing techniques and how to take a fall. He worked out so hard that it actually inspired him to return to bodybuilding after retirement. This eventually led him to win the 1980 Mr. Olympia contest. (Ironically, the film wouldn’t actually release until 1982).

For all intensive purposes, Arnold literally became a barbarian. In size, in strength, and in lifestyle. He was an unstoppable force and remained one for the rest of his action career. Putting Conan in the top 10 of our list.

 

We’re getting down to the wire now. Which movies do you think will get in the top ten? Let us know in the comments section below. And be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @GI_Athletics

 

Photo courtesy of: ABC News

TOP 30 MUSCLE MOVIES (#10)

By
GI Team
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Predator#10. PREDATOR (JOHN MCTIERNAN, 1987)

Arnold Schwarzenegger has proven time and time again that he can out muscle and defeat any human opponent in his path. So Predator takes things to the next logical level. Pit Arnold against a ruthless alien hunter.

The original script put Arnold alone against the alien for the entire story. But Arnold had bigger plans. He pulled together an entire team of massive actors to play commandos. Between Arnold, Carl Weathers, and professional wrestler Jesse Ventura – this movie has muscles on top of muscles.

An interesting piece of trivia: Van Damme was originally cast to play the alien predator. The director hoped that his martial arts skills would make the alien an agile ninja-like hunter. But compared to the commando team and their massive bodybuilding physiques, Van Damme didn’t look physically threatening enough. That’s how much muscle gets piled into this film. A master of muscle in his own right, Van Damme, looks like a tiny spring chicken.

In the end, Arnold proved to the world that he can not only defeat every man in his path – he could defeat every alien as well. Further cementing him into the annals of action history. And placing Predator #10 on our list.

 

Tell us what you think about Predator in the comments section or on Facebook. And feel free to follow us on Twitter at @GI_Athletics. Stop by tomorrow for the next film in our Top 30 Muscle Movies of All Time.

 

Photo courtesy of: RYMDfilm and Action Movie Freak

TOP 30 MUSCLE MOVIES (#11)

By
GI Team
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Bev Francis 1#11. PUMPING IRON II: THE WOMEN (GEORGE BUTLER, 1985)

Pumping Iron was a film that turned an obscure sport into an overnight phenomenon, made Arnold Schwarzenegger a star, and changed the face of bodybuilding forever. So of course, Pumping Iron II attempts to provide the same insight to an even more obscure aspect of bodybuilding – the women.

The film follows four women who have devoted their entire lives towards their idea of the perfect female form. But for them, the hurdles towards success are two fold. Not only must they dedicate themselves to a misunderstood sport, but they must also stand up against preconceived notions of what the female body should look like.

The real star here is Bev Francis. She is a complete beast with a body that is transformed almost to a “manly” physique (Thus, challenging the way we use such a word). She was the first woman to bench press over 300 pounds, plastering her over dozens of bodybuilding magazines and turning her into a celebrity.

Pumping Iron II, at the time, forced the world to look at the ongoing debate over femininity and female muscularity. Bev Francis challenged preconceived notions about the limits of female bodybuilding. This sport is all about pushing limits. The desire for more, to crash through plateaus we set for ourselves and society sets for us. Pumping Iron II is a prime example of crashing through that barrier. Putting it at #12 on our list.

 

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below. And check us out on Facebook or Twitter: @GI_Athletics. Tomorrow we crack into the elite ten of the Top 30 Muscle Movies of All Time.

 

Photo courtesy of: Girls With Muscle

TOP 30 MUSCLE MOVIES (#12)

By
GI Team
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Mickey Rourke 2#12. THE WRESTLER (DARREN ARONOFSKY, 2008)

Redemption. The attempt, the drive, the passion – that’s what The Wrestler is all about. And that is what Mickey Rourke found in his role as Randy “The Ram” Robinson.

Many already know the story of Mickey Rourke. A notable actor in the 80’s who also had a passion for boxing. After going pro, he eventually faded into Hollywood obscurity, an untouchable actor that no one wanted in their films. Until The Wrestler. Much like his character, this was his last shot at redemption. Despite his many mistakes and unforgivable failures – if he could just redeem himself with this one match (or one role), he can achieve success and happiness.

And that’s exactly what he did. Using his boxing background as reference, Mickey Rourke absolutely kills it as a washed up wrestler. For one, he’s jacked, but he also maintained the endurance to perform many of his own stunts. He even cut his own forehead with razor blades (a technique many real wrestlers use to draw blood) in order to add realism to the physicality of the role. Rourke pushed his body and his soul to the limits, earning him redemption – as well as a place on our list. (And a future gig narrating for a certain bodybuilding documentary).

 

Do you love The Wrestler? Or do you find it as washed up as Randy’s career? Let us know in the comments section below and be sure to check out our Facebook and Twitter pages. @GI_Athletics

 

Photo courtesy of: Celebrity Fitness Training

TOP 30 MUSCLE MOVIES (#13)

By
GI Team
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Teddy Bear 1#13. TEDDY BEAR (MADS MATTHIESEN, 2012)

Kim Kold is enormous. At 6 feet, 3 inches and 308 pounds, he is a true real life hulk. But in Teddy Bear, Kim hides a very quiet and insecure heart. He’s terrible with women and just wants to find true love.

Kold stars as Dennis, a 38 year old body builder who has never had a girlfriend and lives at home with his mother. After his uncle marries a girl in Thailand, Dennis decides to travel over there – believing that love is easier to find in a new country. After the huge culture shock and many awkward encounters, he unexpectedly meets a Thai woman named Toi and starts to find a cure to his loneliness.

Kold is a former football goalkeeper who had to leave the sport because of a serious injury. While working in the gym doing rehabilitation training, he discovered a new found passion for bodybuilding and eventually built himself up to become the Danish National Bodybuilding Champ in 2006.

Kold is not a trained actor, but he is able to open up and paint a very human portrait of the man that exists behind the muscles. It’s a unique take that honestly captures not only the world of bodybuilding, but also the individual that lies behind the stereotypes.

 

Sound off in the comments section below. And be sure to check out our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter: @GI_Athletics.

 

Photo courtesy of: NY Times

TOP 30 MUSCLE MOVIES (#14)

By
GI Team
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hercules1#14. HERCULES (PIETRO FRANCISCI, 1958)

This is where it all started. The film and the man who brought massive body builder physiques into the forefront of action cinema. Steve Reeves transitioned from champion Bodybuilder to the undisputed king of sword and sandal action epics.

Reeves plays Hercules, the mythological hero who perform his labors, sails with the Argonauts, and romances the beautiful Iole. This film ushered in a small period of international sensation for a new genre. Mythological action epics suddenly became a gigantic craze. In only five years, Reeves performed in 15 mythological productions – skyrocketing the genre and his name into the bright lights of stardom.

And boy was this man built. At the peak of his bodybuilding career he was 200 pounds with a 48 inch chest, 29 inch waist, and had 17.5 inch biceps. He became the inspiration for all bodybuilders to come. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno have both given Reeves credit for inspiring them to become the successful bodybuilding actors we all know and love.

So that’s why we’ve put Hercules at #14 on our list of Top 30 Muscle Movies. Not only was he a massive king of muscle, but he also set the trail for many other muscle bound movie stars that we will never forget.

 

Have you seen Steve Reeves in Hercules? Let us know what you think in the comments section below. And be sure to check out our Facebook and Twitter pages too!

 

Photo courtesy of: Steve Reeves Biography

TOP 30 MUSCLE MOVIES (#15)

By
GI Team
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transporter3#15. THE TRANSPORTER (COREY YUEN, 2002)

Jason Statham is pretty much a household name, having starred in a bevy of gritty martial arts and action movies. The Transporter was one of his first breakout hits, etching himself into the face of modern action – and into the minds of many fans.

Statham plays the transporter that gives the movie its name. His job is to deliver packages without asking any questions. If he does the job, he gets paid. But when he suddenly breaks his code and gets involved, complications start to arise that lead Statham down a spiraling path of explosions and knuckled fists.

It should first be noted that Statham does all of his own stunts. The driving, the fighting, and even the scuba diving sequences. He has no limits, always pushing his body to new levels in and out of the movies. He is fearless. Before his acting career, he was a skilled martial artist and spent 12 years on the British national diving team. This led him to being ranked 12th in the world as a platform diver in 1992. So it’s fair to say that Statham is a pretty fit dude. Not just on set, but consistently. It’s his life. Truly, Statham is the epitome of our motto: fitness, attitude, and lifestyle. And that’s why The Transporter is ranked #15.

 

Check back tomorrow as we continue our Top 30 Muscle Movies of All Time. And be sure to leave your thoughts in the comment section below. Stay pumped.

 

Photo courtesy of: Movpins

TOP 30 MUSCLE MOVIES (#16)

By
GI Team
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Mark1#16. THE FIGHTER (DAVID O. RUSSELL, 2010)

Mark Wahlberg is already a big guy, but when he stands next to Christian Bale, playing skinny crack addict Dicky Eklund, he looks like a titan. And since this film is all about punching another guy in the face with speed and strength – The Fighter gets a place on our list.

Wahlberg plays Micky Ward and explores the early years of the real life boxer and his brother, Dicky, who helped train him before going pro in the 1980s. It’s full of stand out performances and a great story, but The Fighter gets on our list because of how much effort and strength Wahlberg put into the role.

He began training in 2005, but because of various production delays the film didn’t start shooting until 2009. Wahlberg didn’t stop training throughout those four years because he needed to be in top physical condition when the project finally came together. This meant that he brought his personal trainers with him as he shot other films. And would make room in his acting schedule to train for 3 hours every day.

Wahlberg was so dedicated to this role that he refused to use a stunt double. He took real punches throughout the entire film. As a result, he had nearly gotten his nose broken on numerous occasions. Basically, Wahlberg became an honest to goodness boxer for The Fighter. Growing in skill, bulk, and dedication – and earning the film #16 on our countdown.

 

Be sure to leave us some comments down below. And don’t forget to check out our Facebook and Twitter pages. Tomorrow we move forward with #15 on the Top 30 Muscle Movies of All Time.

 

Photo courtesy of: FXguide

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