TOP 30 MUSCLE MOVIES (#11)

#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.

 

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Photo courtesy of: Girls With Muscle