Top 10 muscle movies

We take a look at the muscliest movies of all time

Michael Bay takes a break from directing slow-mo explosions and CGI robots this week to bring us comic crime caper Pain & Gain. The movie, which is actually based on a true story, stars Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson as members of the Sun Gym Gang – a group of bodybuilders who turned bulging deltoids to a life of crime.

As you might expect from a one-time Calvin Klein model and a former professional wrestler, the duo were ripped for their roles, with Wahlberg reportedly munching on up to 10 meals a day in order to gain the 40 pounds of muscle mass the movie called for. They’re not the first actors to bulk up for the big screen however; in fact film history is littered with stars who have amped up their physiques on film. So in their honour join us as we look at some of the best buff blockbusters with our rundown of the 10 muscliest movies of all time.

300 (2007)

A sword, a shield and 299 comrades were all that Gerard Butler needed to hold back the Persian hordes in Zack Snyder’s smash hit 300. It helped of course that those 299 comrades looked like they’d been chiselled out of marble, sporting six packs where most of us carry kegs. In fact so fearsome were the cast’s physiques that many people cried foul, suggesting that they were CGI constructs rather than the result of months of rigorous training. They weren’t of course, this is Sparta after all. Instead they were the result of four months of muscle-building activity where Butler and co spent upwards of 12 hours a day bulking up for their roles.

Bloodsport (1988)

The muscles from Brussels earned his name in this brutal action flick, which became the unlikely hit of 1988. Shot for a measly $1.1million, the film found fame thanks to its leading man who wowed audiences with his martial arts skills and biology-bending ability to do the complete splits at any and every opportunity. It was also many movie fans’ first introduction to Van Damme’s fearsome physique, which would go on to become synonymous with action movies in the 1990s.

Conan the Barbarian (1982)

Thanks to his advancing years the once ripped Arnie has softened into something altogether cuddlier these days. But there was once a time, around about 1982, when the Austrian had one of the best bods in the business. As a result he was the perfect choice to play the lead role in John Milius’ big screen adaption of Robert E. Howard’s legendary pulp hero. Amazingly Arnie actually had to slim down to take on the manly of the titular barbarian, shaking off some of the size he’d gained on his way to winning the Mr. Olympia title – bodybuilding’s highest honour – a record seven times.

Fight Club (1999)

Brad Pitt was still considered something of a pretty boy before he took off his top and got down and dirty in the bare-knuckle brawls of David Fincher’s Fight Club. But after exposing audiences to his abdomen in the 1999 cult hit, the star took his career in a whole new director and forced many film fans to repeatedly break the first rule of underground fisticuffs by talking incessantly about his physique.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

It’s not just the adamantium claws and the scraggly sideburns that make Hugh Jackman the perfect man to play Wolverine, it’s his physique. Even amongst the inflated figures of comic book characters, the muscular mutant stands out as something special; all bulging biceps and jutting veins. As a result the 43-year-old Australian undergoes something of a transformation each time he plays Wolvie. A brutal regime that involves getting up at four in the morning to consume some of the 4000 or so calories he needs to ingest in a day, as well as bench-pressing up to 315 pounds to get himself into character. It certainly works. And now 13 years and five films later it’s almost impossible to imagine anyone else taking on the mantle of the X-Men’s most famous son.

Hercules (1958)

Playing a mythical Greek hero who displays feats of strength that are, well, herculean, is no small task. As a result it was difficult to imagine anyone stepping into the legendary hero’s sizeable shoes for this 1958 movie, until of course Mr. Universe Steve Reeves accepted the role. He was an instant hit, helping to launch the swords and sandals genre we know and love today, as well as inspiring wannabe action heroes like Sly Stallone to hit the gym and follow in his footsteps.

The Wrestler (2008)

Mickey Rourke came out of the acting wilderness to scoop an Oscar nod for his performance as the alliterative athlete Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson in Darren Aronofsky’s universally acclaimed sports drama. As a former Professional Boxer Rourke knew something of the world of a washed up wrestler; but he still threw himself into the role, spending seven and a half months pile-driving his body into perma-tanned shape. The end result was one of the performances of the decade, and one which drew approval from critics, fans and former wrestlers who were universal in their praise for Rourke’s take on life in the squared circle.

The Expendables (2010)

Sylvester Stallone teamed up with a bevvy of beefy buddies for The Expendables – a love letter to the action movies of yore that saw the likes of Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke and Dolph Lundgren flex their collective muscles at the box office. It was a commercial smash hit that inspired an even more sinewy sequel whilst reminding everyone that even in their sixties action heroes can be impeccable specimens.

Rocky (1976 – 2006)

If Rocky taught us anything it’s that climbing steps and slugging frozen cow carcasses is a sure fire way to becoming a champ. It also showed us that bulging biceps and ham-sized pectorals can more than make up for trifles like scripts, storylines and acting ability. Don’t believe us? Just look at the likes of Clubber Lang, Apollo Creed, Ivan Drago or even the Italian Stallion himself; impeccable pugilists whose muscles managed to mesmerise audiences into ignoring the monosyllabic schlep that was coming out of their mouths.

Ali (2001)

If you’re going to shoot a biopic of one of the most famous fighters of all time then you’ve got to do it properly. Fortunately Will Smith got jiggy with it and piled on more than 35 pounds of solid muscle in order to bring Mohammed Ali’s life story to the big screen. The movie itself was something of a misfire. But Smith himself won plaudits for a transformation that saw him transformed that was every inch as impressive as the former World Champion and impossibly ripped Jungle Rumbler.