The internet has found its new obsession. A rare behind-the-scenes footage of the Golden Era king, Arnold Schwarzenegger, bench pressing is circulating online, gripping the muscle fanbase with dripping nostalgia.

Shot while filming Pumping Iron, an indie film documenting the lead-up to the two major competitions, Mr. Universe for amateurs and Mr. Olympia for pros, it is still hailed as one of the greatest films ever made. Now, celebrating 50 years of the 1977 docudrama, Arnold Sports posted the video clip on Instagram, announcing the premise of the 2027 event.

"Join us as we celebrate 50 Years of PUMPING IRON at the 2027 Arnold Sports Festival and Arnold Sports Festival UK," the caption read.

The movie was an independent, low-budget docudrama that mainstream Hollywood expected to flop or be laughed out of theaters. It is now ranked as the best sports movie of all time by Time Out and Sports Illustrated.

No wonder the fans are rallying behind "the king of 42nd Street," Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Fans applaud Schwarzenegger's training clip from the golden era days

Like a moth to flame, the bodybuilder's gym footage from his career prime was sure to send shockwaves through his fanbase. However, it was the aesthetic of the Golden Era days and the old-school training methods that stood out the most.

"Oof extra wide with a s****** grip and those old-school wheels that always felt heavier," one fan wrote.

The grip referred here is the thumbs and fingers facing the same direction when gripping the bar. This grip is regarded as a riskier grip for bench press as it lacks the locking that the conventional grip provides.

"No super arch backs. Just using triceps, shoulders, and chest to move the weight on the bench press," another user commented.

Moreover, fans repeatedly mentioned the clanging of the old iron weights, a sight rarer than diamonds in today's times.

"I wish plates were still made of iron. That clanging is like if testosterone was a sound," read one comment, while another commented: "There is no sweeter sound than heavy iron."

Another comment reiterated the sentiment, saying:

"And to this day, those weights are the heaviest… if you know you know."

The bodybuilding fanbase has always admired the iron plates, with a belief that they are somehow heavier than the rubber ones.

However, one particular fan brought the attention back to the film and its unreleased footage.

"I heard there’s 120+ hours of unreleased footage from Pumping Iron, can this please be released?!?! I’d pay good money, as I’m sure many others would, for access," they wrote.

Clearly, the comments had little direction but pure enthusiasm for a time that continues to define the sport to this day.

Would you like a director's cut version of 'Pumping Iron'?

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Written by

Proma Chatterjee

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi