6 Best Arm Wrestling and Strongman Movies

By Vlad Zakh · August 17, 2026

There’s something endearingly daft about a film built around arm wrestling, and these lean right into it. Over the Top has a trucker fighting for a national title and his son’s respect, Champion has a washed-up champion returning to Korea, and Golden Arm pairs a shy baker with a trucker to train for a women’s tournament. Paradise Alley and The Strongest Man in the World round out the main event.

Golden Arm (2021)

TMDB ★ 5.6

A shy bakery owner teams up with a trucker to train for a high-stakes women's arm wrestling championship.

Directed by Maureen Bharoocha · 1h 30m

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Champion (2018)

TMDB ★ 6.6

A washed-up arm-wrestling champion returns to Korea to reconnect with the family he left behind.

Directed by Kim Yong-wan · 1h 48m

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Hi-YAH, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Over the Top (1987)

TMDB ★ 5.1

An estranged trucker competes in a national arm wrestling championship to reconnect with and win back his son.

Directed by Menahem Golan · 1h 34m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent: Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Paradise Alley (1978)

TMDB ★ 6.0

Three struggling brothers in 1940s Hell's Kitchen scheme to escape poverty through the brutal world of wrestling.

Directed by Sylvester Stallone · 1h 47m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Strongest Man in the World (1975)

TMDB ★ 5.9

A college student accidentally discovers a super-strength formula and turns into a campus hero.

Directed by Vincent McEveety · 1h 32m · Rated G

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Appaloosa (1966)

TMDB ★ 6.0

A drifter's prized stallion is stolen by a ruthless Mexican bandit chief, setting off a series of tense confrontations.

Directed by Sidney J. Furie · 1h 39m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Arm Wrestling and Strongman Movies

Golden Arm (2021)

Champion (2018)

Over the Top (1987)

Paradise Alley (1978)

The Strongest Man in the World (1975)

The Appaloosa (1966)

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