Generation Iron
{{Infobox film
| name = Generation Iron
| image = Generation_Iron_Theatrical_Poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Vlad Yudin
| producer = Vlad Yudin
Edwin Mejia Jr.
| narrator = Mickey Rourke
| starring = {{plainlist|
}}
| music = Jeff Rona
| cinematography= Colin Morvan
Guy Livneh
| editing = Justin Timms
| studio =
| distributor = The Vladar Company
| released = {{Film date|2013|09|20|United States|2013|11|10|Denmark}}
| runtime = 106 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget =
| gross = $849,523{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=generationiron.htm|title = Generation Iron|work=Box Office Mojo}}
}}
Generation Iron is a 2013 American documentary film which follows the world's leading professional bodybuilders as they train and compete for the 2012 Mr. Olympia. Considered to be a spiritual sequel to the 1977 documentary Pumping Iron, the film gives access to the lives of the top seven bodybuilders in the sport, including Phil Heath, Kai Greene, Branch Warren, and Dennis Wolf. The film is narrated by Mickey Rourke, and features appearances by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, and Jay Cutler.
The film is directed by Vlad Yudin and produced by Edwin Mejia Jr. at The Vladar Company and Generation Iron Brands.
Cast
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
- Phil Heath
- Kai Greene
- Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Ben Pakulski
- Branch Warren
- Dennis Wolf
- Roelly Winklaar
- Hidetada Yamagishi
- Victor Martínez
- Mike Katz
- Lou Ferrigno
- Mickey Rourke (voice)
- Jacob Wilson
{{div col end}}
Synopsis
Generation Iron chronicles seven top bodybuilders as they train to compete in the 2012 Mr. Olympia.
Release
=United States=
Generation Iron was released in 53 cinemas across the U.S. on September 20, 2013.{{cite web|last=Yamato|first=Jen|title=Mr. Olympia Bodybuilding Doc 'Generation Iron' Gets September Release|date=15 August 2013|url=https://www.deadline.com/2013/08/mr-olympia-bodybuilding-doc-generation-iron-arnold-schwarzenegger/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130821044232/http://www.deadline.com/2013/08/mr-olympia-bodybuilding-doc-generation-iron-arnold-schwarzenegger/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 21, 2013|publisher=Deadline}} The film expanded to reach over 100 cinemas in various areas of the country. The release of the film coincided with the 2013 Mr. Olympia, held at the Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas on September 28, 2013.{{cite web|title=Mr Olympia 2013|url=http://www.lasvegas.com/event/joe-weiders-mr-olympia-2013/19364/|publisher=LasVegas.com}}
=Canada=
On October 7, 2013, Generation Iron opened for a one-night-only event in 21 locations across Canada.
=International=
The film had its European premiere at the Copenhagen International Documentary Festival on November 10, 2013. The sold-out screening was held at the 650 seat Bremen Teater.{{cite web|last=Theater |first=Bremen |title=Generation Iron European Premiere |url=http://www.brementeater.dk/arrangementer/cph-dox-244 |publisher=brementeater.dk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227091917/http://www.brementeater.dk/arrangementer/cph-dox-244 |archive-date=2013-12-27 }} The next day, it was announced that Generation Iron had secured distribution deals for Australia, Brazil, Germany, and New Zealand, with deals soon to be finalized with China, Finland, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.{{cite web|author=|title=AFM Briefs: Well Go USA Acquires Justin Long Pic 'The Lookalike'; 'Generation Iron' Sells Overseas|date=11 November 2013|url=https://deadline.com/2013/11/afm-2013-well-go-usa-the-lookalike-justin-long-generation-iron-632712/|publisher=Deadline}}
Reception
=Box office=
Generation Iron opened on September 20, 2013, with an opening weekend box office total of $245,000, making it the biggest documentary opening of 2013.{{cite web|last=Campbell|first=Christopher|title='Generation Iron' Debuts With Year's Best Opening For a Non-Concert Doc|url=http://nonfics.com/generation-iron-debuts-years-best-opening-non-concert-doc/|publisher=Nonfics.com}} It held its position as the No. 1 documentary in the U.S. at the box office for three consecutive weeks after its release.{{cite press release|title='Generation Iron' is the #1 Documentary for 3 Weeks Straight at the US Box Office|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/generation-iron-is-the-1-documentary-for-3-weeks-straight-at-the-us-box-office-226791791.html|publisher=PR Newswire}} Its domestic total as of January 3, 2014 was $849,521.{{cite web|title=The Numbers|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Generation-Iron#tab=box-office|publisher=The-Numbers.com}}
=Critical reception=
Generation Iron opened to positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes it has an 80% approval rating based on reviews from 15 critics.{{cite web |title=Generation Iron |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/generation_iron/ |work=Rotten Tomatoes }}
Ernest Hardy of The Village Voice gave the film a perfect score{{cite web|last=Hardy|first=Ernest|title=Variety Score|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/generation-iron|publisher=MetaCritic}} and called it "a gorgeous meditation on age-old existential concerns".{{cite web|last=Hardy|first=Ernest|title=Generation Iron Presents Professional Bodybuilding as the Existential Minefield That It Truly Is|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2013-09-18/film/generation-iron/|publisher=Village Voice}} The Los Angeles Times called Generation Iron "an intimate portrait of bodybuilders" and praised the film as being "compelling and energetic".{{cite news|last=Goldstein|first=Gary|title=Review: 'Generation Iron' an intimate portrait of bodybuilders|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-generation-iron-review-20130920,0,6422274.story|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=September 19, 2013}} Louis Black of The Austin Chronicle stated that the film is "really a triumph of intelligent, strategic filmmaking".{{cite web|last=Black|first=Louis|title=Generation Iron|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/calendar/film/2013-09-27/generation-iron/|publisher=Austin Chronicle}} Philip Martin, president of the Southeastern Film Critics Association, stated in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that Generation Iron is not just a film for bodybuilding fans and that "like all good stories, this movie about bodybuilding is really about much more".{{cite web|last=Martin|first=Philip|title=Review Generation Iron|date=11 October 2013|url=http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2013/oct/11/generation-iron-20131011/|publisher=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette}}
Generation Iron also received some mixed reviews. Nicole Herrington of The New York Times gave the film 2.5 stars and wrote, "For a documentary about extreme discipline, the filmmakers lack restraint: the movie, about 20 minutes too long, undercuts much of its own momentum."{{cite news|last=Herrington|first=Nicole|title=Buffed and Toned Up for a Beauty Contest|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/movies/quest-for-mr-olympia-in-generation-iron.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0|publisher=NY Times|date=September 19, 2013}} Nick Schager of The Dissolve expressed disdain for how the film "goes into absolutely no detail regarding the specifics of how [the bodybuilders] design their diets or their workout regimens".{{cite web|last=Schager|first=Nick|title=The Dissolve|url=http://thedissolve.com/reviews/217-generation-iron/|publisher=The Dissolve}} Film critic Tim Falkenberg of MXDWN praised the film for the same reasons, stating that "much in the way Ron Howard's Rush, released earlier this year, was about the competitors, not understanding Formula 1 competition, the documentary Generation Iron largely eschews educating its audience on the intricacies of its subject matter in favor of focusing on the competitors themselves".{{cite web|last=Falkenberg|first=Tim|title=Movie Review – 'Generation Iron'|date=29 November 2013|url=http://movies.mxdwn.com/news/movie-review-generation-iron/|publisher=MXDOWN Movie Reviews}}
=Accolades=
=Top ten lists=
- The Huffington Post film critic Jon Eig listed Kai Greene's performance in Generation Iron as his #1 moment in film in 2013.{{cite news|last=Eig|first=Jon|title=2013's Best (And Worst) Moments In Film|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-eig/2013s-best-and-worst-moments-in-film_b_4462238.html|publisher=Huffington Post|date=December 19, 2013}}
- Inside Pulse listed Generation Iron #2 on their list of the top 10 films of 2013.{{cite web|last=Sawitz|first=Scott|title=Kubryk's Top 10 Films of 2013|url=http://insidepulse.com/2013/12/30/kubryks-top-10-films-of-2013-monday-morning-critic-part-1/|publisher=Inside Pulse}}
- Tribeca Film Institute listed Generation Iron as #6 on their top 10 documentary 'Power Rankings'.{{cite web|last=Reid|first=Joe|title=Documentary Power Rankings: Politics and Pumped Iron|url=http://tribecafilm.com/blogs/documentary-power-ranking-inequality-for-all-generation-iron|publisher=Tribeca Film}}
- Indiewire reported Generation Iron finished 2013 as the No. 7 highest grossing documentary, finishing with $849,521.{{cite web|last=Knegt|first=Peter|title=Top 15 Highest Grossing Documentaries of 2013|date=5 January 2014|url=https://www.indiewire.com/article/the-10-highest-grossing-documenatries-of-2013-a-running-list|publisher=IndieWire}}
Home media
The Vladar Company released an extended director's cut on Blu-ray and DVD exclusively for sale on their website on April 4, 2014.{{cite web|title=DVD & Blu-Ray Ship Internationally! |url=http://www.generationironofficial.com/collections/dvd-blu-ray |publisher=The Vladar Company}} Starz Inc. released the theatrical version of Generation Iron digitally on iTunes on April 4, 2014{{cite web|last=Generation|first=Iron|title=Generation Iron iTunes|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/generation-iron/id823587190?ign-mpt=uo%3D4|publisher=Apple}} and VOD/Amazon on April 15, 2014. Anchor Bay Entertainment released the theatrical version of Generation Iron on DVD on May 13, 2014.{{cite web|last=Anchor|first=Bay|title=Generation Iron DVD|url=https://www.amazon.com/Generation-Iron-Arnold-Schwarzenegger/dp/B00IF8Q7EC/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1396274164&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=generation+iron|publisher=Amazon}}
Music
Jeff Rona composed the original score for Generation Iron. A soundtrack album was released on Milan Records.{{cite web |last=Records |first=Milan |title=Generation Iron Soundtrack |url=http://www.milanrecords.com/releases/releases.php?release_name=GENERATION_IRON |publisher=Milan Records |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104115715/http://milanrecords.com/releases/releases.php?release_name=GENERATION_IRON |archive-date=2013-11-04 }}
Additional songs featured in the film include:
- "Never Gonna Stop" by Mind the Gap featuring Quan, also used in the film's official trailer{{cite web|last=Trailers|first=Apple|title=Generation Iron Trailer|url=http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/generationiron/|publisher=Apple}}
- "Some Say" by SolarDrive & TC
- "In Da Gym" by Melle Mel
- "Size" by Melle Mel
- "Double Life" by Sixth Gate
- "Unattached Human" by Sixth Gate
See also
- Generation Iron 2, a 2017 sequel film
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://generationiron.com/}}
- {{IMDb title|2205904}}
- {{Mojo title|generationiron|Generation Iron}}
- {{Rotten Tomatoes|generation_iron|Generation Iron}}
Category:2013 documentary films
Category:2010s English-language films
Category:American sports documentary films
Category:Documentary films about bodybuilding