Tom Platz

Julius and Vincent Benedict are the results of an experiment that would allow for the perfect child. Julius was planned and grows to athletic proportions. Vincent is an accident and is somewhat smaller in stature. Vincent is placed in an orphanage while Julius is taken to a south seas island and raised by philosophers. Vincent becomes the ultimate low life and is about to be killed by loan sharks.

Mafia hitman Tommy Spinelli is flying to San Diego with a bag that holds eight severed heads, which he's bringing to his superiors to prove that some troublesome rival mobsters are permanently out of the picture. When his bag gets accidentally switched at the airport, Tommy must track down his duffel bag and the 8 heads it contains.

In a story told in narrative flashbacks, a young TV consultant is hired by the President of a bankrupt USA to organize a telethon in order to prevent the country from being repossessed by wealthy Native Americans.

A slick promoter in the bodybuilding subculture of Venice Beach, California, finds what he considers a diamond in the rough: a dedicated but somewhat mentally challenged young man who wants to win bodybuilding championships, but needs some help and direction--and the promoter thinks he's just the one to do it.

A bodybuilder, anxious to build his own gym, dates a wealthy heiress to obtain funds to finance his dream.

After an absence of five years, six times Mr Olympia winner Arnold Schwarzenegger makes a comeback and attempts to take the World Body Building Championship for the 7th time.

After an absence of five years, six times Mr. Olympia winner Arnold Schwarzenegger makes a comeback and attempts to take the World Body Building Championship for the 7th time.

A truly iconic video based on the Mr. Olympia contest from 1984. Every single one of the competitors was a star in their own right. ‘Road to Olympia’ 1984 was a classic release at the time. It was the forerunner of the later Battle for the Olympia series. In this video the camera follows in particular Tom Platz, Chris Dickerson, Franco Columbu, Samir Bannout, Al Beckles and the eventual winner – Lee Haney. You also see a very beautiful Rachel McLish. This video is now a classic slice of bodybuilding history.

The film was hosted by Tom Platz and Teagan Clive. Platz hosted it somewhat along the lines of a "lifestyles" type of production where he would detail the lives of the various bodybuilders presented on the video and take a peek into their lives and history. A lot of the bodybuilders were asked after the fact what they thought of the show (the 1988 Mr. Olympia Contest) and the remarks were generally positive and optimistic towards the future.

The Challengers is a bodybuilding documentary that chronicles the athletes' preparation for the 1984 and 1985 Mr. Olympia competitions. The film features rare behind-the-scenes footage with some of the sport's top legends sharing their training and vision of the sport. It offers an authentic insight on what has been retrospectively called the Golden Era of bodybuilding.

A look into the training, dieting, and drugs from sunny Venice, CA to the Mr. Olympia contest.