Over the Top

1987 was a rather terrible year for Cannon film productions, whose usual output was hastily-made, low-budget action films, but following their purchase of the rights to film Masters Of The Universe & Superman IV, both of which were emptying the coffers and they needed a hit, and quick.

Directed by the co-studio head, Israeli filmmaker Menahem Golan decided the best way to get some money back into the bank was with this formulaic story centred around the thuggish and brutal world of arm wrestling.

Sly Stallone, fresh from the set of the Rocky films, stars as Lincoln Hawk (seriously), a truck driver who participates in arm wrestling competitions and vies to win the love & respect of his son the only way he knows how, by winning another competition. 

The film did reasonably well for the studio, despite the fact that it's mindless crap, even for guilty pleasure stuff, with some truly odious acting performances.