Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cheesy but fun '80s action movie has violence, bullying.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Over the Top
What's the Story?
In OVER THE TOP, Lincoln Hawk (Sylvester Stallone) is a truck driver who shows up after many years away to take custody of his son, Michael, on the day he graduates from a military academy. Michael resents Hawk's sudden return into his life and believes everything bad his grandfather (Robert Loggia) ever said about him. Hawk does everything he can to try to earn the boy's trust, while teaching him values such as determination and perseverance through a sport in which Hawk is considered to be a champion: arm-wrestling. Meanwhile, Michael's grandfather does everything he can to reclaim custody of his grandson, and when Michael's mother passes away, the grandfather offers Hawk a large sum of money on the condition that he never sees Michael again. But things start to change when Hawk enters the International Arm-Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas. Michael realizes that his father had tried to maintain contact all along but never received any of his letters; when he learns this, he must escape his grandfather's mansion, find a way to get to Las Vegas, and cheer on Hawk so he can win the grand prize and start up his own trucking company.
Is It Any Good?
With the Kenny Loggins songs backing up the montages, the fashion, and the hairstyles, this movie is as entertaining as it is cheesy. Everything about Over the Top is ludicrous, but for children of the '80s and even children of the children of the '80s, there's an undeniable charm in the absurdity. They simply don't make movies this good/bad anymore.
Perhaps the biggest absurdity to this movie -- and what makes it enjoyable or not enjoyable according to one's tastes -- is that it's centered on the sport of arm-wrestling. Unlike most sports, where there is considerable body movement and a variety of strategies and moves employed, arm-wrestling is relatively limited to, well, wrestling arms. Not that the filmmakers don't do their best to make it exciting by using every film trick in the book, but there's only so much to be done compared to, say, boxing. Nonetheless, for entertainment for its own sake, Over the Top is great fun.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about action movies centered on a sport. What are the similarities and differences between Over the Top and movies centered on say, boxing, or baseball?
How was violence encouraged as a way to solve problems? Overall, did the violence in the movie seem pertinent to the story, or was it put in for the sake of entertainment?
Did the conflicts in the story seem believable or relatable? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 13, 1987
- On DVD or streaming : September 8, 2009
- Cast : Sylvester Stallone , Robert Loggia , Susan Blakely
- Director : Menahem Golan
- Studio : Cannon Films
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Adventures
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance
- Run time : 93 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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