You are here:

Ronnie Coleman: The King

Name: Ronnie Coleman: The King
Director: Vlad Yudin
Released: 2018
Duration: 93 min

Representation Score

3.1/10

Limited

2018

Director

Vlad Yudin

Runtime

93 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The documentary serves as a biographical study of individual excellence, focusing on the life of Ronnie Coleman. It succeeds in providing a platform for a Black protagonist and offers a realistic, non-sentimental depiction of physical disability and chronic pain. However, the film remains deeply rooted in traditional social structures. It adheres to hyper-masculine archetypes and a Western, capitalist framework of success, which limits its broader social diversity. Ultimately, while the film disrupts racial norms in sports, it reinforces conventional gendered and cultural hierarchies through its focus on singular, masculine achievement.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Ronnie Coleman: The King have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses solely on the career of a male athlete and does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or stories related to queer themes.

How does Ronnie Coleman: The King portray gender?

Limited

The story revolves around hyper-masculinity and physical dominance. It operates within a patriarchal framework where the competitive environment is almost entirely male-dominated.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Ronnie Coleman: The King?

Good

The documentary provides a significant platform for a Black protagonist in a field traditionally dominated by white athletes. It explores Coleman's journey from a working-class background to global stardom.

How does Ronnie Coleman: The King represent religion and culture?

Limited

The film follows a traditional Western success story emphasizing individual merit and capitalist competition. It celebrates status attainment within established professional systems.

Does Ronnie Coleman: The King include disability representation?

Good

The documentary offers a nuanced look at chronic pain and the aftermath of multiple surgeries. It portrays Coleman's physical limitations as a complex part of his identity.

Present on Screen

Provides a significant platform for a Black protagonist in a historically white-dominated field.
Offers a nuanced, realistic portrayal of physical disability and the lived reality of chronic pain.
Explores the protagonist's identity beyond physical achievements by highlighting his working-class roots.

Limited or Absent

Lacks representation of women's ability to drive the story or challenges to traditional masculine hierarchies.
Operates within a strictly patriarchal framework centered on hyper-masculine ideals.
Follows a conventional Western success narrative without offering subversive institutional critiques.

Official Synopsis

Ronnie Coleman is known as "The King" and for good reason. He is the 8x Mr. Olympia champion in the world of bodybuilding - sharing the world record for most Olympia wins. Now retired, he has undergone over 6 surgeries leaving him unable to walk without crutches but his desire to train like a pro bodybuilder has not dissipated. Exploring the history of his career as a bodybuilding legend and following his journey to recovery; for the first time ever discover the true man behind The King.

How are these scores produced? →