Why Everyone Wants Brad Pitt's Body (and not Arnie's)

By Chris 'Goof' Hanlon


While browsing this site I saw an article that asked why people would want Brad Pitt's abs as opposed to those of arnie and the like. To me the answer to this puzzle seemed fairly straightforward and that goes for the rest of the body as well. Before I begin I feel it is only fair to point out that I myself am not a bodybuilding fanatic, I do however go to the gym twice a week for fitness and to attempt to build a body slightly bigger and stronger than the average man. Therefore my perspective may be different from those who see the Schwarzenegger body type as perfect as we obviously share different goals. I respect that as I am intruding onto a bodybuilding site and that this is what a lot of people are aiming for and that my views may vary from the norm on here, but I believe that allows me to shed light on a different perspective. I do also appreciate how some will see a Schwarzenegger/Stallone type body as a work of art. The fact that so many of the body’s muscles are visible allowing us to see the body working during a task, the tweaking of even the seemingly insignificant muscles to perfection, the immense strength and fitness of the men, and the relentless dedication required to acquire this level of greatness and should be applauded. I am not ignorant enough to not see why some would be motivated to try to recreate this with their own body, however, do I think that this is desirable or inspirational to the average person? The answer is no. Therefore I shall offer a counter argument.

Firstly the most obvious problem that I am sure you are already aware of is that the Arnie look caters to a particularly small niche. There is, what I believe to be a minority of people that will love it but many more who will - without being offensive - view it as a bit freakish. A lot of people do not want to see giant bulging muscles with massive canal like veins clinging to the outside of them. Therefore why would somebody choose to look in a way that will turn other people off? I appreciate that if you are passionate about something then you are doing it firstly for yourself, but let's be honest we all care what other people think deep down. And the majority of people not within this niche and will see a Pitt like body as perfect.

I believe another major factor is attainability. How many average Joes genuinely believe that they are capable of sculpting their body to resemble Stallone? It’s not just fitness, it’s a lifestyle choice. This then requires time, and in this day and age, who has that much time on their hands? Maybe only a fanatic. If somebody sees Brad Pitt in movies they are able to appreciate that he has a toned superior body to most of us, but at the same time it has an aura of attainability. It is not excessive. Witnessing this on screen can be a motivation to get that gym membership and within a reasonable amount of time going perhaps twice or three times a week on the right diet then you can have his look. Somebody attempting to get a Schwarzenegger body has a much longer road ahead of them which is much more daunting and therefore that person is less likely to pursue it.

There are reasons beyond the physical reasons. It is a psychological fact that people who are familiar are more liked than those who are not. An actor like Pitt is much more familiar to more people than a lot of bodybuilders. I appreciate Stallone and Schwarzenegger are in films, but again they are only in certain types of films, mainly action films. It is likely that the same people are watching their films, with the exceptions of Rocky, Rambo and Terminator. Whereas Brad Pitt is in a wider range of films and is therefore familiar to a wider range of people. Due to not playing these action roles, Pitt is cast in parts that people can identify with more, thus adding to this feeling of identifying (and another psychological fact is that people like a person more if they feel they are similar to them) with him and the sense that becoming like him is attainable.

Another reason beyond the physical side is that bodybuilders are not known for their looks and that physically attractive people are more liked and more aspired too. The fact that so many people’s partners are attracted to actors like Pitt makes people want to resemble them somehow, and the simplest and possibly only way to do this is through getting their body. The fact that he also comes across as a cool guy is also in his favour, this again makes people like him and want to be like him. It’s the charisma. That is not to say bodybuilders do not have charisma, and if you are follow it you may witness it. The average public will not see it though; all they will see are some pictures, knowing nothing about the person (again there are odd exceptions, I happen to love Stallone and his wit, but compare this to how many Tom Cruises and Jonny Depps there are out their for people to aspire to).

I think the scene that most people refer to when talking about Pitt’s body is the bath scene in fight club. It is not hard to see why people will want to re create this. As a male this film gets you in touch with all your natural male instincts. Fighting is a basic male tool of survival and mate finding. It makes you actually want to go and have a fight (although I do not suggest this action is carried through). It's similar to when you watch Rocky you think you can have anyone, but the difference again is that Pitt is just playing a guy off of the street where Stallone is a trained boxer with a giant body. Which one has the rugged edge? Which could you realistically be? What’s cooler a licensed fight or illegal underground fighting? Once again Pitt is attainable, at that moment you feel you could get that body, but perhaps not better it.

We have seen that there is a problem with attainability, niches and time costs, but also that there are other fundamental underlying reasons that have nothing to do with the bodybuilding that affect people’s opinions. A combination of these points is why I believe that people would rather be like Pitt than Schwarzenegger. And that when people are aspiring to get his body, it's not just the muscles that inspires them but the persona; maybe they too will pull Angelina Jolie!!