1982’s First Blood was a sensitive, terrifying indictment of Vietnam War veteran treatment.

There was the Rocky Balboa restart, ’80s throwback franchise Expendables, Schwarzenegger team-up Escape Plan, and duking it out with the Raging Bull himself, Robert De Niro, for Grudge Match.Īnd the one we’ve yet to mention: a certain John Rambo. The ’90s saw him at his funniest ( Demolition Man) and most dramatic ( Cop Land), but also brought bigger bouts of embarrassment ( Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot).īy the mid-2000s, Stallone was digging through his own legacy, and uncovering plenty of veins to tap. Stallone’s friendly (?) competition with Arnold Schwarzenegger gave him a taste of the ’80s action world, compelling him to pump out flicks with the quickness: The likes of Nighthawks, Cobra, Over the Top, and Tango & Cash give him enduring cult status, and mainstream derision. He turned Rocky into a sequel machine, becoming a punchline by the ’90s ( Rocky V), before multiple miracle turnarounds ( Rocky Balboa, Creed) restored its former glory. Since 1976, Stallone has built a fascinating body of work, fashioned from numerous creative starts and stops, of incredible highs and crashing lows. And as for his dog? Stallone bought him back and he appears as Rocky’s sidekick, Butkus. Avildsen, and after that it was step-by-step all the way up to national phenomenon and Best Picture winner. Then his screenplay about an underdog Philly boxer met the right director, John G. A bit part in Woody Allen’s Bananas, resorting to shooting a softcore porn flick ( The Party at Kitty and Stud’s), and having to sell his dog at a 7-11 for $50 was what Stallone’s acting career was amounting in the ’70s.

(Photo by MGM / Courtesy: Everett Collection) All Sylvester Stallone Movies RankedĪ little like Rocky, Sylvester Stallone seemed almost destined to fail in the film business.

Download stallone snipes movies