Sylvester Stallone’s 10 best action films

Sylvester Stallone is one of the biggest action movie stars on the planet and has had an amazing career playing courageous heroes, skilled assassins and even traumatized veterans. Although Stallone earned his breakout role as underdog fighter Rocky Balboa in his famous sports franchise, following that success he carved out another career as a bona fide action movie star, chasing bad guys and bringing crooks to justice. Spurred on by his long-running rivalry with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Stallone has continually strived for more over-the-top, chaotic, and wildly entertaining action film releases.

Many of Stallone’s best films were in the action film genre, as he excelled in Rambo franchise and has portrayed countless heroes in prison films, thrillers, sci-fi films and more. With an often underrated ability to portray tough characters as well as noble, layered lawmen, Stallone has proven his skills acting alongside everyone from Antonio Banderas to Robert De Niro. While Stallone’s action star heyday may have been in the 1980she continued to excel throughout the 21st century.

10

Assassins (1995)

Sylvester Stallone as Robert Rath

A highly underrated Sylvester Stallone action film was Assassinswhich told of a clever game of cat and mouse between semi-retired assassin Robert Rath (Stallone) and the man who killed his mentor Miguel Bain (Antonio Banderas). With a script originally written by the Wachowskis, the future Headquarters the creators were unhappy with the changes made and attempted to remove their names after it was rewritten by Brian Helgeland (via Collider.) Although viewers never saw the Wachowskis’ original vision, the result was an action-packed Stallone vehicle that represented some of his best work in the 1990s.

With Stallone as the cool, calculated career killer and Banderas as the sweaty, stressed-out wild man, this was an excellent film release. Lethal weapon director Richard Donner. Elevated by strong supporting performances from the likes of love interest Julianne Moore, Assassins was a star-studded action film with lots of high-stakes energy. Although sometimes things may seem a little too complicated for your own good, Assassins It worked well as a fun action movie.

9

Lock Up (1989)

Sylvester Stallone as Frank Leone

It must be admitted that Sylvester Stallone’s prison action film Block It was a mixture that even the actor himself said was not made.”mature enough to really make a significant impact on the public“(through electronic warfare.) However, despite a haphazard production that meant filming began before the script was even completed, the result was a highly entertaining Stallone film. Telling the story of Frank Leone, a convict nearing the end of his sentence, his path to freedom is seriously delayed when a cruel prison warden with a grudge transfers him to a maximum security facility.

With the sentence extended for five years, Leone must deal with Director Drumgoole’s sadistic naturewhich was ably played by Donald Sutherland. Drumgoole’s sinister energy made him one of the most compelling villains in a Stallone film, and the film built toward its epic, climactic conclusion in the electric chair. Although it is true that Block it was a strange mix between a light-hearted prison drama and an intense action film, the parts that worked were extremely entertaining.

8

Suspense (1993)

Sylvester Stallone as Ranger Gabe Walker

The early 1990s were difficult for Sylvester Stallone. He had three consecutive failures, Rocky V, Oscarand To stop! Or my mother will shootall of which received negative responses from critics and audiences. In dire need of a hit, Stallone’s next film was with Die Hard 2 director Renny Harlin, and he has firmly returned to action hero mode for Suspense. This mountaineering heist story was a hit with viewers, and while critics weren’t as pleased, it proved that Stallone was still a huge box office draw.

Looking back SuspenseThis was one of Stallone’s most underrated releases. The ridiculousness of the Rocky Mountain setting and the over-the-top devices made it a fun, action-packed thriller. Stallone may be exaggerating, but that’s also part of his appeal, going up against John Lithgow, who played a psychotic British intelligence agent who stole $100 million from the US Treasury. Like pure action movie fun, Suspense fully delivered on its outrageous mountain-setting premise.

7

Tango and Money (1989)

Sylvester Stallone as Lieutenant Ray Tango

As the 1980s came to an end, Sylvester Stallone ended the decade by teaming up with Kurt Russell for the cult crime classic. Tango and money. With a classic premise of mismatched cops being framed and sent to prison by their archenemy, it was thrilling to watch Stallone as no-nonsense detective Ray Tango cracking jokes alongside trigger-happy cowboy Gabe Cash. Although critics disliked the duo upon release, in hindsight it’s clear that the duo’s satirical style Tango and money they were not appreciated in their own time.

Part of the appeal of revisiting Stallone in Tango and money was that the film was so full of tropes and clichés that it was difficult to decipher whether it was a truly by-the-numbers film or a clever satire on action films of the time. Anyway, Tango and money made for fun viewing that didn’t take itself too seriously and was elevated by the talents of two big names in action cinema who came together. Although the poor reception unfortunately meant that a sequel was never made, Stallone enthusiasts remember the film fondly.

6

Cobra (1986)

Sylvester Stallone as Lieutenant Marion “Cobra” Cobretti

Snake was the logical conclusion of the kind of no-nonsense action hero that Sylvester Stallone was known for in films like the Rambo franchise. By taking the violent nature of 1980s action films and turning the dial up even higher, Stallone’s heroism as Lieutenant Cobra made for thrilling viewing. With sunglasses, a toothpick in his mouth and dressed in dark clothes, Stallone has never looked cooler than in Snake.

From the over-the-top violence of the opening supermarket hostage scene to the thrilling countdown to the capture of a deranged serial killer, Snake stars a hero who disregarded the letter of the law to achieve his goals. Unfortunately, what brought Snake What kept it from truly achieving greatness in Stallone’s filmography was that its best moments came in the opening scene, and it never achieved the same momentum again.

5

Daredevil (1993)

Sylvester Stallone as Sergeant John Spartan

It is interesting to note that Sylvester Stallone Demolition Man it has only become more relevant in the years since its release. Set in the then distant future of 2023, the world of Demolition Man was categorized by virtual meetings, self-driving cars, and contactless social greetings. Stallone played Sergeant John Spartan, a no-nonsense cop from the 1990s who, along with his archenemy Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes), were awakened from their cryogenically frozen state to a world they no longer understood.

Snipes was fantastic as the deranged crime lord, using the weaknesses of a crime-free utopian society against himself, while Stallone’s old-world attitude was the only thing that could bring him down. Demolition Man It was a creative and fun action film who was truly ahead of his time in the way he predicted with frightening accuracy many aspects of the imagined future he represented. Demolition Man was one of Stallone’s funniest films of the 1990s and was bolstered by his excellent on-screen chemistry with newcomer Sandra Bullock.

4

First Blood (1982)

Sylvester Stallone as John J. Rambo

Although Sylvester Stallone’s early career was overshadowed by the surprising success of Rocky franchise, in 1982 a new action series emerged that could finally rival Stallone’s most famous creation. First Blood featured PTSD-suffering Vietnam veteran John J. Rambo in an intense action film set in the desert of a small Wisconsin town. As a former special ops agent, Rambo’s war trauma exploded into a massive manhunt as he had to use his survival skills to evade the police in a massive manhunt.

First Blood was a thrilling action film based on real drama, as the psychological issues of veterans remain an essential topic. Although the series later devolved into pure action movie carnage, this first entry maintained the humanity at the heart of Rambo’s character and was one of Stallone’s most interesting roles. Like an actor perfectly adapted to the role he played, Stallone really brought the character from David Morrell’s original novel to life on the big screen.

3

The Expendables (2010)

Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross

With a long career filled with action film heroics, it was exciting to see Sylvester Stallone return with a new action franchise with The Expendables. The first installment of this ongoing series starred Stallone as Barney Rossthe leader of an elite group of mercenaries tasked with overthrowing a Latin American dictator. Like a film filled with action movie stars past and present like Jason Statham, Jet Li and Dolph Lundgren, The Expendables It really was a who’s who in the history of action cinema.

Although later episodes brought in Stallone’s old rival, Arnold Schwarzenegger, it’s impossible to top the thrilling power of the original, which proved that Stallone still had it after all these years. With intense action sequences and some hilarious and ironic dialogue, The Expendables It ticked all the right boxes for everything an action movie lover would want. With The Expendables, Stallone could add Barney Ross alongside Rocky and Rambo to his list of iconic movie heroes.

2

Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)

Sylvester Stallone as John J. Rambo

The success of Sylvester Stallone’s portrayal of John J. Rambo in First Blood showed the character’s potential to lead a new action franchise and the sequel Rambo: First Blood Part IIit was released three years later. This sequel may not have had the emotional resonance of the original, but it more than made up for it with pure action movie carnage. By bringing Rambo back to Vietnam as he attempted to rescue captured POWs who had been left behind, First Blood Part II may not have been historically accuratebut it was certainly a lot of fun.

First Blood Part II was the sweet spot for the Rambo character, as his action hero style was in full swing and he had not yet transformed into the one-dimensional superhero character he turned into in subsequent sequels. As a huge box office success around the world, First Blood Part II was one of the greatest rock-em-sock-em action films ever produced. This installment transformed Sylvester Stallone into one of cinema’s greatest action heroes.

1

Police Land (1997)

Sylvester Stallone as Sheriff Freddy Heflin

Although Sylvester Stallone’s acting credentials often get a bad rap, as he has become associated with over-the-top action movie performances, those who ridicule his acting skills need to check it out. Police land be proven wrong. This action police drama featured Stallone in a more reserved and realistic role as he played small-town Sheriff Freddy Heflin, uncovering corruption within his police force. With acting legends Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta and Harvey Keitel in its cast, it was a testament to Stallone’s talent that he more than excelled in such a highly regarded company.

Police land was a gripping story of corruption and deceit, filled with fantastic performances and plenty of heart-pounding suspense. Stallone ditched his action hero persona to portray a much more grounded character who, without super strength and otherworldly combat skills, still did what was right to take on the bad guys. As a nuanced, layered portrait of crime and conflict in small-town New Jersey, Police land It was Stallone’s greatest achievement as an actor.

Sources: Collider, electronic warfare