Sylvester Stallone is one of the greatest action stars of all time, so it only stands to reason that he’s appeared in some amazing setpieces. Following the success of the early entries in the Rocky movie franchise, Stallone was being pegged as the successor to dramatic actors like Marlon Brando.
However, it was the success of First Blood that led to the creation of the Sylvester Stallone action movie subgenre. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the Schwarzenegger vs Stallone feud led to the creation of some classic actioners, with the two stars putting an emphasis on bodycount, one-liners, the size of their knives and, of course, their physiques.
Stallone is a talented writer and director too, and has had a creative hand in just about every project he’s been involved with. From Cobra right on down to The Expendables franchise, Stallone has been part of some of the most enjoyable action movies of the past 50 years.
Rambo III (1988) – The Failed Rescue
Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo using a bow and arrow in Rambo 3.
Rambo III was briefly the most expensive film ever made, and took the title soldier to Afghanistan to rescue his old pal, Trautman (Richard Crenna). It’s one of the weaker outings in the series overall, but Rambo’s mid-movie attempt to bust Trautman out of a Soviet fortress is a doozy.
From his borderline Metal Gear Solid-style stealthiness while breaking in to shooting his way out, this failed rescue is the highlight of the sequel. This escape is both tense and exhilarating, and while it doesn’t do much that’s innovative, it’s still a great little setpiece.
Cobra (1986) – The Department Store Standoff
Sylvester Stallone as Cobra pointing a handgun.
After Rocky and Rambo, Cobra was Stallone’s attempt to create a third franchise for himself. The Cobra character is also Stallone’s take on Dirty Harry, where his cool detective chases after a cult of serial killers. Cobra first meets one of their number in the prologue, who has taken a department store hostage.
It’s an unusually intense scene for a fluffy actioner to open on, but it also establishes Cobra’s persona. In contrast to his reputation in the movie, he does make an effort to talk the killer down, but doesn’t hesitate to turn lethal when it’s clear that conversation alone won’t do the job.
Demolition Man (1993) – The Hall Of Violence Exhibit
Sylvester Stallone as John Spartan in Demolition Man.
Demolition Man is a tongue-in-cheek blockbuster that takes place in the distant, utopian future of 2032. Violence has been essentially eliminated in America, only for vicious criminal Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes) to get thawed out and create havoc; Stallone’s cop Spartan is then unfrozen to deal with him.
Demolition Man gave Sandra Bullock an early starring role as Spartan’s partner, with the actress replacing Lori Petty (Point Break) after a couple of days of filming.
The two come to blows in the “Hall of Violence” exhibit section of a museum, including shooting at each other in a recreation of a “retro” 1990s street. It’s a scene both filled with meta playfulness and well-shot action, and a good example of why the film is such a blast.
Bullet To The Head (2012) – The Ax Fight
Sylvester Stallone and Jason Momoa ax fighting in Bullet to the Head (2012).
Bullet to the Head felt like a refugee from the 1980s in both tone and action, which is fitting as genre icon Walter Hill directed it. That said, it’s neither the best nor worst work from Hill or Stallone, with the latter playing a hitman chasing down Jason Momoa’s character.
Momoa’s assassin killed Stallone’s partner, and the two settle their differences with a good, old-fashioned ax battle. Bullet to the Head is a little low on standout action, but this intense and brutal brawl is Hill at his best. The outcome is predictable, but hey, that’s true of most action movies anyway.
Assassins (1995) – Miguel And Rath’s Taxi Shootout
Sylvester Stallone and Antonio Banderas in Assassins.
Assassins was an early screenplay from The Wachowskis (The Matrix), which sees Stallone’s top killer Rath targeted by live wire newcomer Miguel (Antonio Banderas). The film is a gloriously dated piece of 1990s hokum, and easily its best sequence involves the two men facing off in a taxi.
This sees the duo on opposite sides of bulletproof glass inside a moving taxi, so they have some time to chit-chat before attempting to kill each other. It’s an absurd setup on one hand, but Sly and Bandaras have such good chemistry that it becomes the action highlight.
The Expendables 2 (2012) – The Airport Finale
Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Bruce Willis in The Expendables 2.
A movie that features Sly, Arnie and Bruce Willis together would have been a mega blockbuster during the 1990s. Due to a combination of budget and egos, that didn’t happen, but The Expendables 2 eventually gave fans what they wanted with its finale. This sees Stallone’s merc Barney leading his team against Jean-Claude Van Damme’s villain inside an airport.
While the editing is a little choppy, it’s undeniably thrilling to see action luminaries like Arnold, Dolph Lundgren, Jason Statham and more in one scene. The brief section where Bruce, Sly and Schwarzenegger are fighting side by side is worth the price of admission alone.
Rambo (2008) – The Final Battle
Rambo using a machine gun in Rambo 2008.
Rambo came a full 20 years on from the third entry, and saw the disillusioned soldier leading a rescue mission inside Burma. This sequel is easily the darkest of the series, with director Stallone dropping viewers into the middle of a bloody nightmare.
There are some genuinely harrowing setpieces in Rambo, but Stallone does give audiences some catharsis in the finale. This sees Rambo saving the day by manning a gigantic machine gun and mowing down waves of enemy soldiers, while his mercenary pals try to help out. It’s over the top and excessively gory – which is precisely why it works.
Cop Land (1997) – Freddy Saves Babitch
Sylvester Stallone levels a gun at someone in Cop Land.
Cop Land was Stallone’s attempt to move away from action and flex his acting muscles again. The film was only a modest hit, but it (rightly) gained Stallone some of the best reviews of his career. This sees him play a half-deaf, out-of-shape sheriff forced to confront a gang of corrupt cops.
The Western-style finale sees the wounded Freddie (Stallone) being forced into a shootout with these officers before they can kill a witness called Babitch (Michael Rapaport). Cop Land’s finale feels like a slow-motion nightmare, as Freddie just barely manages to stay alive as the bullets fly.
Cliffhanger (1993) – The Plane Exchange
Cliffhanger Sylvester Stallone as Gabe Walker Hanging From One Arm.
Cliffhanger’s best setpiece doesn’t even feature Stallone’s hero, Gabe. Instead, it sees the villains attempting to steal money from a plane in midair. This involves killing the federal agents aboard, and then sliding the money cases from one plane to another on a wire.
The fact this scene is largely practical and features an actual stuntman sliding from one plane to the other is what makes it so incredible. In fact, stunt performer Simon Crane got paid a cool million to shoot the sequence, and he earned every cent.
First Blood (1982) – Rambo Ambushes The Police
Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo stares while holding a hunting knife in First Blood 1982
Stallone believes First Blood is his best action movie, and he might just be right. The film moves like lightning and is filled with great action beats like a motorcycle chase or Rambo’s rampage in the final act. Still, it’s the scene where Rambo lays traps for his police pursuers that stands out.
This turns Rambo into something of a slasher (even though he doesn’t kill anyone), where his nasty traps take down the officers chasing him one by one. This scene displays why Rambo is such a perfect soldier, while Sylvester Stallone plays it with just the right amount of menace.
