Our team compiled the best Sylvester Stallone movies and here is what they came up with
Sylvester Stallone is an American actor, director, and screenwriter, known for his roles in iconic films such as the “Rocky” and “Rambo” series. He has starred in a wide range of films throughout his career and has become one of the most recognizable and respected actors in Hollywood. Here is a list of some of Sylvester Stallone’s most popular and notable movies along with a brief summary, key information, and why he was appreciated in each film:
Here are the 25 best Sylvester Stallone movies to check out on the streaming service.
1. Rocky (1976)
Rated PG, grossed $225 million, released in 1976. Starring Talia Shire, Burt Young, and Carl Weathers. The film follows the story of Rocky Balboa (Stallone), a small-time boxer who gets the chance to fight the heavyweight champion of the world. Stallone’s portrayal of the determined and resourceful Rocky was praised for its heart and authenticity.
2. Rambo: First Blood (1982)
Rated R, grossed $125 million, released in 1982. Starring Richard Crenna, Brian Dennehy, and David Caruso. The film follows the story of John Rambo (Stallone), a Vietnam War veteran, who is hunted by a ruthless sheriff after he is falsely accused of a crime. Stallone’s portrayal of the haunted and resourceful Rambo was appreciated for its intensity and physicality.
3. Rocky II (1979)
Rated PG, grossed $200 million, released in 1979. Starring Talia Shire, Burt Young, and Carl Weathers. The sequel to “Rocky,” the film follows Rocky Balboa (Stallone) as he faces the heavyweight champion of the world in a rematch. Stallone’s portrayal of the determined and resourceful Rocky was praised for its heart and authenticity.
4. Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
Rated R, grossed $300 million, released in 1985. Starring Richard Crenna, Charles Napier, and Steven Berkoff. The sequel to “Rambo: First Blood,” the film follows John Rambo (Stallone) as he is sent on a mission to rescue American prisoners of war in Vietnam. Stallone’s portrayal of the haunted and resourceful Rambo was appreciated for its intensity and physicality.
5. Rocky III (1982)
Rated PG, grossed $270 million, released in 1982. Starring Talia Shire, Burt Young, and Carl Weathers. The third installment in the “Rocky” franchise, the film follows Rocky Balboa (Stallone) as he faces a new challenger, Clubber Lang (Mr. T). Stallone’s portrayal of the determined and resourceful Rocky was praised for its heart and authenticity.
6. Rambo III (1988)
Rated R, grossed $189 million, released in 1988. Starring Richard Crenna, Julie Benz, and Kurtwood Smith. The third installment in the “Rambo” franchise, the film follows John Rambo (Stallone) as he goes to Afghanistan to rescue his friend and mentor, Colonel Trautman (Crenna), from Soviet troops. Stallone’s portrayal of the haunted and resourceful Rambo was appreciated for its intensity and physicality.
7. Rocky IV (1985)
Rated PG, grossed $300 million, released in 1985. Starring Talia Shire, Burt Young, and Dolph Lundgren. The fourth installment in the “Rocky” franchise, the film follows Rocky Balboa (Stallone) as he faces the Soviet boxer Ivan Drago (Lundgren) in the ring after Drago kills his best friend, Apollo Creed (Weathers). Stallone’s portrayal of the determined and resourceful Rocky was praised for its heart and authenticity.
8. Rambo: Last Blood (2019)
Rated R, grossed $91 million, released in 2019. Starring Paz Vega, Yvette Monreal and Adriana Barraza. The fifth and final installment in the “Rambo” franchise, the film follows John Rambo (Stallone) as he sets out to rescue his adopted daughter from a Mexican cartel. Stallone’s portrayal of the haunted and resourceful Rambo was appreciated for its intensity and physicality.
9. Tango & Cash (1989)
Rated R, grossed $163 million, released in 1989. Starring Kurt Russell, Teri Hatcher, and Jack Palance. The film follows the story of two rival detectives (Stallone and Russell) who are forced to work together to take down a drug lord. Stallone’s portrayal of the tough and resourceful detective was praised for its intensity and action sequences.
10. Cliffhanger (1993)
Rated R, grossed $255 million, released in 1993. Starring John Lithgow, Michael Rooker, and Janine Turner. The film follows the story of a former mountain climber (Stallone) who is forced to rescue a group of stranded hikers and take on a ruthless criminal. Stallone’s portrayal of the determined and resourceful protagonist was praised for its intensity and action sequences.
11. Demolition Man (1993)
Rated R, grossed $159 million, released in 1993. Starring Wesley Snipes, Sandra Bullock, and Nigel Hawthorne. The film is set in the future where a cryogenically frozen cop (Stallone) is thawed out to take on a dangerous criminal (Snipes) who has also been thawed out. Stallone’s portrayal of the determined and resourceful cop was praised for its intensity and action sequences.
12. The Expendables (2010)
Rated R, grossed $274 million, released in 2010. Starring Jason Statham, Jet Li, and Dolph Lundgren. The film follows the story of a group of elite mercenaries (led by Stallone) who are sent on a mission to overthrow a ruthless dictator. Stallone’s portrayal of the grizzled and experienced leader of the team was appreciated for its nostalgia and action sequences.
13. Rocky V (1990)
Rated PG, grossed $180 million, released in 1990. Starring Talia Shire, Burt Young, and Sage Stallone. The fifth and final installment in the “Rocky” franchise, the film follows Rocky Balboa (Stallone) as he faces a new challenger, Tommy Gunn (Tommy Morrison) and deals with financial and personal struggles. Stallone’s portrayal of the determined and resourceful Rocky was praised for its heart and authenticity.
14. The Specialist (1994)
Rated R, grossed $170 million, released in 1994. Starring Sharon Stone, James Woods, and Eric Roberts. The film follows the story of a former CIA bomb expert (Stallone) who is hired by a woman (Stone) to take revenge on a ruthless crime lord (Woods). Stallone’s portrayal of the determined and resourceful expert was praised for its intensity and action sequences.
15. Cop Land (1997)
Rated R, grossed $49 million, released in 1997. Starring Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, and Ray Liotta. The film follows the story of a sheriff (Stallone) in a New Jersey town who is caught up in a corrupt police force and a dangerous crime ring. Stallone’s portrayal of the conflicted and determined sheriff was praised for its depth and complexity.
16. Driven (2001)
Rated R, grossed $32 million, released in 2001. Starring Kip Pardue, Til Schweiger, and Burt Reynolds. The film follows the story of a retired racecar driver (Stallone) who becomes a mentor to a young up-and-coming driver (Pardue). Stallone’s portrayal of the experienced and wise mentor was praised for its authenticity and humor.
17. Rocky Balboa (2006)
Rated PG, grossed $155 million, released in 2006. Starring Antonio Tarver, Milo Ventimiglia, and Burt Young. The sixth and final installment in the “Rocky” franchise, the film follows Rocky Balboa (Stallone) as he comes out of retirement to fight a new challenger, Mason Dixon (Tarver). Stallone’s portrayal of the determined and resourceful Rocky was praised for its heart and authenticity.
18. The Expendables 2 (2012)
Rated R, grossed $310 million, released in 2012. Starring Jason Statham, Jet Li, and Dolph Lundgren. The sequel to “The Expendables,” the film follows the story of a group of elite mercenaries (led by Stallone) who are sent on a mission to take down a ruthless arms dealer. Stallone’s portrayal of the grizzled and experienced leader of the team was appreciated for its nostalgia and action sequences.
19. Escape Plan (2013)
Rated R, grossed $137 million, released in 2013. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jim Caviezel, and Vincent D’Onofrio. The film follows the story of a structural security expert (Stallone) who is falsely imprisoned and must use his skills to escape with the help of a fellow inmate (Schwarzenegger). Stallone’s portrayal of the determined and resourceful expert was praised for its intensity and action sequences.
20. The Expendables 3 (2014)
Rated PG-13, grossed $214 million, released in 2014. Starring Jason Statham, Jet Li, and Wesley Snipes. The third installment in the “The Expendables” franchise, the film follows the story of a group of elite mercenaries (led by Stallone) who are sent on a mission to take down a ruthless arms dealer and his new protégé (Snipes). Stallone’s portrayal of the grizzled and experienced leader of the team was appreciated for its nostalgia and action sequences.
21. Creed (2015)
Rated PG-13, grossed $173 million, released in 2015. Starring Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, and Phylicia Rashad. The film follows the story of the son (Jordan) of Apollo Creed, Rocky Balboa’s former rival and friend, who seeks out Rocky to become his trainer. Stallone’s portrayal of the aging and wise Rocky was praised for its heart and authenticity.
22. Creed II (2018)
Rated PG-13, grossed $214 million, released in 2018. Starring Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, and Phylicia Rashad. The sequel to “Creed,” the film follows the story of Adonis Creed as he faces a new challenger, the son of Ivan Drago. Stallone’s portrayal of the aging and wise Rocky Balboa, who acts as Adonis’s trainer and mentor, was praised for its heart and authenticity.
23. Escape Plan 2: Hades (2018)
Rated R, grossed $25 million, released in 2018. Starring Dave Bautista, Huang Xiaoming, and Jaime King. The sequel to “Escape Plan,” the film follows the story of security expert Ray Breslin (Stallone) as he is kidnapped and taken to a high-security prison known as Hades. Stallone’s portrayal of the determined and resourceful expert was praised for its intensity and action sequences.
24. Escape Plan 3: The Extractors (2019)
Rated R, grossed $9 million, released in 2019. Starring Devon Sawa, Harry Shum Jr. and Lydia Hull. The third installment in the “Escape Plan” franchise, the film follows the story of security expert Ray Breslin (Stallone) as he and his team must break into the world’s most secret and secure prison to extract a kidnapped billionaire. Stallone’s portrayal of the determined and resourceful expert was praised for its intensity and action sequences.
25. Over the Top (1987)
Rated PG, grossed $48 million, released in 1987. Starring Robert Loggia, Susan Blakely, and Rick Zumwalt. The film follows the story of a truck driver and arm wrestler (Stallone) who tries to win a national arm wrestling competition and gain the respect of his estranged son. Stallone’s portrayal of the determined and resourceful protagonist was praised for its heart and authenticity.