Stallone alongside Sandra Bullock in the cult favourite Demolition Man
List compiled by Eddie on 01/12/2023
Love him or hate him, worldwide superstar Sylvester Stallone has been a staple of Hollywood since the 70’s and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon, at the ripe age of 77.
Across a career that started out mostly in vain in the late 60’s/early 70’s, from tough beginnings good things grow with Stallone’s career standing the test of time from a non- stereotypical heartthrob, action star to now more of a gruff mentor/grandfather type persona, Stallone has managed to evolve with the times to remain a relevant big and small-screen star.
In amongst a catalogue of over 100 products his starred in there are some undeniable stinkers amongst the CV of Stallone (here’s looking at you Expend4ables) but when you begin to mine through the raft of products in the Stallone library you can quickly gain an insight into why the brand of Stallone has garnered so many fans over various decades.
Below is a list of what I regard to be Stallone’s 10 best films, not ranked by performance but the product as a whole.
Happy reading. See you at the movies!
Just hanging out, 1993’s Cliffhanger was a fun thrill ride
10. Cliffhanger (1993)
Stallone Plays – Gabe Walker
Peak (pardon the pun) Stallone lead cheese, the multi-Oscar nominated Cliffhanger is not high-brow cinema but this mindless 90’s action thriller (with a recently announced sequel on the boil) is a lot of harmless fun and Stallone himself has a blast going up against the likes of John Lithgow and Michael Rooker in an adventure that promises “An avalanche of thrills!”
9. Creed II (2018)
Stallone Plays – Rocky Balboa
The runaway hit that was Creed surprised everyone but what was equally surprising was its far better than it had any right to be sequel Creed II. Feeding off the chemistry between its main star Michael B. Jordan and Stallone as the grizzled and reflective Rocky Balboa, Creed II sticks relatively close to the rulebook but its an unquestionably fun film that showcased the first Creed was no flash in the pan.
8. Antz (1998)
Stallone Plays – Weaver (voice)
Overshadowed by Pixar’s much more high-profile fellow 1998 animated insect event A Bug’s Life, the star-studded Antz may not garner the same amount of love as other animated films of that era but it’s a far better film than many give it credit for or remember it for. Filled with enough fun for the younger audiences and enough weighty material for adults, Antz is worth another shot for those that have pushed it from their minds.
7. Rocky II (1979)
Stallone Plays – Rocky Balboa
It was a monumental task for 1979’s Rocky II to somehow match the success and public adoration that poured forth from all corners of the film world for its forefather but for the most part the Rocky sequel is a fun ride. The film, which centres around a rematch with Rocky nemesis Apollo Creed, never tries to be anything that was going to trod a new path but when you consider the odds stacked against it, this successful follow-up is a massive career win for Stallone.
6. Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2 (2017)
Stallone Plays – Staker Ogord
While only featuring personally in a small cameo-like role as space pirate Staker Ogord, Stallone gets to participate in a memorable and enjoyable Marvel sequel that gave everyone’s favourite band of space miscreants another chance to get weird, wacky and into all sorts of trouble. With a number of great comedic moments and stand-out set-pieces, Volume 2 of the Guardians saga is a fine example of why the series became so beloved across the globe.
Creed surprised everyone with its overall effectiveness
5. Creed (2015)
Stallone Plays – Rocky Balboa
The box office success, audience adoration and critical plaudits (including a should’ve won Oscar nomination for Stallone) that Ryan Coogler’s modern day Rocky film received upon release was one of the feel good film stories of the modern era. A film that has undeniable charm, smarts and heart, Creed is a film deserving of its status as one of the great underdog success stories of modern film history.
4. Demolition Man (1993)
Stallone Plays – Det. John Spartan
It took some years to really catch on but most people seem to agree now that 1993’s Demolition Man is not only a very enjoyable sci-fi actioner but something of a prophetic one. Set in the long-fabled future of 2032, the Stallone and Wesley Snipes starring blockbuster gets a lot freakishly right about the modern era and its ability to not take itself too seriously gifts this unique experience with a unique set of sensibilities that have stood up to the test of time.
3. Copland (1997)
Stallone Plays – Freddy Heflin
I would confidently argue that Stallone’s performance as New Jersey sheriff Freddy Heflin in Copland is his best individual performance in his entire career. Leading James Mangold’s star-studded box-office dud, whose reputation has only really been shored up over more recent years, Stallone is commanding in this cops gone bad thriller that deserves more time in the spotlight as one of the great overlooked films of the 90’s.
2. First Blood (1982)
Stallone Plays – John Rambo
There would’ve been many industry pundits that would’ve thought Stallone and his brand peaked with Rocky but little did they know John Rambo wasn’t far behind with the 1982 First Blood. A film that became just as big of a cultural cornerstone as the worlds most famous meat-punching boxer, First Blood is a strong anti-Vietnam allergy that works in a number of different ways and genre aspects. An undeniable classic deserving of its glowing reputation.
1. Rocky (1976)
Stallone Plays – Rocky Balboa
There’s not a lot left to say about Rocky that hasn’t already been said across the years following its runway success on release in 1976. A little film that managed to changed cinema forever and the event that shot Stallone into the stratosphere of superstardom, Rocky is the quintessential underdog story and one that is oft-imitated but rarely bettered. A film almost impossible to dislike, Rocky is and always will be a film synonymous with Stallone on screen and off.
Rocky, one of cinemas most iconic characters and cinematic properties
What are your favourite Stallone films? Let me know in the comments below!
Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys) 
He doesn’t know about the three shells.
Great list. I’m kind of partial to “Rocky Balboa,” as it removed the bad taste from the end of the “Rocky” series, and without it, the “Creed” series would not exist. “Rocky I” is a brilliantly poignant snapshot of mid-1970s America. “First Blood” is oozing with so much testosterone, David Caruso plays a wimp. And I don’t know if “Demolition Man” inspired Dennis Rodman, or vice versa.
Rocky Balboa was close! You’re right about it leading into the Creed films, it was a surprisingly strong film that reminded us all Stallone can still match it with the best.
E
Night Hawks was pretty damn good with Sly and Rutger Hauer
Nice unique pick mate, I can’t recall too much from this film but one I might just have to go back to to reevaluate.
E
Hauer is the European terrorist who gets plastic surgery to hide his identity to sneak into the US
Can’t argue with number one and two. I’m with you on Copland too. I think it’s a little underrated within Stallone’s work. Great cast. I think Rocky IV would have found itself in my top 10. 🙂
I feel like Copland is slowly but surely building its reputation over the years. One that holds up really well to the test of time.
E
First Blood. The interesting that about late 1970s and early 1980s American cinema is how right wing films often expressed a leftist point of view better than some left wing films.
The key is that these right wing movies imagine Americans as the victims of the American empire.
In First Blood Rambo becomes the Vietcong and the cops become the American and French empires. Of course it still promotes the myth that it was the hippies and not an American draft system that only sent the working class to Vietnam and let the middle-class and above say home that was the problem.
Another good example is Conan the Barbarian, which is actually better than Apocalpyse Now in dramatizing the charismatic cult leader playing God. The opening scene is the best depiction of My Lai ever put on film.
Has anybody ever done a deep dive into Rocky IV.
It’s a strange mixture of right and left.
The villain is a giant Russian played by a giant Swede who looks like the poster boy “Aryan.”
The hero is an olive skinned Italian who goes to Russia to avenge his black friend against the giant blond Russian and his Grace Kelly looking wife.
It’s anti-communism trying to claim the mantle of multiracial brotherhood.
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