Few actors have left the kind of mark on action cinema that Christian actor Sylvester Stallone has. Over his five-decade career, “Sly” has portrayed unforgettable characters like Rocky Balboa and John Rambo, embodying the ultimate underdog. In this ranking, we’ll count down the top 10 Sylvester Stallone movies, discussing the films that defined his career and legacy as one of action cinema’s greatest stars.
Demolition Man
First up on our list of the top 10 Sylvester Stallone movies is Demolition Man. In this sci-fi action film, Stallone played John Spartan, a tough cop frozen in 1996 and thawed out in 2032. When he defrosted, he found himself in a future where everything fun became illegal.
With future cop Sandra Bullock, Stallone had to stop Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes), playing the outlandish but very dangerous villain. Between the action scenes and jokes about Taco Bell becoming fine dining, Demolition Man earned the first spot on our list.
Cliffhanger
Next, in Cliffhanger, Stallone played Gabe Walker, a mountain rescue climber who blamed himself when his friend’s girlfriend died during a failed rescue mission. Eight months later, he was pulled into a heist of a U.S. Treasury plane flying through the Rockies.
The movie made our list because it put Stallone in a different kind of action role. Instead of playing a soldier or boxer, like his other iconic roles, he relied on his climbing skills to survive. His fear of heights in real life made his performance even more impressive, as he actually did many of his own stunts on the cliffs.
The film’s opening climbing tragedy scene is truly one of the scariest moments in 90s action movies, earning it the next place on our list.
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Nighthawks
Another one of our top 10 Sylvester Stallone movies is Nighthawks. In this film, Stallone played NYC cop Deke DaSilva, who hunted a European terrorist named Wulfgar (Rutger Hauer in his American film debut). Stallone showed surprising depth as an undercover detective in this film.
The movie also stood out for its intense cat-and-mouse chase through 1980s New York City. One of the most iconic highlights was when DaSilva and Wulfgar faced off in the subway system.
Often overlooked in Stallone’s career, Nighthawks made our list because it caught him at an important moment between Rocky and his later action roles. The film showed that he could handle complex dramatic scenes while still delivering the intensity that audiences already loved.
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Rambo III
In Rambo III, Stallone returned as John Rambo, this time headed to Afghanistan. His mentor, Colonel Trautman, was captured by Soviet forces during a mission.
Rambo joined forces with local fighters and fought Soviet helicopters, packing in the most explosive set pieces of the series. Although the emotional power didn’t match First Blood, Rambo III earned its spot on any Stallone list through pure spectacle. Stallone and Richard Crenna‘s chemistry as Rambo and Trautman gave the movie its heart. Their father-son bond made viewers care about the mission beyond just the explosions.
While this film never reached the original’s depth, it delivered exactly what audiences wanted – Rambo as the unstoppable warrior facing down an army, yet again.
Cop Land
Next, Cop Land in 1997 showed audiences a completely different Stallone. He gained 40 pounds to play Freddy Heflin, a small-town sheriff watching over corrupt NYPD officers in New Jersey.
Working with De Niro and Keitel brought out Stallone’s raw talent. Every moment hit harder because we could finally watch him play a real character, not a superhero. In the end, Cop Land won its spot among Stallone’s best by proving what he could do outside action roles.
Rocky Balboa
Another one of the top 10 Sylvester Stallone movies, of course, is Rocky Balboa. As the sixth film in the series, sixteen years after Rocky V, Stallone crafted the perfect finale.
Stallone played Rocky as a widowed restaurant owner who still lived in Philadelphia, telling old boxing stories to his customers. When a TV sports show ran a computer simulation showing young Rocky beating the current champ, Mason Dixon, it sparked public interest. Dixon challenged the 60-year-old Rocky to a real exhibition match, giving the former champ one last swing at the ring. Unlike the over-the-top fights of earlier sequels, the final match actually showed a realistic battle between Dixon and Rocky.
Critics laughed at the idea of a sixth film starring Rocky as a senior citizen. But honestly, in our opinion, Rocky Balboa kind of saved the series’ reputation after the disappointing Rocky V.
Rocky IV
Next, remembered as one of the best movies in the franchise, we had to include Rocky IV. This film followed Sylvester Stallone‘s iconic character, Rocky Balboa, as he faced off against the Soviet boxer Ivan Drago.
The film’s plot began with the tragic death of Rocky’s friend, Apollo Creed, who was killed in the ring by Drago. Driven by revenge, Rocky traveled to the Soviet Union to train in isolation, preparing for a showdown against the seemingly invincible New Soviet Man.
The film captured the intense political tensions of the era, portraying Rocky’s fight as a metaphor for the larger struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union. This movie is known for its inspirational message and memorable soundtrack, including the iconic anthem “Eye of the Tiger.”
First Blood
We couldn’t make a list of the best Stallone movies without including First Blood. In this film, Stallone played John Rambo, a former Green Beret just trying to find his old war buddy. When a bullying sheriff pushed him too far, he used all his combat training to fight back and survive in the woods.
Stallone made you feel for Rambo, a Vietnam vet who came home to find nobody wanted him around. The final scene, where Rambo broke down crying about losing his friends in the war, showed Stallone could truly act.
First Blood kicked off what would become the famous Rambo series. This first movie was different from the bigger, louder sequels that followed. Yet, it was still iconic enough to earn a third-place spot on our list.
Rocky
Duh! As the original movie in the franchise, of course, we had to include Rocky, too! From a young age, I remember watching this movie with my brother…over and over and over. Rocky wasn’t just Stallone’s breakthrough, it was a knockout in Hollywood.
Stallone wrote and starred in this underdog story about Rocky Balboa, a Philadelphia boxer who got his shot against champ Apollo Creed. Each training montage helped create the blueprint for the multiple other movies in the franchise that followed. This iconic film also earned Best Picture and turned a $1 million budget into a $225 million box office smash.
Overall, this film launched Stallone from a struggling actor to a superstar, securing its place on our list. He nailed the role so perfectly that even today, tourists still race up the iconic Rocky steps in Philly, throwing punches at the air.
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Creed
Capping our list of the top 10 Sylvester Stallone movies is Creed. As a more recent movie on this list, forty years after playing the original underdog, Stallone returned to his most famous role. This time, as the trainer.
As an older Rocky Balboa, he helped Apollo Creed’s son Adonis (Michael B. Jordan) follow in his father’s footsteps as a boxer. Stallone crushed this role. He brought a quiet sadness to Rocky that we’d never seen before. This time, instead of a champion boxer, he was just a lonely guy who found a new purpose in life by helping Apollo’s kid. This performance earned him his first Oscar nomination since the original Rocky (and many thought he should’ve won).
The movie brought Rocky’s story full circle. It reminded us why we fell in love with these boxing movies in the first place, cementing its final spot on our list.
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