Billy Oduory delves into Sylvester Stallone’s 80s output, ranking the movies via their IMDb scores…
Sylvester “Sly” Stallone is now a household name in Hollywood who sounds like he has been around since forever thanks to his successful six-decade career. His enduring charm turns almost every character he plays into a screen icon which is why his career has seen some of the greatest action films of all time come to life. From the upbeat straight-punching Rocky Balboa to the grumpy, but empathetic John Rambo, and most recently, the charming reformed gangster Dwight Manfredi seeking redemption, there is a version of Sylvester Stallone that everyone likes.
While Sly became a star in the 1970s, the 1980s are arguably the decade that catapulted him to the world stage. The continued success of the Rocky franchise and the successful launch of First Blood, which saw John Rambo become one of the most famous action-film characters ever created, stand out as some of the most significant leaps in Sly’s career. Stallone was a busy man throughout the decade, starring in a total of 12 films and directing another, so let’s look at how Sly’s magic touch was delivered in each film he starred in, or directed in the 1980s…
1. First Blood (1982) – IMDB: 7.7
First Blood introduces audiences to John Rambo, a troubled Vietnam War veteran who becomes embroiled in a violent conflict with law enforcement after he is unjustly harassed and arrested by a small-town sheriff in the fictional town of Hope, Washington. As Rambo wages a one-man war against his oppressors, he must confront his inner demons and fight for survival in the rugged wilderness as the odds stack up against him.
First Blood grossed over $125 million worldwide, putting it in the top-10 list of the highest-grossing films worldwide in 1982, and solidifying Sylvester Stallone’s status as an action star. The film is famous for transforming the action film genre forever, thanks to its gripping narrative and Stallone’s nuanced performance. His portrayal of the traumatized veteran resonated with audiences, sparking discussions about the treatment of veterans and the lasting effects of war.
2. Rocky IV (1985) – IMDB: 6.9
Having teamed up with Apollo Creed to beat Clubber Lang and restore his mantle as the world heavyweight champion in Rocky III, Balboa now faces his most formidable opponent yet: the towering Soviet boxer Ivan Drago. The film heavily relies on the epitome of Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union with Ivar, played by Dolph Lundgren, nailing the role of the soviet boxer perfectly to bring the story to life.
Rocky IV features the death of Apollo Creed, which marks one of the saddest events in the franchise, although the film capitalizes on the emotion of Creed’s death to justify Balboa’s drive to defeat Drago. Stallone and Lundgren engaged in a real punching battle in a bid to produce the grabbing scene of the film’s first fight. While the real fight left Stallone in the ICU, it paid off in the end as the film became a huge box office hit, grossing over $300 million worldwide.
3. Rocky III (1982) – IMDB: 6.8
After defeating Apollo Creed in that epic fight in Rocky II (1979) which almost ended in a double knockout, Rocky III (1982) sees the rebirth of Rocky Balboa as he faces a tougher challenger in Clubber Lang. Lang (Mr. T) is a younger and hungrier boxer who just won’t stop taunting Rocky until he agrees to fight him. In a typical Stallone fashion, Lang’s shenanigans lead to a family tragedy for Rocky, giving him every reason to defeat Lang in the ring.
Despite being the third film in the franchise, Rocky III tweaks Balboa’s story, turning it into a rebirth, rather than a boring continuation of its predecessor. Rocky III also brings back the fan-favorite characters from previous films, and turns Balboa’s former opponent, Apollo Creed, into Balboa’s mentor and friend. The film features one of Sly’s best portrayals of Rocky Balboa and features the iconic Balboa pause that gave birth to the famous Rocky Balboa statue.
4. Escape to Victory (1981) – IMDB: 6.6
In Escape to Victory (a.k.a. Victory), Sylvester Stallone stars as Robert Hatch, a former professional soccer player, who finds himself imprisoned in a German POW camp during World War II. When he and his fellow inmates are given the opportunity to play a football match against a German team, Hatch sees it as a chance for freedom and recruits a team of Allied prisoners to compete in the high-stakes game while executing their prison break. Despite the game being an escape mission, Hatch, who is the goalkeeper, still has to put up his best performance on the pitch for the mission to succeed.
Victory became famous for its depth and authenticity thanks to cameos by professional soccer players from the English Premier League team Ipswich Town, as well as guidance from soccer legends Pele and Osvaldo Ardiles. Sylvester Stallone’s portrayal of Hatch as a natural leader shapes the plot as he inspires his fellow prisoners to unite and defy their captors through the power of sport. Stallone’s physicality and on-screen presence inject Victory with a sense of excitement and urgency, as the fate of the characters hangs in the balance on the pitch.
5. Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) – IMDB: 6.5
In Rambo: First Blood Part II, former Green Beret John Rambo gets a deal for an early release from prison in exchange for going on a risky mission to locate and rescue American prisoners of war held captive in Vietnam. As he navigates the treacherous jungles of Southeast Asia, Rambo finds himself embroiled in a deadly conspiracy orchestrated by corrupt government officials, forcing him to confront his past and reclaim his identity as a warrior. Left for dead by his own government, Rambo becomes a one-man army once more, delivering on his mandate as a real soldier, unlike his anarchist version of First Blood.
The gripping storyline endears Rambo to viewers, which explains the film’s commercial success. Rambo: First Blood Part II solidified Sylvester Stallone’s status as an action film icon as his portrayal of Rambo as a haunted and morally conflicted hero resonated with audiences, cementing the character as a cultural icon and spawning a successful franchise that has endured for decades.
6. Lock Up (1989) – IMDB: 6.4
Despite being Sly’s only prison action film from the 80s, Lock Up is on Sly’s personal list of films to forget as he acknowledged that there wasn’t enough investment in the film to turn it into a blockbuster. In the film, Stallone stars as Frank Leone, a model prisoner nearing the end of his sentence in a minimum-security prison until the sadistic Warden Drumgoole (Donald Sutherland) pulls strings to transfer him to a maximum-security prison in a bid to settle old scores. As Leone faces relentless abuse and harassment from both inmates and guards in the new prison, he must summon all of his strength and resilience to survive and seek justice.
Despite its lukewarm critical reception, the film performed moderately well at the box office, grossing over $22 million domestically. Sylvester Stallone’s portrayal of Leone as a principled and resilient individual is the film’s shining light as it resonates with audiences. Stallone’s on-screen chemistry with co-star Donald Sutherland also injects life into their characters’ antagonistic relationship, creating a conflict that viewers enjoy following despite the lack of depth in the storyline.
7. Tango & Cash (1989) – IMDB: 6.4
Released on 22 December 1989, after a series of setbacks behind the scenes, Tango & Cash was Sylvester Stallone’s last film of the 80s. In the film, Stallone and Kurt Russell star as two rival Los Angeles police detectives, Ray Tango and Gabriel Cash, who are framed for a crime they didn’t commit. Forced to team up to clear their names, Tango and Cash must put aside their differences and work together to take down a powerful drug lord while evading capture by their corrupt colleagues.
Despite receiving many negative reviews, and Sylvester Stallone being nominated for the Golden Raspberry Award’s worst actor award, Tango & Cash was a box office success, grossing over $120 million worldwide and garnering a dedicated fanbase for its high-octane action sequences and buddy cop dynamic. Stallone’s portrayal of Tango as a sharp-witted and resourceful lawman adds depth to the character and brings life to the otherwise poorly written script.
8. Nighthawks (1981) – IMDB: 6.3
Nighthawks is another buddy cop film in which Sylvester Stallone plays a dedicated lawman, but, in this case, on a mission to save New York City. Sylvester Stallone stars alongside Billy Dee Williams as NYPD detectives Deke DaSilva and Matthew Fox, tasked with tracking down Wulfgar (Rutger Hauer), an international terrorist. As Wulfgar wreaks havoc across New York, DaSilva, and Fox must navigate the city’s gritty underworld and catch him before time runs out
In Nighthawks, Sylvester Stallone, once again, delivers an eccentric performance as a tough and determined detective with a troubled past. His portrayal of DaSilva as a man on the edge but still dedicated to his oaths tweaks the storyline into a relatable human story rather than a typical raw action film. Stallone’s chemistry with co-star Billy Dee Williams injects the film with a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect that is enjoyable to watch.
9. Rambo III (1988) – IMDB: 5.8
In Rambo III, John Rambo is forced out of his retirement to embark on a perilous mission to rescue his former commanding officer and friend, Colonel Sam Trautman, who has been captured by Soviet forces in Afghanistan. The mission requires Rambo to team up with an illegal arms dealer and local Mujahideen fighters to take on the full force of a Soviet military camp led by the sadistic Soviet Colonel Alexei Zaysen who is out to kill Trautman and Rambo at all cost.
Despite its impressive action sequences and Stallone’s committed performance, Rambo III received mixed reviews from critics upon its release and wasn’t a smash at the box office like its predecessor. Sly still delivers another powerhouse performance, embodying the character’s indomitable spirit.
10. Cobra (1986) – IMDB: 5.8
In Cobra, Lt. Marion “Cobra” Cobretti (Sylvester Stallone), a tough-as-nails police officer with a no-nonsense attitude and a penchant for extreme violence, is called in to help diffuse a hostage situation at an LA supermarket. The shooting turns out to be connected to a ruthless cult of serial killers known as the New Order, and Cobra must navigate the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles while confronting his own demons in a relentless pursuit of justice.
Despite receiving criticism for a poorly written script, lack of depth, and over-the-top violence upon its release, Cobra was a commercial success, grossing over $160 million worldwide. The film has since become a cult classic as many fans love its gritty atmosphere and Stallone’s eccentric performance.
11. Over the Top (1987) – IMDB: 5.8
After the overwhelming success of his earlier 80s sports dramas, Stallone decided to venture into the little-known sport of arm wrestling in Over the Top. In the film, he plays Lincoln Hawk, a struggling truck driver, and father who boosts his wages by participating in arm wrestling competitions. When Hawk learns that his estranged son, Michael, needs his support, he sets out on a cross-country journey to reconnect with him against all odds.
Despite its innovative narrative and Stallone’s charismatic performance, Over the Top wasn’t a big hit commercially, as many criticized its thin plot. Sylvester Stallone still delivers a sincere and emotionally resonant performance as Lincoln Hawk. However, unlike boxing and soccer with which Stallone had success in Victory and Rocky, arm wrestling couldn’t pull a big enough audience for Over the Top to become a cult classic.
12. Staying Alive (1983) – IMDB: 4.8
Staying Alive seved as a sequel to the iconic film Saturday Night Fever. In this follow-up, Tony Manero, portrayed once again by John Travolta, leaves Brooklyn behind and heads to Manhattan in pursuit of his dream to become a professional dancer. As he navigates the competitive world of Broadway and grapples with personal and professional challenges, Tony must confront his own limitations and redefine his identity to achieve success.
Tony Manero’s story has a lot in common with Stallone’s own life story as he navigated the humble beginnings of his career, which explains why Staying Alive was more of a passion project for him. Unfortunately, the film was released to mixed reviews from critics, with some praising Stallone’s energetic direction, but most criticizing its formulaic plot and departure from the gritty realism of its predecessor. Despite its lukewarm reception, the film performed moderately well at the box office, grossing over $64 million worldwide.
13. Rhinestone (1984) – IMDB: 4.0
Jake Ferris (Dolly Parton) a nightclub singer makes a bet with her chauvinistic boss, Freddie, to turn anyone into a country music sensation within two weeks in exchange for the termination of her long unimpressive contract. Trying to stall Jake’s career for as long as possible, Freddie picks the hopeless New York taxi driver, Nick Martinelli (Sylvester Stallone), who lacks both talent and interest in music. As Nick and Jake embark on a crash course in country music culture and performance, they must overcome their differences and find common ground in pursuit of success.
Despite its star-studded cast and catchy musical numbers, the film struggled to find an audience and underperformed at the box office. Dolly Parton’s angelic voice was still the saving grace of the musical drama as two of her songs in the film became top 10 country hits. Sylvester Stallone’s performance in Rhinestone marks a departure from his usual action-hero persona, showcasing his comedic talents in a lighthearted and whimsical role.
What are your favourite movies from Stallone’s 1980s output? Let us know on our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
Billy Oduory