As one of the biggest action movie heroes of all time,Sylvester Stallone’sfilmography is packed with tense thrillers that have kept viewers on the edge of their seats. While many will know Stallone as the underdog boxer Rocky Balboa, he’s portrayed many more heroes across insightful crime stories, gritty neo-noir tales, and even futuristic sci-fi thrillers. With a brooding physique and endless onscreen chemistry, Stallone’s thrillers are an essential aspect of his legacy as one of the biggest box office draws of all time.
There have been plenty ofunloved Stallone moviesin need of more attention, and when looking at his catalog, there’s a lot more than just his exciting 1980s hits, liketheRambofranchise. As an actor,Stallone can deliver mindless popcorn entertainment and deeply thoughtful performances with equal measure, meaning he’s a performer with a role to fit all tastes. Audiences have long known they’re in for a treat when Stallone’s name gets top billing on a poster, and even though critics have occasionally dismissed his work, his films are never boring.
Escape Plan
Cast
An action thriller film that stars movie action heroes, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Escape Plan follows Lawyer Ray Breslin, a security tester who enters a supermax prison to study its defenses. To accomplish the breakout, he’ll enlist the help of an inmate named Emil, a self-proclaimed hero who steals from the rich and gives to the poor.
AlthoughSylvester Stallone and his longtime rival Arnold Schwarzeneggerhad already appeared together inThe Expendablesin 2010,Escape Planwas the duo’s first true feature-length pairing. While this would have been an action movie lover’s dream come true in the 1980s, this prison break story about a security tester incarcerated in the world’s most secure and secretive facility did not have the same bite as either hero’s best work. WhileStallone and Schwarzenegger had great chemistry,Escape Planpaled in comparison to their glory days so many decades before.
Stallone played Ray Breslin, a man staging a prison breakout to test the facility’s security who quickly realized he’s been framed and the imprisonment was real. While there are enough thrills to keep viewers engaged, and Stallone even starred in two sequels, this franchise does not have the same enduring appeal as series likeRocky,Rambo, orThe Expendables.Escape Planis well worth a watch for those looking to see Stallone and Schwarzenegger share the screen, but it won’t go down in history as the epic team-up audiences had been craving since the early 1980s.
Daylight
Daylight is a disaster thriller film directed by Rob Cohen. Sylvester Stallone stars as Kit Latura, a former Emergency Medical Services chief, who must lead a group of survivors through a perilous journey after a catastrophic explosion traps them inside the Holland Tunnel. Joining him are Amy Brenneman as writer Maddy Thompson and Viggo Mortensen as adventurous celebrity Roy Nord.
FromArmageddontoTwister, the1990s were a great time for disaster movies, and one of the most underrated from this era wasDaylightwith Sylvester Stallone. While this thrilling release rarely gets spoken about among the actor’s best work, it deserves more recognition for its tense and well-crafted exploration of a crisis situation. With Stallone as a disgraced former New York City Emergency Medical Services chief trying to save trapped survivors,Daylightfollowed the destructive consequences of an explosion that caused a Manhattan tunnel to collapse from both sides.
With an earnest and sympathetic performance, Stallone got to show off his more dramatic side as Kit pulled out all the stops and put his life on the line to try and get the trapped citizens out alive.Daylightwas full of disaster action movie tropes and clichés, and although it was badly received at the time, looking back on it today, it more than holds up. Stallone’s career is full of unloved movies in need of retrospective praise, and despite having a pretty predictable narrative, it was a surprisingly poignant story with strong visuals and plenty of suspense.
Lock Up
Lock Up stars Sylvester Stallone as Frank Leone, a convict nearing the end of his sentence in a minimum-security prison. He is unexpectedly transferred to a maximum-security facility by a vengeful warden who harbors a personal grudge against him. Directed by John Flynn, the film explores themes of resilience and justice as Leone navigates brutal challenges to regain his freedom.
The prison movieLock Uphad one of the most haphazard production processes of any movie in Sylvester Stallone’s filmography and even started shooting before the script was finished (viaShock Cinema.) While this meant the results were uneven, at its best,Lock Upmade for thrilling viewing asStallone portrayed a convict nearing the end of his sentencewhose shot at freedom was upended by a vindictive prison warden. Stallone played Frank Leone after he was suddenly transferred to the violent maximum-security facility known as Gateway Prison after his sentence was extended by five years.
While Stallone gave a great performance, it was Donald Sutherland as the sadistic Warden Drumgoole who truly stole the show. With a sinister presence, Drumgoole had a deep hatred for Leone and did everything in his power to ensure his suffering. WhileLock Upwas badly received at the time of its release, it had built up a cult following, and although it was a mixed-bag movie, it’s often named a favorite by Stallone enthusiasts.
Assassins
Assassins (1995) is a thriller directed by Richard Donner, starring Sylvester Stallone and Antonio Banderas. Stallone plays Robert Rath, a professional hitman aiming to retire while Banderas portrays Miguel Bain, a younger assassin challenging Rath’s status. As they face off in a deadly game, Rath protects a target, played by Julianne Moore, from both Bain and his own dark past in a high-stakes battle of wits and survival.
Assassinsexplored a clever game of cat and mouse between the nearly retired assassin Robert Rath (Stallone) and the man who killed his mentor Miguel Bain (Antonio Banderas.) With a script written byThe Matrixscreenwriters the Wachowskis, the duo were unhappy with the changes made to it and tried to have their names removed after it was rewritten by Brian Helgeland (viaCollider.) While viewers never got to see the film as its creators originally envisioned it, the result was still an action-packed Stallone vehicle that represents some of his best work during the 1990s.
Stallone played a level-headed assassin being pursued by a stressed and sweaty Banderas in a high-stakes mission of life and death.FromLethal Weapondirector Richard Donnerand with Julianne Moore as the love interest, there were plenty of big names behind this relatively unknown piece of 1990s action movie fun. WhileAssassinswas at times a little bit too convoluted for its own good, it more than delivered when it came to Stallone-centric thrills.
Cobra
In Cobra, a genius mathematician turns vigilante and uses his intellect to execute intricate crimes while police attempt to apprehend him. As the story progresses, layers of mystery unravel, leading to a gripping narrative filled with suspense and intellectual duels.
While the ultra-violent antics of theRambosequels were essential in carving out Sylvester Stallone’s place as a quintessential 1980s action hero,Cobratook these tenets and pushed them even further. By turning the dial up to eleven and giving audiences a guns-blazing, sunglasses-wearing, no-nonsense cop with his characterization of Lieutenant Cobra,Stallone delivered a cult favorite in which he never looked cooler.
Cobramade for nail-biting viewing straight from its opening supermarket hostage scene, and everything culminated in its climactic showdown with a deranged serial killer. As a hero who was more than willing to go above the law in the pursuit of justice, Cobra’s vigilantism made it more violent and over-the-top than any other movie Stallone made in the 1980s. While it’s easy to criticizeCobraas a film without much substance, the way it condensed action movie tropes down to their barest ingredients was admirable.
Nighthawks
Nighthawks is a 1981 action thriller featuring Sylvester Stallone and Billy Dee Williams as New York City detectives pursuing an international terrorist played by Rutger Hauer. Directed by Bruce Malmuth, the film follows the tense and perilous cat-and-mouse game between law enforcement and the cunning fugitive, presenting a gritty portrayal of urban crime and counter-terrorism efforts.
Following the success of theRockyfranchise, Sylvester Stallone showcased a desire to explore a more gritty, neo-noir-style release withNighthawks. This clever movie starred Stallone as Sergeant Deke DaSilva in a story whose menacing undercurrent showcased his talent as a serious actor with the chops to pull off a sinister political thriller that unpacked the dark underbelly of urban society. As a member of a newly formed anti-terrorist squad,Nighthawkssaw DeSilva on the trail of a pair of lethal European terrorists.
Nighthawksfeatured an astounding performance from Rutger Hauer as the psychopathic terrorist Wulfgar, a true homicidal maniac responsible for the deaths of hundreds. With high stakes in a tense game of cat and mouse, Stallone proved he was capable of excelling in complex roles with real social and political relevance. Although Stallone would embrace franchise and blockbuster action movies throughout the 1980s,Nighthawkshinted he was capable of pushing past this typecasting when the role required it.
Cliffhanger
Cliffhanger, directed by Renny Harlin, follows former ranger Gabe Walker as he confronts his past on a treacherous peak. Initially returning to aid stranded climbers, Walker discovers they are hijackers searching for lost money, complicating an already perilous rescue mission.
After a run of three consecutive flops withRocky V,Oscar, andStop! Or My Mom Will Shoot, Sylvester Stallone was in dire need of a hit when he starred inCliffhangerin 1993. Getting firmly back into classic action hero mode, Stallone teamed up withDie Hard 2director Renny Harlin for a mountaineer heist story that gave audiences what they wanted. While critics were less kind towardCliffhanger, the movie took in over $255 million (viaBox Office Mojo) and proved Stallone was still a box office draw with the right role.
While the sheer ridiculousness of the Rocky Mountain setting and outrageous gadgetry may feel dated today,Cliffhangerwas still one of Stallone’s most fun releases in the 1990s. John Lithgow also proved himself a formidable foe as the psychotic British intelligence agent robbing $100 million from the U.S. Treasury. Overall,Cliffhangerwas just about everything a viewer could want from a Stallone movie, and it holds up quite well today.
Cop Land
Cop Land follows Freddy Heflin, the sheriff of a New Jersey town inhabited by New York City police officers, who uncovers a dangerous conspiracy within his community. As he faces moral dilemmas and corruption, Freddy must choose between his admiration for law enforcement and his duty to justice.
Sylvester Stallone has often been unfairly grouped with the long list of action stars with questionable acting talent, yet looking at his entire body of work there are numerous examples of his dramatic skills. One of the most impressive instances of this wasCop Land, a thrilling crime drama whereStallone held his own against legends like Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, and Harvey Keitel. As Sheriff Freddy Heflin, Stallone was the emotional core of the film as he uncovered injustices and stood up against crooked cops.
Stallone portrayed a small-town sheriff uncovering corruption within his police force and standing his ground as one of the few morally upstanding cops left. As a much more grounded character than what’s seen in the average Stallone film, he shed his action-hero persona for a much more realistic presentation of the challenges of police work.Cop Landwas one of Stallone’s finest achievements as an actor and a testament that even after several decades as a star, he still had the potential to surprise audiences with new aspects of his dramatic skills.
Demolition Man
In the 1993 action movie Demolition Man, Sylvester Stallone stars as time-displaced police officer John Spartan, who struggles to adapt to the year 2032 after being cryogenically frozen for messing up a job. However, his old-school skills come in handy for innocent cop Lenina Huxley (Sandra Bullock) and the futuristic city of San Angeles when the criminal Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes) is thawed and the complacent authorities don’t know how to react.
Demolition Manhas only become more relevant in the years since its release and was one of Sylvester Stallone’s most interesting movies. Set in the future year of 2032, the world envisioned inDemolition Manpredicted virtual meetings, self-driving cars, and even non-contact social greetings. With Stallone as John Spartan, a no-nonsense 1990s cop cryogenically frozen and awoken in a radically different world, the light satire and clever commentary ofDemolition Manmake it a fun and thrilling watch today.
However, the best thing aboutDemolition Manwas Wesley Snipes' incredible performance as Spartan’s archenemy Simon Phoenix, a deranged criminal whose violent ways shocked the peace-loving, utopian society he unwittingly found himself in. With an early performance from Sandra Bullock and plenty of clever worldbuilding,it’s a shame thatDemolition Mandidn’t get the franchise treatment, as its unique identity and thoughtful concepts could have sustained plenty of sequels.
First Blood
First Blood is an action-thriller film starring Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo, a Vietnam War veteran who drifts into Hope, Washington, in search of an old buddy. However, he is mistreated by the local sheriff, leading to a violent confrontation that sets off a chain of events, forcing Rambo to rely on his combat skills to survive.
While the laterRambofilms fully embraced action movie carnage, the originalFirst Bloodwas a more grounded thriller with plenty to say about veterans and the dire consequences of PTSD. Based on the novel by David Morrell, Stallone played John Rambo, a former Vietnam War special agent using his combat and survival skills to evade a massive manhunt in the forests of a small Washington town. With triggering flashbacks and plenty of high-stakes action,First Bloodwas a major hit at the box officeand went on to have four sequels and even an animated kids' TV series.
While Stallone first gained worldwide recognition as Rocky Balboa, his characterization of John Rambo would become equally iconic. As a thrilling and tense story that highlighted the very real issue of a soldier’s unresolved trauma, the emotional resonance behind the story ofFirst Bloodmade it stand out. In a career filled with thrilling movies,First Bloodencapsulated everything that was great about this aspect ofSylvester Stallone’saction-hero persona.
