Editing Sylvester Stallone (section)

=== 1978–1999: subsequent success ===
[[File:Sylvester Stallone - 1977.jpg|thumb|upright|Stallone at the [[Ken Norton#Norton vs. Young|Ken Norton vs. Duane Bobick boxing match]] in 1977]]
Stallone made his directorial debut and starred in the 1978 film ''[[Paradise Alley]]'', a family drama in which he played one of three brothers who get involved in [[professional wrestling]]. That same year, he starred in [[Norman Jewison]]'s ''[[F.I.S.T. (film)|F.I.S.T.]]'', a social drama in which he plays a warehouse worker, very loosely modeled on [[James Hoffa]], who becomes involved in labor union leadership. In 1979, he wrote, directed (replacing [[John G. Avildsen]]), and starred in ''[[Rocky II]]''. The sequel became a major success,<ref name=tca/> grossing {{US$|200}}&nbsp;million.

In 1981, he starred alongside [[Michael Caine]] and soccer star [[Pelé]] in ''[[Escape to Victory]]'', a sports drama in which he plays a [[prisoner of war]] involved in a [[Nazi]] propaganda soccer game. That same year, he starred in the thriller ''[[Nighthawks (1981 film)|Nighthawks]]'', in which he plays a New York city cop who plays a cat-and-mouse game with a foreign terrorist, played by [[Rutger Hauer]].

In 1982, Stallone starred as [[Vietnam-American War|Vietnam]] veteran [[John Rambo]], a former [[United States Army Special Forces|Green Beret]], in the action film ''[[First Blood]]'',<ref name="tca" /> an adaptation of the [[First Blood (novel)|eponymous novel]] by [[David Morrell|David Morell]], though the script was significantly altered by Stallone during the film's production,<ref>{{Cite web |title='First Blood' Original Ending: Dead Rambo and Kirk Douglas |url=https://ew.com/movies/2017/04/07/first-blood-rambo-dead-ending-kirk-douglas/ |access-date=August 6, 2021 |website=EW.com |archive-date=October 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231006002817/https://ew.com/movies/2017/04/07/first-blood-rambo-dead-ending-kirk-douglas/ |url-status=live }}</ref> which was both a critical and box-office success. Critics praised Stallone's performance, saying he made Rambo seem human, as opposed to the way he is portrayed in the book of the same name. It launched the [[Rambo (franchise)|Rambo franchise]]. That year ''[[Rocky III]]'' was released in which Stallone wrote, directed, and starred. The second sequel became a box-office success. In preparation for these roles, Stallone embarked upon a vigorous training regimen, which often meant six days a week in the gym and further sit-ups in the evenings. Stallone claims to have reduced his [[body fat percentage]] to his all-time low of 2.8% for ''Rocky III''.<ref>Berg, Michael. ''Muscle & Fitness'', Sept. 2004.</ref>

In 1983, he directed ''[[Staying Alive (1983 film)|Staying Alive]]'', the sequel to ''[[Saturday Night Fever]]'', starring [[John Travolta]]. This was the only film Stallone directed that he did not star in. ''Staying Alive'' was universally panned by film critics.<ref>{{cite web|title=Staying Alive (1983)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/staying_alive|access-date=October 24, 2019|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|date=October 8, 2002|publisher=[[Fandango Media]]|location=San Francisco, California|archive-date=December 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213200712/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/staying_alive|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite being a critical failure, ''Staying Alive'' was a commercial success. The film opened with the [[List of highest-grossing musicals#Timeline of highest-grossing openings|biggest weekend for a musical film ever]] (at the time) with a gross of $12,146,143 from 1,660 screens.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Murphy|first=Arthur D.|date=October 31, 1989|title=Leading North American Film Boxoffice Weekends in History|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Daily Variety]]|page=53}}</ref><ref>{{Mojo title|id=stayingalive|title=Staying Alive}}</ref> Overall, the film grossed nearly $65 million in the US box office against its $22 million budget. Worldwide it grossed $127 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://jpbox-office.com/fichfilm.php?id=6839|title=Staying Alive (1983) - JPBox-Office|website=jpbox-office.com|access-date=April 21, 2021|archive-date=April 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421153142/http://jpbox-office.com/fichfilm.php?id=6839|url-status=live}}</ref> Though the US box-office intake was significantly less than the $139.5 million<ref>{{cite web|title=Staying Alive|url=http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Saturday-Night-Fever|work=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]]|access-date=October 10, 2020|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222085455/http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Saturday-Night-Fever|url-status=live}}</ref> earned by ''Saturday Night Fever'', the film nevertheless ranked in the top ten most financially successful films of 1983.

During the 1980s, Stallone was considered one of the biggest action film stars in the world,<ref name="pearson20171009">{{Cite web|last=Pearson|first=Ben|date=October 19, 2017|title=Schwarzenegger Orchestrated a Legendary Hollywood Troll|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/arnold-schwarzenegger-beyond-fest/|access-date=July 27, 2020|website=[[/Film]]|archive-date=July 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727050548/https://www.slashfilm.com/arnold-schwarzenegger-beyond-fest/|url-status=live}}</ref> along with [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]]. The [[Schwarzenegger-Stallone rivalry]] continued for years;<ref name="raymond20131018">{{Cite web |last=Raymond |first=Adam K. |date=October 18, 2013 |title=Schwarzenegger vs. Stallone: A Timeline |url=https://www.vulture.com/2013/10/stallone-schwarzenegger-relationship-timeline.html |access-date=August 19, 2022 |website=Vulture|archive-date=August 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818143443/https://www.vulture.com/2013/10/stallone-schwarzenegger-relationship-timeline.html |url-status=live }}</ref> they attacked each other in the press, and tried to surpass the other with more on-screen killings and larger weapons.{{r|pearson20171009}}

Stallone occasionally attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, roles in different genres. In 1984, he co-wrote and starred alongside [[Dolly Parton]] in the comedy film ''[[Rhinestone (film)|Rhinestone]]'', where he played a wannabe country music singer. For the [[Rhinestone (film soundtrack)|''Rhinestone'' soundtrack]], he performed a song. Stallone turned down the lead male role in ''[[Romancing the Stone]]'' in order to make ''Rhinestone'' instead, a decision he later regretted.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=January 14, 2014|title=Sylvester Stallone: in his own words|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/evening-sylvester-stallone-quotes/|magazine=Empire|access-date=March 31, 2018|archive-date=May 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501010256/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/evening-sylvester-stallone-quotes/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1985, Stallone continued his success with the ''Rocky'' and ''Rambo'' franchises with ''[[Rocky IV]]'' and ''[[Rambo: First Blood Part II]].'' Stallone has portrayed these two characters in a total of 13 films. Stallone met former [[Mr. Olympia]] [[Franco Columbu]] to develop his character's appearance for the film ''Rocky IV'', just as if he were preparing for the Mr. Olympia competition. That meant two workouts a day, six days a week.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sylvesterstallone.com/health-fitness/four/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905145716/http://sylvesterstallone.com/health-fitness/four/|url-status=dead|title=Sylvester Stallone – Four<!-- Bot generated title -->|archive-date=September 5, 2012}}</ref> Both films were major financial successes.
[[file:John Rambo.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Stallone as [[John Rambo]] in ''[[Rambo III]]'' (1988)]]
It was around 1985 that Stallone was signed to a remake of the 1939 [[James Cagney]] classic ''[[Angels with Dirty Faces]]''. The film would form part of his multi-picture deal with Cannon Films and was to co-star [[Christopher Reeve]] and be directed by [[Menahem Golan]]. The re-making of such a beloved classic was met with disapproval by ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' and horror by top critic [[Roger Ebert]]. Cannon opted to make the action film ''[[Cobra (1986 film)|Cobra]]'' which was released in 1986 and became a box-office success. It led to the setting up of his production company White Eagle Enterprises.<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 23, 1986|title=NONEXCLUSIVE CONTRACT : STALLONE, UA INK MULTIPICTURE DEAL|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-05-23-ca-23596-story.html|access-date=October 19, 2020|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|archive-date=October 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021005027/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-05-23-ca-23596-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1987, he starred in the family drama ''[[Over the Top (1987 film)|Over the Top]]'' as a struggling trucker who tries to make amends with his estranged son and enters an [[arm wrestling]] competition. This was poorly received by critics and was a box-office failure.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bailey|first=Jason|date=July 8, 2013|title=So Bad It's Good: Sylvester Stallone, Arm Wrestling, and '80s Nostalgia in 'Over the Top'|url=https://www.flavorwire.com/402226/so-bad-its-good-sylvester-stallone-arm-wrestling-and-80s-nostalgia-in-over-the-top|access-date=July 5, 2021|website=Flavorwire|archive-date=July 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720102726/https://www.flavorwire.com/402226/so-bad-its-good-sylvester-stallone-arm-wrestling-and-80s-nostalgia-in-over-the-top|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1989, he co-starred alongside [[Kurt Russell]] in the [[buddy cop]] action film ''[[Tango & Cash]]'', which did solid business domestically and overseas, grossing {{US$|57}}&nbsp;million in foreign markets and over {{US$|120}}&nbsp;million worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://jpbox-office.com/fichfilm.php?id=5531|title=Tango & Cash (1989) - JPBox-Office|website=jpbox-office.com|access-date=April 21, 2021|archive-date=April 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421153142/http://jpbox-office.com/fichfilm.php?id=5531|url-status=live}}</ref> Stallone became a boxing promoter in the 1980s. His boxing promoting company, Tiger Eye Productions, signed world champion boxers [[Sean O'Grady (boxer)|Sean O'Grady]] and [[Aaron Pryor]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Sylvester Stallone|url=http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Sylvester_Stallone|website=boxrec.com|access-date=September 8, 2014|archive-date=April 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418131744/http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Sylvester_Stallone|url-status=live}}</ref>

Stallone began the 1990s starring in the fifth installment of the ''Rocky'' franchise, ''[[Rocky V]]''. This film brought back the first film's director, John G. Avildsen, and was intended to be the final installment in the series. It was considered a [[box office bomb|box-office disappointment]] and received negative reviews.<ref>{{cite news|title='Home' KOs 'Rocky V' at Box Office : Movies: The comedy grabs {{US$|17}}&nbsp;million in receipts to take the No. 1 spot over Stallone's much-hyped sequel.|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1990-11-20/entertainment/ca-5106_1_weekend-box|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=November 20, 1990|access-date=February 19, 2020|archive-date=January 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101051714/http://articles.latimes.com/1990-11-20/entertainment/ca-5106_1_weekend-box|url-status=live}}</ref>

Stallone next appeared in [[John Landis]]' period comedy ''[[Oscar (1991 film)|Oscar]]'' which was both a critical and box-office failure.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/58972|access-date=October 11, 2020|website=catalog.afi.com|archive-date=December 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203170003/https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/58972|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1992, he appeared in [[Roger Spottiswoode]]'s action comedy ''[[Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot]]''<ref>{{Cite web|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/59402-STOP--OR-MY-MOM-WILL-SHOOT?cxt=filmography|access-date=October 11, 2020|website=catalog.afi.com|archive-date=August 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805123657/http://catalog.afi.com/Film/59402-STOP--OR-MY-MOM-WILL-SHOOT?cxt=filmography|url-status=live}}</ref> which was also both a critical and box-office disaster. Stallone signed onto the film based on rumors that Schwarzenegger was interested in the lead. Schwarzenegger said that, knowing the script's quality was poor, he publicly faked interest in starring for producers to lure Stallone.{{r|pearson20171009}}

In 1993, he made a comeback with [[Renny Harlin]]'s action thriller ''[[Cliffhanger (film)|Cliffhanger]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/59493-CLIFFHANGER?cxt=filmography|access-date=October 10, 2020|website=catalog.afi.com|archive-date=October 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027201213/https://catalog.afi.com/Film/59493-CLIFFHANGER?cxt=filmography|url-status=live}}</ref> which was a success in the US, grossing {{US$|84}}&nbsp;million, and worldwide, grossing {{US$|171}}&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cliffhanger|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl608863745/|access-date=October 10, 2020|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|archive-date=June 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606232532/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl608863745/|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that year, he starred in the [[futuristic]] action film ''[[Demolition Man (film)|Demolition Man]]'' directed by [[Marco Brambilla]], co-starring [[Wesley Snipes]] and [[Sandra Bullock]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/67651-DEMOLITION-MAN?cxt=filmography|access-date=October 10, 2020|website=catalog.afi.com|archive-date=August 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805123229/http://catalog.afi.com/Film/67651-DEMOLITION-MAN?cxt=filmography|url-status=live}}</ref> On [[Rotten Tomatoes]] the film has an approval rating of 60% based on 42 reviews, with an average rating of 5.43/10. The site's consensus reads: "A better-than-average sci-fi shoot-em-up with a satirical undercurrent, ''Demolition Man'' is bolstered by strong performances by Stallone, Snipes, and Bullock."<ref>{{cite web|title=Demolition Man (1993)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/demolition_man/|access-date=July 31, 2020|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|date=August 15, 2000|publisher=[[Fandango Media]]|archive-date=June 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626110756/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/demolition_man|url-status=live}}</ref> The film debuted at No. 1 at the box office.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fox|first=David J.|date=October 12, 1993|title=Weekend Box Office Stallone, Snipes: Action at Box Office|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-10-12-ca-44901-story.html|access-date=August 1, 2020|archive-date=April 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403111600/http://articles.latimes.com/1993-10-12/entertainment/ca-44901_1_box-offices|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Fox|first=David J.|date=October 19, 1993|title=Weekend Box Office : 'Demolition Man' Fends Off 'Hillbillies'|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-10-19-ca-47287-story.html|access-date=August 1, 2020|archive-date=April 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404082027/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-10-19-ca-47287-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Horn|first=John|date=October 15, 1993|title=Demolition man' explodes into charts at no. 1|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-10-22-9310220292-story.html|access-date=May 4, 2020|archive-date=July 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714050830/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-10-22-9310220292-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Demolition Man'' grossed $58,055,768 by the end of its box-office run in North America and $159,055,768 worldwide.<ref name="the-numbers">{{cite web|title=Demolition Man – Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Demolition-Man#tab=summary|access-date=June 1, 2020|work=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]]}}</ref>

His string of hits continued with 1994's ''[[The Specialist]]'' co-starring [[Sharon Stone]] and directed by [[Luis Llosa]], which opened in the U.S. on October 7.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/60240|access-date=October 10, 2020|website=catalog.afi.com|archive-date=April 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427042800/https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/60240|url-status=live}}</ref> While the critical reception was overwhelmingly negative,<ref>{{cite web|title=The Specialist|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1056079-specialist/|access-date=December 6, 2017|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|date=January 31, 2006|archive-date=December 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222203234/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1056079-specialist/|url-status=live}}</ref> the film was a commercial success.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fox|first=David J.|date=October 11, 1994|title=Weekend Box Office Stallone and Stone Draw In the Fans|work=[[The Los Angeles Times]]|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-10-11-ca-48856-story.html|access-date=December 25, 2010|archive-date=August 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819085327/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-10-11/entertainment/ca-48856_1_opening-weekend|url-status=live}}</ref> In its opening weekend it made $14,317,765 and ended up making back its budget with $57,362,582 at the domestic box office while making another $113,000,000 overseas, giving it a worldwide gross of $170,362,582.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Specialist|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3446703617/weekend/|access-date=October 10, 2020|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|archive-date=February 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224141542/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3446703617/weekend/|url-status=live}}</ref> 
[[file:Sylvester Stallone Cannes.jpg|thumb|upright|Stallone at the 1993 [[Cannes Film Festival]]]]
In 1995, he played the [[Judge Dredd|title character]] (from the British comic book ''[[2000 AD (comics)|2000 AD]]'') in the science fiction action film ''[[Judge Dredd (1995 film)|Judge Dredd]]''. His overseas box-office appeal saved the domestic box-office disappointment of ''Judge Dredd'', which cost almost {{US$|100}}&nbsp;million and barely made its budget back, with a worldwide tally of {{US$|113}}&nbsp;million. Despite the film's poor box-office performance, Stallone signed a three-picture deal with [[Universal Pictures]] for $60 million, making him the second star after [[Jim Carrey]] to receive $20 million per film. The deal expired in February 2000 without him making any films, however, so he received no payment.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=Spring 2000|issue=540|page=111|title=Big Deals|last=Fierman|first=Daniel}}</ref>

That year, he also appeared in the thriller ''[[Assassins (1995 film)|Assassins]]'' with [[Julianne Moore]] and [[Antonio Banderas]]. That same year, Stallone, along with an all-star cast of celebrities, appeared in the [[Trey Parker]] and [[Matt Stone]] short comedy film ''[[Your Studio and You]]'' commissioned by the [[Seagram]] Company for a party celebrating their acquisition of [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]] and the MCA Corporation. Stallone speaks in his Rocky Balboa voice with subtitles translating what he is saying. At one point, Stallone starts yelling about how can they use his Balboa character, that he left it in the past; the narrator calms him with a [[wine cooler]] and calling him "brainiac." In response, Stallone says, "Thank you very much." He then looks at the wine cooler and exclaims, "Stupid cheap studio!"<ref>[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6493841613076981287 Your Studio and you] (From Google Video) {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020045255/http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6493841613076981287|date=October 20, 2012}}</ref>

In 1996, he starred in the [[disaster film]] ''[[Daylight (1996 film)|Daylight]]'' as a disgraced former emergency services chief who attempts to rescue survivors of an underground tunnel explosion. ''Daylight'' also underperformed at the domestic box office, grossing $33 million, but did better overseas and grossed a total of $158 million worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gomez|first=Patrick|date=July 2, 2020|title=This Sylvester Stallone flop still makes for an explosive good time|url=https://www.avclub.com/this-sylvester-stallone-flop-still-makes-for-an-explosi-1844191264|access-date=July 5, 2021|website=The A.V. Club|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183357/https://www.avclub.com/this-sylvester-stallone-flop-still-makes-for-an-explosi-1844191264|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1997, Stallone was cast against type as an overweight sheriff in the crime drama ''[[Cop Land]]'' in which he starred alongside [[Robert De Niro]] and [[Ray Liotta]]. The film was critically well-received and was a modest success at the box office, earning $63 million on a $15 million budget, and Stallone's performance earned him the [[Stockholm International Film Festival]] Best Actor Award. In 1998, he did voice-over work for the animated film ''[[Antz]]'', which was a success domestically.