Five essential Sylvester Stallone movies
The living legend of action movies turns 78
Five essential Sylvester Stallone movies
Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone was born on July 6, 1946, in New York City. His birth was complicated, resulting in paralysis of parts of his face, which gave him his distinctive snarling look and slurred speech. Raised in a tumultuous household, Stallone turned to acting and athletics as a means of escape and expression.
Stallone’s early career was marked by struggle. After attending the American College of Switzerland and the University of Miami, he moved to New York City to pursue acting. He took on various odd jobs while attending auditions and landed minor roles in theater productions and low-budget films. His breakthrough came in 1976 when he wrote and starred in “Rocky.” Inspired by a Muhammad Ali fight, Stallone created the character of Rocky Balboa, an underdog boxer from Philadelphia. “Rocky” became a critical and commercial success, earning ten Academy Award nominations and winning three, including Best Picture. Stallone received nominations for Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay.
“Rocky” remains a cultural touchstone, symbolizing perseverance and the American Dream. Following “Rocky,” Stallone became a major action star. He reprised his role as Rocky Balboa in seven sequels, with “Rocky II” (1979), “Rocky III” (1982), and “Rocky IV” (1985) solidifying his status. Another iconic role came with John Rambo in “First Blood” (1982), highlighting a Vietnam War veteran’s struggles, that became synonymous with high-octane action and survival themes, and which spawned a successful franchise with multiple sequels, including “Rambo: First Blood Part II” (1985) and “Rambo III” (1988).
Stallone’s career continued to thrive in the 1990s and 2000s with roles in action films such as “Cliffhanger” (1993), “Demolition Man” (1993), and “The Expendables” series, which began in 2010. He also demonstrated his versatility with more dramatic roles, like in “Cop Land” (1997).
Stallone’s personal life has seen its share of ups and downs. He has been married three times. His first marriage to Sasha Czack in 1974 produced two sons, Sage and Seargeoh. Sage tragically passed away in 2012. Stallone’s second marriage to Brigitte Nielsen was short-lived. In 1997, he married Jennifer Flavin, with whom he has three daughters: Sophia, Sistine, and Scarlet. Stallone is also known for his passion for art, having studied at the University of Miami School of Fine Arts.
In recent years, Stallone reprised his role as Rocky Balboa in the “Creed” series, starting with “Creed” (2015) and “Creed II” (2018), passing the torch to a new generation. Stallone’s performance in “Creed” earned him a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He also reprised the role of John Rambo and remains involved in various film projects, both as an actor and a filmmaker.
From underdog boxers to resilient soldiers, Stallone’s enduring appeal lies in his ability to embody characters that resonate with audiences, which have made him a cultural icon for several generations now. Today he turns 78 and here’s five essential movies of his career.
5 – “Rocky IV”, 1985
4 – “F.I.S.T.”, 1978
3 – “Cobra”, 1986
2 – “First Blood”, 1982
1 – “Rocky”, 1976
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