Sly Stallone Vs Arnold Schwarzenegger: Who Was The Ultimate 80s Action Star?
Whether you watched Rocky (1976) or preferred Arnie's Commando (1985) a decade later, or if your favorite catchphrase was "ADRIAN!" or "I'll be back," let's break down who was the ultimate 80s action star out of these two behemoths of cinema.
Sly Stallone: The Early Years
Let's start by giving you a brief overview of Sylvester "Sly" Stallone's early days in the acting business. His first role was in an adult film, for which he was paid $200 for two work days. Stallone later explained that he played the role out of desperation, having been evicted from his apartment and spending three weeks sleeping rough in New York City.
Nickscm, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Pre-Acting Odd Jobs
Before Stallone made it big in Hollywood, he had to take on several odd jobs, including as a cleaner at a local zoo in New York and a theater usher. He was fired from his job as an usher for scalping tickets.
Anastasiya Fedorenko, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
A Failed Extra In The Godfather & What's Up, Doc?
Another opportunity for Stallone came in 1972, when he tried (and failed) to get a part as an extra in The Godfather (1972), but instead was demoted to a role in a Barbara Streisand film, What's Up, Doc? (1972), never appearing on-screen.
Paramount, The Godfather (1972)
Stallone's First Major Role
Stallone's first major acting role came in 1973 when he starred in the independent film No Place To Hide as part of an urban terrorism movement. His second major role came in The Lords of Flatbush (1974), a coming-of-age movie about a gang of youth on the streets of New York.
Galaxy Films, No Place to Hide (1973)
Writing Rocky In Three Days
After drifting from two major roles to a few minor ones, Sly Stallone got tickets to see Muhammad Ali versus Chuck Wepner on March 24, 1975. Three days later, he completed the script for Rocky (1976). Chuck Wepner later sued Stallone for an undisclosed reason, which was settled for an undisclosed amount.
Chartoff-Winkler Productions, Rocky (1976)
Insisting On Acting In Rocky
Having written the script, Stallone set about trying to sell Rocky to studios. Each had its reason for refusing to take on the project. One main reason was that no one was willing to meet Stallone's stipulation that he play the lead role. Robert Redford and Burt Reynolds were considered possible alternatives, but Stallone turned down the $350,000 offer instead.
Chartoff-Winkler Productions, Rocky (1976)
"The Next Marlon Brando"
Eventually, Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff agreed to produce the film, allowing Stallone to act as the lead, but with a significant budget cut. The film was made and released that year, after which, acclaimed critic Roger Ebert claimed that Stallone could be "the next Marlon Brando".
Chartoff-Winkler Productions, Rocky (1976)
Rocky Launches Stallone's Career
Rocky didn't so much launch as catapult Sly Stallone to superstardom. He began starring in hugely successful films like Nighthawks (1981) and, after starring as Green Beret John Rambo in First Blood, began the action franchise Rambo in 1982.
Staying In His Lane
While Stallone's success in the action genre continued throughout the early 1980s, he did try his hand at other genres. Notably, in a comedy-romance movie, Rhinestone (1984), where he played a country music wannabe alongside Dolly Parton. It was one of his worst-performing movies and cemented the idea that he should stick with action.
Twentieth Century, Rhinestone (1984)
Continued Action Movie Success
Throughout the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s, Stallone starred in action movie after action movie, playing roles like Barney Ross in The Expendables (2010) and Rocky Balboa in the Rocky series spin-off Creed (2015), which he also produced. His most recent action movie role is in the not-yet-released 2025 flick Alarum, where he plays Agent Chester.
Lionsgate, The Expendables (2010)
Balboa Productions
In 2018, Sylvester Stallone, along with business partner, Braden Aftergood, began Balboa Productions, Stallone's very own film studio. So far, the company has produced the superhero thriller Samaritan (2022), Rambo: Last Blood (2019), and is working on Working Man (2025), starring Jason Statham.
Balboa Productions, Samaritan (2022)
Arnold Schwarzenegger: The Early Years
Before promising that he'd "be back," Arnold "Arnie" Schwarzenegger was born in Thal, Austria, in 1947 and grew up in "what would now be called an abusive childhood". Describing being hit with a belt, having his hair pulled, and other strict parenting, Schwarzenegger began lifting weights at 15, having played many sports as a younger boy.
John E. Biever, Wikimedia Commons
Military Service In Austria
In Austria, one year of military service is mandatory for all men over 18. Schwarzenegger did his time in 1965, joining the Austrian Army for one year. He reportedly went AWOL (absent without leave) from military service for a week so that he could take part in a weight-lifting competition, spending a week in military prison as a result.
Madison Square Garden Center, Wikimedia Commons
Moving To The US
After finishing his military service and becoming a prolific bodybuilder in Europe, Schwarzenegger moved to the United States in 1968, speaking very little English. He trained at the infamous Gold's Gym in Venice, Los Angeles. In 1970, aged just 23, Schwarzenegger would win his first Mr Olympia (a major weightlifting title) in New York, going on to win seven more titles throughout his bodybuilding career.
Harry Chase, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Schwarzenegger's First Roles
The same year that he won Mr Olympia, he took on the title role of Hercules in Hercules In New York (1970). Not only was he credited under a different name—Arnold Strong—but his Austrian accent was so thick that the production company dubbed his lines in-post. He played a mob hitman in The Long Goodbye (1973), following that up with Stay Hungry (1976).
RAF Industries, Hercules In New York (1970)
Stay Hungry Wins Him A Golden Globe
Starring alongside Jeff Bridges and Sally Field in Stay Hungry (1976), Schwarzenegger would win a Golden Globe for the New Star of the Year, his first of many accolades.
Panavision, Stay Hungry (1976)
Breakthrough With Conan The Barbarian
Schwarzenegger's big break would come in 1982 with Conan The Barbarian, where he played the titular character—the movie was a huge critical and box office success. He followed that success up with Conan The Destroyer (1984), but it did not enjoy as much acclaim.
Dino De Laurentiis Company, Conan the Barbarian (1982)
The Terminator Role
You could be forgiven for now knowing about Schwarzenegger's role in Conan The Barbarian. After all, his role in James Cameron's sci-fi action hit The Terminator (1984) would launch his career to even greater heights—and launch his signature catchphrase, "I'll be back".
Cinema '84, The Terminator (1984)
A Mainstay Of 1980s Action Stars
Schwarzenegger's breakthrough with Conan The Barbarian and Terminator made him a hot commodity in the world of 1980s action movies, starring in films like Commando (1985), Predator (1987), The Running Man (1987) and Red Heat (1988).
Twentieth Century, Commando (1985)
Branching Out
Just like Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger branched out into other movies, with a comedy called Twins (1988), starring as the separated-at-birth fraternal twin of co-star Danny DeVito. He finished the decade with another success, Total Recall. (1990).
Peak Commercial Success
Whereas Sly Stallone achieved his peak of commercial success with Rocky and the ensuing franchise that began earlier than Arnie Schwarzenegger's major hits, Schwarzenegger achieved the peak of his commercial success with Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991), which would become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Carolco Pictures, Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Films Throughout The 90s And Entry Into Politics
Throughout the 90s, Schwarzenegger would go on to enjoy excellent commercial success, starring in Last Action Hero (1993), True Lies (1994), Batman & Robin (1997), and even a Christmas movie, Jingle All The Way (1996). In the early 2000s, he starred in Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines (2003), while also putting his name in for the position of Governor of California, for the Republican Party nomination.
Columbia, Last Action Hero (1993)
Political Office & The 2000s
Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected Governor of California in 2003 and served two terms until 2011. During this time, he continued to act in films like Terminator 3, Collateral Damage (2002), Around The World In 80 Days (2004), and The Expendables (2010), alongside his former arch rival, Sylvester Stallone.
Intermedia Films, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
Burying The Hatchet
Despite the bitter rivalry, it was Stallone who reached out to Schwarzenegger as a gesture of goodwill in 2005, donating $15,000 to his re-election campaign for Governor of California.
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Their Rivalry On-Screen
During the peak of their careers as actors, the pair had a bitter rivalry that played out on-screen. They each tried to outdo each other over who could be the most action-oriented, and who could hold the largest weapons in a movie, from Schwarzenegger's "rail gun" scene from Terminator to Stallone's heavy machine gun, the M60, in Rambo. Meanwhile, Ivan Drago (the main character in Rocky IV) was perceived to be a facsimile of Schwarzenegger, with his large, muscular body and an Eastern European accent.
United Artists, Rocky IV (1985)
Their Rivalry Off-Screen
But it wasn't just on-screen that Stallone and Schwarzenegger tried to outdo each other. Off-screen, they attacked each other in the press—Stallone even threw a bowl of flowers at Schwarzenegger at the Golden Globes in 1977, when Rocky won Best Motion Picture. In 1985, Schwarzenegger accused Sly of using body doubles. Perhaps the pettiest of incidents came in 1988, when Stallone and his entourage entered a nightclub, noticed a picture of Schwarzenegger on the wall, tore it off and destroyed it.
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Who Has The Greatest One-Liners?
Some of the greatest one-liners in action movie history come from these two behemoths. But out of Arnie or Sly, which one has the greatest?
nicolas genin, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Schwarzenegger's Greatest One-Liners:
"GET TO THE CHOPPAAAAAAA!", "I'll be back," "You're a choirboy compared to me," or "Ice to meet you"?
Twentieth Century, Predator (1987)
The Best Of Stallone:
"You want a war? I'll give you a war you wouldn't believe," "I am the law!", "ADRIAAAAAAN!", "You're a disease and I am the cure".
Twentieth Century, Predator (1987)
Who Has The Greatest Car?
Stallone's garage is glistening with the likes of a Mercedes AMG (or a few), a Ferrari F40 and a 599 GTB Fiorano, and a Mustang GT. But among his most prized possessions is a stunning Bugatti Veyron.
Meanwhile, Schwarzenegger doesn't mind bringing his military memorabilia off-set with him. He owns a tank. That is, an M47 Patton tank, and a couple of military-style H2 Hummers, and a slightly less intimidating Dodge Challenger SRT.
Rudolf Stricker, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Their Careers By The Numbers
Let's measure each action star's career by the numbers.
At the box office, Stallone has grossed: $3,968,629,043. Meanwhile, Stallone slightly edges him out at: $4,110,260,858.
Schwarzenegger's Total Award Nominations: 10.
Stallone's Total Award Nominations: 72.
Schwarzenegger's Oscar Wins: 1.
Stallone's Oscar Wins: 33.
Movie Appearances: Schwarzenegger has appeared (or will appear in) 47 movies. Meanwhile, Stallone has appeared (or will appear in) 92 movies, despite beginning his career several years after Arnie got his start.
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Who's Your Favorite?
Do you have a favorite of these two behemoths of the action genre? Which is it? What's your favorite Arnie or Sly movie? Let us know in the comments below!
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