Sylvester Stallone, one of Hollywood’s most prominent action stars, has had a very interesting career. While people mostly know him for his iconic performances as John Rambo and Rocky, Stallone has also had very interesting roles behind the camera. Throughout his career, he’s participated as a screenwriter and director in his own films, proving that he isn’t just the guy that makes action movies look cooler.
His name is synonymous with success, and while he prefers to do other kinds of films today, Stallone is still very active. To celebrate his legacy, we went through his catalog, and ranked his most successful films by box office performance. These are Stallone’s highest-grossing films.
10 Creed II (2018)
Production Budget: $50 Million - Box Office Gross: $214.1 Million
- Release Date
- November 21, 2018
Creed II follows Adonis Creed preparing himself for yet another very important fight. Rocky helps him again, and this time it’s personal: Ivan Drago, Rocky’s opponent from Rocky IV, who actually killed Adonis’ father, convinces his son that he has to fight Adonis Creed. Rocky hesitates to train Adonis, but it’s a personal matter for the both of them.
Stallone contributes to the script this time, and his participation is noticeable. Creed II is a vast improvement from the first as it complies with sports drama rules, but then it’s also a very good drama film. Although predictable, the film is very exciting, especially as Ivan Drago and Rocky reunite: it was probably this that drove audiences to theaters, as people remembered how huge Rocky IV was back in the ‘80s.
9 Rocky (1976)
Production Budget: $1.1 Million - Box Office Gross: $225 Million
Rocky Balboa is a struggling boxer trying to make the big time. Working in a meat factory in Philadelphia for a pittance, he also earns extra cash as a debt collector. When heavyweight champion Apollo Creed visits Philadelphia, his managers want to set up an exhibition match between Creed and a struggling boxer, touting the fight as a chance for a "nobody" to become a "somebody". The match is supposed to be easily won by Creed, but someone forgot to tell Rocky, who sees this as his only shot at the big time.
- Release Date
- November 21, 1976
Rocky is the story of Rocky Balboa, a Philadelphia boxer who accepts a very difficult challenge. World champion Apollo Creed has selected Philadelphia as his next venue, but his opponent has dropped out of the fight. Balboa gets a skeptical trainer named Mickey to guide him, but to have a real shot at winning, Rocky will have to believe in himself first.
Iconic sports drama Rocky is undoubtedly Stallone's most important film. It was the highest-grossing film of 1976, proving Stallone’s worth as a frontman but also as a good screenwriter. It won the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director (John G. Avildsen) and beat cinema icons like Taxi Driver, Network, and All the President’s Men. We dare you to find a better sports drama than this one.
You can stream Rocky on MGM+.
10 Sports Movies That Were About More Than the Game
Sports movies are about more than the game. They're about finding family, teamwork, friendship, and the strive to create a sense of pride.
8 Cliffhanger (1993)
Production Budget: $70 Million - Box Office Gross: $255 Million
In Cliffhanger, a guilt-stricken mountain climber returns to his former outpost eight months after a tragedy to collect his gear. The former rescue ranger Gabe Walker (Stallone) can’t forget the event, but his expertise has drawn the attention of strangers who are actually master thieves trying to steal a lot of cash. They forcefully recruit him to carry the insanely heavy cases across the Colorado Rockies.
Stallone’s action thriller is a very well-shot film by Renny Harlin, who directs the script Stallone also co-wrote. Using Stallone’s single surname in the poster was enough to bring people in and the film made over $250 million, although back in the day a $70 million production budget was considered highly expensive. The performance by John Lithgow as ruthless villain Eric Qualen is outstanding.
7 Rocky III (1982)
Production Budget: $17 Million - Box Office Gross: $270 Million
- Release Date
- May 28, 1982
In Rocky III, the challenges faced by the fighter are not the same as before. He’s now a champion, having beaten his arch-rival Apollo Creed in the previous movie. The problem is that now Clubber, who seems like a worthy opponent, publicly accuses Rocky of taking on lesser fighters in order to stay at the top. When Rocky ultimately accepts to fight Clubber, his trainer Mickey dies. Dealing with the grief, Rocky is forced to seek the help of a very unconventional trainer.
Let’s be clear: Rocky III is one step below the rest of the films. It just isn’t as good as the others. However, the hype was huge and people flocked to theaters and made it the most successful Rocky film at the time financially. Stallone directs again (he also directed the previous movie), and makes a solid entry that feels like a very underrated sequel today. This was the film that featured the iconic Rocky franchise song “Eye of the Tiger,” for which the film earned its single Academy Award nomination.
6 The Expendables (2010)
Production Budget: $82 Million - Box Office Gross: $274.5 Million
- Release Date
- August 3, 2010
The Expendables follows a group of mercenaries, all veterans and all still capable, who gather together for the ultimate mission: overthrow a South American dictator and stop whatever he intends to do. Barney Ross (Stallone) is the leader who finds out that General Garza is actually a mere puppet.
The Expendables was Stallone’s passion project which reunited all the action stars he could convince to participate in the movie he also directed. We’re talking about people like Jason Statham, Jet Li, Bruce Willis, Dolph Lundgren, and Mickey Rourke, among others. Such presence of icons brought people to theaters in flocks and began a full-blown franchise.
5 Rocky IV (1985)
Production Budget: $28 Million - Box Office Gross: $300.4 Million
Rocky IV
In Rocky IV, the famous boxer has retired and so has his opponent-turned-friend, Apollo Creed. Nevertheless, Ivan Drago arrives in the United States and challenges Apollo in order to prove the Soviets are better. Apollo accepts, but he suffers his ultimate demise at the hands of a merciless fighter. Guess who decides to stand up to the challenge in honor of his fallen friend and his country?
Rocky IV was a groundbreaking success for Stallone who wrote and directed the film himself. The most successful film in the franchise, but also one of the most criticized as many took it as American propaganda against the Soviets. It features two quite successful theme songs, the most memorable villain of the franchise, and Stallone’s test of resilience as the everlasting symbol of American sports.
4 Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
Production Budget: $25.5 Million - Box Office Gross: $300.4 Million
- Release Date
- May 21, 1985
- Director
- George P. Cosmatos
Rambo: First Blood Part II follows John Rambo as he’s released from prison in order to participate in a mission that will grant him a full pardon. Rambo goes to Vietnam where he’s supposed to document POW camps, but then the action hero decides to go rogue and save the prisoners.
Yes, the first Rambo film, First Blood, is an icon in the action genre. But Rambo: First Blood Part II is the most recognizable in the entire franchise, as it raises the stakes by being more graphic and ambitious. It held many records back at the time in regard to box office results. On curious fact is that Stallone’s script was a modification of the initial one written by action mastermind James Cameron.
3 The Expendables 2 (2012)
Production Budget: $100 Million - Box Office Gross: $315 Million
The Expendables 2
- Release Date
- August 12, 2012
In The Expendables 2, the group gathers again and fights against Jean Vilain (yeah, the last name is Vilain, and he’s a villain), a relentless arms dealer who kills the Expendables’ youngest member. Barney Ross swears revenge against Vilain, and to accomplish his mission, he recruits even more action stars.
The film was Stallone’s way to raise the bet, proving to Hollywood that he was convincing enough to add more players to what already was an epic game. Arnold Schwarzenegger participates in this one as a major character (he had a cameo in the first), and there’s also Chuck Norris and Jean Claude Van Damme, who jump on board and join the franchise. The reunion of cinema’s most recognizable action stars made it the most successful film of the series.
15 Action Movies That Glorify War
It's no secret that Hollywood glorifies war. When there isn't over-the-top action, it's the ideals of courage and becoming a hero for one's country.
2 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
Production Budget: $250 Million - Box Office Gross: $845.6 Million
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 takes audiences to Knowhere, where the Guardians are now divided after Gamora’s alternate version fails to connect with the gang. Rocket gets gravely wounded after an attack by Adam Warlock, and they must find a way to stop a killswitch inside him from activating. Stallone, who plays Ravager leader Stakar reprises his role from volume 2.
The film received a single Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects, but this wasn’t the most notable thing about it. It was actually that audiences were very satisfied with the conclusion of the Guardians franchise in the MCU, for which Gunn came back to Marvel after playing around the DCEU. Like the rest of the Guardians movies, Vol. 3 had a good reception from critics.
1 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
Production Budget: $200 Million - Box Office Gross: $869 Million
Set to the sonic backdrop of Awesome Mix 2, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues the adventures of Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Baby Groot as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics reappear.
- Release Date
- April 19, 2017
In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the gang of intergalactic misfit superheroes gain the recognition they deserve, but soon after, they get in trouble again. Peter Quill finds the chaos is being led by Ego, his own father, who he tries to connect with. Meanwhile, Queen Ayesha hires Yondu to capture the Guardians, and Yondu sees the opportunity for redemption after being thrown out of the community by Stakar Ogord.
Stallone’s participation in the MCU as Stakar is one of the memorable pieces of James Gunn’s unconventional superhero film that borders on pure comedy. The film was the most successful of the Guardians sub-franchise of the MCU and paved the way for a third, less ambitious entry. Fortunately, Stallone’s role would be expanded in the conclusion.
Comments
Post a Comment