Sylvester Stallone is no stranger to the spotlight, whether he's dominating streaming charts with Tulsa King or facing backlash over nepotism claims regarding his daughter's promotion. But one of the most legendary chapters of his career is his long-running feud with fellow action icon Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In a recent appearance on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, Stallone finally put the rivalry to rest, revealing it lasted a full two decades. "We were very confrontational," he admitted. "Because you have two people arriving at the beginning of a different genre and we both want to be in charge of that genre."
Stallone explained that he never intended to become an action star, but after First Blood, he saw the potential for action films to be modern mythology. "I said, 'This is interesting because action films, if done right, are modern mythology. It's like what they used to do, you know, The Iliad and The Odyssey and Hercules and Achilles.' So, I see this guy, and I could tell right away he's going to be a problem."
The rivalry was so intense that they once exchanged "stink eye" at the Golden Globes, with Stallone recalling, "He's sitting there and he's eyeballing me, and — we call that stink eye — I said, 'Okay, all right. I got it, pal.' And then he wins."
Despite the bitterness, Stallone acknowledges that the competition pushed both to create some of their best work. "We're both physical, and now, who's going to be the vanguard, the leader in that genre?" he said. "So I do Rambo, he does Commando, and it went back and forth, back and forth, on and off screen. It was very contentious, trust me. Which I enjoyed."
The feud finally ended when Schwarzenegger ran for governor of California, and the two have since appeared together in four films, including Escape Plan. Stallone's recent comments come as he continues to promote Tulsa King, which has been a hit for Paramount+. For more on Stallone's career, check out our look at his streaming success and the Cliffhanger reboot.
Stallone's candid reflections offer a rare glimpse into one of Hollywood's most famous rivalries, proving that even the fiercest competition can lead to lasting respect.
