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What are the greatest action movies of all time? It’s a controversial question, isn’t it? Any time any publication or site puts out a new list of what they consider the best action movies of all time, it can’t help but generate a ton of controversy. Nevertheless, we here at JoBlo have decided to throw our hats into the ring with a list we really hope generates some nostalgia among our viewers but also encourages them to seek out the movies on this list that they may not have seen. But first, some may wonder where superhero movies are on this list. Given how broad that genre is, we decided to stick to old-school action, so we have left them off the list, as they deserve their own ranking. There are also a few absences from the list, notably some Jackie Chan Hong Kong films (like Police Story...

Re-watching the Rambo movies proves that Sylvester Stallone’s franchise lost touch with the thing that originally made the series work. Adapted from author David Morrell’s novel of the same name, First Blood was a 1982 vigilante action movie starring Sylvester Stallone as the Ptsd-afflicted Vietnam veteran John Rambo. Rambo’s first movie was followed by 1985’s bombastic sequel Rambo: First Blood Part II, 1988’s Rambo III, 2008’s franchise reboot Rambo, and 2019’s Rambo: Last Blood. Each of these movies grew gradually gorier, more over-the-top, and more cartoonishly absurd in their depiction of Stallone’s indestructible antihero.

Related Rambo’s 4 Sequels All Forgot The Most Important Thing About Stallone’s First Blood Character

Rambo: First Blood is a complex and compelling character drama that is undermined by the more bombastic approach to the Rambo franchise.

However, the Rambo series also lost touch with its original purpose as the franchise continued.

Prior to 1985, Kevin Costner was probably best known in Hollywood, to the extent that he was known at all, as the corpse of Alex Marshall in Lawrence Kasdan's Baby Boomer drama "The Big Chill." Alex is the friend whose death occasions the gathering of the University of Michigan alums, and whose presence is felt rather than seen. This was not initially by design. Costner's Alex was supposed to appear in flashback, but was completely cut out of the movie by Kasdan when test audiences reacted poorly to meeting the character after ninety-odd minutes of build-up.

When 1985 rolled around, Costner had two films sitting on the shelf, a Canadian crime drama called "The Gunrunner" and Kevin Reynolds' college friendship comedy "Fandango." The former was lousy and would sit on the shelf until 1989, while the latter was a charming misfire that, because it had been disowned by producer Steven Spielberg, was dumped into U.

Sylvester Stallone is no stranger to wielding firearms of all kinds throughout his decades-long career as a Hollywood action star, but one expert has debunked the realism of one of his best-known movies. First beginning his acting career in the late 1960s, Stallone’s earliest film appearances were largely relegated to smaller supporting roles and background characters, including an uncredited performance in 1970’s M*A*S*H.

Following his first significant roles in the 1973 independent movie Rebel and the 1974 comedy The Lords of Flatbush, it was Stallone’s decision to pen the script for 1976’s Rocky that finally provided him with the vehicle that would turn him into a household name. During the 1980s, however, Stallone would begin his transformation into one of Hollywood’s leading action stars. Beginning with 1982’s First Blood, Stallone’s tenure as the misunderstood Vietnam veteran John Rambo would eventually spawn a decades-long franchise that...

Tombstone is one of the best films in Val Kilmer’s career with the 1993 Western film proving to be a major commercial success. However, the film faced a long and hard road to production after actor Kevin Costner who was originally approached for the role of Wyatt Earp not only turned it down but also developed a separate project centered on the character.

Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer starred in Tombstone (Credit: Buena Vista).

Given Costner’s experience and established status in the Western genre Kilmer’s iteration was doomed the moment Costner decided to pursue a rival project. However, the film was saved with the help of actor Sylvester Stallone who had a key role in its production despite not appearing. Here is how Stallone saved Kilmer’s Tombstone.

Sylvester Stallone Saved Val Kilmer’s Tombstone After Kevin Costner Drama

Actor Val Kilmer is known for his performances in...

The original script for John Wick, entitled Scorn, was a grounded revenge thriller with a limited body count, which is an interesting concept, but wouldnt have led to a billion-dollar blockbuster franchise. When it was first released in 2014, John Wick initially seemed to be a typical, run-of-the-mill action thriller. But its curious worldbuilding, its shocking dog-killing premise, and Keanu Reeves instantly iconic performance turned it into a box office hit. It scored three sequels, each one bigger and better than the last, and became one of the highest-grossing action movie franchises of all time.

But if Reeves and director Chad Stahelski hadnt drastically reworked the script, it probably wouldve never become a blockbuster franchise. Derek Kolstads original screenplay, Scorn, wouldve been a very different movie than the high-octane all-action extravaganza that John Wick ended up being. It was still a revenge movie about a badass antihero avenging his dead dog,...

Tony Scott's 1986 navy recruitment film "Top Gun" was released in the middle of the Reagan administration: a time when the American military was being venerated in mainstream pop entertainment and sold as a badass, action-loving fighting force. The sadness and pain of the Vietnam War was being deliberately eschewed in favor of highly varnished machismo, and many movies depicted American soldiers as endlessly capable violence machines. It's how we went from the downbeat and tragic "First Blood" to the chest-pounding jingoism of "Rambo: First Blood Part II" in just three years. "Top Gun" depicted the world's coolest naval jet pilots as they trained to become the best, and took on a mysterious enemy military hailing from an unnamed nation. 

To stress the pilots' coolness, "Top Gun" starred the dazzling movie giant Tom Cruise as Peter "Maverick" Mitchell and the equally dazzling Val Kilmer as his rival, Tom "Iceman" Kazansky.

Deadpool & Wolverine broke countless box office records earlier this year and Marvel Comics is now capitalising on that with a new Deadpool/Wolverine comic book series.

While recent months have seen the characters share the page in a few different titles, this ongoing monthly series will reunite X-Force writer Benjamin Percy and artist Joshua Cassara as Wade Wilson and Logan set off on a mission to deal with a returning X-Men villain. Oh, and new revelations about their shared past.

According to Percy, Deadpool/Wolverine isn't directly inspired by the Marvel Studios threequel and was instead in development long before that arrived in theaters.

"The film was both a hit and a hoot, but we started working on this series long before we ever saw Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds tear each other apart in a Honda Odyssey," the writer tells IGN. "So I can’t say it was an influence,...

Kurt Russells 1993 Western Tombstone is widely regarded as one of the actors greatest accomplishments, but most may not be aware that Russell was actually involved in the direction of the film - not just the acting. The story follows Russells character Wyatt, who moves to Arizona in order to escape the outlaws that are constantly terrorizing him; once he arrives there, he runs into a group of cowboys and gets roped into a scheme to bring order back to the town. The result is one of Kurt Russells best Westerns, and a fascinating insight into the Wild West.

Distributed by Walt Disney Studios, Tombstone was a huge success both for Russells career and the survival of the Western genre through the 90s. Before movies like Tombstone and Unforgiven, audiences would have been forgiven for believing that the Western was a dying art in Hollywood - but these projects managed to...

Rotten Tomatoes scores don't define a film's worth, as evidenced by action flicks like Rambo with low ratings that still achieve classic status. Audience investment in a film's universe can outweigh poor reviews, as seen in the success of action franchises despite negative feedback. Enjoying the "bad" parts of action films can be part of the fun, with humor and campy elements sometimes drawing audiences in for a memorable experience.

The Rotten Tomatoes score of a movie is not a surefire way to determine if it's good or not. However, many people are quick to judge a film by its rating. This is true for action movies, which are usually harshly judged by critics for their use of tropes and gimmicks. Despite this, even a negative score on the popular reviewing website can't stop certain films from achieving classic status. As time goes on, critics and audiences might both change their original opinions,...

Leonard Engelman, who lobbied the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to install a makeup branch and served as its first governor when they did so, died Thursday at 88 in Northridge Hospital Medical Center.

His death was confirmed by the Cinema Makeup School in Los Angeles, but no cause has been given.

Engelman worked on such films as Rocky IV, The Princess Diaries, Batman & Robin and How the Grinch Stole Christmas and did Cher’s makeup for more than 30 years.

He also served as an Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences VP and board member for many years.

Born in Burbank, he was the son of a Hollywood makeup artist. Engelman graduated from Burbank High School, and received his first film credit on Alfred Hitchcock’s Topaz (1969).

Engelman received Emmy nominations in 1972 for an episode of Night Gallery and in 2001 for the miniseries Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. He...

Leonard Engelman, the esteemed makeup artist who worked on films including Rocky IV, The Princess Diaries, Batman & Robin and How the Grinch Stole Christmas and did Cher’s makeup for more than 30 years, has died. He was 83.

Engelman died Thursday at Northridge Hospital Medical Center, his wife of 42 years, artist Esther Engelman, told The Hollywood Reporter. The cause of death is unclear, she said.

The son of a Hollywood makeup artist, Engelman labored for a long time to convince the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to install a makeup branch, as those artisans had always been “at-large” members. And when it did so in 2006, he was elected its first governor. Later, he worked to have hairstylists added.

He also served as an Academy vice president and board member for many years.

Engelman received Emmy nominations in 1972 for an episode of Night Gallery and in 2001 for the miniseries Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis,...

"Tombstone" may now be considered one of the most beloved Westerns of the late twentieth century, but the film had an incredibly rocky path from the page to the big screen. "Tombstone" was intended to be the directorial debut of "Glory" screenwriter Kevin Jarre, but when he fell behind schedule a month into the shoot, producer Andrew Vajna fired him and brought in veteran helmer George P. Cosmatos ("Rambo: First Blood Part II" and "Leviathan") to ostensibly drag the movie to the finish line.

We've since learned that, after Jarre's departure, the driving creative force on "Tombstone" was star Kurt Russell. Cast as legendary lawman Wyatt Earp, Russell brought a semblance of order to the wayward production by streamlining the lengthy screenplay with producer Jim Jacks. His instincts proved plenty sharp. By foregrounding the unlikely friendship forged between Earp and the tuberculosis-stricken gambler/gunman Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer in one...

Land of Bad mirrors the intense action and military themes of similar films like Behind Enemy Lines and Lone Survivor. The Wall offers a gripping survival story set in Iraq, while Rambo: First Blood Part II delivers high-intensity action in Vietnam. Fans of Land of Bad will enjoy Body of Lies and Extraction for their thrilling military storylines and intense action sequences.

The William Eubank war movie Land of Bad told a thrilling story of survival amid a conflict zone thats likely to leave many viewers looking for something similar to watch next. With Liam Hemsworth and Russell Crowe at the helm, Land of Bad powerfully blended its intense military story with heart-racing action sequences that meant it walked the fine line between insightful war drama and full-blown action movie. While these elements helped Land of Bad stand out as an effective look at modern warfare, it also brought to...

Sylvester Stallone was one of the major action heroes of the 80s and 90s alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger. The actor had to fight his way to get noticed in the industry as he was an outsider trying to make a name as an actor. Stallone created two of the most iconic franchises in Hollywood: Rocky and Rambo.

Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo in First Blood | Orion Pictures

By the 80s, Stallone was already a two-time Oscar-nominated actor for his brilliant work in Rocky. He was eyeing another potential hit with 1982’s First Blood. However, the Rocky star was very unhappy with the original cut of the film so much so that he wanted to burn the negatives. However, his significant input changed everything for the better.

Sylvester Stallone Was Responsible for Making The ‘Unwatchable’ First Blood Into A Hit

The success of First Blood made Sylvester Stallone a bonafide action hero...

Stallone. Schwarzenegger. Jcvd. Seagal. Snipes. Gibson. These were the legends of eighties and nineties action cinema, but let me tell you something, folks, back in the 80s, there was one guy who was just as big as any of them, and his name was Chuck Norris. Nowadays, the martial arts champion’s movies don’t get quite as much play as those of the other guys I mentioned, probably because Norris never really made an A-level studio film, with him mostly toiling in elevated B-movies throughout the decade. But, some of them were really a lot of fun, as we’re going to dig into one of the most over-the-top and explosive ones of them all – Invasion U.S.A.

Cut back to the year 1984. After years of making lower-budget action films, Norris’s career started to hit its stride. In 1983, Lone Wolf McQuade brought him to the attention of Menahem Golan,...

Some cliche somewhere said that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ This has proven to be the case for me and especially when it comes to fan art. I have always sought out great fan art and have wanted to share it with as many people as possible. “Awesome Art We’ve Found Around The Net” is the outlet for that passion. In this column, I will showcase the kick-ass artwork of some great artists, with the hopes that these artists get the attention they deserve. That’s the aim. If you have any questions or comments, or even suggestions of art or other great artists, feel free to contact me at any time at [email protected].

Blade by Sahin Düzgün

Dune Part One by Waxbones

Fantastic Four by Nick Low

Final Fantasy IX by Drake (Winson) Tsui

Godzilla by Matt Frank

Highlander by Adrien Noterdaem

The Lion King...

Intro: It’s a story we’ve all heard before. A group of friends stray off the beaten path and end up having to fight for their lives. This has served as the set-up for many classic horror films and thrillers. Back in the early ‘90s, director Stephen Hopkins used it as the set-up for an action movie that has an awesome cast. Emilio Estevez, Cuba Gooding Jr., Jeremy Piven, and Stephen Dorff play the friends fighting to survive. Denis Leary is the leader of the criminal gang out for their blood. Unfortunately, not a lot of people went to see the movie when it was released… but they did make the soundtrack a hit. The movie is called Judgment Night, and it’s time for it to be Revisited.

Set-up: Judgment Night started out as a spec script written by Kevin Jarre, whose other credits include Rambo: First Blood Part 2,...

A proposed film studio planned for Buckinghamshire, UK has sparked controversy among locals, but Piranha II director James Cameron has provided his backing for the project.

A major new UK film studio, targeting a tract of land in Buckinghamshire, has been backed by filmmaker James Cameron.

Marlow Film Studios has proven to be a controversial project so far; its proposed location on a former quarry next to the A404 near the small town of Marlow has led local councillors to argue that the development would cause traffic problems and damage green belt land.

Buckinghamshire Council failed to reach a decision on the proposals in October 2023, meaning a pivotal vote on the project has been deferred to this year. Ahead of that vote, Cameron – known for the 1981 smash Piranha II: The Spawning and his screenplay for Rambo: First Blood Part II – has written to Buckinghamshire Council, recommending that it waves through the proposed studio.

James Cameron delivered a masterclass in Paris on Thursday night following a sold-out screening of his 1984 breakout “The Terminator.” With the title so fresh in his mind, the filmmaker spent much of the session sharing stories from the project’s improbable making of.

For one thing, what the production lacked in financial resources it made up for in pre-production time — eight months, to be exact, as the team waited for Arnold Schwarzenegger’s schedule to clear.

“I figured we didn’t have the money for a designer, and I could draw, so what the hell,” Cameron recalled. “I drew everything, and storyboarded the film very, very meticulously.”

The masterclass kicked off a new exhibition at Paris’ Cinematheque Française that positions Cameron as a graphic artist who draws inspiration from his own subconscious. Running until January 2025, “The Art of James Cameron” showcases more then 300 paintings, etchings and production designs pulled from Cameron’s private collection,...

The 1993 Western "Tombstone" had a notoriously troubled production that even led star Kurt Russell to help with directing duties, essentially co-directing with credited helmer George P. Cosmatos (the director of "Rambo: First Blood Part II" and father of "Mandy" director Panos Cosmatos). Despite the difficulties filming the story inspired by the exploits of real-life Tombstone sheriff Wyatt Earp (Russell), some of the cast managed to develop friendships, and that includes Russell and the man behind Doc Holiday, Val Kilmer. 

In an interview with GQ where he looked back at some of his most iconic roles, Russell shared a fun anecdote about gifts he and Kilmer traded at the end of filming "Tombstone" that happened to be exceptionally in-character for them both. Making "Tombstone" may have been a real pain, but at least they managed to find a silver lining (and created one of the best Westerns of all time). 

Read...

Pluto TV, Paramount’s free streaming service, has revealed its April highlights. The Pluto TV April 2024 schedule celebrates the service’s 10th anniversary, highlights star-studded dramas, and marks the halfway point to Halloween with April Ghouls, where you’ll find spooky marathons across its channels.

Pluto TV is the leading free streaming television service, delivering hundreds of live, linear channels and thousands of titles on-demand to a global audience.

The Emmy Award-winning service curates a diverse lineup of channels in partnership with over 400 international media companies. It offers a wide array of genres, languages, and categories featuring movies, television series, sports, news, lifestyle, kids, and much more.

Pluto TV April 2024 Programming

10th Anniversary

Pluto TV is giving the gift of great TV and movies for its birthday.

April 1 at 8 p.m. Et on Action Drama: 10-Hour Seal Team marathon.

April 1 on Pluto TV Spotlight: 2014 Movie Marathon featuring Big Eyes, Noah,...

Expendables 4 or Expend4bles was the final nail in the coffin for the renowned Sylvester Stallone action franchise that made a name for bringing some iconic stars together on screen. The fourth and latest film in the franchise was a critical and commercial disaster. Adding more to its list of injuries, the film also gave Sylvester Stallone a Razzie for the Worst Supporting Actor.

Sylvester Stallone in The Expendables 4

With his latest Razzie for Expendables 4, Sylvester Stallone has made a record for most Razzie wins by an actor and an action icon. Even after being one of the greatest names in action and Hollywood, Stallone has been a recipient of a record 11 dishonoring Razzies in total. It does not look like any other action star would be able to break the record soon.

How did Expendables 4 lead Sylvester Stallone to his Razzie record? Jason Statham in Expend4bles

Recently,...

Schwarzenegger turned down the Night Slasher role in Stallone's Cobra, fearing the 1986 movie wouldn't do him justice. Cobra would have been a bad move for Arnie at the time, as his leading man career was just taking off. It took 24 years for Stallone and Schwarzenegger to appear together onscreen, which came with 2010's The Expendables.

Action fans badly wanted to see Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger clash onscreen during the 1980s, and one Sly movie almost made it happen. The bitter rivalry between Arnie and Stallone stretched out through much of the 1980s and 1990s, with the screen icons constantly trying to one-up each other. This could be in terms of physique, salary demands, the size of their explosions or even how large their knives were. This contest was as petty as it was entertaining, but what audiences longed for was for the pair to star together.

Having Stallone...

War movies often prioritize entertainment and storytelling over historical accuracy, leading to criticism from experts. Some historical changes in movies are intentional for dramatic effect, while others are unintentional errors that slip through. Movies like "The Green Berets" and "Rambo: First Blood Part II" took a pro-American stance and depicted a simplified version of the complex Vietnam War.

Over the last several decades there have been many powerful Vietnam War movies that have highlighted the harrowing brutality of battle and the tragic cost of conflict, many of which have received criticism for accuracy or realism by experts. While war movies on the big screen can act as important reminders of the bloodshed and lives lost during conflicts, such as in Vietnam, sometimes entertainment or the narrative requirements of a story are placed above historical accuracy. In these instances, experts are often quick to point out what the filmmakers got wrong...

Changing the tone in a sequel can reinvigorate a franchise or ruin it. (97 characters) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II shifted to comedy, leading to less box office earnings. (89 characters) Batman Forever altered the franchise with a lighter tone, making it almost unrecognizable. (94 characters)

Most franchises contain multiple films that tend to be in the same genre, but some sequels shift the tone entirely. Popular film franchises may share characters, settings, storylines, and themes in common, but there is a precedent for franchises to change tones and explore new genres with spin-off movies. However, when a series of films decide to change the tone in a sequel, it can be jarring.

If the first and second entries of a series are dark and gritty, like the first two entries of Thor, then a sudden shift to something light and funny is a big leap, but it can also be the perfect way to reinvigorate the franchise.

When director Michael Winner and screenwriter Wendell Mayes adapted Brian Garfield's novel "Death Wish," it's doubtful that they had any idea they'd be launching a film franchise that would change the landscape of vigilante thrillers forever, and solidify Charles Bronson as one of the greatest stars of action cinema. The "Death Wish" films start out as a twisted character study of a man named Paul Kersey as he slowly descends into a life of vengeance and violence, bearing arms and serving as a one-man judge, jury, and executioner. There's a real allure to righting wrongs outside of the American justice system, but as Kearsey's arc shows, his desire to kill has perhaps always been a part of him -- which makes him part of the problem.

As the franchise went on, the "Death Wish" films cared less and less about the moral conundrums of its hero and instead wanted...

Rambo: First Blood Part II perpetuated a myth about American soldiers still being held as prisoners of war in Vietnam, according to a military historian. The film may have contributed to a cottage industry in Vietnam and Thailand, where false information about missing soldiers was sold to families. The film also included unrealistic elements, such as the presence of Russians at the prison where Rambo was on a rescue mission.

Sylvester Stallone's Rambo sequel gets destroyed for its lack of realism by a Vietnam War historian. Stallone’s hugely successful Rambo franchise began modestly enough with 1982’s First Blood, but ramped things up to ultra-violent levels with the 1985 sequel Rambo: First Blood Part II. Co-written by James Cameron, the second Rambo movie sent Stallone’s ripped Vietnam War vet back to the jungle, on a mission to find missing POWs improbably still being held a decade after the war’s end.

Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products announced each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

Leviathan 4K Uhd from Kino Lorber

Leviathan plunges onto 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray on February 20 via Kino Lorber. The 1989 sci-fi/horror film been newly restored in 4K from the 35mm interpositive with Dolby Vision/Hdr and 5.1 surround and lossless 2.0 audio.

George P. Cosmatos directs from a script by David Webb Peoples and Jeb Stuart. Peter Weller, Richard Crenna, Amanda Pays, Daniel Stern, Ernie Hudson, Michael Carmine, Lisa Eilbacher, and Héctor Elizondo star.

Special features include: a new commentary by film historians Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson; Leviathan: Monster Melting Pot featurette; interviews with Hudson and Elizondo; the trailer; and reversible artwork.

Pumpkinhead & Killer Klowns Puppets from Toynk

Reach out and grab some fun with Toynk’s Reachers,...

The late 20th century was a wild time to be a kid immersed in the world of pop culture. It was the period that produced Jessica Rabbit, a cartoon character you felt embarrassed to watch with your parents, and a time when stores regularly stocked movie tie-in toys linked to “kid-friendly” fare like Aliens and Terminator 2.

It seemed like nothing was off the table and that was certainly the case in the world of cartoons. Eager to cash in on the appeal of cinematic properties in a way that would give even the MCU pause for thought, a glut of animated shows inspired by movies featuring torture, nudity, beheadings, and buckets of toxic waste found their way onto the small screen. In most cases, the cartoons spawned rarely stuck around for long, but today they stand as examples of a weird and wonderful chapter in the history of small screen entertainment.

America had just crawled out from under its Vietnam hangover when Stephen J. Cannell's "The A-Team" blasted its way into the country's living rooms on January 23, 1983. NBC did not have high expectations for the show, but when the second episode -- which aired after Super Bowl Xvii (the one where Washington's John Riggins rushed with shocking impunity against Miami's defense) -- scored sky-high ratings, the network realized it had a hit on its hands.

It was the right show for a weird moment in American history. The country had gone gung-ho. We were at the advent of the '80s action hero era, and everyone was flocking to bloody, high-caliber entertainments starring the likes of Charles Bronson, Chuck Norris, and Sylvester Stallone. Meanwhile, the pulpy adventures of Don Pendleton's Mack Bolan were flying off drug store bookshelves. There was an acute interest in vigilante justice, but people were...

If you want to enjoy some often very good and often very bad action movies, the "Rambo" franchise is for you. And if you want to watch the strange and often disturbing trajectory of America's political core over nearly 40 years of cinema, the "Rambo" franchise is also for you. By accident or design, Sylvester Stallone's famed action series contains multitudes. They're macho, violent, ridiculous one-man-army movies. They're also propaganda, apologies for propaganda, and then propaganda again. They demand popcorn, and a crowd ready to hoot and holler. But also analysis.

But few film franchises outside of "Fast and Furious" have titles as confusing as the "Rambo" movies, which defy common logic and may have you, the John Rambo newbie, wondering if there's a trick to watching these things. Honestly, the key is to watch them in order of production. It's the only way to appreciate the series' loose continuity and,...

The serial killer thriller Squealer is set to receive a theatrical and digital release on November 3rd – and with just three weeks to go until that date arrives, a trailer for the film has been unveiled. You can check it out in the embed above.

Squealer marks the feature directorial debut of Andy Armstrong, who got his start in the entertainment industry by working as a stuntman. He earned stunt credits on more than fifty projects, including Nightbreed, Total Recall, Air America, Leprechaun, Universal Soldier, The Firm, Flesh and Bone, Stargate, Galaxy Quest, Charlie’s Angels, Planet of the Apes, Green Hornet, Thor, The Amazing Spider-Man, and The Amazing Spider-Man 2. He also worked as assistant director or second unit director on many films, including The Man with the Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me, Superman II, Krull, Highlander, Rambo II, Hellbound: Hellraiser II, and Double Impact. He has even...

With Expend4bles more than likely bringing to a close the franchise Sylvester Stallone created over 13 years ago, we wanted to know what movie in the legendary actors filmography is your favorite? Does his original creation of Rocky remain your favorite all these years later or do you find some of his iconic 90’s action films more your speed? Or perhaps you a true purist and find Italian Stallion to be quintessential Stallone! If you don’t see your favorite listed, please click other and let us know what it is (and why) in the comments.

What is your Favorite Sylvester Stallone Film?Italian Stallion (1970)Death Race 2000 (1975)Rocky (1976)F.I.S.T (1978)Paradise Alley (1978)Rocky II (1979)Nighthawks (1981)Rocky III (1982)First Blood (1982)Rhinestone (1984)Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)Rocky IV (1985)Cobra (1986)Over The Top (1987)Rambo III (1988)Lock Up (1989)Tango & Cash (1989)Rocky V (1990)Oscar (1991)Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot (1992)Cliffhanger (1993)Demolition Man (1993)The Specialist...

Kurt Russell secretly directed Tombstone, stepping in after the original director was fired, and worked closely with George P. Cosmatos via shot lists. Co-stars Sam Elliott and Val Kilmer have backed up Russell's claim of ghost directing, praising his dedication and hard work on the film. Russell has the missing footage for Tombstone and laments the scenes that had to be removed, but reconstructing a director's cut would require extensive work that he is currently not pursuing.

Here's how Kurt Russell secretly directed Tombstone, and how Sylvester Stallone helped out. While Westerns had largely died out following the '70s, the genre shows brief bursts of life now and again. One of those periods was the early '90s, where Unforgiven, the Young Guns movies and Tombstone showed there was some blood left in the genre. The latter film celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2023, and it feels like appreciation for...

Sylvester Stallone made a whopping $48 million for producing, co-writing, and starring in the first three Expendables films, thanks to his heavy involvement in getting them made. The inclusion of Stallone alongside other action movie stars in The Expendables franchise has been a key factor in its success, with his larger-than-life personality and straight-faced performance adding to the movies' appeal. Stallone's current net worth is over $400 million, which he has amassed through not only his work on The Expendables, but also as the co-writer and director of four Rocky films and his roles in popular television series. He has had a remarkable journey from being homeless when developing the script for Rocky to his current success.

Sylvester Stallone is the mastermind behind The Expendables franchise, and it may surprise fans to know how much he was paid for producing the four films as well as starring in them as mercenary Barney Ross.

Grizzly Jim explains that Rambo's grenade arrows may have been a type of Broadhead, as seen in a scene from Rambo III. The exploding arrows were a notable feature of Rambo's compound bow throughout the film series and were used to cause dramatic destruction. The grenade arrows and their unique kills make them stand out among the various weapons in the Rambo franchise, sparking interest in how they were made and how a real grenade arrow might look.

Archery expert Grizzly Jim reveals what Rambo's grenade arrow actually was. The film series, which began in 1982 with the adaptation of David Morrell's First Blood, follows Sylvester Stallone's John J. Rambo, a Vietnam War veteran who uses his unique skill set to combat dangerous enemies. Although the franchise generated mixed reception over the years, its action has been a source of consistent praise, and the exploding arrows were featured in multiple installments.

Sylvester Stallone and his former rival Arnold Schwarzenegger were both Hollywood’s premiere action stars back in their heyday. But Stallone felt it was much easier for Schwarzenegger and others to get away with funny one-liners back then.

Sylvester Stallone couldn’t joke around like Arnold Schwarzenegger and other action stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone| Jerome Favre/Getty Images

Stallone and Schwarzenegger had similar trajectories and career paths. They were both primarily known for their classic action films, and the physical ability they brought to their roles.

But Stallone felt there was an important comedic element separating his films from the likes of Schwarzenegger’s and others. At the time, Stallone believed audiences were more willing to accept comedy in a Schwarzenegger picture than in a Stallone movie.

“Arnold and Bruce Willis can get away with things that I can’t. For example, they can make jokes about what they’re doing.

Watching it in 2023, one might find themselves a little baffled as to why Martin Brest's 1984 crime comedy "Beverly Hills Cop" was such a massive success. Made for a modest $13 million, "Beverly Hills Cop" caused a sensation, earning over $234 million domestically which is, when adjusted for inflation, closer to $700 million. It made Eddie Murphy a household name and more or less codified an emerging genre of R-rated buddy cop movies that would remain ascendant throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s. The success of "Beverly Hills Cop" might confuse people, however, as it seems wildly basic these days. The jokes are not particularly funny, and while Murphy is as charismatic as they come, his Snobs vs. Slobs shtick seems trite and tired.

It seems that "Beverly Hills Cop," however, was merely outstripped by its imitators. In the wave of imitators that spawned, filmmakers pushed the action and the humor to higher and higher degrees,...

Have you ever wondered why in the 2023 version of "The Haunted Mansion," Owen Wilson is shown eating a big bag of Burger King and telling Lakeith Stanfield that the fast food chain's fried snacks are literal messages from heaven? Or why while Rambo is being told about his off-the-books, super-secret, clandestine mission to rescue POWs from Vietnam in "Rambo: First Blood Part II," the scene gets interrupted by his superior officer purchasing a Coca-Cola from the Coca-Cola vending machine that he inexplicably has in his office?

The answer is a little thing called product placement, in which various companies selling various products frequently exchange money with motion picture and/or television studios to display their products prominently on-screen. That's probably why in "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer," when Reed Richards presents the famous flying FantastiCar from the comic books that he built all by himself in his private lab,...

Stallone's success in 1985 with his Rocky and Rambo sequels, making $600 million at the box office, was a result of his muscular physique and the popularity of action movies in the '80s. Both Rocky IV and Rambo: First Blood Part 2, set against the Soviet Union, achieved a remarkable $300 million worldwide, solidifying Stallone as a poster boy for action cinema. Stallone's $600 million year in 1985 was a high point in his career, as subsequent entries in both franchises would earn significantly less at the box office.

Sylvester Stallone had an incredible year in 1985 with his Rocky and Rambo sequels, which achieved an almost impossible $600 million box-office feat. Stallone had once been touted as the next Marlon Brando, following the success of Rocky. Unfortunately, Stallone had trouble achieving success outside of the Rocky movie franchise, while his first time playing Rambo in 1982's First Blood would send his career down a different path.

The tank vs. helicopter battle in Rambo 3 doesn’t make any sense, says a military expert. Released in 1988, the third movie in the Rambo series saw Sylvester Stallone’s one-man killing-machine heading to Afghanistan on a mission to rescue his mentor Sam Trautman from his Soviet captors. After the carnage of Rambo: First Blood Part II, Rambo III escalated the mayhem even more, resulting in an over-the-top action flick that critics lined up to crush (as reflected in the film’s current 41% Rotten Tomatoes score). Audiences still enjoyed watching Stallone kick butt however, and the film grossed a respectable $189 million worldwide.

The third movie in the Rambo franchise is today regarded as the weakest, and according to military expert Nicholas Moran, the movie earns its bad reputation. In a piece for Insider, Moran breaks down one key Rambo III scene, a climactic battle that sees Rambo in a tank,...

The effect of The Simpsons on pop culture can’t be overstated. In the early nineties, the show tapped into the cultural zeitgeist in a way few others had before. Indeed, no other cartoon show could reasonably emulate it- but Hollywood couldn’t help but try. Capitol Critters, Family Dog, and Fish Police were just a few of the shows that tried to be “the new Simpsons.” Still, the only one that really came close was ABC’s The Critic, starring the voice of Jon Lovitz as Jay Sherman, perhaps the world’s least-loved film critic and the subject of this Gone But Not Forgotten episode.

Unlike other wannabe animated hits, The Critic could boast a legit connection to The Simpsons, with it also being a production of James L. Brooks’ Gracie Films. At the same time, creators Al Jean and Mike Reiss had been showrunners on The Simpsons during...

Commando remains one of the quintessential Arnold Schwarzenegger action movies. There are the incredible set pieces and the one-liners and the scene where he feeds a deer for some reason. But major changes had to be made when it came to the ending due to the rivalry between Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone.

Screenwriter Steven E. de Souza – who was one of the go-to action writers for a stretch, also penning The Running Man, Die Hard and Judge Dredd – sat down with Radio Times to let off some steam about how his script was changed following the release of Rambo: First Blood Part II, which had come out while Arnold was filming Commando. “I concurred with Arnold [that the film would be a success]. At the time it was Rambo versus Commando and those two had a rivalry for a long time, but Arnold predicted that people would still be talking about this film because it did not...

The writer of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Commando explains how the star’s rivalry with Sylvester Stallone led to the action movie being changed. Coming off Conan the Barbarian and The Terminator, Schwarzenegger had his first chance to star as a classic militaristic action hero in the 1985 movie Commando. In that very same year, Schwarzenegger’s chief action movie rival Stallone released his own gung-ho shoot-em-up in Rambo: First Blood Part II, the sequel to his 1982 hit First Blood.

Commando vs. Rambo II was to audiences an epic showdown between ‘80s action stars, and it turns out people working behind-the-scenes on Commando saw things in these terms too, at least according to Commando writer Steven E. de Souza. Speaking to Radio Times, de Souza talked at length about how the desire to match the violence in Rambo II led to changes in the Commando script, and explained how these changes, through the domino effect,...

Sylvester Stallone is taking a trip down memory lane and pulling the curtain back on his film rivalry with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The two actors, both known for dominating the action movie genre in the ’80s, recently shed light on their film rivalry in the new Netflix docu-series “Arnold”.

“The ’80s was a very interesting time because the definitive ‘action guy’ had not really been formed yet,” Stallone recounts. “Up until that time, action was a car chase like ‘Bullitt‘ or ‘The French Connection‘, and a film all about intellect and innuendo and verbal this and verbal that.”

Read More: Arnold Schwarzenegger Remembers ‘Embarrassing’ Box Office Bomb ‘The Last Action Hero’: ‘I Didn’t Want To See Anyone For A Week’

Stallone remembered the pivotal moment when the landscape of action movies transformed forever. Reflecting on the release of “First Blood” in 1982, Stallone proclaimed: “You actually relied upon your body to tell the story.

Sylvester Stallone has credited Arnold Schwarzenegger for redefining action movies and crowned his formal rival as being the “superior” actor in the genre.

“The ’80s was a very interesting time because the definitive ‘action guy’ had not really been formed yet,” Stallone said in the new Netflix docuseries Arnold (via IndieWire). “Up until that time, action was a car chase like Bullitt or The French Connection. A film all about intellect and innuendo and verbal this and verbal that.”

Stallone went on to praise Schwarzenegger for changing the landscape of action movies by bringing a physical presence that the films could center around. “You actually relied upon your body to tell the story,” he said. “Dialogue was not necessary. I saw that there was an opportunity, because no one else was doing this except some other guy from Austria, who doesn’t need to say much… He was superior. He just had all the answers.

Sylvester Stallone has crowned Arnold Schwarzenegger the “superior” action star, less than a year after openly admitting the two actors loathed each other throughout the 1980s as Hollywood pit their acting careers against one another. In Schwarzenegger’s recently released Netflix documentary “Arnold,” Stallone says there’s no question that Schwarzenegger was the more ideal action hero.

“The ’80s was a very interesting time because the definitive ‘action guy’ had not really been formed yet,” Stallone said (via IndieWire). “Up until that time, action was a car chase like ‘Bullitt’ or ‘The French Connection.’ A film all about intellect and innuendo and verbal this and verbal that.”

Stallone credited Schwarzenegger with making action cinema more dependent on the actor.

“You actually relied upon your body to tell the story,” Stallone said. “Dialogue was not necessary. I saw that there was an opportunity, because no one else was doing this except some other guy from Austria,...

In the annals of pop culture rivalries – those where the subjects rose at the same time and were constantly at battle in their field – there’s one that truly matters the most…and it ain’t Magic vs. Bird. For movie fans of the ‘80s and ‘90s, the action rivalry came down to who was better: Arnold Schwarzenegger or Sylvester Stallone? And yes, you had to pick one…after all, Sly did.

In Netflix’s new three-part docuseries Arnold, Stallone notes that he and Schwarzenegger were constantly pitted against each other. “We became incredibly competitive…Like [Muhammad] Ali and [Joe] Frazier, or great warriors that are traveling the same course: There was only room for one of us.” That one? It’s got to be Arnold, Stallone admits, saying, “He was superior. He just had all the answers…He had the body. He had the strength. That was his character…He wanted to be number one.

The 1980s rivalry between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone is the stuff of Hollywood legends, but the two action stars have mended some fences now that they’re not competing at the box office every year. Stallone even makes an appearance in the new Netflix documentary “Arnold” to praise his former enemy for reinventing the action genre. He recalled that the action film landscape that the two men entered was dramatically different from the one that they created together.

“The ’80s was a very interesting time because the definitive ‘action guy’ had not really been formed yet,” Stallone said. “Up until that time, action was a car chase like ‘Bullitt’ or ‘The French Connection.’ A film all about intellect and innuendo and verbal this and verbal that.”

Once the ’80s came around, humans replaced cars as the primary drivers of action in these blockbusters. Stallone credited Schwarzenegger with being one...