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Two critically-panned Sylvester Stallone sequels have seen their reputations improve over time, newly-compiled data shows. The Tulsa King star is still going strong into the 2020s, cashing in on the legendary status he attained largely in the 1980s, and largely thanks to his pair of cash-machine franchises, Rocky and Rambo. Though Stallone’s two signature series were always big hits with audiences, critics frequently had misgivings about his Rocky and Rambo sequels, as both franchises evolved to become bigger, splashier and less grounded in reality.

But at least two of Stallone’s initially-maligned sequels have seen an upward critical reassessment in recent years, with both Rocky IV and Rambo: First Blood Part II receiving more acclaim over time, as shown in data compiled by Stat Significant. Using ratings collected by MovieLens, the statisticians show that Rocky IV has seen a 26% increase in positive appraisal, while Rambo II has gone up...

In some cases below, you have a day to watch the films. For instance, if you are a huge Sylvester Stallone fan, you might want to take the day off of work, like right now. Call in and say you have to stay home and stream Netflix.

In another case, a project featuring Jon Hamm at his goofiest disappears. The movie offers something different, though. Without going too much into detail (no spoilers here!), let's say you can decide what happens to Hamm's character.

If you are a fan of Madam Secretary but only want to watch it on Netflix, you are almost out of time. In the coming week, the entire series will be removed from your favorite streamer. Here is when it leaves.

Netflix subscribers will need to say goodbye to these 19 movies and series this weekMay 10Montford: The Chickasaw Rancher (2021)Rambo (2008)Rambo: Last Blood (2019)The Great...

Arnold Schwarzenegger V/S Sylvester Stallone Net Worth 2025 ( Photo Credit – Wikimedia )

When it comes to Hollywood legends, few names shine brighter than Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. These two icons have not only dominated the box office for decades but also built empires far beyond the silver screen. But in 2025, who reigns supreme in terms of wealth? Let’s break down their net worth and find out which action hero has a bigger net worth to flex.

What Is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Net Worth in 2025?

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s journey to wealth is just as impressive as his muscles once were. As per Forbes, Arnold Schwarzenegger holds an estimated net worth of $1.1 billion in 2025. The superstar stands as one of the highest-paid actors of all time, earning around $500 million through his films. His blockbuster hits such as the Terminator franchise, Commando, Predator, Batman and Robin, and many more made him a household name.

The simple version of Sylvester Stallone's rise to fame has it that the young actor wrote "Rocky" and cast himself in the lead role, thus becoming a star overnight. Indeed, a 1978 Playboy interview began by recalling how, with that 1976 movie, Stallone had "burst upon the American movie scene like a Roman candle." As is so often the case with these things, however, Stallone hadn't simply transformed his life overnight -- he'd been struggling to break through for some time.

That very same interview with Playboy also detailed how Sly had "spent many years waiting in the wings for his career to take off," which wasn't just a metaphor. Stallone's acting career prior to "Rocky" consisted of him playing what he termed in a 1977 BBC interview to be "atmosphere." That is, after moving to New York in 1969, he spent years as an extra, playing "the guy that was being the...

Continuing its tradition of celebrating excellence in Arab cinema, the Arab Cinema Center (Acc) has announced the nominees for the ninth edition of its annual Critics Awards for Arab Films.

Leading the pack with five nominations each this year are four films: Thank You For Banking With US; Everybody Loves Touda; Ghost Trail and Seeking Haven For Mr. Rambo. Following close behind them, with four nominations, is: AÏCHA.

Several other films also had multiple nominations including: The Village Next To Paradise; To A Land Unknown; Voy! Voy! Voy! and Norah.

This year’s winners will be revealed during a ceremony held on May 17th as part of the Cannes Film Festival. The event is organized in collaboration with Mad Solutions and the International Emerging Film Talent Association (Iefta), and attendance is by invitation only.

The Critics Awards for Arab Films have become a prestigious and anticipated highlight of the festival calendar.

From cord cutter to cutting subscriptions? Not to worry, there are still plenty of great films you can find streaming for free since the rise of ad-supported streaming services, and Tubi has libraries of them all, from vintage deep cuts to recent award winners. The only drawback? You never really know what’s streaming where.

This month has quite the haul, and we’ve combed through to put together a hand-picked selection of the best new movies streaming on Tubi. Whether you’re looking for a throwback favorite or an A24 thinker, here are our picks for what to watch this month.

“After Yang” A24

Grief-stricken but so lovely, “After Yang” is Kogonada’s second feature after his much-celebrated debut “Columbus.” Ambitious but understated, “After Yang” is a low-flourish sci-fi that side-steps spectacle and uses the constructs of the genre to dig deeper into questions about life and nature. Colin Farrell...

Sylvester Stallone’s Hunter Movie ( Photo Credit – Flickr )

Many years ago, veteran Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone acquired the film rights to a 1999 science fiction novel titled Hunter, written by James Byron Huggins. The Oscar-nominated actor-filmmaker purportedly intended to use the novel’s plot for ‘Rambo: Last Blood’. But later, the Rambo movie’s plot was changed to Rambo rescuing a girl from the clutches of a Mexican human trafficking gang, and it was released in 2019.

Even now, if Stallone somehow still makes the film, it could well be the grand theatrical comeback the Rocky actor must be hoping for. After delivering a critically acclaimed performance as Rocky Balboa in Creed II, the charismatic actor’s big-screen acting projects in the last few years have received a lacklustre response. He has starred in films like Backtrace, Escape Plan: The Extractors, Expend4bles, Armor, and Alarum, and all of them got not-so-encouraging feedback.

The very thought of Ryan Gosling appearing in a Barbie sequel as Ken is exciting for many fans of the actor. In December, multiple reports suggested that Barbie 2 is in the early stages of development. As much as we all like to see him back as Ken, there is another franchise that the actor needs to take over now after he got the approval from the Og star.

Gosling had previously revealed that his favorite film as a child was Sylvester Stallone’s Rambo. Interestingly, Gosling’s passion for the role got Stallone’s attention, who picked him to play the potential next generation iteration of the Rambo movies. We are positive that the Drive actor would be exceptional in such an action thriller.

Ryan Gosling should do Rambo revival now that he has Sylvester Stallone’s approval Ryan Gosling as Ken in Barbie | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

Sylvester Stallone...

A Working Man is yet another outing for a particular flavour of retributive escapism. Like Death Wish, Die Hard, and (Rambo) First Blood it's based on a novel, but what's astonishing is that despite tonal similarities to works from the 1970s the source novel is from 2014.

This review was delayed in part because I wanted to track down a copy. The film having been produced (and co-written) by Sylvester Stallone, I wondered how much of Chuck Dixon's novel Levon's Trade had made the transition to screen. I wondered how much of its regressive tendencies had been added. Among the film's bad habits there's the obligatory dead wife, the fetishisation of special forces, as with Taken the complications inherent in the layered politics of human trafficking, some queer-coded villainy and almost inevitably lockstep adherence to the monomyth of the hero's journey.

What astonished me more than the initial...

Exclusive: Lionsgate’s 50 Cent Action, the Fast channel curated by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has become the #1 action channel on both The Roku Channel and LG Channels, we’ve learned.

50 Cent Action first debuted with an exclusive launch on Roku, where it quickly became the most-watched action channel on The Roku Channel in Q1. Its recent rollout on LG Channels has already achieved the same milestone—cementing the channel’s appeal and momentum across the Fast space.

In addition, 50 Cent Action also went live on Vizio’s WatchFree+ and Sling TV’s Sling Freestream today.

50 Cent Action is one of the first talent-branded Fast channels. Jackson will be front and center at LG Ad Solution’s NewFronts presentation on Monday, May 5, where he will appear for a live Q&a with the company’s CEO Michael Hudes to discuss the successful growth of the channel and what’s coming next.

“This is the future of entertainment,...

Sylvester Stallone isn’t just the face of The Expendables. He’s the brains behind it, too. As the creator, producer, co-writer, and star, Stallone brought together the ultimate team of action heroes loaded with nostalgia, explosions, and one-liners galore. So, how much did he make off this epic franchise? Hint: It’s a ridiculous amount!

Sylvester Stallone in The Expendables (Credits: Lionsgate Films)

Four movies in, The Expendables have had their ups and downs. Big wins early, but Expendables 4? Not so much. Still, it helped the lead star earn an enormous fortune. So, how has Stallone’s legendary career padded his 2025 bank account? Let’s dive in.

Sylvester Stallone raked in $51 million from The Expendables franchise Sylvester Stallone in The Expendables (Credits: Lionsgate Films)

Sylvester Stallone didn’t just show up for The Expendables—he was the boss. Co-writer, producer, and mastermind behind it all. And, boy, did it pay off.

Sylvester Stallone is one of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood history, but the man has also been featured in an impressive number of video games. That is to say, his characters have been featured in an impressive amount of video games. Stallone famously launched his own career with 1976's "Rocky," catapulting himself into the limelight with the story of his underdog pugilist from the northern slums of Philadelphia. Within a decade, Rocky Balboa made his video game debut with 1983's "Super Action Boxing," which was itself based on 1982's "Rocky III" and designed for the ColecoVision console. After that, the Stallone video game adaptations kept coming.

One of the most interesting examples was the 1986 platform game "Cobra," which was based on the film of the same name starring Sly as an LAPD lieutenant charged with protecting the witness of a horrific crime. The movie was panned upon its release,...

No performer likes to receive a thumbs-down for their work, but imagine how it feels when this is a reality for a lengthy period of time. For some actors, they embarked on terrible Rotten Tomatoes streaks that weren't kind to their careers. Now, bear in mind that Rotten Tomatoes isn't the be-all and end-all of a film's quality, but it's a tool used by many to see what's the overall consensus from the critics. In addition to this, while the aggregator didn't exist before the '90s, it still collects the big reviews from bygone eras to showcase what the critical thoughts were of major productions.

So, for this feature, it's time to head back in time to look at the major actors who received rotten ratings for a notable stretch of their careers. To make life easier here, though, films that haven't officially received the "rotten" or "fresh" label...

Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. To keep up with our latest features, sign up for the Weekly Edit newsletter and follow us @mubinotebook on Twitter and Instagram.News HooperThe Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the creation of a competitive award for achievement in stunt design beginning with the 100th Academy Awards in 2028. “Stunts are essential to every genre of film and rooted deep in our industry’s history,” says filmmaker and stunt performer David Leitch, who led the initiative. The Academy also announced that members are now required to watch all nominated films in each category to participate in the final round of Oscar voting, though it's currently unclear how such a measure will be enforced.Director Ryan Coogler negotiated a rights-reversion agreement with Warner Bros. for Sinners (2025) under which he becomes the owner of his film 25 years after its release.

Actor Pedro Pascal is arguably set to have the biggest year of his career in 2025. He recently returned to the role of Joel Miller with the second season of the critically acclaimed series The Last of Us. Meanwhile, Pascal will also star in the role of Reed Richards, also known as Mr. Fantastic, in the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot set to release later this year.

Despite the multiple high-profile projects under his belt, Pascal has been in the headlines for his personal life. According to some sources, Pascal is hitting it off with one of the most popular actresses in Hollywood. However, the rumored pair is keen on keeping things casual. Here is everything you need to know about Pascal’s alleged involvement with a Hollywood A-lister.

The Last of Us star Pedro Pascal is reportedly romancing Jennifer Aniston

Pedro Pascal has been in the news thanks to the return...

The first episode of season two of The Last of Us was mostly faithful to the second game. While episode 2, “Through the Valley,” has one storyline that is very different from the game, it also adapts one of the most divisive moments in The Last of Us Part II.

The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 2 — “Through the Valley” — Spoiler Recap

The episode opens with Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) walking through the hospital in Salt Lake. She sees a vision of herself that warns her not to open a door. “He’s dead,” she says. “Don’t go in there, his brains are on the floor.”

Abby wakes up in the lodge overlooking Jackson. The group talks of a plan to raid the city to find Joel, not having realized that the settlement was so large. Abby suggests that they ambush a patrol and scare them into giving up Joel’s location.

There are a lot of movies leaving Netflix in May of 2025, but thankfully, only 1 TV series right now!

The streamer released their list of all the titles that are being expired, and it’s unfortunately lengthy in the month of May.

Some fan favorite romantic movies and rom-coms like Notting Hill, Definitely, Maybe, and Maid in Manhattan are all leaving, along with some Oscar faves like Apollo 13 and Erin Brockovich.

In addition, numerous Spider-Man movies are being taken away as well!

Finally, only 1 TV show will be leaving. That show is all 6 seasons of Madam Secretary, which starred Téa Leoni in the lead role.

We’re compiled the full list of titles here for you to see.

Keep reading to find out more…

Scroll down to see what is expiring from Netflix soon…

Leaving 5/1/25

About Time

Annie

Apollo 13

Blade Runner: The Final Cut

Dallas Buyers Club

Definitely, Maybe...

Bella Ramsey is no stranger to being in the spotlight, but their journey to embody Ellie in The Last of Us Season 2 is truly remarkable. At just 21 years old, Ramsey has taken on one of the toughest roles in television, channeling their own experiences with anxiety and an autism diagnosis into a performance that balances fierce intensity with deep vulnerability.

As Season 2 unfolds, Ramsey’s growth mirrors Ellie’s, demonstrating that they’re not just playing a character; they are truly living her story. From championing a sustainable environment, even on the challenging set of The Last of Us, to working on Ellie’s physical transformation, Ramsay showed a tremendous arc as an actor.

The Last of Us star Bella Ramsay on getting “fixated” on Ellie’s look Bella Ramsay and Pedro Pascal in The Last of Us Season 2/ Credits: HBO

Bella Ramsey’s path to stardom hasn’t been without its challenges.

Why Does Abby Want Joel Dead In The Last of Us Season 2?(Photo Credit –Facebook)

When Abby (played by Kaitlyn Dever) first rolls into The Last of Us season 2, episode 1, “Future Days,” she wastes no time announcing her mission: kill Joel (Pedro Pascal). But why? The show doesn’t exactly spell it out initially, leaving us hanging and wondering what’s driving her. Sure, we know Joel has a bloody past, especially after the events of the season 1 finale, where he goes full-on Rambo on the Fireflies in Salt Lake City.

But Abby’s rage runs deeper than just a casual grudge. Her pursuit isn’t just about the Fireflies she’s lost; a personal vendetta lurks beneath the surface. While her friends discuss moving on and finding a new settlement, Abby has tunnel vision. She is dead set on finding Joel, and the stakes? Oh, they’re personal. So,...

Exclusive: L.A.-based AI content production company Arcana Labs has unveiled $5.5M in funding and announced the launch of AI production studio, Arcana AI.

The round was led by Semcap AI, the AI financing arm of Pennsylvania-based growth equity platform Semcap, and co-CIOs Walter Buckley and Cyrus Vandrevala.

Launched in 2023, Arcana Labs is headed by Millennium Media President Jonathan Yunger, as a co-founder and CEO, and gathers a team of engineers and Hollywood filmmakers.

Its Arcana AI platform, which enables artists to generate images and video clips, recently hit the headlines after its tools were used to create a video depicting the Gaza Strip as an upmarket beach resort, which was then shared by President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform.

The Israeli creators condemned Trump’s use of the video without any context, saying they had created it in a satirical response to his suggestion that the U.

Sylvester Stallone emerged as a bodybuilding icon in the 1980s, thanks to his performances in franchises like Rocky and Rambo. As a result, it was a real treat for fans when Stallone united with another icon of the 80s in former superstar wrestler Hulk Hogan.

Stallone and Hogan shared screentime in 1982’s Rocky III, in which the latter appeared in a small role. The duo squared off in an exhibition bout in the movie, which resulted in Stallone having to lift Hogan before power-slamming the experienced wrestler.

Former WWE wrestler Hulk Hogan (Credit: WWE.com).

During a podcast, Hogan reflected on working with Stallone and had nothing but praise for the actor. Hogan revealed that Stallone lifted him while filming their fight scene despite the wrestler weighing 360 lbs. Here is what Hogan had to say about working with Stallone.

Hulk Hogan recalled Sylvester Stallone lifting him for Rocky III

Hulk Hogan...

While Sylvester Stallone’s stature on the big screen was largely defined by his larger-than-life depictions of Rocky and Rambo, he has done an immaculate job of highlighting one overlooked attribute in his arsenal with Tulsa King. Although the show has its fair share of issues and isn’t exactly one of the most revered pieces of media that Stallone has been part of, his portrayal of Dwight is undoubtedly one of Stallone’s best, in terms of sheer acting.

Tulsa King | Credit: Paramount Plus

Interestingly, stepping out of his comfort zone wasn’t a huge deal for the Rocky star, as according to Stallone, his nuanced take on the mob boss was comparatively easier than his action endeavors, especially Rambo.

Playing Dwight was no big deal for Sylvester Stallone

Given Stallone’s feats in the action landscape, one would assume a mob boss who doesn’t fit the stereotypical...

If you think sequels are bad now, you should have seen them a couple decades ago. Today, franchises are so ubiquitous that the studios take time to get them as right as possible, securing the original stars and trying to write stories that equal their predecessors. At the dawn of the blockbuster era, however, sequels were seen as cheap cash cows to be rushed out as quickly as possible while people still remembered the original. Nowadays, we know that nostalgia can overcome most of that and keep some properties around forever.

If you're wondering why your least favorite "Star Wars, "Star Trek," or "Superman" isn't on this list, it's simple: when you have an actor associated with an iconic character who continues to commit to the role, it elevates even "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace." It's hard to hate a movie that has Christopher Reeve in the tights, or Leonard Nimoy in pointy ears,...

In addition to his extensive feature career, Canadian-Bulgarian filmmaker Ted Kotcheff worked on NBC’s venerable crime drama Law & Order’ Svu for its first 13 seasons as a producing director. He started as a co-executive producer, earning a quick promotion to executive producer at the start of Season 2.

Following Kotcheff’s death at the age of 94, the he was remembered by former Svu star Chris Meloni.

“Ted Kotcheff was producing director on Svu during my time there,” Meloni wrote on Instagram Saturday. “I called him the Blustery Bulgarian. I loved that man. He was a master director- check his bio- and great company. To me his masterpiece was Wake In Fright.”

Probably best known for directing the first Rambo movie, First Blood, Weekend at Bernie’s and Fun with Dick and Jane, Kotcheff also helmed and co-wrote the Australia-set 1971 thriller Wake in Fright, starring Gary Bond and Donald Pleasence, which premiered...

First Blood set a benchmark for the action genre with its gritty sequences and compelling narrative. One combat veteran also confirmed that the jungle warfare depicted in the film was 100% accurate.

First Blood stands as one of cinema's best war dramas, it broke the mold of the blockbuster action flick. Per Insider, Special Ops Expert Bob Keller also explained what made the film unique: it's a very realistic depiction of jungle warfare, especially the brutal and sneaky kills. Keller served in the US Army Special Forces and was a Delta Force Operator, so he knows what he's talking about. "All this stuff would be 100% legit," he asserted. "Like as an Sf guy, being in the woods, like you'll be trained on booby traps, and all these tactics."

Keller aspired to be like Rambo growing up. "What kid didn't? Rambo First Blood is going off of a, like he's an Sf guy from Vietnam,...

First Blood, better known now as Rambo: First Blood, was the movie that proved Sylvester Stallone had a lot to offer Hollywood – as if his first outing as Rocky Balboa wasn’t enough. While both of Stallone’s franchises went on to see some ups and downs, the legacy of his early movies lives on in many ways. According to one Special Ops expert, First Blood is not just a great movie, but it is pretty accurate in terms of its depiction of the broken and troubled John Rambo.

Released in 1982, First Blood was an instant hit, but it was also a much quieter and more grounded movie than later films in the Rambo franchise became. Real life former Special Ops member Bob Kellar recently shared his thoughts on the movie with Insider, revealing that not only was he inspired by the movie as a child, but that Rambo...

Samuel L. Jackson is to star in the western ‘Man of War’ for Paramount Pictures.The 76-year-old will portray a recently retired and highly respected general who returns to his rural Georgia hometown following the death of his wife. Upon his arrival, he finds the community plagued by corruption, gentrification, and deep-rooted racism.Drawing on his military experience and tactical skills, he launches a fierce battle against the powerful billionaire exploiting the town and its people.‘Man of War’ is to be helmed and produced by ‘Ride Along’ director Tim Story, who will be working from a script written by Sheldon Turner.Meanwhile, Turner and Jennifer Klein will be producing ‘Man of War’ under their 100 per cent Productions banner alongside the director’s The Story Company - with the filmmaker’s wife Vicky Story to serve as executive producer.In recent years, Jackson has become known for playing S.H.

More than 30 years after embarking on his Hollywood stunt career, Chad Stahelski is praising the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for finally recognizing the field.

Following AMPAS’ announcement Thursday that Achievement in Stunt Design will become a new category at the 100th Oscars, the John Wick director told Deadline how much he appreciates the Academy “for really putting in the time” with the decision of how best to honor the stunt community.

“None of us [in the industry] would be here if it wasn’t for the last 100 years of stunt people,” noted Stahelski over the phone while overseeing a color-correcting session on Ballerina, which he is producing. “We’ve come a long way because a lot of other people have sacrificed a lot. So, it’s pretty cool to be here and be at the apex of an entire century of performers and coordinators and action directors. And it’s...

In 2006, Sylvester Stallone did what he does best: rise from the ashes and re-establish himself as a star, this time with "Rocky Balboa." The mournful, reflective entry in Sly's long-running franchise was surprisingly moving and introduced a whole new generation to Stallone's acting prowess and "keep pushing forward" ethos. That's ostensibly the mantra of the Italian Stallion himself, but it also stands as a pretty good description of the actor's own career.

While you might have expected the "Rambo" star to use this revitalization of his acting career to provide fans with similar showcases of his dramatic abilities, Sly instead began churning out a string of generic direct-to-home-media actioners and doubling down on his reputation as one of the biggest '80s action stars by assembling an all-star team of similar actors with the "Expendables" films. He also found time for a bizarre cameo in a Bollywood film that...

“They want crap,” Carolco executive Peter Hoffman once told the Los Angeles Times, “Every time people tell you they don’t, it’s bull. They want crap.” Hoffman was reflecting on the lackluster audience response to the Oscar-nominated Music Box (1989), while sci-fi action blockbusters such as Total Recall (1990) were filling coffers like mad.

Long before independent production houses like Skydance, A24, and Blumhouse were making waves alongside the major studios, Carolco made its name in Hollywood as a backer of lavish action films that included the Rambo series, Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) and Cliffhanger (1993). Carolco’s rise and fall was as epic as one of their blockbuster action films.

It was known as “The Carolco Premium.” While rival indies TriStar and Orion had their share of respectable projects, Carolco led a rise of independent studios by creating and maintaining a blockbuster brand for making the most extravagant actions films of the era.

John Rambo, as portrayed by actor Sylvester Stallone, is a controversial character. When he first appeared in 1982's "First Blood," an adaptation of David Morrell's 1972 novel of the same name, the character was fairly close to how he appeared in the book: a Vietnam War veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder who is mistreated by his fellow countrymen. That all changed with 1985's "Rambo: First Blood Part II," a movie wherein Rambo, through the act of being deployed back into Vietnam to rescue prisoners of war, symbolically gets to "win" the war that America lost. From there, the rest of the franchise saw Rambo being called upon for assistance by other underdogs involved in impossible or hard-odds conflicts around the world, turning him into a sort of morally-motivated mercenary. While the character eventually stopped resembling the resentful, broken soldier of Morrell's book as he became stronger and more traditionally heroic,...

Every actor dreams of winning the most coveted award of all — the Academy Award — for their work. But there's one award they dread: the Golden Raspberry Awards, a.k.a. the Razzies. Some see it as unnecessarily cruel and mean-spirited, while others view it as a playful jab at a self-aggrandizing industry that sometimes deserves to be knocked down a peg, especially when the work isn't very well-made. Founded by UCLA film graduates John J.B. Wilson and Mo Murphy, the award inspires filmmakers and actors to "own their bad" (via the Razzies' official website)

But there's only one actor with the most Razzie nominations—12 wins and 40 nominations in all—and that (dis)honor belongs to Sylvester Stallone. Sylvester Stallone has "won" in many categories, including Worst Actor for "Rhinestone," "Rocky III," "Rambo: First Blood Part II," and "Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot"; Worst Supporting Actor for "Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over...

Sometimes you should take your friend’s advice.

In a Vanity Fair story honoring Bruce Willis’ 70th birthday, Samuel L. Jackson reflected on the advice his Die Hard With a Vengeance co-star Willis gave him while they were shooting the film in the ’90s.

“He told me, ‘Hopefully you’ll be able to find a character that, when you make bad movies and they don’t make any money, you can always go back to this character everybody loves,'” Jackson remembers. “He said, ‘Arnold’s got Terminator. Sylvester’s got Rocky, Rambo. I’ve got John McClane.’”

Jackson recalled thinking “Oh, Ok,” at the time, and it wasn’t until later when he landed a role in the MCU that he understood. “It didn’t occur to me until I got that Nick Fury role — and I had a nine-picture deal to be Nick Fury — that, oh, I’m doing what Bruce said.

In the '80s and '90s, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger were engaged in an ongoing battle to become the number one action star in America. On the one hand you had Stallone, who, after catapulting himself to stardom with 1976's "Rocky," maintained his standing as an A-lister by becoming the archetypal action hero in the "Rambo" saga. That franchise began in 1982 with a somewhat grounded character study of a Vietnam vet haunted by his experiences overseas before transmogrifying into the epitome of the '80s macho-fests we now associate with the decade. Meanwhile, despite thinking James Cameron's "Terminator" script had no potential, Schwarzenegger agreed to star in the 1984 low-budget sci-fi slasher, immediately becoming a star as a result. He then fronted some of the most beloved action movies of the '80s and '90s, and all the while he and Sly were taking some pretty overt jabs at one another.

Over the course of his acting career, Sylvester Stallonehas not only become a household name himself, but so have his iconic characters. From his breakout role as the titular boxer in the sports drama Rocky back in 1976 to his more recent hits in the mercenary actioner series The Expendables, audiences flock to theaters to watch the onscreen heroes' death-defying exploits again and again. But there was one famous role that not only spurred a five-movie franchise, but also cemented Stallone as an action star for nearly 50 years: John Rambo in Ted Kotcheff's 1982 warfare-thriller First Blood.

The film was based on David Morrell's novel of the same name, and follows the heart-wrenching story of John Rambo, a troubled Vietnam War veteran who must fight to survive a brutal manhunt by local police and military members after trying to get reintegrated into civilian life. Despite Morrell only writing one book about John Rambo,...

This post contains spoilers for "Reacher" season 3 episode 6.

Jack Reacher doesn't need to prove himself as a hero at this point. Across 29 books and what is now almost three seasons of Prime Video's "Reacher" series, the character has proven he is every bit the archetypal American action hero, dispatching armies of enemies with ease and weathering the kind of beatings that would snuff out lesser heroes. He's an itinerant former military policeman with an unwavering commitment to justice and chivalry who is always one step ahead of those that dare to cross him. Fans know the formula and Reacher delivers, time and time again.

But there's no doubt this particular American hero is indebted to those that came before him. While he clearly shares a lot in common with other contemporary characters, such as the similarly unstoppable John Wick, he is also quite clearly the modern equivalent of the muscle-bound...

Rarely has a decade been as closely tied to a film genre in pop culture as the 1980s are to ridiculous action movies. The era of Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and others of their stripe certainly blend well into the '90s, but the '80s is where the big, beefy, sweaty, machine-gun-toting hero became a staple of cinema. Of course, as with any genre, there were better and worse attempts at hitting the mark with this particular brand of action film. Titles like "The Terminator" and "First Blood" gave credibility to their respective muscular stars, eschewing the camp and absurdity for high-concept sci-fi and gritty political character drama, respectively. But then there were the less artistically sophisticated films -- features like Schwarzenegger's "Commando" and Stallone's "Cobra," which came out back-to-back in 1985 and 1986.

"Cobra," specifically, has become something of a cult classic, in large part because of its cartoonish protagonist.

Stallone’s On-Set Injury (Photo Credit – Facebook)

Sylvester Stallone never made an Expendables movie without shedding some blood. But Expendables 3 pushed him to his limit.

“I grade the quality of a film by the intensity of the injuries,” he once joked. “When I shot ‘Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot,’ I never got hurt. Through ‘Rambo‘ and ‘The Expendables,’ I break my neck and my spine and I dislocate both shoulders,” he once joked in an interview with Mirror.

By that standard, the 2014 sequel should have been an instant classic. The action star suffered a brutal fall during filming, leaving him with a permanent battle scar. “I had some metal put in there,” he admitted during the same interview. “So if you hear any squeaking, it’s not my shoes but my back. But I’m getting better.”

Trending Novocaine Early Reactions Out: Jack Quaid’s Action Thriller Gets...

By 1993, Sylvester Stallone's career was in a precarious place. The "Rocky" and "Rambo" star hadn't yet reached the stage where he could be described as washed up — a point he arguably reached by the early 2000s before reviving his career with the excellent "Rocky Balboa." But the early '90s were a tricky time for Stallone. His last "Rambo" movie, 1988's "Rambo III" had failed to make as much as its predecessor and his last "Rocky" movie, 1990's "Rocky V" was a historic low point for the franchise that originally made Sly a star. Once Arnold Schwarzenegger tricked Stallone into starring in the 1992 flop "Stop! Or my Mom will Shoot," the man's career was in serious jeopardy.

In 1993, however, Stallone had somewhat of a mini comeback, starting with mountain climbing action thriller "Cliffhanger," which was not only a commercial success but managed to impress enough critics that it seemed...

Although long-running franchises have become a seemingly permanent part of our current cinematic landscape, there's an argument to be made that even the most consistently high-quality series are subject to diminishing returns. The question of whether a sequel can match or surpass an original is still a topic of debate, and it's one that reaches all the way back to an era when sequels were hardly as common as they are now. While the debate makes sense on the surface — after all, on paper, how can any sequel be as fresh and unique as an original? — it's perhaps based on the wrong question. Maybe, despite all the constant franchise rankings and the like, we shouldn't be asking whether a sequel surpasses its predecessor, but rather what new depths and richness are brought to the material that enhances the franchise as a whole.

It's through that lens that I view 1975's "French Connection II,...

Donald Trump’s first joint address to Congress of his second term set a record for longest address in modern history on Tuesday. So on Wednesday night, Seth Meyers recommended some movies that would fill that same amount of time.

Usually, the NBC host encourages viewers to remember that he hosts a comedy show, so no one should be getting their news solely from him. But after Trump’s speech, Meyers kicked off his “A Closer Look” segment by walking that back indefinitely.

“All I can say is, from now on, you can get your news from me. Don’t put yourself through this s–t anymore,” he said. “When there’s a big old, dumb speech like this, instead of watching, just do other things. Reconnect with family, watch ‘Severance’ or just go to bed early and dream sweet dreams about simpler times when you didn’t need to...

While most people would consider bringing a gun to a wedding to be a bad idea, for Beyond the Gates’ Dani, it’s all in a day’s work. Getting dumped by her husband for a younger woman was pretty bad, but when Bill and Hayley held their wedding at the Fairmont Crest Country Club, that felt like a gut punch to Dani and her family. So, she whipped out a gun during the ceremony and demanded an apology from Hayley, naturally. Amidst all the twists and turns, Karla Mosley revealed her take on Dani and her strong reactions.

She Doesn’t Simmer Down

Michael Fairman TV spoke with some of Btg’s key actresses, including Mosley, who revealed that Dani would be ratcheting the violence down a bit. “She doesn’t go turn it to Rambo and enlist in the army or something,” she stated, adding, “That part does simmer down,...

When director Ted Kotcheff introduced moviegoers to the character of John Rambo in the 1982 action classic "First Blood," Rambo was recognizably human, a tragic figure who was trained to be an elite killing machine in a pointless war that could not be won in a conventional manner. Home from Vietnam for less than a decade, he's found it difficult to reintegrate himself into a society that wants to forget everything for which he risked his life. This is fine by Rambo. He just wants to reconnect with old war buddies and find a safe harbor where he can hopefully get his bearings back. He's not looking for a fight. That part of his life is over -- until a sadistic, power-tripping small-town sheriff decides to mess with Rambo because he can.

Though Rambo is portrayed as an exceptionally lethal man who can outwit a law enforcement hunting party while surviving a series of perilous spills,...

After a dismal 1990s that greatly diminished his stature as one of the most bankable movie stars in Hollywood, Sylvester Stallone kicked off the 2000s with a pair of box office disappointments in "Get Carter" and "Driven." Though the latter reunited him with his "Cliffhanger" director Renny Harlin, moviegoers had very little interest in a film about Cart racing. With his two most valuable franchises, "Rocky" and "Rambo," mothballed due to lack of commercial interest, his once reliable international popularity on the wane, and a finished movie ("D-Tox") gathering dust on the shelf due to horrid test screening scores, Stallone had to humble himself and make a movie that didn't lose tens of millions of dollars for its investors. This meant working small and not demanding a bank-breaking payday.

Stallone was lost, as you can tell from one look at the movies he made around this time. The direct-to-video flop "Avenging Angelo,...

Sylvester Stallone has starred in some great movies, but like any Hollywood mainstay, he's also been in a few stinkers. One time, Arnold Schwarzenegger actually trolled Stallone into starring in a major flop, so it's fair to say that the "Rocky" star has made some questionable career choices. With that in mind, one would think that he'd jump at the chance to work with an acclaimed director like Quentin Tarantino, whose movies often result in their stars winning awards. However, the "Rambo" veteran hasn't been interested in teaming up with the filmmaker when roles have been offered to him in the past.

While speaking to McClean's in 2012, Stallone revealed that he turned down the roles of Louis Gara and "Stuntman" Mike McKay in "Jackie Brown" and "Death Proof," respectively. He also noted that the latter project didn't sit right with him at the time, seeing as he didn't want...

A story born from the love of man and dog struck gold with the neo-noir action thrillerJohn Wickin 2014. Growing into a franchise, it's enjoyed for its expertly executed fight sequences, the compelling performance of a retired assassin seeking vengeance by Keanu Reeves, and the intricate world-building, featuring a secret society of assassins known as the High Table. What began as a simple tale of grief and revenge evolved into one of Hollywood's most stylish action franchises.

John Wick was created by screenwriter and producer Derek Kolstad, whose love for the work is well-documented. Although he's now best known for Wick, just before it exploded, he linked up with the mighty and beloved 'tough guy' star, Dolph Lundgren, for not one but two action films. Kolstad wrote 2012's One in the Chamber, directed by William Kaufman, and 2013's The Package, directed by Jesse V. Johnson, which are currently streaming for free.

Quick LinksKevin Costner Was Originally Attached to Work on TombstoneThe Kevin Costner’s Wyatt Earp Was a Box Office BombKevin Costner Continues to Invest in Western Epics

Long after 1957's Gunfight at the O.K. Corral starring Burt Lancaster and Kurt Russell premiered, one of the most famous incidents of the American West once again graced the silver screen in the form of Tombstone (1993). With an all-star 1990s cast, the film has since gone on to be considered a hallmark of the Western genre. And its hold on audiences remains strong to this day. Surprisingly, one of the most notable Western actors missing from its roster of luminaries was Kevin Costner. But this was not always the case for Tombstone.

Costner had once been attached to act in the project, but opted out when he had different goals for the picture. He would go on to release his own project the following year,...

Given the sad news that Gene Hackman, the most legendary of all actors, has passed away, tributes will (appropriately) be coming in non-stop. After all, he was the greatest of the greats, and the fact that he retired relatively early (back in 2004) adds to his mystique, as he went out at the top of his game. Given his rich legacy of work, everyone will no doubt be offering tributes to his best movies, like Unforgiven, The French Connection, The Royal Tenenbaums, and many more. Here at JoBlo, we’re gonna do something a little different and pay tribute to the star by singling out some of his lesser-seen films, hoping that maybe fans of his find something on this list they haven’t seen before and can enjoy for the first time!

The French Connection II:

While everyone will (rightly) be raving about William Friedkin’s The French Connection and...

In the Top 10 on Netflix recently was the 2008 action flick calledRambo. Sometimes called Rambo IV, Rambo: The Fight Continues, or simply John Rambo, the film was the first sequel to the franchise in 20 years, as the title character (played masterfully by Sylvester Stallone) is thrust back into action when a group of Christian missionaries in Burma are kidnapped by a military group. The film itself is incredibly engaging, showing Rambo as a man aimlessly wandering the world in search of peace, only to find himself constantly at war. Of course, even more impressive is that the praises of Rambo were sung by none other than David Morrell, the author of the original First Blood novel, on which the whole franchise is based.

Sylvester Stallone has had a diverse career which includes acting, writing, producing, and directing. With a series of hit roles, he has two career-defining roles: Rambo and Rocky.

Both roles have spawned successful franchises that have added new installments decades after its first installment. The Rambo franchise kicked off in 1982 with First Blood, and the last film was released in 2019, Rambo: Last Blood, which has also become a hit on Netflix,Tudum reports. For the week between Feb. 10 and 16, Rambo: Last Blood debuted in the Top 10 charts in the U.S. on the sixth spot.

RelatedSylvester Stallone Shares The Godfather Reboot Concept Art of Himself as Don Corleone

Fans react after Sylvester Stallone shares an image of himself in a Godfather reboot, leading to speculation about the possibility.

Netflix doesn't reveal viewership numbers for territory-specific titles, but it beat other films like the French rom-com Honeymoon Crasher, the dark comedy The Menu,...