Sylvester Stallone Reflects on Decades-Long Feud with Arnold Schwarzenegger
Stallone details the intense rivalry that defined the 1980s action movie era.
1Roots of the Rivalry
Sylvester Stallone, 80, recently discussed his long-standing feud with Arnold Schwarzenegger, 79, on the podcast The Rest Is Entertainment. The conflict began as both actors vied for supremacy in the action genre. Stallone noted that their mutual antagonism was immediate, fueled by a desire to be the definitive leader in Hollywood.
2Escalation Through Confrontation
The tension between the two stars manifested in physical confrontations, including an incident where Stallone threw a bowl of flowers at Schwarzenegger during an encounter. Stallone described the atmosphere as highly contentious, noting that their off-screen animosity pushed them to constantly outperform each other with bigger stunts and higher body counts.
3Box Office Competition
Stallone and Schwarzenegger engaged in a fierce battle for box office dominance throughout the 1980s. Films like Rambo and Commando served as the battlegrounds for their rivalry. Stallone admitted that the anger they felt toward one another served as a creative catalyst, forcing them to elevate their work in every subsequent project.
4Professional Tensions at Planet Hollywood
Their competitive nature was so intense that it impacted their business ventures. When they joined other celebrities to launch the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain in 1991, they refused to share the same stage for promotional events. This highlights how deeply their personal rivalry permeated even their non-acting professional collaborations during that era.
5Reconciliation Through Politics
The feud finally ended two decades later when Schwarzenegger entered politics. After Schwarzenegger won the race for Governor of California in 2003, the two met at a cigar shop. They buried the hatchet, shared a cigar, and transitioned from bitter rivals to friends, acknowledging that they were no longer competing for movie roles.
6Legacy of the Rivalry
Stallone believes their specific type of rivalry is unlikely to be repeated in modern cinema. He noted that they were two actors in the same genre fighting for dominance both on and off-screen. While they remain competitive by nature, Stallone clarified that the financial and professional animosity of the past is gone.
7Physical Toll of Stunts
Beyond his rivalry, Stallone recently addressed the physical consequences of his long career while promoting Tulsa King. He revealed that performing his own stunts, particularly during the 2010 film The Expendables, resulted in severe injuries. He has undergone nine back operations and three neck fusions, leaving him with lasting damage to his shoulders.
8Reflections on Career Choices
Stallone expressed regret regarding his past approach to action filmmaking and stunt work. He admitted that he feels like an idiot for the physical risks he took throughout his career. Despite his pride in his filmography, he acknowledged that the brutal toll on his body was not worth the long-term health consequences.