One of popular culture’s most instantly recognizable movie stars,Sylvester Stallonehas carved out a legacy for himself as a cinematic action icon. The actor’s work on 1976’sRocky, which he wrote the screenplay for and starred in, saw the film earn ten Academy Award nominations; the legendary boxing drama would go on to win three, including Best Picture. Introducing him to a global audience and spawning a wildly successful franchise,Rockypoured the foundations for a storied career that would establish"Sly"as a Hollywood mainstay for years to come.
Notorious for hisintense rivalry with fellow genre icon Arnold Schwarzenegger,Stallone has featured in some of the greatest action franchises of all time and is one of only two actors in history to star in a top-ranking box office film across six consecutive decades. Along the way, the American actor has breathed life into a number of iconic characters that audiences will never forget.From smooth-talking mercenaries to man-eating human-shark hybrids, Stallone’s extensive filmography is littered with memorable and compelling characters who form an unforgettable impression on their viewers in one way or another.
Judge Dredd
Cast
Judge Dredd is a 1995 sci-fi action film based on the comic character of the same name. Set in a distant dystopian future, humanity has elected “Judges,” to deal out justice, who act as “judge, jury, and executioner” as they tend to the lawless world of Mega-City One. But when Judge Dredd is framed for murder by his own brother, Dredd will strike back against him to reestablish the rule of Law and bring him to justice.
Widely regarded as one of Sylvester Stallone’s worst films, 1995’sJudge Dreddwas torn apart by critics with the ferocity of a group of piranhas descending on a bloody carcass. However, while the movie may have been near universally lambasted in contrast to theacclaimed 2012 remake, Stallone remains inextricably linked with the role, meaning that there’s a controversial argument to be made thatthe eponymous character is actually one of Stallone’s most memorable bows.
Is Dredd A Remake Of Judge Dredd? Is It Connected To Stallone’s Movie?
Dredd has become popular over a decade after it bombed at the box office, but its place in the Judge Dredd movie franchise isn’t totally clear.
A ruthless peacekeeper who acts as judge, jury, and executioner against the backdrop of the dystopian wasteland that was once Earth, Stallone’s menacing snarl and penchant for endlessly cheesy dialogue makes him the perfect dramatic vessel to play the merciless judge. A preeminent entry in the"so bad that they’re actually amazing"performances cinematic catalog, Stallone’s disastrous turn as Dredd unintentionally resulted in one of his most iconic characters.
Cobra
In Cobra, a genius mathematician turns vigilante and uses his intellect to execute intricate crimes while police attempt to apprehend him. As the story progresses, layers of mystery unravel, leading to a gripping narrative filled with suspense and intellectual duels.
A fan-favorite action flick from George P. Cosmatos, 1986’sCobrareceived mostly negative reviews upon release but has subsequently gone on to attain cult classic status. Stepping into the boots of the titular individual, Marion “Cobra” Cobretti, Stallone’s performance inCobrastands as one of his lesser known roles, a remarkable state of affairs given that Cobretti is one of his more compelling characters.
Cobrais loosely based onA Running Duck, a 1974 novel by Paula Gosling.
A member of the elite LAPD"Zombie Squad"tasked with bringing in society’s most dangerous criminals, Stallone’s collateral-damage conscious character is a far cry from some of the cinematic wrecking balls he has played in the past, adding new depth to one of his numerous action heroes. A character close to the actor’s heart, Stallone has spoken effusively ofCobra’spotential as a streaming series, underlining Cobretti’s credentials as one of his best fictional charges.
Tulsa King
Tulsa King follows New York mafia capo Dwight “The General” Manfredi, who, after 25 years in prison, is exiled to Tulsa, Oklahoma, by his boss. Faced with the possibility of betrayal, he assembles a crew of unlikely characters to establish a criminal empire in unfamiliar territory.
Stallone’s first leading role in a television series, the actor’s lauded work as Dwight Manfredi on the crime comedy-dramaTulsa Kingis unsurprisingly overshadowed by his numerous movie roles. A capo in the Invernizzi crime family, the man known as"The General"is sent to Tulsa after a 25-year stretch in prison to set up a new criminal network. The series has earned widely positive reviews for the manner in which it depicts Dwight’s efforts to establish connections and dominance over the area.
79%
Season Two
100%
Proving that an old dog can still learn new tricks, Stallone’s move into television has proved to be an inspired one. Carrying theTaylor Sheridan showthrough his compelling performance as Manfredi, the actor’s work has been lauded by critics as the main highlight ofTulsa King. Stallone’s trademark swagger and inimitable screen presence combine to produce one of his best characters, one that likely makes many fans wish that he had moved into television sooner.
Tango & Cash
Two rival Los Angeles cops are forced to team up when a drug lord implicates them in a crime they didn’t commit. They end up in jail and their only option is to escape to bring the real culprit to justice.
A buddy cop action comedy featuring the actor alongside Kurt Russell as the eponymous pair, 1989’sTango & Cashis one ofSylvester Stallone’s most underrated movies. Charged with bringing Lieutenant Raymond “Ray” Tango to life, Stallone shines as the more procedural member of the duo, with his slick and by-the-book police officer sharply juxtaposed against Russell’s disheveled cowboy cop.
Released on December 12th, 1989,Tango & Cashwas one of the final American movies of the 1980s.
However, despite their vastly differing appearances and styles, it’s the superb chemistry between the titular individuals that renders Tango one of Stallone’s most unforgettable characters. The finest cop in West Los Angeles, the immaculately dressed Raymond is just as proficient with his intellect as he is with his fists.Tango’s blend of brains and brawn serves to further underline the character’s reputation as an indispensable action hero from Stallone’s filmography,in spite of a litany of brutal reviews for the wider film.
Cliffhanger
Cliffhanger, directed by Renny Harlin, follows former ranger Gabe Walker as he confronts his past on a treacherous peak. Initially returning to aid stranded climbers, Walker discovers they are hijackers searching for lost money, complicating an already perilous rescue mission.
Landing to positive reviews and earning an impressive return at the box office, Renny Harlin’sCliffhangeris viewed as one ofStallone’s finest movies from the 1990s. On this occasion,“Sly"plays Gabriel"Gabe"Walker, an individual who has consistently been leaving viewers with sweaty palms for more than thirty years. A ferociously talented mountain climber, Gabe finds himself caught up in the daring heist of a U.S. Treasury aircraft as it navigates the Rocky Mountains.
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Cliffhanger 2, the long-awaited follow-up to the Sylvester Stallone ’90s classic, has received a filming start window, and it’s pretty soon.
Walker’s hair-raising antics and formidable abilities have cemented the climber’s reputation as one of Stallone’s most iconic characters. Haunted by the loss of a friend during his days working as a mountain rescue ranger, Walker’s traumatic backstory allows Stallone a greater opportunity to flex his dramatic muscles than his action roles typically afford him. It’s one that he seizes with both hands in thoroughly memorable fashion, underlining Walker’s standing as one of his better roles.
Demolition Man
In the 1993 action movie Demolition Man, Sylvester Stallone stars as time-displaced police officer John Spartan, who struggles to adapt to the year 2032 after being cryogenically frozen for messing up a job. However, his old-school skills come in handy for innocent cop Lenina Huxley (Sandra Bullock) and the futuristic city of San Angeles when the criminal Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes) is thawed and the complacent authorities don’t know how to react.
Pitting Stallone against action genre mainstay Wesley Snipes, 1993’s sci-fi action entryDemolition Mansaw the debut of one of the actor’s most memorable characters in John Spartan. An LAPD sergeant and the foil to Snipes' psychopathic Simon Phoenix, Spartan is cryogenically frozen alongside his foe after a botched hostage rescue attempt. However, after Phoenix makes his escape, Spartan is awoken nearly half a century later and tasked with tracking down the nefarious criminal.
Demolition Mangrossed nearly $160 million at the box office worldwide.
The title of Marco Brambilla’s feature film debut is derived from Spartan’s nickname, bestowed upon Stallone’s charge courtesy of the trail of wreckage he typically leaves in his wake. Collateral damage and rampant destruction given human form,Spartan is about as subtle and refined as a brick through a plate glass windowbut still makes for invariably unforgettable and entertaining viewing more than thirty years later.
The Suicide Squad
The Suicide Squad: Released in 2021, The Suicide Squad features supervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, and Peacemaker, among others, as they join Task Force X. The team embarks on a mission on the enemy-held island of Corto Maltese under the direction of Amanda Waller in this entry of the DC Extended Universe.
King Shark is decidedly not Stallone’s most nuanced character, but he’s easily one of his most unforgettable. Widely regarded as the consensus fan favorite character from 2021’sThe Suicide Squad,King Shark is a man-eating human-shark hybridwho forms part of the movie’s titular ensemble. One of Stallone’s strongest and most formidable characters in terms of sheer physicality, King Shark’s memorability is compounded through his ability to rip his foes in half with his bare hands.
26%
The Suicide Squad(2021)
90%
Providing a laundry list of laugh-out-loud moments throughout the film,King Shark primarily serves asThe Suicide Squad’smain source of comic relief.However, James Gunn’s inspired choice to explore the creature’s loneliness throughout the film adds new layers to a character who is little more than a caricature on paper, culminating in one of Stallone’s most memorable onscreen charges.
3Barney Ross
The Expendables Franchise
The charismatic leader of the franchise’s titular gang of elite mercenaries,The Expendables’Barney Ross is arguably Stallone’s most memorable modern role. Possessing sharpshooting abilities that border on the preternatural, the cigar chewing soldier is a worthy leader for a group that includes action superstars in the vein of Jason Statham, Jet Li, and Dolph Lundgren, to name but a few.
…Ross' litany of instantly quotable one-liners have complemented his character’s swashbuckling style to rubber-stamp his status as one of Stallone’s coolest action characters.
From his lucky ring down to his old-style Single Action Army revolver,Ross' litany of instantly quotable one-liners have complemented his character’s swashbuckling style to rubber-stamp his status as one of Stallone’s coolest action characters.Garnering mixed to negative reviews throughout their run,The Expendablesmovieshave not proved to be critics' darlings, but the series is still undoubtedly one of cinema’s fan-favorite action franchises; a status quo due in no small part to Stallone’s memorable take on the group’s commander.
The Rambo Franchise
Rambo
Beginning with the novel and the film First Blood in 1982, Rambo is an action-adventure franchise starring Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo, a Vietnam War veteran embroiled in violent conflicts that test his survival skills. The series has enjoyed critical success over several decades, branching into comic books, video games, and more.
It takes an exceedingly memorable individual to spearhead an action franchise as beloved and influential asRambo, a state of affairs highlighted by Sylvester Stallone’s take on the U.S. Army Special Forces soldier andVietnam War veteran. Serving as the archetypal mold for a laundry list of cinematic lone wolf characters that would follow,the actor’s five appearances as John Rambo since debuting in 1982’sFirst Bloodhave helped cement his status as one of cinema’s foremost and most memorable action heroes.
Sylvester Stallone accidentally broke Alf Humphrey’s nose duringFirst Blood’s jail escape scene.
Known for his"take no prisoners"attitude, exceptional levels of toughness, and ruthless disposition, Rambo is one of the most iconic characters in the history of popular culture, regardless of genre. Furthermore, the character’s struggles with PTSD and his desire to avoid confrontation following the carnage ofFirst Bloodhave served to elevate him above a mere vacuous action cut-out, providing unexpected emotional depth to one of the genre’s most noteworthy badasses.
The Rocky Franchise
Rocky
The Rocky franchise follows boxer Rocky Balboa’s rise from underdog to champion, and later, Adonis Creed’s journey to honor his father, Apollo Creed. The films chronicle Rocky’s several rises and falls, and both it and the Creed series deal with their titular character’s internal and external struggles both in the ring and out.
When it comes toSylvester Stallone characters that audiences will never forget,legendary boxer Rocky Balboaremains the golden standard nearly half a century after making his first appearance. A role that has seen Stallone nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor on separate occasions,“The Italian Stallion"is the most iconic sporting character that cinema has ever witnessed, a walking talking underdog story and world-beating pugilist still capable of giving his viewers goosebumps as of 2025.
3 Best Rocky Movies, Ranked
When it comes to Sylvester Stallone’s original Rocky movies, which ones remain on top?
Sylvester Stallonehas literally grown up with his character across eight film appearances, from his days as a hungry journeyman fighter to his twilight years as an experienced coach to Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis Creed. Balbao remains the go-to for cinematic inspiration for every young boxer who has ever aspired to put on the gloves, a linchpin of the sporting silver screen who remains just as memorable a character as he did when he first debuted.
