Sylvester Stallone has been a part of many blockbuster action franchises. However, while Rocky catapulted him into the limelight, but surprisingly, Stallone personally deems another series as the pinnacle of his action-filled journey in his entire career, and that is where Rambo enters the scene. Specifically, within the Rambo saga, Rambo IV is what he is the most proud of.
Sylvester Stallone Called Rambo 4, Not Rocky 1 the Best Action Film of His Entire Career
Despite Rocky providing him with a significant breakthrough in both acting and writing, Sylvester Stallone regards Rambo as surpassing the impact of his Rocky franchise. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Stallone deemed the fourth installment of the Rambo series to be the pinnacle of his entire career in terms of action films. He claimed,
“One film I’m truly proud of — it’s the best action film I’ve ever done because it’s the most truthful — is Rambo IV, dealing with Burma, where they’ve had a civil war for 67 years,”
“But I got excoriated because the movie’s so violent. And it is violent. It’s horrifying. It’s children being burnt alive. That’s what makes Civil War worse than anything. It’s your neighbor, all of a sudden, killing you. I was really happy with that film and I never thought it would ever reach the theater. I thought, ‘They’re never going to show this.’”
The actor revealed that despite facing criticism from the public for the movie’s violent nature, Stallone was proud of what he had created. As the director and co-writer, the elements he chose to include in the film made him doubt if it would ever see the light of day. However, upon its release, the film emerged victorious.
How Rocky Changed Everything for Sylvester Stallone!
Before Rocky, Stallone struggled as an actor, while juggling odd jobs from a theater usher to a zoo cleaner. With only $106 to his name, inspired by Ali vs. Wepner’s iconic generation-defining fight, he penned Rocky‘s story in just three days, crafting a screenplay representing a working-class boxer’s shot at the unimaginable, the world title.
On a mere $4.83 million budget, Rocky skyrocketed beyond the actor’s wildest imagination, smashing the $1 billion gross revenue milestone! Not only did Rocky achieve remarkable commercial success, but it also captivated both critics and fans glimmering with positive reviews. The further film then went on to earn three Oscars and changed Sylvester Stallone’s life forever!