10 Sylvester Stallone Movies Everyone Should See

With another film featuring Sylvester Stallone (Creed II) due out later this fall, it seemed like a good time to add a new entry to my ongoing '10 Movies Everyone Should See' series. I have previously written similar posts about Tom Cruise, Sean Connery, Tom Hanks, Alfred Hitchcock, and others. If you're not familiar with how I make these lists, they aren't necessarily a 'Best Of' or 'Top 10', It's merely 10 films that I feel are a good representation of someone's overall career.

(and if you're interested in checking out the other entries in the series, you can by clicking HERE)
  

10. Tango & Cash (1989)

This isn't a great film. However, if you're in the mood for a buddy-cop style action flick and you like Stallone and Kurt Russell then it's worth a watch.

9. Cliffhanger (1993)

It's a pretty average action plot, except it's set in mountains which apparently was interesting enough for audiences as this one was a decent financial success for Stallone.

8. Antz (1998)

A bit of a change of pace for the action star, Stallone lent his voice to this computer-animated comedy, and I thought he did a pretty good job.

7. Creed (2015)

In the original Rocky film the late, great Burgess Meredith played Rocky's manager Mickey. In this film it's Stallone that's taking on the old, ex-boxer, mentor role to up-and-comer Adonis Creed (played by Michael B. Jordan). Honestly, it's one of Sly's best performances to date.

6. The Expendables (2010)

'The Expendables' movies are not good, but this is worth watching for the novelty of having so many past-their-prime action stars in one movie.

5. Lock Up (1989)

Stallone starred in two duds in '89, one was Tango & Cash and the other was Lock Up. Much like Tango & Cash, if you go into this one with lowered expectations then you might have fun with it.

4. Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)

First Blood is a legitimately good film, but the sequel Rambo: First Blood Part II is what most people think of why you say "Rambo". This is a big, explosion-filled, bullet-riddled, high body count, action flick. It's pretty awesome.

3. Cop Land (1997)

Just look at the poster: Sylvester Stallone, Harvey Keitel, Robert De Niro, and Ray Liotta... There was no way I could leave this one off the list.

2.Over the Top (1987)

There just aren't enough movies about a truck driver who is trying to reconnect with his son, while also traveling to Las Vegas to compete in an arm wrestling competition.

1. Rocky (1976)

It's the movie to which every underdog story will forever be compared to. Rocky isn't just a great sports film, but a great film in general and it even won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

80's Month Day 7: Over the Top

Man, I love sports movies. The one-on-one battles, the thrill of victory, the dramatic speeches, underdogs, and teams that somehow win the big game against all odds... and Sylvester Stallone has starred in a few of those great sports movies (in fact, you can check out my ranking of all the 'Rocky' movies by clicking here). Unfortunately, 1987's Over The Top is not one of those great sports films.

So, is Stallone an underdog boxer like in the Rocky films? Nope.

 How about a football star, a baseball player, or even the coach of a ragtag team of little leaguers? No.

Stallone plays a semi-truck driver named Lincoln Hawk who is on his way to Las Vegas to compete in an arm-wrestling competition, with the hopes of winning the grand prize, $100,000 and a new semi-truck. Along for the ride is Lincoln's son young son Michael, whom he's never gotten to really know since he walked out on his estranged wife Christina when Michael was just baby. But, now Christina is deathly ill and she thinks it's best for father and son to get to know each other while traveling cross-country in Lincoln's truck. Yeah, as you'd expect they don't get along at first but then they start to form a solid bond, and Micheal's grandfather (played by Robert Loggia) hates Lincoln and offers to pay him 5x the contest's grand prize if he'll sign over custody to Micheal and get out of his life forever. Lincoln of course refuses and goes on to win the arm wrestling competition. There aren't any real surprises in this one.

Overall, the movie serves up a good helping cheesy, 80's entertainment but there isn't much else to like about it. Most of the acting is OK at best, it's not particularly well written or directed, and it's got a very dated 80's soundtrack featuring Eddie Money, Kenny Loggins, Asia, and Sammy Hagar. If you're curious as to what a movie about an arm-wrestling trucker is like, or you just really like Sylvester Stallone, then I say 'check it out'. Otherwise, you can probably skip this one.

I give it a 2 out of 5.

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