Top 10 Sylvester Stallone Action Scenes Ranked

Sylvester Stallone is a legendary action movie star, and it’s no surprise he’s been in many memorable scenes. After the first few successful Rocky films, many people thought he would become a major dramatic actor in the same vein as Marlon Brando.

The film First Blood truly launched a specific style of action movie starring Sylvester Stallone. The rivalry between Schwarzenegger and Stallone throughout the 80s and 90s resulted in several iconic action films, known for their high number of villains defeated, memorable one-line quips, impressive weapons, and the actors’ muscular builds.

As a huge movie fan, I’ve always appreciated Stallone’s involvement goes way beyond just acting. He’s a really gifted writer and director, and it’s clear he pours his creativity into everything he does. Seriously, from classics like Cobra all the way to the Expendables films, Stallone has given us some of the most fun, thrilling action movies we’ve seen in the last half-century.

Rambo III (1988) – The Failed Rescue

When it was released, Rambo III briefly held the record as the most expensive film ever made. The story takes the iconic soldier to Afghanistan to save his friend, Colonel Trautman (played by Richard Crenna). While generally considered one of the less impressive films in the Rambo series, it features a particularly memorable scene where Rambo attempts to rescue Trautman from a Soviet fortress.

The failed rescue attempt is the most exciting part of the sequel, starting with sneaking in like a character from Metal Gear Solid and ending with a chaotic escape. While the sequence isn’t groundbreaking, it’s a thrilling and well-executed action scene.

Cobra (1986) – The Department Store Standoff

Following the success of Rocky and Rambo, Cobra was Sylvester Stallone’s effort to launch another popular film series. The film features a character inspired by Dirty Harry, a tough detective who pursues a dangerous group of serial killers. The story begins with Cobra confronting one of the killers during a hostage situation at a department store.

As a big action movie fan, I have to say, the opening scene is surprisingly dark and gripping for what’s usually a lighthearted flick. It really sets up Cobra as a character. Everyone talks about how ruthless he is, but it’s interesting to see him actually try to reason with the villain first. He’s willing to talk things out, but he doesn’t hesitate to use force when it becomes clear words aren’t going to work – and that instantly makes him compelling.

Demolition Man (1993) – The Hall Of Violence Exhibit

Demolition Man is a fun, over-the-top action movie set in the year 2032. In this future, America has almost completely gotten rid of violence, but when the dangerous criminal Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes) is released from decades of cryo-sleep, he starts causing trouble. To stop him, another frozen officer, Spartan (Sylvester Stallone), is brought back to life.

The characters have a fight in a museum exhibit called “Hall of Violence,” complete with a shootout on a set designed to look like a 1990s street. This scene is cleverly playful and features exciting action, showcasing why the movie is so much fun to watch.

Bullet To The Head (2012) – The Ax Fight

With its 1980s style and action, Bullet to the Head feels like a throwback – which makes sense, considering it was directed by genre veteran Walter Hill. It’s not a standout film for either Hill or Sylvester Stallone (who plays a hitman hunting down Jason Momoa’s character), but it’s not a bad one either.

Okay, so Jason Momoa’s character takes out Sylvester Stallone’s partner, and things escalate quickly. They end up having this seriously awesome, old-school axe fight! Honestly, Bullet to the Head doesn’t have a ton of memorable action sequences, but this brawl? This is director Walter Hill really showing what he can do. You pretty much know how it’s going to end, but let’s be real, most action movies aren’t exactly full of surprises, are they?

Assassins (1995) – Miguel And Rath’s Taxi Shootout

Before they made The Matrix, The Wachowskis wrote Assassins, a 1990s action movie starring Sylvester Stallone as a veteran hitman targeted by a rising star, Miguel (Antonio Banderas). It’s delightfully cheesy in a very 90s way, and the best part is a showdown between the two assassins inside a taxi.

The scene features the two characters facing off inside a moving taxi, separated by bulletproof glass, giving them a chance to talk before their inevitable confrontation. While the situation is ridiculous, the strong chemistry between Sylvester Stallone and Antonio Banderas makes it a standout action sequence.

The Expendables 2 (2012) – The Airport Finale

If Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Bruce Willis had starred in a movie together in the 1990s, it would have been a huge hit. While that never happened due to budget issues and clashing personalities, fans finally got a taste of it in the final showdown of The Expendables 2. The film features Stallone’s character, Barney, leading his team against the villain played by Jean-Claude Van Damme, all set inside an airport.

Even though the editing feels a bit rough at times, it’s really exciting to see action stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dolph Lundgren, Jason Statham, and others all together. The short fight scene with Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone, and Schwarzenegger teaming up is worth seeing the movie for by itself.

Rambo (2008) – The Final Battle

Twenty years after the third film, Rambo returned with the troubled soldier embarking on a dangerous rescue operation in Burma. This installment is by far the most brutal and disturbing of the series, as director and star Sylvester Stallone plunges the audience into a violent and harrowing experience.

While Rambo features some truly intense and disturbing action sequences, it also delivers a satisfying conclusion. In the finale, Rambo single-handedly saves the day with a massive machine gun, cutting down countless enemy soldiers as his teammates provide support. It’s incredibly violent and exaggerated, and that’s exactly what makes it so effective.

Cop Land (1997) – Freddy Saves Babitch

Cop Land was Sylvester Stallone’s effort to showcase his acting range and move beyond action roles. While not a blockbuster, the film earned Stallone some of the most positive reviews of his career. He plays a sheriff who is hard of hearing and not in great shape, and who finds himself facing a group of crooked police officers.

The movie ends with a tense, old-fashioned shootout. Wounded, Freddie (Stallone) has to fight for his life against corrupt officers who are trying to silence a witness named Babitch (Michael Rapaport). The climax of Cop Land is a harrowing, drawn-out struggle where Freddie narrowly avoids being killed.

Cliffhanger (1993) – The Plane Exchange

The most thrilling scene in Cliffhanger doesn’t actually involve the hero, Gabe Stallone. It’s a daring heist where the villains try to steal money from a plane while it’s still flying. This involves eliminating the federal agents on board and then transferring the money cases to another plane using a wire.

What makes this scene so amazing is that it’s mostly real, featuring a stuntman actually moving between the planes. Stunt performer Simon Crane earned a full million dollars for filming it, and it was well-deserved.

First Blood (1982) – Rambo Ambushes The Police

Sylvester Stallone considers First Blood to be his strongest action film, and many would agree. The movie is fast-paced and features exciting action sequences, including a thrilling motorcycle chase and a powerful showdown at the end. However, the most memorable scene is arguably when Rambo cleverly sets traps to evade the police.

This transforms Rambo into a kind of survival horror figure – though he doesn’t directly kill anyone – as his brutal traps eliminate the officers pursuing him, one after another. The scene effectively showcases Rambo’s incredible skill as a soldier, and Sylvester Stallone delivers a perfectly menacing performance.

2025-12-11 21:11