Stallone: My Rivalry With Schwarzenegger Ended When He Left Movies — SkimNews
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- Sylvester Stallone described his rivalry with Arnold Schwarzenegger as highly contentious, rooted in their competition to lead the action movie genre during the 1980s and 1990s
- Sylvester Stallone said he viewed Arnold Schwarzenegger as a threat early on, recalling a confrontational moment at the Golden Globe Awards where they exchanged what he called a 'stink eye'
- Sylvester Stallone credited the rivalry with pushing him to take creative risks, citing films like 'Rambo' as responses to Schwarzenegger's 'Commando' and other action roles
- Sylvester Stallone stated the rivalry persisted for 20 years, even during their joint venture Planet Hollywood, where they avoided sharing the stage together
- Sylvester Stallone said the rivalry ended in 2003 when Arnold Schwarzenegger ran for governor of California, noting that with Schwarzenegger no longer making movies, the competition 'wasn’t there anymore'
- Sylvester Stallone acknowledged they remain naturally competitive but are no longer financially or professionally at odds, calling their current relationship friendly
Why it matters: The acknowledgment that their rivalry only dissolved when Schwarzenegger exited the film industry underscores how deeply professional stakes fueled their tension. For two icons whose careers were shaped by physical dominance on screen, the end of competition marked a shift from adversaries to mutual respect—driven not by personal reconciliation but by a structural change in their careers.
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