Stallone, Schwarzenegger discuss 'epic rivalry' in Netflix docuseries

The rivalry between Hollywood greats Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger during the 80s and 90s is well documented.

It resurfaces in the Netflix docuseries Arnold, where the actors go down memory lane and speak about how their rivalry impacted their careers.

During the interview, Stallone reflects on the captivating era of the 1980s, stating, "The '80s was a very interesting time because the definitive 'action guy' had not really been formed yet.

"Up until that time, action was a car chase like Bullitt or The French Connection, and a film all about intellect and innuendo and verbal this and verbal that."

Stallone pinpoints the turning point for action movies as the release of First Blood in 1982, asserting, "You actually relied upon your body to tell the story. Dialogue was not necessary. I saw that there was an opportunity, 'cause no one else was doing this... except some other guy from Austria, who doesn't need to say much." The reference is, of course, to Schwarzenegger, who acknowledged that Stallone's films motivated him to push himself further, stating, "Every time he came out with a movie like Rambo II, I had to figure out a way of now outdoing that."

As Schwarzenegger gained popularity with films like The Terminator and Commando, he became Stallone's rival, leading to what he describes as an "incredibly competitive" relationship.

Drawing a comparison, Stallone likened their dynamic to boxing legends Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, emphasising, "There was only room for one of us."

While both actors made their mark in the action genre, Stallone concedes the superiority of Schwarzenegger, acknowledging, "He was superior. He just had all the answers. He had the body. He had the strength. That was his character."

Stallone playfully adds, "I had to get...  kicked constantly, whereas Arnold, he never got hurt much. And I'm going, 'Arnold, you could go out and fight a dragon and you'd come back with a Band-Aid'."

Schwarzenegger, in turn, recognises the impact Stallone had on his own career, remarking, "Without Stallone, I maybe wouldn't have been as motivated in the '80s to do the kind of movies that I did and to work as hard as I did. I'm a competitive person."