With the release of his brand new film The Samaritan, Sylvester Stallone is once again rocking the boat. A look back at 5 roles that have marked his career, from Rocky to Rambo, to (re)discover on Prime Video.
Joe Smith in The Samaritan
Directed by Julius Avery (Son of a Gun), The Samaritan allows us to find a Sylvester Stallone in great shape! He plays Joe, a superhero supposedly dead because he disappeared in a fire 20 years earlier. But a shrewd young neighbor convinces him to pull his Samaritan costume out of the closet to save the town of Granite City from falling into chaos.
At the age of 76, Stallone delivers a stunning performance in the guise of this deep and altruistic character, by chaining badass and inventive action scenes. The endearing mountain of muscles still has a bright future ahead of it!
Rocky Balboa in Rocky
In 1976, his role as Rocky Balboa propelled Sylvester Stallone to center stage. This character, it is himself who wrote it, categorically refusing to give it up to any other actor, although Robert Redford or Burt Reynolds wanted to embody it.
Originally, it was a fight between the legend Mohamed Ali and Chuck Wepner that inspired Stallone to write the screenplay, a meeting during which an illustrious stranger thwarts the odds by taking 15 rounds against a great champion. On screen, Rocky Balboa is a Philadelphia underworld puncher propelled into a losing match against Apollo Creed.
With this touching and self-sacrificing score, “Sly” becomes an actor who counts in Hollywood. The first part of the saga was nominated in 10 categories at the Oscars in 1977 and won the statuettes for Best Film, Best Director for John G. Avildsen and Best Editing. With 6 feature films all available on Prime Video, the franchise that spans over 40 years leaves an indelible mark on cinematic history… and in our hearts!
John Rambo in Rambo
Make way for another must in Sylvester Stallone’s filmography: Rambo, the very first part of which was released in theaters in 1982. Adapted from a novel published 10 years earlier, the first feature film deals with the difficulty of reintegrating into Vietnam Veteran’s Society. The following opuses focus on the explosive thirst for revenge of the war machine that is John Rambo.
Enjoyable debauchery of action and emotion, this symbol of the 80s offers an emblematic role which forges even more the legend of the actor. The proof with the first 3 films available on the platform.
Barney Ross in The Expendables
How can we forget the Expendables trilogy, in which Stallone holds a prominent place? In addition to shining in front of the camera in the guise of Barney Ross, he directed the first part, Expendables: Special Unit, and wrote the scenarios for the entire series of films. At the head of an elite unit that brings together specialists of all kinds, Barney, the brains of the team, makes weapons and dynamite speak better than anyone.
Surrounded by big names in action cinema such as Jason Statham, Bruce Willis or even Jean-Claude Van Damme, the Expendables trilogy is also an opportunity for Stallone to definitively bury the hatchet with his lifelong rival, Arnold Schwarzenegger. . Ultra-explosive nuggets to watch without moderation while waiting for the release of The Expendables 4 in cinemas…
Rocky Balboa (again) in Creed
In 2015, Creed: The Legacy of Rocky Balboa brought the boxer back to life in front of Ryan Coogler’s camera. Rocky left the gloves in the locker room and is now training the hidden son of Apollo Creed, his rival in the origin saga.
And the least we can say is that this new job is going to delight him. Distilling some precious advice on the footwork or on the left hooks of his colt, he reveals an incomparable wisdom and depth. A true transmission of the torch to the new generation, perfectly embodied by Michael B. Jordan.
Find all these films on Prime Video.