Sylvester Stallone Has Had a Number 1 Movie in 6 Consecutive Decades

Undeniably one of the silver screen’s most recognizable and commanding performers is none other than Sylvester Stallone, who first skyrocketed to prominence when he wrote and starred in the 1976 sports classic Rocky, which went on to win three Academy Awards, including the highly-coveted Best Picture, while also becoming the highest-grossing film of the year. From that moment on, Stallone dominated Hollywood and established himself as one of the industry’s most bankable leading men.

Stallone has had the distinct honor of having starred in a number-one box-office film across six consecutive decades, a rare feat for any actor and one that has cemented the action legend’s status in Tinseltown. Though there is no shortage of blockbuster hits on Stallone’s decorated resume, let’s explore some of the cinema staple’s most financially successful flicks over the last 60 years.

Stallone Comes Out Swinging on the Silver Screen

Sylvester Stallone emerged as one of the entertainment industry’s most exciting up-and-comers and kickstarted his epic reign as an action icon when he both starred in and wrote the 1976 sports drama masterpiece Rocky, in which he famously portrayed Philadelphia southpaw boxer Rocky Balboa as he is given the opportunity of a lifetime after he is chosen to duke it out in the ring against world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). Made on a modest budget of $1.1 million, Rocky captivated audiences with its uplifting rags-to-riches storyline and completely dominated the box office, becoming the highest-grossing movie of the year.

The beloved sports hit earned $225 million worldwide and continued to thrive in theaters for eight consecutive months while also going on to win three Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Not only did it launch Stallone’s enduring career, but it also launched a lucrative, fan-favorite franchise that is still popular with audiences nearly 50 years later. The highly-anticipated Rocky II was released three years later and shared similar financial success, topping the box office on its opening weekend and raking in $200 million and further establishing Stallone as a silver screen staple.

After a wondrous and downright enviable Hollywood run throughout the latter portion of the ’70s, Stallone didn’t slow down a bit and put the pedal to the metal, going on to introduce a new action legend in 1982: Vietnam War veteran John J. Rambo. First Blood featured the actor running around the wilderness in a small Washington town as he is targeted by a sadistic sheriff and forced to face the horrific trauma he experienced on the battlefield. First Blood topped the box office for three weeks straight and became another feather in Stallone’s action movie cap, bowing out with final earnings of $125.2 million.

A Certified Action Legend Is Born

Now one of Hollywood’s most charismatic and bankable action heroes, Stallone further proved he wasn’t going anywhere when the 1990s rolled around, co-writing and headlining the 1993 action thriller Cliffhanger. In the pulse-pounding flick, Stallone portrays mountain rescue ranger and skilled climber Gabriel “Gabe” Walker as he goes toe-to-toe with a gang of violent criminals who are searching for their $100 million loot from a heist after crash-landing in the Rocky Mountains, leading to a dangerous showdown.

Cliffhanger made its stellar debut at the Cannes Film Festival before making its way to theaters, topping the box office alongside fellow releases Silver, Made in America, Super Mario Bros., and Dave and going on to gross $255 million worldwide. Other Stallone movies of the ’90s that opened at number one include Demolition Man, The Specialist, and Cop Land , and the turn of the century brought the cinema great even more success beginning with the 2001 action sports drama Driven.

Once again, Stallone showcased his moviemaking talents by writing the film’s screenplay, appearing alongside the beloved Burt Reynolds as Indy 500 and Champ Car champion Joe Tanto as he is brought out of retirement to train a determined and hungry rookie wanting to prove himself on the track. Though it received a lackluster response from critics, Driven nonetheless became Stallone’s first box office triumph since 1997’s Cop Land and amassed $54.7 million, demonstrating the actor’s mass appeal and bankability as a leading man.

Stallone Sticks to What He Does Best

After enjoying a decorated career spanning more than 40 years, Stallone kicked off the 2010s with a major bang, directing, writing, and starring in the ultimate action extravaganza The Expendables, in which he enlisted the talents of fellow butt-kicking greats like Jason Statham, Jet Li, and Dolph Lundgren to portray a group of elite mercenaries who go on a dangerous mission to overthrow a ruthless Latin American dictator. Fans of Stallone and the adrenaline-pumping genre flocked to theaters to witness the action gods come together, helping the explosive flick earn $34.8 million in its opening weekend.

The Expendables finished its theatrical run with box office earnings of $274.5 million while brilliantly launching a wildly entertaining and delightfully over-the-top blockbuster franchise that would spawn three electrifying sequels. The popular film also reunited Stallone with Rocky IV co-star Dolph Lundgren (much to the thrill of fans), who would return for future installments and showcase his winning chemistry with the Tulsa King star. Stallone would remain a constant presence in Hollywood and demonstrated his voice-over skills with his role in 2021’s The Suicide Squad, playing the character King Shark.

The star-studded superhero flick touted a fantastic cast like Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, and Viola Davis, with Stallone dazzling as the lonely man-eating shark-human hybrid. The Suicide Squad faced an uphill battle after being released during the pandemic, but still had the best opening weekend for an R-rated movie amid the ongoing uncertainty in the entertainment industry and grossed $168.7 million (though it failed to recoup its $185 million budget). Regardless, its initial performance helped Sylvester Stallone wonderfully achieve a box-office No. 1 movie across six consecutive decades.