Summary

• Sylvester Stallone plays a wide range of powerful action heroes.
• Sylvester Stallone's career has seen him play aliens, superheroes, and detectives who all vary in their level of strength.
• Some of Stallone's most iconic action heroes include John Rambo, Barney Ross, Ray Breslin, and Rocky Balboa

Sylvester Stallone is one of Hollywood's biggest action stars, having appeared in dozens of different roles as the spectacular hero. Stallone has been acting and appearing in films since the late 60s, but his first big break came when he was able to get his original script about an underdog boxer made into a movie. That film was Rocky, and Stallone starred in the title role, launching his career to new heights and setting him up to be one of the all-time greatest action heroes.

With the success of Rocky, Sylvester Stallone went on to land other major roles in action movies such as Rambo, and Cobra, consistently delivering action-packed movies. As the years progressed, Stallone continued to lead the pack as an aging and grizzled hero, with appearances in films like The Expendables and Samaritan proving that, despite his age, there are few people on his level when it comes to action movies. Stallone's action hero roles stand out, all incredibly brave and strong, but they can't all be the best.

13 Freddy Heflin

Cop Land (1997)

The action hero roles that Stallone tackles are usually larger than life, peak human figures, but one of his very few action roles where his character is more grounded comes in Cop Land. The film is about a local sheriff who lives and serves just outside of New York City, in a community that is densely populated with NYPD cops. He ires the police and detectives in his community until it's revealed that they abuse their power. Freddy Heflin is morally strong and dedicated to his work, but he ranks at the bottom of the list of Stallone action heroes.

12 Marion Cobretti

Cobra (1986)

Changing gears, Stallone tackled a very different role in Cobra, when he played Marion Cobretti. Cobretti is an elite member of the so-called "zombie squad" who is called in to help detain violent and dangerous criminals. He also places the safety of victims over most other things, which results in his extreme measures to dole out justice. Cobretti may take things too far, but ultimately, he is a hero, and he uses his skills to save others and wipe out crime.

11 Gabe Walker

Cliffhanger (1993)

Cliffhanger is one of Stallone's most underappreciated movies as, despite the financial success, the movie cost a lot to make and never got a sequel. Stallone plays a former mountain climber and rescue ranger who quits after losing a friend on the cliffs. He demonstrates incredible skill and strength with his ability to swiftly traverse mountains and cliffs with relative ease. When he gets stuck in the middle of major criminal dealings, he manages to fight back the bad guys and save his friends.

10 Ray Breslin

Escape Plan (2013, 2018, 2019)

Ray Breslin is a security expert who is frequently hired to test security in prisons and detect any flaws in Escape Plan. Technically, Breslin is just a normal guy, but his incredible intelligence and skill allow him to perform extraordinary feats that border on superhuman. Despite Stallone being considerably advanced in age at this point, he still plays a character who displays incredible strength and abilities.

9 Rocky Balboa

Rocky (1976 - 2018)

Rocky is one of Stallone's most iconic roles of all time, having played the character in eight films. Stallone plays Rocky Balboa, who is determined to become the best boxer in the world and make a name, and a life for himself and his family. The series sees him face extreme challenges and loss, but he exemplifies the idea of getting back up when he gets knocked down. Rocky also manages to win against men like Clubber Lang and Ivan Drago, who prove their strength is lethal.

8 Raymond Tango

Tango And Cash (1989)

While Raymond Tango is a much less iconic character, his abilities and strength narrowly beat out the fictional boxer, Rocky. Tango is a slick detective who is extremely intelligent and refined and always gets his target. Early in Tango and Cash, Tango proves his skills by facing off against a large semi-truck racing toward him and managing to stop the vehicle just a few feet away. Tango is also skilled in hand-to-hand combat and comes through most struggles unharmed.

7 John Rambo

Rambo (1982 - 2019)

John Rambo is another of Stallone's famous characters who goes on an epic journey through five films where he manages to constantly overcome any threat. The first film, First Blood, showcases a Rambo who is reluctant to fight but undeniably has a great deal of skill as he swiftly eliminates threats. In each sequel, Rambo has upped his kill count and becomes more and more superhuman as he appears almost invincible.

6 Stakar Ogord

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 & Vol. 3 (2017, 2023)

Stakar Ogord from Guardians of the Galaxy marks Stallone's first entry as an alien. Stakar is a legendary Ravager and leads a famous group of space pirates on missions throughout the galaxy. Little is seen of his adventures in the GotG movies, but he clearly has a reputation. And considering his missions see him face off against aliens and creatures throughout the universe, he is likely more powerful than the average detective, or ex-military man.

5 John Spartan

Demolition Man (1993)

Demolition Man follows a sci-fi story where John Spartan is a talented, but reckless police sergeant in the LAPD. Spartan is highly skilled, but he often leaves a trail of destruction in his wake, which earned him the nickname, "Demolition Man." Frozen in an experimental prison, Spartan is freed decades later to apprehend a violent criminal in a futuristic world that has moved beyond violence and eradicated most crimes. His methods are extreme, but he proves that he is one of Stallone's strongest characters as he settles into a brand-new decade and takes down an enhanced villain.

4 Barney Ross

The Expendables (2010 - 2023)

The Expendables series pays homage to some of the biggest stars in action with a series of high-energy stories packed with explosions and epic stunts. Stallone stars as the leader of a group of mercenaries, Barney Ross, and despite these films happening with Stallone as an older man, Ross is one of his most impressive human characters. Physically intimidating, powerful, and capable of holding back extraordinary threats.