Arnold Schwarzenegger Calls Sylvester Stallone His ‘Enemy’ During ’80s Rivalry

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone were both prominent action movie stars in the 1980s. After a successful bodybuilding career in Austria, Schwarzenegger moved to America and made his Hollywood debut in the film Hercules in New York; however, he got his big break in the 1982 movie Conan the Barbarian.

Stallone, on the other hand, had a rough start in acting. After trying unsuccessfully to clinch a major role for several years, he was on the verge of quitting when he got his first proper starring role in the 1973 film, No Place to Hide before solidifying his Hollywood presence with the 1976 hit Rocky. Although both Schwarzenegger and Stallone are now friends, things were quite different at the beginning of their Hollywood stardom as they both competed against each other.

Arnold Schwarzenegger shares details of the rivalry between him and Sylvester Stallone

The Terminator star in his new Netflix documentary, Arnold, revealed that because both he and Stallone were big names in Hollywood, it was a fierce battle for control of the action film segment of the movie industry.

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“I always need an enemy … Every time he came out with a movie, like ‘Rambo II’, I had to figure out a way of now outdoing that,” Schwarzenegger confessed. “We were competing about everything. The body being ripped and oiled-up. Who is more vicious. Who is more tough. Who uses bigger knives. Who uses bigger guns. Sly and I were at war. Without Stallone, I maybe wouldn’t have been as motivated during the ‘80s to do the kind of movies I did and work as hard as I did.”

However, Stallone explained that all through the rivalry, he found himself constantly enduring defeat, while Schwarzenegger would emerge from their cinematic battles unscathed. “Arnold started to come on strong… [we were] great warriors that are traveling the same course. There was only room for one of us,” Stallone revealed. “[I] got my a** kicked constantly …We were incredibly antagonistic. We couldn’t even stand to be in the same room. People had to separate us.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone have since buried the hatchet

For years, the two icons engaged in a fierce rivalry, with Schwarzenegger going as far as employing underhanded tactics to undermine Stallone’s career. However, in the 1990s, they managed to set aside their animosity and join forces in a business venture, co-founding the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain alongside their fellow Hollywood tough guy, Bruce Willis.

Also, in a surprising turn of events, Schwarzenegger even made cameo appearances in Stallone’s movie The Expendables and reprised his role for two sequels. In addition, the two Hollywood legends showcased their on-screen chemistry by co-starring in the 2013 action film Escape Plan.