Sylvester Stallone is an American actor and filmmaker with humble beginnings. Born to an Italian father hairdresser and French-Jewish mother women's wrestler promoter, Stallone grew up in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, New York City. During his birth, complications with forceps paralyzed the nerve in his face, giving him his well-known drooping appearance and slurred speech. The accident became a source for bullying, but he developed his self-esteem through bodybuilding and acting, qualities he could control. Early in his career and at a low moment, he briefly starred in the romantic adult film The Party at Kitty and Stud's to make ends meet after being evicted from his apartment and becoming homeless.

Stallone starred in stage plays and supporting roles; he even took on odd jobs like zoo sanitarian and theater usher. He would frequent the library to work on his writing as well. Inspiration struck him when he watched the boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner on March 24, 1975. This was the fight he based Rocky on; he wrote the script in three days. The underdog boxer turned heavyweight champion film earned Stallone two Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor as well as an induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Stallone later became an action star, beginning with his PTSD-ridden Vietnam War veteran Rambo. Since then, Stallone has been known as a physical cultural icon with resilient career highs.

10 The Lords of Flatbush (1974) - From Greaser to Father

the lords of flatbush 1974
Columbia Pictures

Stanley Rosiello is the standard meathead Greaser who gets a rude awakening from his girlfriend. She tells him that she's pregnant with his child. Stanley tries to skirt the issue, jokingly offering to kill the guy who did it, but his girl would know better. In a moment of vulnerability for Stanley, his girlfriend urges him to marry her. He does, however, find out that she was never pregnant, but decides to marry her anyway. Stanley's coming-of-age moment was a nostalgic look at marrying young in the 1950s and taking responsibility as an adult.

9 Over the Top (1987) - Arm Wrestling Trucker

over the top
Warner Bros.

Trucking and arm wrestling are the two greatest freedoms an American could have according to Over the Top. Stallone plays trucker Lincoln Hawk, who reunites with his son after 10 years to (unbeknownst to him) fulfill his estranged wife's dying wish. The stretched plot is simple and sentimental, but it picks up speed when the Rocky-on-a-budget contenders come out armed and dangerous.

8 Nighthawks (1981) - Cross-Dressing Cop

Nighthawks (1981)-1
Universal Pictures

Undercover cops have a lot of fun and Detective Deke DaSilva hoodwinks them all. In Nighthawks, DaSilva leads a criminal into a trap dressed as a woman with a purse. DaSilva pulls off the trick again when he corners a terrorist in his estranged wife's apartment. A cross-dressing Stallone with a gun is the true face of justice.

7 Demolition Man (1993) - Head's Up!

Demolition Man-1
Warner Bros.

LAPD Sergeant John Spartan is brought out of a cryogenic slumber to detain psychopathic criminal Simon Phoenix, played by Wesley Snipes. In the future, everyone and everything is made so safe that emergencies and accidents have become obsolete. Phoenix helps them find out how ill-prepared they are until Spartan puts him on ice, kicks off his frozen head, and shatters it in to pieces!

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6 Cliffhanger (1993) - Cave Fight

CLIFFHANGER (1993) Sylvester Stallone
TriStar Pictures

Rescue ranger and mountain climber Gabe Walker finds himself entangled with a money heist of a U.S. Treasury plane flying pass the Rocky Mountains. The plane crashes, leaving cases full of cash somewhere along the mountain range. One thief corners Gabe inside a cave, but Gabe ceases the moment to dead-lift the baddie and impale him into a stalactite.

Related: Creed 3 Will Retain the Spirit of Rocky Without Sylvester Stallone, Michael B. Jordan Says

5 Cobra (1986) - Grocery Shopping

cobra-stallone
Warner Bros.

Lieutenant Marion "Cobra" Cobretti goes grocery shopping for a hostage situation and stops to crack open a cold one. He throws his beer can to distract the gunman and confronts him behind the meat section counter. Cobra cracks open a one-liner next, saying, "You're a disease, and I'm the cure." Cobra strikes with a knife throw and shoots his target dead. If only the line was delivered at a pharmacy.

4 Tango & Cash (1989) - Highway Showdown

Tango & Cash
Warner Bros.

Raymond Tango is half of the buddy cop duo with Kurt Russell as Gabriel Cash. Tango is in hot pursuit but outruns his driver to park his car down the highway. He gets out and takes aim with his revolver. The gunfire blows out the driver's tire, bringing the vehicle to a stop and forcing the driver through the windshield.

3 The Expendables 2 (2010) - Barney vs. Vilain

The Expendables 2 (2012) Ross vs. Vilain
Lionsgate

Barney Ross, the leader of the Expendables, takes on the rival mercenary Jean Vilain (Jean-Cluade Van Damme) after Vilain murdered his teammate. He takes a roundhouse kick to the head, trades dukes, whips him with chains, and gets the final blow with his signature knife. Fighting Van Damme hand-to-hand was highly anticipated ever since the martial artist turned down an offer to be in The Expendables.

2 First Blood (1982) - The War is Over

Rambo_ First Blood _ Rambo's Breakdown
Orion Pictures

After the war in Vietnam, veteran John Rambo is living a disillusioned and traumatized existence. His fellow soldiers have died or gone MIA and pedestrians mark him as a political disgrace to America. Rambo has no one to confide in, a fact that becomes apparent when he crosses paths with police officer Will Teasle in Hope, Washington. Teasle derides Rambo for his unkempt looks and army jacket, disavowing him as an unwelcome drifter. First Blood shared the horrors and mistreatment Vietnam vets experienced in country and at home.

1 Rocky Balboa (2006) - Father to Son

ROCKY BALBOA _(2006) Sylvester Stallone
MGM

Rocky comes out of retirement to box one last time, much to his son's chagrin. Robert Balboa, Jr. feels that his reputation is being dragged through the mud due to his father's return to the ring. In a powerful father-to-son moment, Rocky delivers timeless words of wisdom that sum up what the Italian Stallion and Sylvester Stallone stood for: "It ain't about how hard you hit – it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward."