Sylvester Stallone's journey from his early years to the present is truly one of hard work and determination. Early in his career, the actor struggled to get roles, with little to no success: most productions cast him as an uncredited extra. His first starring role was in the 1970 adult film The Party at Kitty and Stud's, which he decided to take on due to the fact that he was homeless at the time after being evicted from his apartment. Four years later, the actor obtained some recognition for his role in The Lords of Flatbush, but global success would not come until 1976, when he starred in his first blockbuster, and also one of the most remembered: Rocky, the story of a small-time club fighter who decides to take on the heavyweight boxing world champion, Apollo Creed.

Rocky kicked off a wildly popular franchise headed by Stallone, and turned him into the only actor in the history of American cinema to have starred in a box office No. 1 film across six consecutive decades. However, Rocky was not the only franchise starring Stallone: in 1982 the Rambo saga kicked off with his first installment, First Blood. From then on, and up to the late-90s, Sylvester established himself as one of Hollywood's highest-paid actors, and to this day he remains a leading actor in all sorts of productions.

While Stallone is best known for his acting roles, he has also served as director, producer, and even writer for a number of movies, many of which he actually starred in. Here is a look back at some of the best movies written by Sylvester Stallone.

8 Homefront

Jason Statham in Homefront
Open Road Films

Homefront, the 2013 action thriller film, is the only movie written by Stallone that does not include him in the cast. This production, directed by Gary Fleder and inspired by the novel of the same name by Chuck Logan, follows a retired DEA worker who relocates to a quiet town hoping to put his past behind him. Yet, he quickly discovers that this peaceful community harbors a very dark secret, and he is targeted by a drug trafficking gang that forces him to jump back into action to protect his family. Homefront stars Jason Statham, James Franco, Winona Ryder, and Kate Bosworth.

Related: Rocky vs. Rambo: Sylvester Stallone Details Who Would Win In a Fight

7 Cliffhanger

Sylvester Stallone movie Cliffhanger, being remade by Ana Lily Amirpour
TriStar Pictures

Cliffhanger is a 1993 film directed by Renny Harlin and loosely inspired by climber John Long's story. This production centers on Ranger Gabe Walker (Stallone), a seasoned climber of a rescue team who retired after a person died during one of his missions. However, the crash of a plane hijacked by a criminal gang on a mountain sends him on the toughest mission of his life. Cliffhanger stars Stallone alongside John Lithgow, Michael Rooker, and Janine Turner, and following the premiere, it became a box office hit, earning $255 million worldwide.

6 F.I.S.T.

F.I.S.T.
United Artists

Stallone stars in the 1978 crime drama film F.I.S.T. as Johnny Kovak, an honest warehouse worker who, weary of the unfair and inhumane working conditions at his workplace, decides to lead a campaign to unionize the employees. Of course, this effort quickly draws the wrath of his employers, and following several threats, Kovak quits to pursue a career in the union. However, his ties to organized crime would ultimately lead to the downfall of his career. Joining Stallone in the cast are Rod Steiger, Peter Boyle, Melinda Dillon, and David Huffman.

5 The Expendables 2

The Expendables 2
Millennium Films

At times, a sequel can be even better than the original movie. This was the case with the 2012 action film The Expendables 2, directed by Simon West and starring Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Liam Hemsworth, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bruce Willis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. This second installment features once again the mercenary group known as the Expendables undergoing a new mission to seek revenge on Jean Vilain (Van Damme), who killed one of their partners.

Related: Sylvester Stallone’s Request to Be in The Godfather Was Rejected

4 Rocky Balboa

Rocky Balboa
United Artists

Rocky V was scheduled to be the last installment of the franchise, but following criticism and a poor performance in box offices, Stallone decided to lead his beloved saga one last time. Therefore, in 2006 Rocky Balboa was released, the sixth and last installment of the franchise, which turned out to be an absolute hit. In it, the audience is reunited with the now-retired Balboa. Now a restaurant owner, the ex-boxer commemorates his brilliant career by recounting anecdotes to his customers. However, his passion remains alive, and faced with a chance to compete in an exhibition fight with current star Mason Dixon, Rocky steps back into the ring for one final show.

3 Rocky II

Rocky II
United Artists

Three years after Rocky's release, a second installment reached theaters, but this time with Stallone as lead actor, writer, and director. The latter role was highly questioned by his production company, though they eventually agreed to it as Sylvester was reluctant to participate in any other way. Rocky II features Balboa, now that he has quit boxing, enjoying life with his family. But some financial difficulties force him to accept Apollo Creed's persistent offer of a rematch, through which the champion attempts to prove that Balboa's previous fight was just a fluke. Now, Rocky has another chance to beat him.

2 First Blood

First Blood
Orion Pictures Corporation

First Blood is a 1982 film notable for being the first successful adaptation of David Morrell's 1972 novel. It follows John Rambo, a misunderstood Vietnam veteran who, after assassinating a village policeman in self-defense, is cornered by security forces and the national guard. In order to survive, Rambo must put all his combat skills to use. This film's huge popularity sparked a franchise that now includes five films and a TV series, among many other productions.

1 Rocky

Rocky
United Artists

The first movie in the Rocky saga tops this ranking as the one that consecrated Stallone as a Hollywood star and, additionally, as the third actor in history to be nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor. Rocky kicked off the wildly popular franchise by presenting the boxer in his first major sporting opportunity: a one-on-one fight with world champion Apollo Creed. Stallone wrote the script for the film after he watched the championship match between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner in March 1975, and it only took him three days to finish the job. However, it took a long time for the film to get green-lighted into production, as the actor was determined to star in it, and United Artists was not happy with that. They eventually gave in, and they were not wrong: Stallone went down in history with this iconic character, and the film became a hit among audiences and critics.