Stallone & Schwarzenegger: The Ultimate Rivalry—From Hollywood Enemies to Brothers in Arms

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone

There was a time when Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger couldn’t stand to be in the same room. For two decades, their rivalry was the stuff of Hollywood legend—an arms race of biceps, box office, and bravado that defined the action genre and fueled tabloid headlines. But what began as a bitter feud would, against all odds, transform into one of the most unexpected—and beloved—friendships in movie history.

The Golden Globes Showdowns: Where It All Began

The story starts at the 1977 Golden Globes. Stallone, riding high on Rocky’s breakout success, found himself seated at the same table as the up-and-coming Austrian bodybuilder, Schwarzenegger. That night, Rocky lost in five categories, and Schwarzenegger, who won New Star of the Year for Stay Hungry, couldn’t resist gloating. When Rocky finally won Best Motion Picture—Drama, Stallone, in a moment of frustration and humor, hurled a bowl of flowers at Arnold. The rivalry was born.

A War on Muscles, Guns, and Box Office Glory

Through the 1980s and 1990s, Stallone and Schwarzenegger were locked in a cinematic arms race. Each film became a contest: Who had the bigger muscles? Who wielded the bigger guns? Who racked up the higher body count? Schwarzenegger’s Terminator and Commando faced off against Stallone’s Rambo and Cobra. The competition even spilled into comedy, with Arnold’s hit Twins poking fun at Sly’s Rambo, prompting Stallone to try his hand at comedy—sometimes disastrously, as with Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot (a role Schwarzenegger tricked him into taking).

The rivalry was personal, too. They traded insults in interviews, called out each other’s weaknesses, and even tangled in their personal lives—Stallone famously married Arnold’s ex, Brigitte Nielsen, adding fuel to the fire.

From Rivalry to Friends: The Planet Hollywood Truce

The turning point came in the 1990s, when both stars invested in the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain. Suddenly, the two were flying around the world together, promoting the brand and forced to spend time side by side.

What began as awkward business evolved into genuine camaraderie. “We became fantastic friends,” Schwarzenegger later recalled. “He is a great human being, and we are now inseparable”.

Brothers in Action: The Expendables Era

The ultimate proof of their friendship came when Stallone invited Schwarzenegger to join The Expendables franchise—a move that would have been unthinkable during their feud. Watching them share the screen, fans saw not just two action icons, but two old rivals who had finally learned to laugh together.

Their bond deepened off-screen as well, with Stallone attending Schwarzenegger’s inauguration as California governor and both appearing in documentaries and interviews reflecting on their shared journey from adversaries to allies.

Legacy: Why We Love Their Rivalry (and Friendship)

What makes the Stallone-Schwarzenegger saga so enduring? It’s more than nostalgia for a golden age of action movies. It’s the story of two outsiders—one from Hell’s Kitchen, the other from rural Austria—who clawed their way to the top, refused to back down, and, in the end, found respect and brotherhood in the very person they once tried to outdo.

As Sly himself put it:

“After a while, I started to like this competition, this one-upmanship. He’d get a bigger gun. I’d shoot more people. He’d shoot more people. It became so silly that all of a sudden it became a competition about who had the most muscular body”.

Today, their friendship is a reminder that even the fiercest rivalries can turn into the strongest alliances—and that sometimes, the best sequels in life are the ones you never saw coming.

What’s your favorite Stallone & Schwarzenegger moment—on screen or off? Share your captions and memories below, and let’s celebrate the ultimate Hollywood bromance!