I’ve Been Criticized a Lot... But for Stallone, It’s His Best Action Film!

Sylvester Stallone cites one of his most violent action films as his favorite, an unexpected choice. With "John Rambo," the actor embraces a more realistic and brutal work, which he directed himself and that has long divided critics.

Sylvester Stallone has no shortage of classics to his name. Between the Rocky, Rambo, and Expendables sagas, not to mention titles like Demolition Man or Judge Dredd, the actor has significantly shaped modern action cinema. However, when asked which of his films is the most significant in the genre, his answer surprises.

In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter in 2022, Stallone pinpointed a specific film as his favorite: the fourth installment of the Rambo saga, released in 2008, which he also directed and co-wrote.

"One of my films that I am really proud of, which I consider to be my best action film because it is the most real, is John Rambo_, which addresses what is happening in Myanmar, where there has been a civil war for 67 years_,” he explained.

For him, this feature film stands out for its more grounded approach to reality, far from mere explosive entertainment.

A Film Designed as a Brutal Statement

Stallone emphasizes that the violence depicted on screen is not there to shock gratuitously. It serves, according to him, to reflect a particularly harsh reality.

"I’ve been very criticized because the film is violent. But IT IS violent. It’s horrific. There are children burned alive. That’s what makes civil war worse than anything: it’s your neighbor, suddenly, who kills you."

Through these remarks, the actor defends a more raw and unfiltered vision of war, which he believes is necessary to show its true nature.

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A Risky Project Fully Embraced by the Actor

In hindsight, Sylvester Stallone expresses pride in having successfully completed this project, despite the initial hesitations and the criticisms he anticipated.

"I was really happy with this film and I never imagined it would ever make it to theaters. I thought they would never want to show this."

Even today, John Rambo remains a unique episode in the saga, darker and more direct than its predecessors. The film is notably available for streaming on Ciné+ OCS.