Stallone Says Rivalry With Schwarzenegger Ended in Friendship

Sylvester Stallone said he enjoyed his long-running rivalry with Arnold Schwarzenegger, describing how competition between the two action stars shaped their careers and recalling that it eventually gave way to friendship. Stallone discussed the feud on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, presenting its origins and resolution as his own recollections. Stallone said both actors wanted to lead the action-film genre. He recalled that Schwarzenegger gave him dirty looks when they met at a Golden Globes event, leading Stallone to think his rival would be a problem. At their next meeting, Stallone said, he threw a bowl of flowers at Schwarzenegger while pretending to celebrate. He described that encounter as the point when their competition began. The rivalry played out in films and at the box office, with Stallone’s Rambo and Schwarzenegger’s Commando among the titles he cited. Stallone said each tried to make the next action film bigger, with more weapons, louder guns and larger body counts. He said the contest was contentious but enjoyable, and that each actor’s efforts pushed the other to raise the stakes. Stallone also recalled that their strained relationship affected joint...