Arnold Schwarzenegger vs. Sylvester Stallone: Who had the better '80s filmography? Strictly 80s, between them two who was the bigger star? Explain.

[GilSho]

Arnold’s films aged better, but based on what I remember Stallone was the bigger star at the time. By the 90’s Arnold took his place, now looking back Arnold was doing better movies back then too.

This

How the fukk are you even trying to dispute this?

Sly was a much bigger star in the 80s, do you not know how massive Rocky/Rambo were? Arnold didn't overtake him until Total Recall and left him in the dust after T2 crushed the buildings.

 

[LeaveMyHairLineAlone]

How the fukk are you even trying to dispute this?

Sly was a much bigger star in the 80s, do you not know how massive Rocky/Rambo were? Arnold didn't overtake until Total Recall and left him in the dust after T2 crushed the buildings.

Why are you quoting me?

 

[Wargames]

How the fukk are you even trying to dispute this?

Sly was a much bigger star in the 80s, do you not know how massive Rocky/Rambo were? Arnold didn't overtake until Total Recall and left him in the dust after T2 crushed the buildings.

It’s because Arnold’s 80 films are better than Sly, but it’s easy to forget how Rocky and Rambo owned the 80’s. Especially if you wasn’t there.

There is a real conversation to be had about how Stallone just fell the fukk off once the 90’s hit. Even more than the fact Arnold got better in the 90’s.

 

[GilSho]

Why are you quoting me?

My bad dawg. I could've swore I saw someone post

That's embarrassing smh

 

[karim]

I feel like Stallone was bigger in the 80's and Schwarzenegger took his spot in the early 90's after Terminator 2. But I was a toddler back then, so I might be mistaken.

 

[MushroomX]

If we’re keeping it strictly ‘80s and being real then the answer leans heavily toward Arnold. Now don’t get it twisted, Rocky IV was a cultural bomb drop, no doubt. But take that one movie off Sly’s list? Suddenly his filmography looking like a bunch of gym montages and bandana cosplay held together by grunts and explosions.

Let’s talk impact: Arnold dropped The Terminator, Predator, Commando, Conan the Barbarian, and The Running Man all in the same damn decade. That’s sci-fi and action domination, and memeable one-liners for life all at once. Sly? You got Rocky III, Rocky IV, First Blood, and then... Cobra and Over the Top? Breh was out here arm wrestling for child custody like that belonged in the same tier as Skynet and Dutch vs. Predator.

Bottom line: Without Rocky IV to carry, Sly’s ‘80s catalog starts looking more like late-night filler, while Arnold was printing out box office hits and redefining the genre. One was building a cinematic legacy. The other was trying to sell America on Rambo sequels and fingerless gloves.

 

[GilSho]

It’s because Arnold’s 80 films are better than Sly, but it’s easy to forget how Rocky and Rambo owned the 80’s. Especially if you wasn’t there.

There is a real conversation to be had about how Stallone just fell the fukk off once the 90’s hit. Even more than the fact Arnold got better in the 90’s.

I think the fall off began before the 90s even hit. By the late 80s he had lost his juice and apart from Cobra, was relying on the Rocky/Rambo franchise while Arnold was dropping a cult classic like Twins that showed his versatility.

 

[Wargames]

I think the fall off began before the 90s even hit. By the late 80s he had lost his juice and apart from Cobra, was relying on the Rocky/Rambo franchise while Arnold was dropping a cult classic like Twins that showed his versatility.

He tried to do comedies but damn were they bad. Like Arnold knew how to lean into it and let the funny people do there thing. Sly was trying to “act” like he could tell a joke.

 

[BlackAchilles]

You could Argue Sly was the "bigger star" but I'm 100% taking Ahnuld's 80's filmography

Also I'll slightly disagree w/OP and say that his peak def extended into the early 90's w/T2 and True Lies

 

[Devil Plisken…CMS]

Arnold’s films aged better, but based on what I remember Stallone was the bigger star at the time. By the 90’s Arnold took his place, now looking back Arnold was doing better movies back then too.

A lot of people weren’t around. Coincidentally by 90/91 Arnold was the bigger draw

 

[Monoblock]

https://www.thecoli.com/threads/was-arnold-schwarzenegger-ever-the-number-one-star-in-hollywood.788514/

 

[The Intergalactic Koala]

Arnold is the Nasir Jones to Sly's Jay Z.

Both had bangers for that era, but one actually had people lined up while the other still spending money from 76

 

[Admiral Ackbar]

Arnold is more versatile.

 

[lamont614]

Predator >

 

[karim]

Bottom line: Without Rocky IV to carry, Sly’s ‘80s catalog starts looking more like late-night filler, while Arnold was printing out box office hits and redefining the genre. One was building a cinematic legacy. The other was trying to sell America on Rambo sequels and fingerless glgloves.

Maybe. But Rocky III and IV and Rambo II and III are the quintessential 80's movies. If somebody asked me to name a scene from a movie that epitomizes that decade, this would be my choice: