Sylvester Stallone reveals what finally ended his 20-year rivalry with Arnold Schwarzenegger
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Sylvester Stallone has opened up about his long-standing rivalry with fellow action star Arnold Schwarzenegger, recalling how their fierce competition shaped their careers throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
The actors eventually put their decades-long rivalry behind them when Schwarzenegger decided to run for governor of California. Stallone reflected on how their professional competition pushed them both to improve before they eventually developed a close friendship.
Sylvester Stallone recalls his rivalry with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1980s and 1990s
During a recent appearance on 'The Rest Is Entertainment' podcast, Stallone discussed whether his competition with Schwarzenegger influenced his career and encouraged him to take professional risks.
The 80-year-old actor acknowledged that it did, describing their relationship as highly confrontational because both wanted to establish themselves as the leading figures in the action genre.
Stallone explained that he had never initially intended to become an action star. However, after making 'First Blood', he recognized the potential of action films, comparing well-executed stories in the genre to modern mythology and ancient epics such as 'The Iliad', 'The Odyssey', and the stories of Hercules and Achilles.
Recalling his first impressions of Schwarzenegger, Stallone said he immediately recognized him as a potential competitor. He remembered encountering the actor at the Golden Globe Awards, where Schwarzenegger was giving him what he described as a 'stink eye'. Stallone recalled thinking, 'Okay, all right. I got it, pal,' before Schwarzenegger went on to win.
The competition continued as the two actors attempted to establish themselves as Hollywood's leading action stars. Stallone made 'Rambo', while Schwarzenegger starred in 'Commando', with their professional rivalry extending both on and off screen.
Stallone described their relationship as contentious but admitted that he enjoyed the competition because both actors were physical performers who constantly challenged each other.
Their rivalry continued even after they became business partners in the movie-themed restaurant chain Planet Hollywood in 1991. Stallone revealed that despite their association, they would not even get on stage together to deliver a speech.
How Arnold Schwarzenegger's political career ended his rivalry with Stallone
Stallone explained that their rivalry was not resolved until approximately 20 years later, when Schwarzenegger decided to run for governor of California. Recalling an encounter at the same cigar place, Stallone said he decided it was time to put their competition behind them.
He remembered telling Schwarzenegger, 'Enough of this. We're not in competition anymore.' Stallone explained that Schwarzenegger was no longer pursuing movies, adding that he appreciated how their rivalry had pushed him to improve.
During a PaleyFest NY 2026 panel on Saturday, October 10, Stallone reflected on their friendship while discussing his crime comedy-drama 'Tulsa King'. Comparing their relationship to the dynamic between his character Dwight Manfredi and Frank Grillo's rival mob boss Bill Bevilaqua, Stallone described the connection as one built on camaraderie and mutual respect.
Grillo had described the characters' relationship as having an 'ebb and flow', explaining that they did not necessarily trust each other but sometimes needed one another. Stallone agreed, saying that the two characters shared similarities and that their adversarial relationship reflected real-life dynamics.
He added, 'It's like me and Schwarzenegger. We're good friends now. We've gotten mellow.'
Executive producer Terence Winter also discussed the importance of conflict in dramatic storytelling, praising the on-screen chemistry between Dwight and Bill and describing their partnership as 'magic'.
