Sylvester Stallone’s Best Acting: First Blood Vs. Rocky

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Many people consider Sylvester Stallone’s performance in Rocky to be his best. The film famously won Best Picture at the Academy Awards, and he received a Best Actor nomination as well. However, despite how great he is in Rocky, some argue that he’s delivered even stronger performances in other roles.

Stallone is often overlooked as a truly skilled actor. Many people primarily know him for his action roles, but his strongest performance actually allows him to demonstrate his talent for more dramatic acting.

First Blood Features Stallone’s Best Acting

While Sylvester Stallone was excellent in Rocky, he’s arguably even better in First Blood. Though First Blood – the first Rambo film – is primarily an action movie, and those don’t always showcase strong acting, Stallone’s performance still stands out.

Although First Blood is known for its action, it’s also a thoughtful look at the struggles of veterans with PTSD. The film stars Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo, a Vietnam War veteran who faces hostility from law enforcement in a small town. Ultimately, he’s forced to use his training to defend himself.

Although the action and revenge are exciting parts of the movie, the most important aspect is seeing Rambo deal with post-traumatic stress disorder. The powerful final scene shows Rambo emotionally breaking down as he explains the challenges he’s faced since coming home from the war.

This man is incredibly reliable when it comes to handling important military equipment, but he struggles to maintain a simple job in civilian life. The resulting emotional collapse is devastating, and Stallone delivers a powerfully honest and convincing performance. You completely buy into everything his character does, making it a truly outstanding portrayal.

Stallone’s Second Best Performance Is In The Rocky Spin-Off

While Sylvester Stallone is famous for his role as Rocky in the original 1976 film, many believe his second-best performance came when he revisited the character decades later. In the 2015 movie Creed, he reprised his role as Rocky Balboa, offering a new take on the iconic boxer.

As a huge boxing movie fan, I really loved Creed. It centers around Adonis, the son of Apollo Creed, and watching him train with and learn from Rocky was fantastic. But honestly, it was Sylvester Stallone’s performance that really stood out. The connection he has with Michael B. Jordan feels incredibly genuine, and it made their mentor-protégé relationship totally believable.

Stallone delivers a particularly moving performance in Creed when portraying a character facing a cancer diagnosis. The film explores his grief as he becomes the last of his close circle and grapples with the death of his wife, Adrian, from the disease.

Stallone’s Rocky is a fantastic film, but First Blood is where he truly shines. Creed is also a strong contender and nearly as impressive.

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2026-02-15 22:00