Every Movie Sylvester Stallone Has Directed, Ranked According To IMDb

Sylvester Stallone is one of the most diverse talents in Hollywood history. Although he’s logged more than 80 acting credits since his screen debut in 1969, Stallone’s work as a writer and director often gets overlooked. After writing his first screenplay for Rocky in 1976, Stallone has penned roughly 25 feature film scripts and directed eight of them, to date.

Stallone is poised to make his first foray in directing television on a TV pilot currently in pre-production called The International. The dramatic action series stars Stallone’s Rocky IV costar, Dolph Lundgren, as a secret agent working as security at the United Nations.

8 Staying Alive (1983) 4.7

The lowest-rated film Stallone directed in his career is Staying Alive, the sequel to the runaway disco hit, Saturday Night Fever. The film resumes the story of Tony Manero (John Travolta), now on a mission to prove himself on Broadway.

Tony trades his disco dancing in Brooklyn for a teaching gig in Manhattan, as he tries to climb the ranks of the Broadway theatrical circuit. He polishes his image, plays by the rules, yet still struggles to find footing in an ultra-competitive profession as a theatrical dancer.

7 Paradise Alley (1978) 5.8

Following the massive success of Rocky in 1976, Stallone used his clout to write, direct, and star in Paradise Alley, a gritty drama about three Italian-American brothers struggling to make it 1940s New York.

Stallone plays Cosmo Carboni in the film, the eldest of three siblings with different callings in life. Cosmo is a small-time hustler, Lenny works as an undertaker, and Victor sells ice on the streets for a living. As the three navigate the daily grind, Cosmo opens the underground Paradise Alley wrestling club, where he and Lenny train Victor to be the best fighter in Hell’s Kitchen.

6 The Expendables (2010) 6.5

Stallone rounded up an all-time great geriatric action ensemble for The Expendables, a throwback action flick starring the biggest genre stars of the 80s and 90s. In addition to writing and directing the original, Stallone also wrote the two franchise sequels.

Stallone stars as Barney Ross, a brusque Central Intelligence Agent who recruits a team of badass mercenaries to assassinate a South American monarch and a rogue CIA veteran. When plans go awry, an all-out royal rumble ensues.

5 Rocky III (1982) 6.8

After Rocky won Best Picture and became the most lucrative movie of 1976, Stallone took ownership of the franchise like few others. He wrote, directed, and starred in the next three sequels. In Rocky III, Stallone recruited popular wrestling stars, Hulk Hogan and Mr. T.

The story finds Rocky in a state of unmotivated complacency in the wake of fame and superstardom. When he suffers an embarrassing defeat at the hands of Clubber Lang (Mr. T), Rocky turns to his former foe, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), to train him in the wake of Mickey’s (Burgess Meredith) death.

4 Rocky IV (1985) 6.9

With such iconic lines from Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) as “I must break you” and “If he dies, he dies,” Rocky IV has become a fan-favorite among the three-decade franchise.

Following the in-ring death of his best friend Apollo Creed, Rocky feels personally responsible for not throwing in the towel. To avenge Apollo’s death, Rocky comes out of retirement, trains in snowbound Russia, and fights the genetically-enhanced Russian terror, Ivan Drago, on his home turf during the Cold War.

3 Rambo (2008) 7.0

Other than Rocky Balboa, Stallone is the most synonymous with John Rambo, the Vietnam War vet who was introduced in First Blood in 1982. Stallone played the character thrice under someone else’s direction before helming a chapter on his own.

Rambo finds the titular character in seclusion in Thailand, where he lives a stress-free life of leisure. But when Rambo agrees to escort two missionaries into war-torn Burma, he becomes embroiled in a violent military attack that calls for him to rescue kidnapped missionaries and restore order to the region.

2 Rocky Balboa (2006) 7.1

Prior to passing the torch to Adonis Creed in the spinoff franchise, Stallone capped-off his 30-year run as everyone’s favorite boxer in Rocky Balboa, a contemplative character piece that drew some of his highest praise as writer, director, and performer.

Beat up and broken down, Rocky agrees to a 10-round exhibition bout with the brash Mason Dixon (Antonio Tarver), who is 30 years younger. Stallone uses his wily knowledge in the ring to overcome his physical limitations and prove once again who’s the King of the Ring.

1 Rocky II (1979) 7.3

The second film Stallone directed ranks as the highest in his career to date, as per IMDb. Rocky II sets up the anticipated rematch between Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed after the latter won by a split-decision in the first film.

Balboa’s toughest challenges are always outside of the ring, as he works to foster his romance with Adrian (Talia Shire) while taking a job in a meat-packing plant. When Apollo calls Rocky out for a rematch to prove his superiority, Rocky accepts the challenge and goes toe-to-toe with Creed until the final count of the 15 round bout.