Sly’s Sorry Slate: 9 Movies Stallone Wishes He Never Made!

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Sylvester Stallone‘s acting career spans from the iconic Rocky and Rambo series to numerous other acclaimed roles. A aspiring actor would envy such a resumé. Remarkably, he has managed to stay relevant for nearly five decades – something most celebrities can only dream of achieving. His films have raked in billions at the box office, earning him not one but two Oscar nominations. Additionally, his television endeavors have been equally successful, with Tulsa King being hailed as one of the top shows of the 2020s.

Just like any other person, Stallone has experienced his fair share of less-than-stellar moments. Although it might not be apparent, he’s made more films that flopped than succeeded, and he holds the record for receiving an impressive 40 Razzie nominations – a testament to this fact. The Razzies even honored him as the Worst Actor of the Decade in the 1990s and Worst Actor of the Century. Despite the criticism, Stallone acknowledges that there are certain movies he wishes he hadn’t made. Contrary to many who boast about their entire body of work, Stallone openly admits that not every film was a triumph for him.

7
‘Judge Dredd’ (1995)

Keen on getting a character similar to the Terminator, Sylvester Stallone swiftly agreed to take on Judge Dredd when the role was presented to him, even though he had not previously read the comic books it was based upon. The movie centered around a group of “Judges” who functioned as both law enforcers and judges, along with their jury and executioner duties, unfortunately turned out to be one of his less successful films in his career.

So Serious?

The film “Judge Dredd” has the seed of potential, as it tackles significant themes such as police misconduct and genetic engineering. However, its brilliance seemed to fade as it was molded into another typical Sylvester Stallone action movie. In an interview with Uncut, the actor admitted his remorse, commenting that the film “fell short of what it could have been,” and that it “should have been more comic, genuinely humorous, and enjoyable.” Fortunately, comic enthusiasts received a more satisfying cinematic adaptation several years later featuring Karl Urban.

6
‘Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot’ (1992)

Everyone recalls Sergeant Joseph Andrew Borowski as the part that Sylvester Stallone was unwittingly convinced to take on. At that time, Arnold Schwarzenegger feigned interest in portraying the cop whose overzealous mother is determined to accompany him during his crime-fighting escapades. The film “Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot ” left a significant blemish on Stallone’s acting record, and the actor acknowledges that it was a significant error.

Stop! Or You’ll Ruin Your Career

The film “Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot” isn’t entirely a terrible watch. There’s some amusement in watching the mother attempt to shoot, but the humor falls flat and the action star seems to long for another location. During an interview with AICN, Stallone mentioned this movie as one he regrets making. It’s intriguing that Schwarzenegger could sense the odor from afar.

5
‘Oscar’ (1991)

In the ’90s, it was an excellent period for actors aspiring to portray gangsters, and that’s exactly what Sylvester Stallone did. However, the script demanded him to be comedic instead of ruthless, a role that didn’t sit well with both fans and critics. The film “Oscar,” which revolved around a mobster trying to honor his pledge to go legitimate, unfortunately didn’t perform well on any front due to this shift in character portrayal.

No Oscar for ‘Oscar’… Not Even Close

It’s surprising that the film “Oscar” didn’t succeed, given it was made by renowned director John Landis, known for his work on “The Blues Brothers.” Regardless, something went wrong during production. Stallone believes the movie wasn’t well-received because it represented a too abrupt shift from his “Rambo” character, according to an interview with Comicbook.com. Fortunately, Sylvester Stallone would eventually find success in the gangster genre again by portraying the stylish Dwight Manifredi in “Tulsa King.

4
‘D-Tox’ aka ‘Eye See You’ (2002)

According to the 1999 novel “Jitter Joint” by Howard Swindle, the movie “D-Tox” tells the story of an FBI Agent (portrayed by Sylvester Stallone), who is grappling with PTSD following a gruesome murder he witnessed. He decides to seek help at a rehabilitation facility for law enforcement personnel situated in the isolated wilderness of Wyoming. However, just as he’s trying to recover, a serial killer emerges and begins to terrorize everyone there.

A Messy Production

From the beginning, Stallone noticed ominous indications. The initial producer departed, which in turn eroded the studio’s confidence. Consequently, the movie was put on hold for more than a year before it finally saw the light of day.

The film seemed to reek of impending doom. If you cared to look above, it appeared as though vultures were circling, symbolizing our demise, as we lay helplessly on the cold, hard floor of the distributor.

From a positive perspective, it was intriguing to witness a more defensive Stallone, rather than the usual offensive role he often plays. Moreover, the movie’s deep dive into mental health sets it apart and elevates it above similar films in its genre.

3
‘Rhinestone’ (1984)

It’s hard to accept that Sylvester Stallone appeared in a musical, alongside Dolly Parton. Contrary to many of her successful projects, this particular collaboration didn’t become popular. The film, named “Rhinestone,” takes its title from the 1975 hit song “Rhinestone Cowboy” by Larry Weiss. The plot revolves around a country singer who teaches a taxi driver to sing, so they can perform together as a duo.

Singing Sly

The Golden Raspberry Award recognized the film “Rhinestone” as the “Worst Musical of the Previous 25 Years.” Critics pointed out its questionable song selections, poor lead chemistry, and overall lack of redeeming qualities. Sylvester Stallone expressed his regrets about it, confessing to AIC that it deviated from his expectations, shattering his internal “corn meter,” and admitting that he would have made many changes if given the chance.

Notably, in the book “Reel Power: The Struggle for Influence and Success in the New Hollywood,” Fox executives imply that Sylvester Stallone was responsible for the chaos, as they claim his persistent requests to alter large parts of the script ultimately led to a plot that fell apart entirely.

2
‘Driven’ (2001)

Sylvester Stallone’s effort to create his own adaptation of Days of Thunder didn’t resonate well with audiences. The movie Driven, which revolved around a young racing prodigy aiming to claim the long-defunct CART FedEx Championship Series auto racing title, was a financial disappointment, earning significantly less than its $72 million production cost.

Didn’t Quite Cross the Finishing Line

Similar to numerous other films featuring Stallone that didn’t fare well, Driven struggles with storyline inconsistencies, prioritizing snappy dialogues and exhilarating race scenes over narrative depth. While it’s not without its appeal, the experience isn’t particularly lasting, which is a disappointment for Stallone. Car enthusiast Jay Leno, known for his expertise in automobiles, even listed this among the worst car-themed movies ever produced.

1
‘Get Carter’ (2000)

In a move that leaves some perplexed, Sylvester Stallone boldly chose to re-create one of the most iconic British gangster films. However, we can’t deny his self-assuredness, as he believed he could surpass the performance given by Michael Caine in the ’70s. Thus, a new adaptation titled “Get Carter” was born. This film revolves around a ruthless gangster who harbors doubts about his brother’s reported death in a car accident. Consequently, he embarks on an investigation to uncover the truth.

Carter’s Financial Woes

In “Get Carter,” earnings fell short of a third of its production cost, leading some critics to question Sylvester Stallone’s enduring popularity. However, it must be said that Stallone delivers an impressive performance in this movie, though his talent was somewhat overshadowed by a mediocre, run-of-the-mill script. Later on, Stallone himself admitted to The Hollywood Reporter that he regretted the film due to its subpar screenplay.

Through experience, I’ve discovered that remakes, no matter how superior they may be, are often overshadowed by the strong sentimental attachment people have towards the original versions. Unfortunately, this sentiment doesn’t always translate into quality production.

Accurate sentiments! The actor has wisely stayed away from remakes since then.

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2025-01-18 03:02