Seth Rogen has ignited a debate among movie fans after dismissing much of Sylvester Stallone’s filmography. The comedian, best known for his stoner comedies and obnoxious laugh, the man who starred in Animal Farm just this year, claimed that the Hollywood icon has made only a handful of genuinely good movies throughout his nearly 60-year career.
The comments came during a recent appearance on comedian Ike Barinholtz’s Funny You Ask podcast. After Barinholtz noted the drastic shift in tone between First Blood and Rambo: First Blood Part II, Rogen joked that he would “expect more from our, like, our consulate from Hollywood.”
Donald Trump clasps hands with Sylvester Stallone – YouTube, SkyNews Australia
The remark was a reference to President Donald Trump’s decision to appoint Sylvester Stallone, Jon Voight, and Mel Gibson as special ambassadors to Hollywood early last year. However, rather than steering the conversation into politics, Barinholtz and Rogen instead used the opportunity to take aim at Stallone’s filmography.
How Many Good Sylvester Stallone Movies Exist?
Barinholtz asked what the “over/under” should be on the number of genuinely good Sylvester Stallone films. He suggested the answer might be around four. Rather than pushing back, Rogen appeared to agree and began ranking them.
“Number one, obviously, by far,” Rogen said, “is Demolition Man.”
Barinholtz suggested that Rocky should occupy the number two spot. The film famously won the Academy Award for Best Picture over Taxi Driver, Network, and All the President’s Men, while simultaneously launching Stallone’s career and creating one of cinema’s most enduring franchises. Rogen, however, argued in favor of Tango & Cash—before immediately undercutting his own choice by adding, “It’s not a very good movie.”
Sylvester Stallone in Demolition Man – Arrow Video, YouTube
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Although he acknowledged the popularity and cultural significance of the Rocky franchise, Rogen made clear that he simply does not care for sports films.
“I don’t give a sh– about any Rocky movie,” the Sausage Party star said.
Rogen Declares Schwarzenegger the Clear Winner
The conversation then shifted to the decades-old debate between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone.
“Schwarzenegger is in a hundred of the greatest movies ever,” Rogen claimed. “Stallone has no Terminator 2, you know what I mean? Or True Lies.”
Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa in a promotional image for Rocky IV – MGM/UA Entertainment
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The comedians acknowledged that both action stars have produced their share of misfires over the years. However, they argued that Stallone’s career contains a longer stretch of forgettable films. To be fair, Stallone himself has repeatedly admitted that projects such as Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot were major mistakes.
Still, Rogen’s criticism is likely to strike many movie fans as unusually dismissive given Stallone’s enormous cultural impact. Beyond creating and starring in Rocky, Stallone launched the Rambo franchise, earned Academy Award nominations as both an actor and writer, and successfully revived several of his most iconic characters decades after their original debuts.
Films such as First Blood, Cop Land, Cliffhanger, Rocky Balboa, and Creed remain highly regarded by critics and audiences alike. Even many of Stallone’s lesser films continue to enjoy cult status among movie fans.
A Comparison That May Not Favor Rogen
Meanwhile, a look at Seth Rogen’s own filmography paints a very different picture. While he has earned some critical acclaim and several Emmy Awards, Rogen largely built his career on raunchy comedies aimed at a specific generation and cultural moment. In recent years, he has increasingly shifted toward producing and adapting intellectual properties created by others.
Seth Rogen sits with Fozzie Bear in the Trailer for Muppets Now on Disney+ – YouTube, The Muppets
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His performance in the recent box office disaster Animal Farm was described by some critics as “unbearable” and “utterly destructive” to the viewing experience. More broadly, few of Rogen’s starring vehicles have demonstrated the lasting cultural influence or cross-generational appeal of Stallone’s biggest hits.
In terms of legacy and cultural resonance, very few performers in Hollywood history can compare to Sylvester Stallone. Even Stallone’s most notorious failures remain part of the broader conversation around American cinema and are often remembered with a degree of affection.
Whether the same will someday be said of An American Pickle or This is the End remains highly uncertain.
Ultimately, the question may not be whether Sylvester Stallone has made only four good movies—but whether Seth Rogen will ever make four films worth remembering.
What do you think of Seth Rogen’s remarks? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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