Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger spent almost 20 years trying to outdo each other in Hollywood. Both actors are titans of action cinema and were determined not to fall behind one another.
Their competition became so intense that they could not even share a stage to give a speech or make an announcement. Now, Stallone has explained what finally shifted their relationship and helped end their long-standing feud.
Speaking on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast on 5 November, the actor revealed that things began to change when Arnold decided to leave Hollywood competition behind to enter politics. He won the election and remained in office until 2011.
This meant the two actors were no longer vying for the same film roles. Reflecting on that time, Stallone said, "I said, enough of this.
We're not in competition." However, he admitted that Arnold pushed him to work harder, thanking him for that extra motivation, noting that Arnold felt the same way. The shift in their dynamic allowed them to move past the bitterness that defined the 1980s and 1990s.
During those decades, the two stars were constantly compared by critics and fans alike, fueling a fire that kept them at odds. Stallone noted that the transition from rivals to friends was a gradual process that required both men to acknowledge their mutual respect.
By the time they reunited on screen, the industry had changed significantly. The era of the singular action hero had evolved, and their collaboration was seen as a major event for cinema fans worldwide.
They later appeared together in The Expendables in 2010 and collaborated on several more films thereafter, cementing a friendship that replaced their former hostility.