Sylvester Stallone: Why Modern Action Movies Have Lost Their Edge

Sylvester Stallone, the legendary action star who helped define the genre in the 1980s and ’90s, has a clear gripe with the direction modern action movies have taken. In his view, the era of relatable, gritty heroes like John Rambo and John McClane is fading fast, replaced by flashy superheroes and impossibly skilled protagonists powered by CGI and spectacle.

In a candid 2022 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Stallone lamented the shift away from “handmade” action films—movies grounded in physicality and human grit rather than supernatural powers and bombastic visual effects. “Great action movies are like buying a vintage watch,” he said. “Originally it was $35, and now it’s $35,000. Why? Because it’s handmade… It was something a unique human being could achieve.”

Stallone cites First Blood as a prime example of this old-school action ethos. The film’s protagonist communicates through body language and tension rather than words or CGI flourishes. “There’s not one CGI shot,” Stallone said, emphasizing the authenticity that made those films special and memorable.

While he acknowledges that some recent action movies like Tom Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick and the Mission: Impossible sequels carry the torch of “true action heroes,” Stallone points out these are big-budget, nostalgia-driven franchises rather than fresh, original stories. Mid and low-budget action films, like Taylor Sheridan’s Hell or High Water or Jason Statham’s macho thrillers, have become rare.

There are exceptions, of course. George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road and the upcoming Furiosa show that visceral, human-driven action still resonates when done right. But the dominant trend remains the reign of caped superheroes and larger-than-life super agents, which Stallone finds frustratingly distant from the grounded heroes of his heyday.

Stallone’s frustration also extends to the overwhelming use of CGI in many contemporary action films, which he believes dilutes the emotional connection audiences feel with characters. According to him, much of today’s action cinema offers fleeting spectacle rather than lasting impact—a sentiment many fans echo, especially when it comes to Marvel and DC blockbusters.

Yet, there’s hope. Stallone and fans alike look to creators like Taylor Sheridan, whose work on shows like Yellowstone has attracted a broad and engaged audience craving more grounded, character-driven stories. Films like Jeremy Saulnier’s Rebel Ridge hint at the possibility of a return to the type of action films where heroes feel real and relatable.

In an era dominated by CGI and superhero epics, Stallone’s call to return to authentic, human action heroes strikes a nostalgic chord. Whether the industry will answer remains to be seen, but for now, the iconic star reminds us what made classic action movies truly special: raw, tangible courage and characters you could believe in.