Arnold Schwarzenegger Opens Up About ‘Nasty’ Rivalry With Sylvester Stallone — How One Idea Ended the Feud

In the fiercely competitive world of 1980s action cinema, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone were the reigning titans, locked in a rivalry that was as personal as it was professional. Now, in a candid June 2025 interview on Sirius XM’s Radio Andy, Schwarzenegger has admitted to engaging in “nasty things” during their peak feud, which included both verbal jabs and calculated moves to undercut each other’s careers. Yet, one business venture would ultimately thaw their animosity and set them on a path to friendship.

Schwarzenegger described the rivalry bluntly: “We were attacking each other and doing nasty things and saying nasty things about each other.” One infamous incident involved Schwarzenegger tricking Stallone into starring in the 1992 film Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot—a project widely expected to flop, which it did, leaving a blemish on Stallone’s resume. This stunt was featured in the 2024 special TMZ Presents: Arnold & Sly: Rivals, Friends, Icons and epitomized the cutthroat nature of their feud.

Reflecting on the competition, Stallone himself acknowledged its impact in the same special: “Finally, something to motivate me. Because he is, dare I say it, competition, a threat, whatever word you wanna use. As soon as I saw him, it was like bang, two alphas hitting.” Schwarzenegger concurred, noting the rivalry pushed both men to new heights in their careers.

The animosity was most intense during the 1980s, when both actors were solidifying their status as box-office giants. Schwarzenegger candidly referred to Stallone as his “enemy” during that time, emphasizing how their clashes often resembled a “war” of words and actions.

The turning point arrived in the early 1990s with the launch of the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain in 1991. Schwarzenegger recalled collaborating with business partners Robert Earl and Keith Parish to create the franchise, recognizing it as a “good idea” to bring Hollywood’s biggest stars—including Stallone—under one roof. Their shared lawyer played a pivotal role, suggesting Stallone join the venture. Schwarzenegger saw this as an opportunity to end the “craziness” of their feud.

Planet Hollywood, which also included stars like Bruce Willis, Whoopi Goldberg, and Chuck Norris, forged a shared business interest that helped mend fences. By the 2000s, the rivalry had cooled significantly, paving the way for friendship and professional collaboration.

Their newfound camaraderie was showcased in joint film projects such as Escape Plan (2013) and the Expendables franchise, where the two legends acted side-by-side. These collaborations underscored how their intense competition had ultimately benefited both careers, fostering respect and partnership.

From bitter rivals to business partners and friends, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone’s story is a testament to how even the fiercest feuds can evolve — sometimes sparked by one good idea.