Stallone Says Schwarzenegger Feud Ended in Politics
Sylvester Stallone said his long-running rivalry with Arnold Schwarzenegger ended once Schwarzenegger left show business for politics.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Openings & Closings
Sylvester Stallone said on the podcast Rest Is Entertainment that his feud with Arnold Schwarzenegger ended when Schwarzenegger pivoted to politics. The two actors, both now in their late 70s and 80s, went on to co-star in several films after the rivalry faded.
Why it matters
The rivalry between two of the 1980s and 1990s biggest action stars played out both on and off screen, with each pushing the other toward bigger productions. Stallone's account shows how a career change can reshape a long-standing professional relationship.
Stallone is 80 years old and Schwarzenegger is 79, and the two actors' rivalry lasted about 20 years before it was resolved. The exact date of the podcast appearance and the specific moment the feud ended were not provided.
The players
Sylvester Stallone
Stallone is an American actor and filmmaker best known for the Rocky and Rambo franchises and the Expendables series, who has spoken publicly about his long-running rivalry with Schwarzenegger.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American actor and former bodybuilder who went on to serve as governor of California, and who co-starred with Stallone in several action films after their feud ended.
The details
Stallone made the remarks on the podcast Rest Is Entertainment, recounting how the two co-owned the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain and repeatedly failed to share a stage or land a joint project, including a proposed John Hughes film casting them as neighbors. He said the turning point came when Schwarzenegger shifted from films to politics in the early 2000s, including a California gubernatorial run, and recalled later telling him at a cigar shop that he had lit a fire under him.
Timeline
- 1980s and 1990s: Stallone and Schwarzenegger are top box office draws and rivals.
- Early 2000s: Schwarzenegger leaves show business for politics and runs for California governor.
- 2012 to 2014: The two co-star in Expendables 2, Escape Plan, and Expendables 3.
Industry Dynamics
The Stallone-Schwarzenegger rivalry defined the 1980s and 1990s action film boom, when the two competed for top box office and pushed each other toward bigger productions. Their later collaborations on the Expendables films show how that competition gave way to a reunion as their careers shifted.
The Expendables films and Escape Plan, which Stallone and Schwarzenegger co-starred in from 2012 to 2014, remain available to stream and rent for viewers seeking the pair's joint work. Viewers interested in the rivalry's history can find the films through standard digital and physical release channels.
The takeaway
A shift in career direction can dissolve a long rivalry, as Stallone's account suggests when Schwarzenegger left films for politics. That turn ultimately opened the door to the actors working together again.
Further reading
Explore more Openings & Closings coverage for business context on this story.
