Sylvester Stallone says the secret upside of a career rival is that they keep you moving forward

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Amanda Goh

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Sylvester Stallone, 80, said his rivalry with Arnold Schwarzenegger pushed him to keep raising the bar.

On Saturday's episode of "The Interview," Stallone reflected on the competitive relationship he had with Schwarzenegger for years before the two became friends.

Stallone and Schwarzenegger became defining action stars of the 1980s, leading blockbuster franchises that helped define the decade.

The "Rocky" star said he quickly recognized Schwarzenegger as a formidable competitor.

"He was a challenge," Stallone said, describing Schwarzenegger as an "immovable force" who was more calculated and shrewd than his own direct, "blunt force" style.

Stallone said he saw himself as more of a thespian, while Schwarzenegger came to Hollywood as a bodybuilder. As Schwarzenegger began winning awards, Stallone said he realized they would be challenging each other for years to come.

"Sure enough, we did. We're just going at each other, which turned out to be fantastic," Stallone said.

Although Stallone said he was "regretful" about some of the things he said about Schwarzenegger in the past, he added that they "antagonized" each other in a creative way.

"I was a thorn in his side. He was a thorn in my side," Stallone said. "But it just forced us to keep moving — higher, bigger guns, louder movies, more action, more bodies, everything — until I think we really carved out a niche that'll never quite come around again: that certain '80s over-the-top action genre that he and I sort of pioneered."

Stallone said their relationship brought out a side of each of them that few others could, and that it was not rooted in hatred.

"I dream about him. It's like I'm on his mind. He's on my mind," Stallone said. "It's very rare."

They later worked together on "The Expendables." Stallone said Schwarzenegger also invited him to a political event, which helped the two grow closer.

"At first I thought, come on, actors in politics? This is oil and water, because actors are very, very self-absorbed, and politicians, if they're really good, should be just the opposite, publicly absorbed," he said.

"But he was definitely sincere about it," Stallone added.

Both actors have revisited their famous feud in recent years, including in the 2024 TMZ special "Arnold & Sly: Rivals, Friends, Icons."

In the TMZ special, Stallone and Schwarzenegger said their rivalry began to take shape at the 1977 Golden Globes, where Schwarzenegger won best newcomer and "Rocky" won best picture. Stallone recalled throwing a bouquet of flowers toward Schwarzenegger that night.

Schwarzenegger said he did not initially see the incident as the start of a battle, but as Stallone's career continued to grow, he said he felt he had to catch up, and their competition intensified.

In the TMZ interview, Schwarzenegger also said he saw Stallone as a motivating force.

"Well, there's no two ways about that. He was very helpful in my career because I had something that I could chase," Schwarzenegger said.

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Amanda Goh

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Amanda is a senior lifestyle reporter at Business Insider's Singapore bureau.Her reporting explores how people navigate major life transitions, including career changes, relocation, and retirement, with a particular focus on the experiences of those living in Asia. She also writes about travel, culture, wellness, and relationships.In 2025, she won the Singapore Press Club's Rising Stars Young Digital Journalist Award.She previously worked as a writer and video producer at a content marketing agency in Singapore. She graduated from the University at Buffalo with a BA (Hons) in Sociology.