Film credit
Sylvester Stallone
Also referred to as Sly Stallone, Stallone, Slash the Lone, Sly
Stats
- Episodes featuring their films
- 14
- Movies in this archive
- 16
Rewatchables episodes featuring Sylvester Stallone’s films
Creed
2015 film
Bill Simmons · Wesley Morris · Sean Fennessey · K. Austin Collins
Aired March 14, 2018
Mentioned in discussions
Who Won the Movie?
Arm wrestling
In the discussion (2)
- Arm wrestling wins because the film remains the sport’s dominant cultural reference. — Bill Simmons
- Stallone is rejected; Tyson Bagent is only a counterfactual belated possibility, and Golan-Globus lose on the film’s financial failure. — Bill Simmons
Podcast choices
- Bill Simmons
- Arm wrestling
What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?
Hawk ornament; mud flaps; signed cap; Bangor shirt
In the discussion (4)
- The signed black cap is considered; it reportedly went from Stallone to Hagar and later sold for charity. — Bill Simmons
- The truck’s hawk ornament is a preferred choice. — Kyle Brandt
- The passing-side/suicide mud flaps are the other chosen truck collectible. — Kyle Brandt
- Hurley’s Bangor shirt is another option. — Kyle Brandt
Apex Mountain
Golan-Globus; arm wrestling; Bob Beattie; annoying children of divorce; Rick Zumwalt; Sammy Hagar; motor-oil drinking
In the discussion (12)
- Stallone is rejected. — Bill Simmons
- Golan-Globus are affirmed in their prolific Cannon heyday. — Bill Simmons
- Arm wrestling is an unquestionable yes, with the movie’s association persisting decades later. — Kyle Brandt
- Divorce films are rejected in favor of Kramer vs. Kramer, with Mrs. Doubtfire personally affecting. — Bill Simmons
- Bob Beattie receives a definite yes. — Bill Simmons
- The Vegas Hilton probably had larger boxing moments; Terry Funk is rejected. — Bill Simmons
- Evil Loggia is placed at Scarface, while this grandfather is defended as potentially the good party. — Bill Simmons
- Annoying children of divorce and Rick Zumwalt receive affirmative answers. — Kyle Brandt
- Truck driving loses to the late-1970s era, with Smokey and the Bandit and Convoy among comparisons. — Bill Simmons
- Sammy Hagar receives an emphatic yes around his Van Halen debut period; the podcast’s same-year chronology is not independently verified. — Bill Simmons
- Las Vegas is rejected. — Bill Simmons
- Drinking motor oil is affirmed as a memorable, reckless gimmick. — Bill Simmons
What’s Aged the Worst?
Kidnapping; Stallone’s acting; score; Hawk/Hawks; Brut slogan
In the discussion (5)
- The henchmen’s attempted kidnapping feels like forced action inserted to give Stallone a chase and punches. — Kyle Brandt
- Stallone’s subdued acting and interview scenes feel like an effort-free payday. — Bill Simmons
- Giorgio Moroder’s credited music contribution seems hard to discern amid the prominent songs. — Bill Simmons
- The inconsistent Hawk/Hawks surname, including the letters, is distracting. — Kyle Brandt
- Brut’s “smells like a man” branding is dated, alongside memories of competing colognes. — Kyle Brandt
The most GIFable moment
Stallone turning his cap backward
In the discussion (1)
- Stallone turning his cap backward before facing the Smasher is the clear choice. — Kyle Brandt
What’s Aged the Best?
Self-bet; bad dialogue; tournament; Hurley; Loggia; songs; Cannon credit; SNL; Grizzly; truck workout; funeral trope; father admiration
In the discussion (11)
- Lincoln betting all $7,000 from his truck sale on himself is admired. — Bill Simmons
- The cholesterol-poisoning exchange is enjoyed for its terrible dialogue. — Bill Simmons
- Tournament structure and Rick Zumwalt’s imposing Bull Hurley casting work well. — Kyle Brandt
- Evil Robert Loggia is a strength. — Bill Simmons
- The Hagar music video and a Golan-Globus production credit promise enjoyable excess. — Bill Simmons
- The SNL sketch in which Norm Macdonald mocks Stallone’s movies after an accident is recommended. — Bill Simmons
- Larry Greene’s opening song is considered underrated and better than Meet Me Half Way. — Bill Simmons
- The repeated double-elimination explanations, strap and John Grizzly’s eccentric performance remain enjoyable. — Bill Simmons
- The truck’s exercise apparatus remains a childhood favorite, despite likely producing an uneven physique. — Bill Simmons
- Arriving midway through a funeral, silently dropping flowers and leaving is enjoyed as an absurd recurring movie convention. — Bill Simmons
- A child watching an estranged father do something impressive captures a powerful emotional experience. — Kyle Brandt
Most Rewatchable Scene
Final tournament
In the discussion (19)
- Lincoln’s first diner arm-wrestling match, with cap turn and the over-the-top move, starts the rewatchable action. — Bill Simmons
- The Smasher’s wildly intense dialogue is a standout in the diner sequence. — Kyle Brandt
- Hurley’s challenge after the match and threats about Vegas are highlights. — Bill Simmons
- Most father-son scenes are rejected, although the child attempting to drive is mildly entertaining. — Bill Simmons
- Mike’s arcade match is a candidate, with an intimidating older opponent and an initially crushing defeat. — Bill Simmons
- Lincoln’s “world meets nobody halfway” speech is enjoyed despite skepticism that it could change the outcome. — Kyle Brandt
- Mike’s comeback is a memorably absurd upset after only two days of training. — Bill Simmons
- Lincoln arriving at the grandfather’s mansion to retrieve Mike is the next nominated scene. — Bill Simmons
- Lincoln crashing his truck through the grandfather’s gates and property is enjoyable excess, ending with five officers arresting him. — Bill Simmons
- Winner Takes It All and the tournament montage transform the movie’s final 35minutes. — Bill Simmons
- The documentary-style interviews supply memorable boasts, including Lincoln’s cap switch, Bosco’s engine metaphor and Hurley’s “second sucks.” — Bill Simmons
- The straps, double-elimination rules and visible elbow injury make the tournament’s world exciting and dangerous. — Kyle Brandt
- Lincoln rejects the grandfather’s money and throws Terry Funk through glass doors in the hotel suite. — Bill Simmons
- Lincoln’s earlier loss and rematch with Grizzly add vulnerability before his comeback. — Bill Simmons
- Lincoln defeats Grizzly and Mad Dog Madison before the disputed Bosco semifinal. — Bill Simmons
- Bosco’s quick defeat after grip and shoulder disputes is confusing because he protests that he was not ready. — Bill Simmons
- The final strap raises the stakes, followed by a bloody nose and Hurley’s repeated threats. — Kyle Brandt
- Stallone’s exaggerated facial strain helps sell an activity with limited visible movement. — Kyle Brandt
- The tournament’s final 30minutes are the decisive rewatchable choice, with Hagar’s song essential to the appeal. — Kyle Brandt
Half-Assed Internet Research
Stallone’s critique and fee; budget; injury; ending reconciliation; Wetton recording; casting; mansion; Razzies; Zumwalt; real tournament
In the discussion (13)
- Stallone later distanced himself, saying he would use an urban setting, omit pop music and make the Vegas finale more ominous. — Bill Simmons
- Stallone reportedly accepted a record $12 million after his agent’s attempted rejection of a $10 million offer backfired into a higher bid. — Bill Simmons
- The reported budget is about $25 million including Stallone’s fee, against $16 million earned; Mannequin beat it on opening weekend. — Bill Simmons
- The elbow injury reportedly occurred unexpectedly to a real German champion during tournament filming; his transcript name is uncertain. — Bill Simmons
- Loggia can be seen in the distant final shot, suggesting reconciliation despite little explanatory dialogue. — Bill Simmons
- John Wetton reportedly originally recorded Winner Takes It All before Hagar replaced him to provide more aggression. — Bill Simmons
- Zumwalt reportedly received $10,000 to shave his head and kept the look. — Bill Simmons
- The grandfather’s mansion reportedly also served as the Clampett home in The Beverly Hillbillies. — Bill Simmons
- Mendenhall won Razzies for supporting actor and new star; Stallone lost worst actor to Bill Cosby in Leonard Part 6. — Bill Simmons
- Zumwalt reportedly achieved sobriety, helped people with substance problems and died of a heart attack in 2003. — Bill Simmons
- A real international tournament was staged for the film, culminating in an 18-hour Vegas competition; Stallone filmed his material afterward. — Bill Simmons
- Randy Raney played Mad Dog Madison and later fought Stallone in Rambo III. — Bill Simmons
- The real truckers-class champion won a truck and trailer worth roughly $250,000 and reportedly inspired Lincoln; the transcript’s name is uncertain. — Bill Simmons
Who Won the Movie?
Ryan Coogler and Sylvester Stallone: 2–2 panel tie
In the discussion (1)
Just One Oscar
Ryan Coogler after initial Stallone preference
In the discussion (1)
- One Oscar: Stallone is the initial preference, but Coogler is argued for because the film’s success was unlikely in other hands; the initial speaker explicitly changes his mind. — Bill Simmons
Apex Mountain
Michael B. Jordan; jawn in cinema; Paulie’s absence; Creed films; real boxers in movies
In the discussion (3)
- Apex rejects Coogler and Thompson; Jordan receives explicit yes after Black Panther is considered. Jawn is affirmed within cinema.
- Apex: Bellew’s championship is preferred, but another suggests the film for wider recognition; Stallone is rejected. Paulie’s absence is jokingly the peak. HBO 24/7 receives a qualified could-be discussion, not firm consensus.
- Apex: Tone Trump’s episode prominence is joked about, then qualified by community work; Lampley and Kellerman are rejected. Creed movies and real boxers acting in films receive explicit affirmative selections. — Van Lathan
Half-Assed Internet Research
Philadelphia locations; Rocky callbacks; flag trunks; muscle gain; Bellew’s title
In the discussion (4)
- The uninterrupted Leo–Donnie fight is nominated; the panel names its cinematographer and reports thirteen takes with the eleventh used. — Bill Simmons
- Jordan reportedly told Bill he took a real punch for the eleventh-round knockdown at Stallone’s insistence, continuing a franchise tradition; the Leo fight is reiterated as aged best. — Bill Simmons
- Philadelphia research identifies Victor’s Cafe as Adrian’s, Front Street as Mighty Mick’s gym location, and Max’s as the cheesesteak restaurant. — Bill Simmons
- Research: the cannot-sing-or-dance shirt references Rocky’s skating date; Stallone requested the flag trunks; Paulie’s grave gives 1940–2012; Jordan gained 24 pounds of muscle and learned boxing; Bellew won a cruiserweight title months later. — Bill Simmons
Films in the archive
Cliffhanger
1993
Cobra
1986
Cop Land
1997
Creed
2015
Daylight
1996
First Blood
1982
Last Action Hero
1993
Over the Top
1987
Rambo: First Blood Part II
1985
Rocky
1976
Rocky II
1979
Rocky III
1982


