Stallone Reveals How His Long-Running Rivalry With Schwarzenegger Began

Hollywood action stars Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger have since become close friends, but their relationship once involved fierce rivalry, heated exchanges and even a flying bowl of flowers.

Stallone, 80, revisited the origins of their decades-long feud during an appearance on Thursday’s episode of The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, recalling how both actors were determined to dominate the action movie genre.

He said tensions began when Schwarzenegger repeatedly gave him dirty looks at the Golden Globes. At a subsequent encounter, Stallone responded by throwing a bowl of flowers at his rival, turning their rivalry into an open challenge.

Their competition extended beyond personal encounters as the pair battled for box-office success with films such as Rambo and Commando. Stallone said the rivalry pushed both men to make increasingly ambitious action films, with bigger weapons, louder explosions and more elaborate settings.

Their differences even affected promotional appearances for Planet Hollywood, the restaurant chain they helped launch in 1991.

The hostility eventually faded after Schwarzenegger entered politics and became California governor in 2003. Stallone recalled meeting him at a cigar shop, where they settled their differences over a cigar.

The former rivals have remained good friends since.