Today they are friends and partners on screen. But in the late 1970s, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger were far from such close friends. Their legendary rivalry began during a drunken evening in January 1977, when the Golden Globes were in full swing. And the inciting incident? A simple pot turned shell.
At this time, Stallone rose to the forefront thanks to the huge success of Rock, nominated in several prestigious categories. However, as the evening wears on, the rewards elude him one by one. A particularly bitter moment for the actor, especially since opposite him, Schwarzenegger, who is not yet a global star, who will become a Terminator, observes the scene with a mocking smile.
In an interview decades later, Stallone recalled that evening with humor. He said he was deeply disappointed after losing the Best Actor award: “When I lost for Best Actor, I was like, “Oh my God, this is a nightmare“, he said, specifying that he saw Arnold, who was clearly happy to defeat him. But in the end, that was it. Rock which leaves the Best Picture trophy and offers bitter revenge to its creator. Because of his emotions, Stallone picks up a pot full of lilies and tulips and throws it in the direction of his future colleague. Without knowing it, he had just paved the way for a decade of fierce competition.
“In the end, Rocky won the Best Picture award. I managed to grab a huge flower pot and threw it in his direction. There were lilies and tulips. I told myself the gauntlet was off. And this was the starting point of a 10-year struggle.“
In 1990, action stars Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, putting their rivalry aside, were photographed waltzing together in Cannes, France. pic.twitter.com/xOK36ruFqC
— History Videos (@historyinmemes) July 3, 2025
Fierce competition followed by friendship
In the 1980s, these two people became the main figures of action cinema. on the one hand Sylvester Stallone Plays iconic characters like Rocky Balboa and John Rambo. on the other hand Arnold Schwarzenegger Continues success with Conan the Barbarian, Predator or even terminator. Their battle to win the hearts of fans – as they discussed in 2023 on Netflix – is not limited to the box office: they also compete for muscles, hits and even advertising campaigns. A race of egos and testosterone that will mark Hollywood history.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone – Exercising on Venice Beach. 1980s pic.twitter.com/BlyrZn1Hqh
— History Defined (@historydefined) October 15, 2025
Only much later did they bury the two colossus Lukmas. Filming together in movies like Expendables or Escape, they formalize their reconciliation and show a beautiful complicity, far from animosity. Today, Stallone admits that rivalry was, in fact, a driving force. “We couldn’t wait to be in the same galaxy and today we realized that we are the same person“- he confided with a retreat.
happy birthday my friend @TheSlyStalone. You are a champion and a legend. You inspire me and billions of people around the world. pic.twitter.com/HImERzVsvg
– Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) July 6, 2024
The road from scattered flowers to strong friendship was long. But it spawned one of the most iconic contests in modern cinema.
You can find the duo at work in the Expendables saga or the film Escape , both available on VOD.
Source: Allocine

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.