Sylvester Stallone Considered Quitting Action Movies After Cop Land

When you think of prototypical action stars, Sylvester Stallone is going to top some lists. With iconic characters like Rocky Balboa, Rambo, and many more, he made a name for himself within the genre, so it's hard to imagine action movies without his performances. However, Stallone nearly left those characters and senseless action movies behind after starring in James Mangold's "Cop Land."

During a 2010 interview with GQ, the outlet asked Stallone if he'd ever considered leaving Rocky and Rambo behind, to which the actor surprisingly responded, "Oh totally. Many times. After 'Cop Land,' I actually made a declaration: 'I am done with action films!' Like I'm moving on to a world of ... in action [laughs]."

While Stallone will never listen to anyone who says being an action star is easy work, he admits that "Cop Land" kicked his butt more than most of his projects. "I had to give up all my armor," he said, revealing the role forced him to feel confident in his biggest insecurities. While he could rely on his physicality for other projects, the crime drama brought out his emotional side, reminding him of repressed childhood memories.

All too often, Hollywood dismisses action movies, and Sylvester Stallone, the legendary action star he is, sees it more often than anyone, and he's tired of it. During his interview with GQ, the actor gave an interesting take, stating there wouldn't be a movie industry if it weren't for action movies.

"Action films are dismissed as 'filler,' when they provide the money for 'artistic films' to be financed," Stallone pointed out. "And when the time comes to give recognition, it's dismissed. 'It's not filmmaking per se.' Oh, it is. I've done 'Cop Land,' and I've done action films, and it's very hard to do a good action film."

According to Stallone, dramatic movies flow at relatively the same pace throughout their run time, and as long as it moves the audience by the end, they've done their job. On the other hand, action movies' pacing has to progress throughout the entire feature, building until it reaches its climax. Not only that, but the industry judges the action genre on many other factors. "If the action film doesn't perform, it derails itself. It can be too top-heavy with action, not enough action, the characters are not there," Stallone listed off, admitting that while most of the movies aren't on par with the legendary directors of Hollywood, the industry wouldn't be where it is without him and his fellow action stars.