Two critically-panned Sylvester Stallone sequels have seen their reputations improve over time, newly-compiled data shows. The Tulsa King star is still going strong into the 2020s, cashing in on the legendary status he attained largely in the 1980s, and largely thanks to his pair of cash-machine franchises, Rocky and Rambo. Though Stallone’s two signature series were always big hits with audiences, critics frequently had misgivings about his Rocky and Rambo sequels, as both franchises evolved to become bigger, splashier and less grounded in reality.

But at least two of Stallone’s initially-maligned sequels have seen an upward critical reᴀssessment in recent years, with both Rocky IV and Rambo: First Blood Part II receiving more acclaim over time, as shown in data compiled by Stat Significant. Using ratings collected by MovieLens, the statisticians show that Rocky IV has seen a 26% increase in positive appraisal, while Rambo II has gone up by nearly 21%. The site notes that, on average, a film declines 4% in popularity in the 20 years after its release.

What This Means For The Legacies Of Rocky IV And Rambo II

Stallone Has The Last Laugh (Again)

The original narrative around the Rocky series held that the first film was a rightfully acclaimed drama, the first sequel was mostly worthy, and each of the next two films pushed the series in a cartoonish direction, before the franchise was killed by Rocky V (though it was not actually ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, of course).

A similar narrative developed around the Rambo movies. First Blood was the grounded, realistic one with emotional punch, but Rambo: First Blood Part II was over-the-top and ridiculous, more a Stallone ego-vehicle than anything, and the next sequel, Rambo III, killed the franchise (which, again, proved not to be true).

Stallone got the last laugh on his critics when both Rocky and Rambo made comebacks in the 2000s. He gets to laugh again as the data demonstrates that Rocky IV and Rambo II are highly regarded among those who came to the movies years, even decades, after they were initially savaged (but both still made a lot of money).

Our Take On Rocky IV And Rambo II Being Reappraised Upward

They Were Always Underrated As Movies

Data shows a shift in the narrative around both Rocky and Rambo. Rocky IV is now seen as a solidly entertaining movie with an all-time villain, that packs its own emotional wallop thanks to the death of Apollo Creed (a development given much greater significance with the release of Creed). Rambo: First Blood Part II, meanwhile, is seen as a super-violent action classic, with ripped Stallone in full flower.

Removed from the cultural context in which they were released, both Rocky IV and Rambo II fare a lot better as movies. Both films were, in their own way, Cold War movies that were seen as pushing over-simplified, pro-Reagan political agendas. No one today cares about the politics of either movie, however, and the Cold War trappings are now just part of their appeal as quaint cinematic antiques. Rambo II‘s violence was worried over in its day, but now its insane goriness is just par-for-the-course.

Backlash against Stallone for becoming an egomaniac superstar who cared more about his muscles than his acting also played a part in diminishing critical returns for both of his career-defining franchises. Today, Stallone is a beloved icon, whose ‘80s star posturing is seen as amusingly silly, rather than offensive (it was even joked about in Barbie). Viewed through the lens of nostalgia, Rocky IV and Rambo II are no longer crude-minded, politically dubious, ego-driven displays of clout, but solidly-crafted, entertainingly over-the-top showcases for a legendary action hero, who was hilariously shameless in showing off his ripped physique and superstar swagger.

Source: Stat Significant