Sylvester Stallone has detailed the behind-the-scenes resolution of his famously contentious feud with fellow action icon Arnold Schwarzenegger, explaining how Schwarzenegger's transition into politics and a chance meeting at a cigar shop finally ended their fierce competition. During an appearance on the November 5 episode of "The Rest Is Entertainment" podcast, hosted by Marina Hyde and Richard Osman, the 80-year-old actor reflected on the hostility that defined their relationship throughout the 1980s and 1990s as both men battled for box-office supremacy.

According to Yahoo Entertainment and The Charlotte Observer, Stallone described the rivalry as lasting approximately 20 years, while Entertainment Weekly characterizes it as a 20-year feud. Regardless of the exact duration, the animosity between the two leading men was so severe that it prevented them from collaborating on film projects or even standing next to one another during joint business ventures.

A Bowl of Flowers and Box-Office Battles

The friction between Stallone and Schwarzenegger, 79, began early in their careers as both actors sought to establish themselves as the undisputed leader of the action-movie genre.

Speaking on the podcast, Stallone recalled that the pair were naturally antagonistic and physically competitive from the start. According to Page Six, Stallone realized Schwarzenegger was "going to be a problem" after catching the "Terminator" actor giving him dirty looks at the Golden Globes one year. At their subsequent meeting, Stallone retaliated by throwing a bowl of flowers at him.

"I made like I was celebrating, like, 'yay,'" Stallone explained on the podcast. "And the gauntlet was thrown, and it was on."

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the off-screen animosity fueled a box-office arms race. Stallone headlined major hits within the "Rocky" and "Rambo" franchises, while Schwarzenegger countered with "The Terminator" series, "Predator," and "Commando." Both actors actively baited one another with scripts they deemed inferior while attempting to outdo the other on screen.

"It was very contentious, trust me, which I enjoyed," Stallone said, as reported by the Daily Mail.

"Because the madder I made him, the madder he made me, the more we fought to make the next action film — bigger knife, louder gun, more body count, this and that, better location."

Refusing to Share the Stage

The professional jealousy frequently bled into their off-screen obligations and prospective collaborations. Stallone noted that the tension prevented the duo from teaming up on a proposed comedy with the late filmmaker John Hughes, a project in which the two stars were slated to play neighbors.

Even when their financial interests aligned, the actors kept their distance. In 1991, both Stallone and Schwarzenegger joined the group of celebrity founders and investors launching the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain. Despite their shared stake in the business, Stallone admitted they could not tolerate sharing a promotional platform.

"We couldn't get on the same stage together to make a presentation or a speech," Stallone recalled during the podcast interview.

Politics and a Cigar Shop Truce

The turning point in the decades-long standoff arrived in 2003, when Schwarzenegger stepped away from Hollywood to run for Governor of California, an office he won and held until 2011. Media accounts emphasize slightly different aspects of how the truce was ultimately finalized. According to Entertainment Weekly and Newsmax, Schwarzenegger's departure from the film industry to pursue politics was the primary catalyst that thawed the relationship, prompting Stallone to realize they were no longer vying for the same roles.

Meanwhile, Page Six and the Daily Mail highlight a personal encounter at a cigar shop as the moment the two men officially buried the hatchet. When Stallone ran into Schwarzenegger at the shop, he recognized that the movie rivalry was over.

"I said, 'Enough of this. We're not in competition,'" Stallone recounted, noting that Schwarzenegger was no longer making movies at the time.

The two shared a cigar and expressed mutual gratitude for how the feud had driven their respective careers. "All right. Thank you very much for waking me up, lighting a fire under me. And he felt the same way," Stallone said.

From Rivals to Co-Stars

Once the hostility subsided, the pair transitioned into close friends and frequent on-screen collaborators. Schwarzenegger made an uncredited cameo appearance in Stallone's 2010 action ensemble "The Expendables," before taking on larger roles alongside Stallone in "The Expendables 2" (2012) and "The Expendables 3" (2014). The two also co-starred as prison inmates in the 2013 thriller "Escape Plan."

Looking back on their history while promoting the fourth season of his series "Tulsa King," Stallone noted that while the financial competition between them is long gone, a natural competitive spirit remains.

He also reflected on the severe physical toll of that era's action filmmaking, recently telling Fox News Digital that his stunt work on 2010's "The Expendables" ultimately resulted in nine back operations, three neck fusions, and surgeries on both shoulders.

For Stallone, the decades of trading blows at the box office with Schwarzenegger represent a bygone era of cinema. "It's something that'll never happen again, where you have two actors in the same genre, literally going for it — on-screen, off-screen," he concluded.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did the cigar-shop reconciliation take place?

While Stallone linked the end of the feud to Schwarzenegger's 2003 run for Governor of California, the exact date and location of their meeting at the cigar shop were not specified during his podcast appearance.

Which movies did Stallone and Schwarzenegger make together after ending their feud?

After resolving their differences, the two actors appeared together in four films during the 2010s: "The Expendables" (2010), "The Expendables 2" (2012), "Escape Plan" (2013), and "The Expendables 3" (2014).

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