FIRST BLOOD
Before its sequels turned novelist David Morrell's character into a walking bicep with a machine gun attachment, the 1982 debut of the Rambo franchise was a far more intellectually stimulating affair. Essentially a US-set Vietnam confessional, it mixes the action you'd expect with the complicated character development that you wouldn't, Stallone rarely speaking at length until his final breakdown. A first-rate, taught action thriller that still doesn't quite get the respect it deserves.

ROCKY
Though regarded by some as meaningless feel-good schmaltz, 1976's Stallone-scripted triumph would be the greatest boxing movie ever if De Niro and Scorsese delivered the KO to Mr. Balboa four years later. Whether it deserved Best Picture over Network is still a matter of debate, but there's no doubt that Stallone delivers his finest dramatic work as the terrapin-petting, kind-hearted lug who loves his girl and just wants to be a contender – even if he doesn't necessarily always win.

DEMOLITION MAN
In a world where alcohol, caffeine, contact sports, meat, swearing, sex and guns are disallowed, Stallone and Snipes heap a couple of portions of satire on their usual healthy dose of action. Stallone sends himself up like never before, Snipes behaves like The Fifth Element's Ruby Rhod with a machine gun (and a seriously bad attitude) and Bullock enjoys one of the gruntiest, creepiest, funniest 'sex' scenes in cinematic history. What's more, it contains some of the best Schwarzenegger / Stallone banter out there, with the alarmingly prophetic – perhaps? – reference to the Schwarzenegger Presidential Library...