Sylvester Stallone's Overlooked Gems: 'Cobra' and 'Nighthawks'

While Sylvester Stallone is widely known for his iconic roles in the lsquo;Rockyrsquo; and lsquo;Ramborsquo; series, there are a few other films that received less attention but still showcase the actor's versatility and range. lsquo;Cobrarsquo; and lsquo;Nighthawksrsquo; are two such gems that were often overshadowed by the more mainstream success of his other projects.

Cobra (1986)

lsquo;Cobrarsquo; is a 1986 American action film directed by George P. Cosmatos and written by Sylvester Stallone, who also stars in the title role. The film is a tough, gritty story where a tough-on-crime street cop must protect the only surviving witness to a strange murderous cult with far-reaching plans. The film stars Stallone alongside Reni Santoni, Brigitte Nielsen, and Andrew Robinson.

The film is based on the novel lsquo;Fair Gamersquo; by Paula Gosling, and was later adapted into another film in 1995. However, Stallone's screenplay was inspired by his ideas during the pre-production of lsquo;Beverly Hills Cop,rsquo; which he eventually revised to become a more action-oriented film. Interestingly, when Stallone left that project, Eddie Murphy was brought in to play the lead role.

Reception and Cult Classic Status

lsquo;Cobrarsquo; received negative reviews, primarily due to its overuse of genre tropes and excessive violence. However, it made a significant impact on the box office, debuting at the top spot in the U.S. and earning a total of $49 million in the U.S. and $160 million worldwide. The film has come to be considered a cult classic, especially among Stallone fans who appreciate his foray into a more serious, gritty role.

A Personal Take

Interestingly, even Stallone puts down this movie, although his reasons for doing so are not clear. However, those who have seen it tend to find it quite funny with a great supporting cast. One notable aspect of the film is the cute opening credits sequence with an animated man singing opera, which adds a unique twist to the film.

Nighthawks (1981)

Following the release of lsquo;Cobra,rsquo; Stallone delved into another lesser-known but highly praised film, lsquo;Nighthawksrsquo; (1981), where he played a cop. Unlike many Hollywood 80s action films, lsquo;Nighthawksrsquo; has more gritty realism without the typical lsquo;comic striprsquo; he-man content. This gritty realism is likely the main reason the film isn't as well-known as other Stallone films like lsquo;Tango and Cash,rsquo; lsquo;Cobra,rsquo; or the lsquo;Ramborsquo; series from that decade.

Why These Films Are Forgotten

The films lsquo;Cobrarsquo; and lsquo;Nighthawksrsquo; serve as a reminder of Stallone's diverse talent and the complexity of the era in which they were made. While lsquo;Rockyrsquo; and lsquo;Ramborsquo; brought him mainstream success, these less-known films showcase a different side of his acting capabilities, drawing from real-life police work and challenging the lsquo;comic striprsquo; stereotype of action heroes.