Here’s a bold statement: Some movies are so iconic, they’re practically untouchable. And yet, Hollywood keeps trying to remake them—often with disastrous results. But here’s where it gets controversial: Are Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone’s classics truly beyond redemption, or is there a way to revisit these stories without tarnishing their legacy? Let’s dive in.
Last weekend, director Edgar Wright and star Glen Powell faced a harsh reality when The Running Man—despite its buzz—bombed at the box office, pulling in a mere $17 million domestically and $11 million internationally. While the team went to great lengths to distance the film from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1987 version (technically, it’s another adaptation of the book), it’s just the latest example of big-budget remakes of Arnie and Sly’s films falling flat. Remember Total Recall and Conan the Barbarian? Exactly. You’d think Hollywood would’ve learned its lesson by now, but apparently, some wounds need to be reopened—repeatedly.
And this is the part most people miss: While Schwarzenegger’s classics are (thankfully) getting a break from remakes for now, Stallone’s iconic franchises aren’t so lucky. Next year, we’re getting not one, but two Stallone-less continuations of his beloved series. First up is a gender-flipped Cliffhanger remake starring Lily James, and then there’s a Rambo prequel directed by Sisu’s Jalmari Helander, with Noah Centineo stepping into John Rambo’s boots. On paper, Cliffhanger sounds like the riskier bet, but I’d argue the Rambo prequel is the one that could truly backfire.
For starters, Stallone is still deeply passionate about the character and has been pushing for his own prequel for years. Excluding him feels like a slap in the face. Remember how seamlessly he passed the torch to Michael B. Jordan in the Creed movies? That’s how it’s done. Jordan didn’t play Rocky—he created his own legacy as Adonis Creed. Centineo, on the other hand, will be playing John Rambo. That’s a tough act to follow.
Here’s where it gets even trickier: The prequel is set during the Vietnam War, a period whose complexities and controversies are still debated today. Helander’s previous work, like Sisu, thrives on straightforward ‘good vs. evil’ narratives—Nazis and Red Army Soviets as clear-cut villains. But the Vietnam War? That’s a moral gray zone. The original Rambo films, especially First Blood, are more nuanced than people remember. They’re not just shoot-’em-ups; they’re character studies of a man broken by war. A ‘fun’ Young Rambo movie feels like a missed opportunity. As Helander himself promised, this version will be ‘less dark’—but is that what Rambo needs?
Of course, there’s always a chance Helander could pull it off. Centineo is a solid actor, and the Creed series proved that respectful reboots are possible. But outside of Creed, these remakes haven’t worked. So, the question remains: Should Hollywood keep trying, or are some legacies better left untouched? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments. Are you excited for these new takes, or do you think they’re doomed from the start? And more importantly, what’s the secret to a successful remake? Let’s debate!
