In The Late 80S Sylvester Stallone Turned Down A Massive Payday To Make A Rambo Sequel

When asked the most he was ever paid for a role, Stallone dodged the question and provided an answer to an even more interesting one: the biggest check he ever turned down. “I turned down $34 [million],” said Stallone. He went on: “We were doing ‘Rambo III.’ We thought it was going to be the biggest hit — this was before it came out. And I was paid a fortune for it. Then they go, ‘We want ‘Rambo IV.’ Here it is: Pay or play, 34.’ I go, ‘Let’s not jump the gun here …’” “Rambo III” came out back in 1988, which means that’s roughly the equivalent of turning down $85 million in 2022 dollars, an insane movie star salary for a single role, even in a blockbuster sequel. And it seems that Stallone still regrets the decision, at least a little bit: “For real. That’s not a joke. Oh boy, what an idiot. Now I think about that and … wow.” Stallone’s reluctance to do a third “Rambo” sequel meant that the “Rambo IV” didn’t end up happening, at least not until 2008 when the legacy sequel “Rambo” came out. By that time it’s a safe bet that Stallone didn’t make anywhere near $34 million for the film, which he also co-wrote and directed. He’s seen his fair share of huge paydays, but Sylvester Stallone still remembers the $34 million he walked away from back in his 1980s heyday.