Sylvester Stallone has long since been known as one of the most iconic action movie stars of all time. The actor has made countless classic action movies over the years, including, perhaps most notably, the Rambo franchise (the last installment of which released in 2019). Stallone is also known for his sports action Rocky films, the first of which is the subject of a highly anticipated new film I Play Rocky, which tells the story of the making of the movie.
The 1980s and 1990s were arguably Sylvester Stallone’s golden years (although the actor is still in plenty of high profile projects, including the popular series Tulsa King). One film that Stallone released in the 1990s (1993 to be specific) is Cliffhanger, which was directed by Renny Harlin and costars John Lithgow, Michael Rooker, and Janine Turner.
Cliffhanger tells the story of Ranger Gabe Walker, a mountain climber who becomes embroiled in a highly ambitious plane heist of a U.S. Treasury aircraft. Stallone goes up against Eric Qualen, a former British intelligence officer who is leading the heist of the plane. The plane eventually crashes, leading the money to be spread all throughout the area, which sets up a dramatic confrontation between Walker and Qualen.
Cliffhanger received generally positive reviews from critics, and has since gone down as one of Sylvester Stallone’s most underrated films, and one that was arguably overshadowed by his many other projects at this point during his career. Cliffhanger has remained a popular film ever since its release over thirty years ago, and looks set to be found by new viewers as it debuts on Netflix in the U.S. this week.
Again, because of the success of some of Stallone’s other projects, such as the ones in which he plays characters like Rocky Balboa or John Rambo, Cliffhanger has never quite received the recognition it deserves. Yet, it remains an action thriller classic, and one that deserves its place among some of the best films in the genre in the era it was released in.
Cliffhanger is an action classic, and remains an action classic over thirty years later, in large part because it has almost everything that makes the genre so enticing in the first place. There’s plenty of breathtaking stunt work, amazing action set pieces, and a predictably charismatic performance from its leading star.
What makes the film, which was originally set to star David Bowie, particularly impressive is how realistic it feels, too. What happens in the story feels both tangible and practical, which adds a real sense of danger to the proceedings. In turn, the audience truly feels like they are in the action along with Sylvester Stallone, which is something that all of the best action movies have in abundance.
Fans of the original Cliffhanger will be happy to know that the film is being remade, with the new project set to release in Spring of next year. The film focuses on a new cast of characters and doesn’t follow the story of Stallone’s Ranger Walker, although Stallone was once attached to the project, but eventually dropped out. Instead, another mountaineer named Naomi Cooper takes center stage, and the plot focuses on her as she comes into contact with a dangerous group of kidnappers.
Like the original, the new Cliffhanger film also has a star-studded cast as well. Cooper is played by Lily James (best known for her roles in Downton Abbey, Disney’s Cinderella reboot, and Edgar Wright’s Baby Driver), and she’s joined by former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan and Nell Tiger Free. The latter plays Cooper’s sister, who is also caught up in the suspense of the story.
Cliffhanger, directed by Renny Harlin, follows former ranger Gabe Walker as he confronts his past on a treacherous peak. Initially returning to aid stranded climbers, Walker discovers they are hijackers searching for lost money, complicating an already perilous rescue mission.
