SummaryFor nearly 50 years Sylvester Stallone has entertained millions with iconic characters and blockbuster franchises, from Rocky to Rambo to The Expendables. This retrospective documentary offers an intimate look at the Oscar-nominated actor-writer-director-producer, paralleling his inspirational underdog-story with the indelible characters he has b... Read More
Directed By:Thom Zimny
Written By:Aidin Sayar Sarie
Sly
Metascore
Generally Favorable
62
User score
Generally Favorable
6.6
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
59% Positive
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
41% Mixed
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Sep 18, 2023
80
Throughout the film, he’s so calmly but blazingly articulate, so candid about the processes of moviemaking and his strengths (and weaknesses) as an actor, so wise about the meaning of his own stardom, that I realized, with a touch of embarrassment, a prejudice I’ve been carrying around for 47 years. Deep in my reptile brain, I still think Sylvester Stallone is Rocky.
Nov 2, 2023
75
While there is certainly still much that you feel like you want to know about Stallone at the end when it all neatly wraps up, Sly manages to be a documentary befitting of its subject with unexpected poignancy and just enough revelations to land some key punches before dancing away with a one-of-a-kind smile.
User score
Generally Favorable
67% Positive
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
17% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
17% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
Apr 7, 2025
7
This documentary reveals a side of Sylvester Stallone that few know - a surprisingly introspective and wise thinker who is a master of language and storytelling. It focuses perhaps a bit too much on his Rocky and Rambo franchises, but is still an excellent companion piece to the Schwarzenegger biopic series, also on Netflix.
Nov 19, 2023
7
As a documentary it works well enough to describe the actor Sylvester Stallone, in his own words, avoiding anything that seems like egomania. Those who will surely be most pleased are his followers.
Sep 17, 2023
75
Mostly, it’s Stallone who impresses here, as a disarmingly open and self-aware icon whose hardest lessons have left a mark on him.
Nov 3, 2023
65
There are a few talking heads, including some sincerely powerful stuff from Sly's brother Frank, but Zimny wisely lets Sly be the focus. His control of the narrative might mean the film is narrow in its scope, but by the time the credits roll, like a "Rocky" movie, you'll be begging for a sequel.
Nov 3, 2023
60
As a movie, Sly is something of a mess. But as a portrait of a messy man, it can be quite moving.
Nov 3, 2023
55
Sly possesses value as a pop-culture record, letting an influential talent tell their story to those weaned on their work. Compared to the best of that fertile genre, though, it’s more of a lightweight than a genuine contender.
Oct 30, 2023
40
Zimny could have mined some more intimate profundity from Stallone’s determined political fence-sitting, the reluctance of a born entertainer to alienate any faction of his fandom with vocal partisanship.
Nov 11, 2023
5
Infelizmente "Sly" não consegue penetrar com mais intensidade nas intenções e subjetividades de um Stallone professando monólogos super à vontade, e talvez por isso a desenvoltura em narrar seus percalços cinematográficos: sentimos o "personagem" domas as rédeas de toda a condução do documentário.
Assim, não há aqui um confronto que possa nos fazer estremecer um pouco mais avidamente da cadeira, tampouco um fio condutor que vá além da linha cronológica dos filmes. E mesmo a descrição de como o Rocky surge, parece um tanto quanto superficial.
Ainda assim, apoiado pelas imagens que o imortalizaram, é um filme para relembrar a cinematografia de um grande astro, revisitando momentos marcantes do cinema e, quem sabe, estimulando-se para uma revisita. Com méritos, ao menos o documentário é linear e de fácil assimilação para reconstituir a linha do tempo.
No mais, achei super estranho a não inclusão da era "Creed". O que aconteceu aqui, afinal?
Production Company:
- Balboa Productions
- Netflix
Release Date:Nov 3, 2023
Duration:1 h 35 m
Rating:R
Tagline:Meet the man behind the hero.
Awards
Critics' Choice Documentary Awards
• 1 Nomination
Michigan Movie Critics Guild Awards
• 1 Nomination
