Cobra - The Best Movie You Never Saw

Welcome to The Best Movie You NEVER Saw, a column dedicated to examining films that have flown under the radar or gained traction throughout the years, earning them a place as a cult classic or underrated gem that was either before it’s time and/or has aged like a fine wine.
Based on the column created by Paul Shirey and currently written by Chris Bumbray for JoBlo.com, this video version of the column features narration by Bumbray and editing by Lance Vlcek. For our tenth episode, we take a look at COBRA, starring Sylvester Stallone!
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#SylvesterStallone #Cobra #RamboLastBlood

[@truthbetold9092]

"I'll blow this place up!" "Go ahead... I don't shop here"

[@rickybobby8879]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@johncap7201]

Classic and had glasses on the whole time lol

[@adrienrelongoue760]

"You're a disease and I'm the cure."

[@christiphergarmendia8196]

Lol

[@stt5v2002]

Movies mentioned as coming out around the same time: Rocky 4, Back to the Future, Top Gun, Rambo. Other movies that came out in 1986: Platoon, Aliens, The Fly, Star Trek 4. What a golden age of movies.

[@trikkerman1]

The year of 1984 has a bunch of great movies.

[@grantmcgowan8399]

1987 is my all time favourite year for movies..

[@CapitanJusticia]

Also 'Transformers: The Movie' came out in 1986. Another cult classic!

[@robdcollector2808]

Steven Turner .80s was the decade of cool movies and cartoons..now its all downhilll

[@kirilcherry7612]

@@grantmcgowan8399 1987 my favorite year for albums too- Slippery When Wet hit no.1 (released 1986), Hysteria (no.1), Whitesnake album, Megadeth Peace Sells Who's Buying chcarts etc, Depeche Mode's Music for the Masses, Joe Satriani's Surfing with the Alien, Aerosmith's Permanent Vacation et

[@jf_paes1589]

I absolutely love the aesthetic of Cobra, both the whole movie and his character's costume/design, the mannerisms, behaviour and atitude are just the cherry on top. A lot of people would call it cheesy, but I genuinely think he looks cool as hell.

[@ruthlessaggressionguy2033]

It’s definitely cheesy, but it’s still slick and cool, and makes for a cult classic

[@doctorthirteen5727]

The man cuts his pizza with scissors. SCISSORS.

[@irobu]

That's the best part of the movie...everytime I clean my barreta I eat left over pizza. Only difference is I live in miami beach instead of venice beach.

[@ConnorSings23]

David Tennit for life!! Only way i could tell you that sorry to ruin the video XD

[@doctorthirteen5727]

@@ConnorSings23 You like David Tennant but spell his last name wrong? Weak...

[@HumanimalChannel]

Fun fact. Scissors are an awesome kitchen utensil for cutting so many things including meat. I wish I ate pizza. Suddenly i want to cut some up with scissors.

[@joshruiz809]

That '50's Mercury he drove was so badass. Great movie as well!

[@Jokker505]

Stallone owns it. He designed it for the movie, but it was stolen from his home back in 94. Then he found it again in an auction and settled with them after a lawsuit. That bad boy is like $250 k.

[@adrienrelongoue760]

Old is Gold

[@obikenkenobi30]

The '80's were amazing for movies. So many HUGE blockbusters and cool shit came out back then. I miss those days.

[@alteredstateskustom]

I still have the VHS copy! This movie perfectly represents the action movie genre at the time Classic Stallone

[@lunarmodule6419]

Keep it for ever and ever and...

[@royvandedonk2429]

Cool... I have Demolition man... Sly is the best... He was the inspiration for Kung Fury.

[@alteredstateskustom]

Roy Van De Donk that’s true

[@keithpatrick156]

I've got the DVD. This was a great time for movies ('84-'86)

[@kristianopd9447]

As a teenager I watched this film over and over.. it’s not a great film, but it has a great style & look to it. With Stallone playing a supercool character 😎 Love it !

[@robdcollector2808]

Kristian ...yes..i remember as a kid saying how cool Stallone looked! He was like judge dredd without the cosfume!

[@CorbCorbin]

Your the disease, I’m the cure.

[@HighSpeedNoDrag]

Back on the Block!

[@HighSpeedNoDrag]

Nothing wrong with that.

[@kellyweingart3692]

the stallone impression is hilarious

[@ryandeffley7652]

You're a disease and I'm the cure. One of the best one liners EVER.

[@CoinOpTV]

I own the Cobra knife - bought it after seeing the movie as a kid!

[@johncap7201]

I got the glasses in my Jersey Shore party years lol

[@kenwaid8239]

Me too. There are inexpensive versions out there, but I, and assume you,have the original Japanese one, with a medallion mounted on it, with either a demon face, or the word Fury with a delta below.

[@darwinespinoza3440]

This is the reason I eat pizza the way I do now because of how he ate pizza in the film. Love this movie

[@robdcollector2808]

Darwin Espinoza ...i remember he cut like a 1/3rd of the pizza and ate it..not sure why i remember that as a kid

[@penske_material]

@@robdcollector2808 he cut it with scissors

[@EmersonWilkes]

✂ 🍕 👍

[@jimcameron1234]

because of this movie i discoverd Pizza

[@HeatherJinmaku]

I actually saw this in the theater as a teenager (yeah, old). It’s a real time capsule of a movie.

[@Delmo5]

I saw it opening day twice! I was an 18 year old college student at the time.

[@glavasmarko]

...my mom took me to see the movie back when I was a kid, expecting to see the regular action Stallone movie... went out crying when Cobretti hooked him up at the end.

[@STONESGAM]

Stallone's biggest crime was never making a sequel to this. I want more of this character. This movie was a cool and unique mix of a cop film like Dirty Harry and also an 80's slasher horror film. It had a cool 80's soundtrack too. Sly also looked real cool in this movie. The opening scene in the supermarket was one of the best ever. It also has many great one liners. It actually might be my favorite movie.

[@billtree52]

Tango and Cash is pretty great too, Demolition Man is a masterpiece

[@jaymorrison8419]

Action Jackson

[@mzbm10]

I used to watch this movie a lot when I was a kid. My family and I had HBO growing up and they used to play this movie all the time. This movie scared the lights of out of me. Brian Thompson was so frightening to me as a child. It definitely a good 80's movie.

[@Tat2dDude67]

I'm old enough to have seen this in the theater at the time. It is a unique entry in Stallone's filmography and - thanks to this video - I'm off to stream it now.

[@bluebomber81]

Funny timing on this, because just yesterday, in the psychobabble of my mind, Stallone's line near the end of the film, " This is where the law stops, and I start, " randomly popped into memory. So, I can safely say, I've seen this film more than once or twenty times.

[@StillTheVoid]

Rip George P. Cosmatos. Thank you for providing your contribution to the action film genre.

[@karatefella]

His co-stars Reni Santoni and Andrew Robinson were both in the original Dirty Harry movie. Coincidence ? I don't think so !

[@mic187x2]

Also Audrie J Neenan who played the lesbian gang member in Sudden Impact played a New Order gang member in Cobra.

[@TheLAGopher]

Cobra was essentially a remake of Dirty Harry on 80s steroids. Reni Santoni and Andrew Robinson are sort of a spiritual connection between the films. Reni is once again the partner of the toughest guy on the force and Andrew ironically goes from a rooftop sniper spree killer/kidnapper in the first film to Police Lieutenant bureaucrat getting in the way of Cobretti dealing with an 80s serial killer. Both Dirty Harry and Cobra are reactionary films to high crime and urban decay of their eras. Both are seen as necessary evils by their superiors and given the dirtiest jobs. The difference is Dirty Harry is so disgusted with the system, he throws away his detective badge at the end of the film. While for Cobretti, it's just another day on the job.

[@kamuelalee]

All roads in late 20th century action movies tend to lead back to one source: Clint Eastwood!

[@Rambo-Gaming]

This is one of my all-time favorite Stallone action movies. Fun fact about Brian Thompson: Brain played Shao Khan in "Mortal Kombat: Annihilation".

[@BigBadJerryRogers]

The most fun fact about him is he was killed by both Stallone in this and Arnold in the first Terminator.

[@ryanthompson1244]

It's worth watching for the supermarket scene alone. When Cobra/Stallone says "Go ahead, I don't shop here," is a genius line.

[@cerveshred]

Love this movie. Angel of the City was an amazing soundtrack

[@JustinLodes]

Omg yes! I have it on my KZbin playlist and was literallyjust listening to it yesterday at work and my partner who is from Israel and a Stallone fan way like hey! That’s the song from cobra! Lol

[@8584zender]

Some of the cuts on that soundtrack almost sound like Walberg and Reilly's "Feel my heat" from Boogie Nights. It's perfect. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYrdc5KHpt2Lq5Y

[@ALT3REDB3AST]

The real draw of Cobra was the main Villian. He truly was right up there with Freddy Kruger, Mike Myers and Jason.

[@marcinkrejcza67]

One of my favorite action movie from the 80s. Back in the days, it fit perfectly on 180 min VHS with Commando. What a double feature... 👍

[@allanbard6048]

I was VERY fortunate to find a DVD with "Cobra" on one side and "Tango and Cash" on the other.

[@leejohnstone3051]

Cobra has often been compared to Dirty Harry due to the fact Reni Santino appears in both films along with Andrew Robinson. The thing is Cobra and Dirty Harry are two very different films...yes Cobra and Harry Callahan are maverick cops who breaks the rules but they are different in there approach on breaking the rules

[@TheLAGopher]

Callahan only breaks the rules because he sees that the system is broken. He is disgusted with the system's failures and his own moral compromises he had to make to bring Scorpio to justice. It seemed to me that is why he threw away his badge. The system doesn't work and he didn't want to be the guy having to break its rules so other men could keep their consciouses clean supporting a failed system. Cobretti aside from Andrew Garfield's bureaucrat Lieutenant is looked upon as something of a necessary evil by his bosses because he gets results. His "Zombie squad" is something of an admission by his bosses that some officers need to "Let off the chain" to deal with the new breed of super-violent criminals on the streets. Cobretti embraces his role with no regrets. He doesn't seem worried about the failure of the overall criminal justice system. He's allowed to do what needs to be done even if some officials are disgusted by his methods and he's ok with that.

[@leejohnstone3051]

@@TheLAGopher I love your analysis and now after reading it I agree. Cobra is a necessary evil. His bosses don't want to let him off his leash but they knows they have to. Sometimes committing acts of necessary evil for the greater good is the right thing to do. Callahan hates the system one minute and in the next acknowledges the system is broken but sticks with the system until a better one comes along

[@anesu4548]

Everyone I know has watched this movie. Your title is wrong unless you were born in 2000

[@idurisu930]

@troll oracle I'm born after 2000. I love Stallone. Why am I a pussy? What makes me diffrent from you?

[@frysco5927]

fuck you i was born after 2000 and ive seen this movie with my dad many times

[@michaelb4538]

I think he's talking about the ever growing number of fat ugly smelly moaning sjw spoiled entitled brats that unfortunately give your generation a bad rep. The ones that try to get movies like this banned for being all the -ists and -phobes etc.

[@kingsiah5103]

“If you’re the disease, then I’m the cure” Stallone is the man

[@adrienrelongoue760]

Yeah definitely and on top of that he had a badass car. I believe it's a MERCURY

[@savagetuner2404]

@@adrienrelongoue760 correct, mercury coupe, 1948 right?

[@knoble1985]

His gun didn't run out of bullets when the bad guys was raiding the house!🤣

[@robzilla71300]

Man, I wish we would've gotten a legit Cobra franchise... I think they would've found their stride with a 2nd one.

[@allanbard6048]

"I'll blow this whole place up!" "Go ahead, I don't shop here." Still love that devil-may-care line.

[@josedaniloAvSv]

Cobra ripped the cholo's shirt to expose him as a snitch to the other thugs ( he was wearing a wire ) ..that's what I thought was happening.

[@GrahamMilkdrop]

YES!

[@Junkiescum]

Yeah how the fuck did he not get that lmao I have even seen the movie and I understood that

[@christopherchuter7285]

I absolutely love this film it has the best lines and is a darker take on Beverly Hills Cop films ok it's cheesy in places but its an instant classic I hope they release this on 4k as it would look super cool.... Also with Sly doing a new Rambo I hope he can revisit Cobra and Bring the character to the modern day in some way

[@v4villian1]

Grew up watching this movie, saw it more than 50 times, and loved it all 50 times.

[@AjcPrime]

Fun Movie. My Dad and my Uncle still say lines from the movie and they got me doing it. “Just another A**hole who woke up hating the world” “You’re a disease and I’m the cure” “I don’t deal with psychos I put em away” “Go away I don’t shop here” My uncle loved the 1950 Mercury Monterey and was jokingly upset when the car got wrecked.

[@manuelvallejos7417]

One of the best action movies of the eightiest that I can remember

[@dougmasters4579]

Haha I loved that acoustic rendition at the end of the video of John Cafferty's Voice of America's Sons. Mid-80s Stallone was the best. Everything from 82-88 = pure gold.

[@bernierose719]

I’m pretty sure any action fan would of seen this movie 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@macdallanzero2145]

Yep. I've seen it several times.

[@MrJesusakachucho]

Seen it

[@coandc]

It was on my top ten list as a kid, I think right under the lord of the rings the two towers.

[@EggBastion]

have

[@trikkerman1]

And and true movie fan knows that this movie sucks ass like 98% of Cannon Group Films do.

[@davidfrederick6003]

Besides the "Your the disease Im the cure" a better scene and compares to real life situations. When a reporter rebuttals "who made you judge and jury, he had has rights". Cobra grabs him and shows up the body of dead young person "Tell that to his family"....That is a best scene to counter those who believe criminals have any rights

[@munstrumridcully]

This series should be called "cool movies I saw when I was a kid" since I've yet to find one of these I haven't seen at least once :)

[@Nefasto7]

Cobra was my first movie i saw in theaters, i had 6-7 years, was AWESOME.

[@Blackjacksarmory]

This movie is a total classic! I’ve seen it 50 times since I was a kid.

[@paradigm_sh1ft532]

This film is great. The closest thing to the original Terminator you could possibly get. Furthermore, you also see how Terminator 2 borrowed from this film as well. Think about it; *Stallone is dressed like a Terminator. *He protects an innocent woman whose survival is vital if others are to survive. *Instead of a ruthless, unfeeling cyborg as the killer, the antagonist(s) are cold, relentless cult killers. *Watch the finale of Cobra and then watch the final showdown in T2. This great movie has almost all aspects of the original Terminator film.

[@goone9722]

I’m so glad someone made this video, finally a youtuber I can agree with

[@blastedcontroller]

Cobra was the one of the best 80s movie made I still have a pizza cutting scissors

[@ThePoorBoy]

Another great video, Chris!

[@shallendor]

I also loved Sledge Hammer! This is one of the best Stallone movies!

[@BigBadJerryRogers]

They should have made Sledge Hammer and Cobretti partners in this instead. Missed opportunity.

[@allanbard6048]

"Sledge Hammer" was ahead of its genre(s). Am fortunate to have both seasons on DVD!

[@quoththeraven3985]

I always love cobra...that mercury is unforgettable

[@Locadel2003]

This is an awesome action movie, simply and pure 80s. I love the Robert trepper song, Stallone, George Pan cosmatos, Brigitte Nielsen, Brian Thompson and also the awesome friend of Stallone in this movie, now I don’t remember the name. Ah yes, the spectacular action sequences with good practical effects

[@ruthlessaggressionguy2033]

Reni santoni who played Gonzales, he died last year, shame

[@mma6055]

Holy shit my childhood memories came flooding back in as soon as I heard crime is a disease and I'm the cure 😂😂😂

[@filippos13]

I have loved Cobra since I first watched it as a kid. I never noticed the guy had a wire on him >,

[@rext8949]

George Cosmatos directed ' First blood' and 'Tombstone'. Really knew how make action films.And Sly was the king of mayhem.

[@TH3SLEEPING]

Use to watch this classic with my pops

[@Vidiot-Savant]

The license plate (AWSOM 50) is meant to be read as AWESOME Five-0, as in a cop.

[@sanctuaryism]

hhhmmm interesting, I always took it as it was indicating the year of the car model... 1950 but interesting...

[@TheShootersBay]

@@sanctuaryism you are correct it's a 1950 Mercury Monterey. Not 5.0 for cop.

[@Jar0fMay0]

I don't think "five-O" was a thing in the 80's. You started hearing that in the 90's. I could be wrong though.

[@ejjaquez9849]

@@Jar0fMay0 well, hawaii 5-0 came out well before cobra

[@jaytrace1006]

I love the car! “You’re the disease. I’m the cure...”

[@Kurasunoninki-sha]

Holy crap! I Remember the scene from First Blood where Rambo shoots up the store with all the Christmas decorations but for some reason i didn't realize Rambo was set during Christmas until you just pointed it out.

[@ThisIsBigDuke6]

“...go ahead. I don’t shop here.”

[@penske_material]

😂😂

[@jessitaylor4170]

I absolutely love Cobra, I hope Sylvester Stallone brings Cobra back!

[@quatie]

Seen it more times than I can count

[@dynamicphotography_]

Great movie. Seen many times growing up. Good recap, enjoyed the video. 👍

[@johncaulfield8935]

Here’s a fun fact. Originally, Stan Bush’s “The Touch” was written for this movie before being put in “The Transformers: The Movie.”

[@goldwaterproductions]

I haven’t seen this movie in 10 years but I will always remember that car chase and the car parking scene

[@christianroman780]

JoBlo, "the best movie you never saw" literally movies everyone has seen.

[@Vegland]

Loved this movie as a kid and have even forgotten about it! Thank You! Subbed

[@jeremybr2020]

Y'all totally missed out on mentioning another great "supermarket shootout movie opener" with Stone Cold starring Brian "The boz" Bosworth. Another classic.

[@DanielStinebaugh]

Man did I ever want that Merc (his car) for years after watching this movie on repeat as a kid. Need to do one on "Sneakers" or "Hudson Hawk" those were 2 more of my favorites no one talks about anymore. Great Vid!

[@ZenRhino]

What are you talkin about nobody saw this? That movie was awesome! That custom 1950 Mercury Monterey Coupe is amazing!

[@MattHelps]

Great vid. Love this flick. Good cobra voice!!!!

[@glpro2696]

I’ve seen it so many times it’s on my top 10 personal favorites movies

[@MrCREWCRUSHIN95]

Marion was a nod to John Wayne. (Marion was his real first name).

[@ninfilms]

I could anyone say that no one has ever seen Cobra. Anyone who is a action fan has seen Cobra.

[@kenwaid8239]

Two awesome and iconic props in that movie. The bad guys knife of course, and this was the first appearance ever of a laser mounted to a firearm in film. when he turned it on I remember the entire theater went “Ooooooooh“

[@MultiMrMiles]

this movie is ART, as ALL in the 80s BEST decade was....really

[@floydvaughn836]

Night of The Comet. See it before you die.

[@jayhunt81]

One of my favorite flicks with Sly and still love it. Especially his car 🚗 🔥🔥

[@rayc.1396]

Thanks, I was thinking about Cobra this morning and couldn't remember the blonds real name. Keep 'em coming, anything 70's and 80's is great action.

[@siasti]

You mention Dirty Harry but don't mention that Cobra features both the villain and cop partner from that movie. Cobra is basically a remake of Dirty Harry and I doubt that it resembles the Fair Game book much except in the most basic elements. (My favorite scene in Cobra is where he drowns his french fries in ketchup - the greatest french fry kill count in movie history!)

[@jmtx.]

Remember it like it was just yesterday. I'll have to dig it up give it another watch!

[@harryrodd4383]

I just this moment finished watching this movie for the millionth time. One of my all time favorite action movies! "You have the right to remain silent" - Then lights match, flicks it and sets a guy on fire! Come on!

[@securityquip3170]

Are ya kiddin me. This movie is the reason I've been holding a matchstick hangin outta my mouth every day for the last 30 years.

[@antonnym214]

I saw this one. It was the usual fare, but the one i REALLY enjoyed Sly in was Copland! Great story, acting,directing, amazing cast.

[@archiveseeker]

Saw it when it first came out. It was awesome growing up in the 80's!

[@bigkmoviesandgames]

This movie was a big box office hit and one of the most over the top 80s action films. I'm pretty sure people saw it.

[@metalgamerk9549]

Well maybe he wants this generation of kids to give it a watch

[@bigkmoviesandgames]

@@metalgamerk9549 I understand that but he's making it out to be like a hidden gem but it's a well known film. I'm all for younger generations watching it but it's a misleading title.

[@luispichardo6704]

Cobretti cutting his leftover pizza with scissors while cleaning his gun is the most memorable part of the movie. My testosterone levels rise everytime I watch that scene.

[@trancemaster871]

Luis Pichardo that's how bad asses eat pizza

[@zshakur]

I LOVED this movie!!! Thanks HBO for an awesome childhood!

[@christianwitte406]

Thumbs up before i even watched the video. About to go see Last Blood in a few hours

[@red5wormy165]

I was in the villians house once, we found his wallet and returned it, he was working on mortal kombat as shao kahn. He showed us a sneak peek of him killing Johnny cage, the backround was still green screened. He had a couple of baby pigs running around, he introduced us to his wife and kids. We left with a thanks and some mk autographs. One the coolest moments of our lives for sure.

[@trancemaster871]

Red5Wormy I've heard Brian thompson is really nice in real life although I'd shit my pants if I met all I'd see is him carrying that sharp as fuck knife he had in cobra lol

[@tysonmario4418]

You are jocking who has not seen cobra. In the days I saw the movie the first day cinema foul packed. The moment Stallone arrive for the first scene with this outfit and get out other car the hole crowd when crazy. Amazing times

[@TEEN1DOL]

This one has somehow escaped me all these years. Moving it up on the watchlist

[@Stargazer80able]

Sledge Hammer and Police Squad with Leslie Nielsen were the best comedy series ever written

[@agirlnamedbrett.]

i love the subtle quirks he has in thid movie, makes him seem to have an odd personality. lol love the pizza cutting for that.

[@strawdawgs78]

If you never saw this movie as a kid in the 80's you were deprived of the complete 80's experience.

[@MrSfinn9mm]

I saw this in the theaters as a kid I was eleven still one of my favorites

[@thedreamsoldierful]

I hope you make these more often

[@IdgaradLyracant]

It isn't Christmas until Hans Gruber falls from Nakatomi Plaza and Marion Cobretti hangs a man in a steel factory.

[@davidkurzhal4392]

I always loved how the VHS box looked at the video store!

[@Omnitrix8]

The PEPSI product placement in the movie was overpowering!

[@dizie1722]

Brigitte Nielsen was great in this movie. I loved the modeling scene and the hospital scenes with her. This movie is a classic action movie.

[@tylermagoon4366]

Your analysis was amazing but that outro needs to goooo!

[@lynchianenigma2736]

The only problem which in itself is not a PROBLEM is in the 80's we had so many good films that would today be polished big money BLOCKBUSTERS. I could name over a hundred films that if given that great script an extra month to film and produce instead of rushing to film, would have been CLASSIC'S but are now remembered as Great films. Think of every film they are trying to make today, go back to the 80's I bet there's a film that has inspired or is a blatant rip off. FFS ..... AVATAR IS FERNGULLY

[@JustinStrife]

Plus dances with wolves, plus pocahontas... ALL were superior to Avatar.

[@bigkmoviesandgames]

@@keyserjosaid321 piranha 2 is pretty bad.

[@penske_material]

@@bigkmoviesandgames well, imagine Pirahna 2 with Avatar's budget

[@bigkmoviesandgames]

@@penske_material that might be even worse because that would take away the b movie charm.

[@gk8141]

I had this on vhs as a kid. Known it word for word. Everyone I’ve ever met knows this flick.