COBRA (1986) Revisited - Sylvester Stallone Movie Review

In 1986, Sylvester Stallone teamed with the infamous Cannon Group to follow Rambo: First Blood Part II - COBRA. Starring Stallone as what could be called the 1980s answer to Dirty Harry, the title character, aka Marion Cobretti, is a bad-ass cop on the trailer of an axe-wielding psychopath named "The Night Slasher" (Brian Thompson) who's stalking the lone witness (Brigitte Nielsen) to one of his slayings. While the film didn't spawn another franchise, Cobra remains a favorite among Stallone fans. In this episode of Sylvester Stallone Revisited, we dig into the making of the film, the various versions that existed over the years, rumours and an X-rated cut, and more!
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#SylvesterStallone #Cobra #SylvesterStalloneRevisited

[@frankrossi6972]

As a bombastic '80s action movie, it was perfect. Love the scene when he's loading his gun with the Toys R Us Christmas jingle playing in the background.

[@Ericdz302]

😂

[@ianashby6294]

I have the dvd

[@CMinorOp67]

Haven’t seen this movie in a long time, but I loved it as a kid. Epitome of 80s action. “Nighthawks” and “Assassins” are two Stallone films I never hear anyone talk about.

[@acegrafik]

Man,"Assassins" , "Demolition Man" and "the Specialist" are the Holy Sly's Trinity of the 90's!Cheers.

[@coffeecocaine8878]

@@acegrafik finally someone mentions the specialist

[@orlandoruizjr3834]

I saw Assassins in a theater. Great time.

[@StephenSatterfieldTheSLSway]

Nighthawks was certainly underrated !!!

[@CMinorOp67]

JoBlo’s video on Nighthawks just came up in my recommendations. (Thought I had already looked for that one.) Man, now I really want to see the 2h30m uncut version. 😐

[@filippos13]

An iconice film! Cutting the pizza with the scissors must be one of the strangest things ever filmed!

[@Emulous79]

It's eccentric touches like this that made older movies.

[@ngee35]

My grandma used to use a giant pair of scissors to cut pizza. We all thought she was crazy. She called them kitchen shears.

[@steveguy3]

@@ngee35 was it taken out of the freezer though?

[@ngee35]

@@steveguy3 Straight from the oven.

[@jjohnsengraciesmom]

Yes, but it works really well.

[@licmir3663]

The movie was “ok”, but the poster was and still is iconic.

[@adamwest8711]

I watched this movie as a kid. The whole axes clashing over the head thing seemed so creepy and cool to me at the time.

[@andrewbrown2888]

The axe clanking!!!

[@christiancampagna2229]

This is my favorite Stallone flick. It has one of the best car chase scenes ever.

[@ryokinor6223]

Who can forget the bad guy hunting for Cobra shouting out "I want your eyes pig!" It's like Shakespeare.

[@Omar-wq9dz]

Since we just saw a director's cut of Rocky 4, maybe Stallone should create a new cut for this movie. It was originally supposed to be 2 hours long, but got cut. Maybe the new footage will make the movie better with more plot and character, since I only liked the action and nothing else from the theatrical cut

[@mjwbulich]

Supposedly they went a lot deeper into the cult and their motivations.

[@Ericdz302]

That would be nice. I read somewhere it was longer than 2 hours

[@DieHardjagged]

Someone uploaded 20 minutes of deleted scenes to KZbin years ago: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4uvd5qDgKiiZtk

[@Jeffrey314159]

There was a longer version released on cable television or TV a great many years ago.

[@StuntMan_Marq]

Love Cobra. I wish we had gotten a fun over the top violent sequel. Oh well. Never occurred to me but I think Cobra would make a fun double feature with "The First Power"

[@FatNorthernBigot]

This movie is 1 hour and 23 minutes of pure 80s. Yes, I looked up the length.

[@samholdsworth420]

Bro I still use scissors to cut my pizza 😂

[@feck2594]

You forgot to add the word GREATNESS in you're comment.😄

[@MikeJohnMentzer]

I have a 1 our 27 minute version

[@williamschwab9484]

My wife and I love this movie! Whenever she does something silly, I'm always like "You're a menace Cobretti!" Hahaha. I think Assy McGee was based on Marion Cobretti. Also nice to see "Sledge Hammer" David Rasche as well!

[@rallowilliams5635]

ASSY MCGEE DID SOUND LIKE COBRA🤣🤣🤣

[@sonnyblack0870]

Angel of The City is the stand out track for me from this film. During that montage is another Stallone 80’s theme with robots in the photoshoot.

[@CRITTERBUSTERS]

Cobra grew on me over time, I remember seeing the VHS on shelves when I was 8 years old and begging my dad to let me see it but alas he said no due to its R-rating. I eventually saw it 8 years later but the VHS had been worn out and I think my expectations were set too high. I didn’t hate it but didn’t love it at the time. Fast forward another 5 years and I saw it on DVD and loved it, I appreciate the movie on a whole different level now, I see it as a neo-noir action/thriller and it delivers in spades. I really hope we get that directors cut some day.

[@lobsterwhisperer7932]

Stallone best stand-alone action movie, not counting Rambo and Rocky. Its so underrated.

[@j.mieses8139]

We named our Family Dog "Cobra" after we saw this movie as a kid all those years ago. Such a Classic Movie. Great 14 Years with that dog.

[@rossdiamondthief6627]

Sylvester Stallone would’ve made an awesome Punisher back in the 80s and this movie DEFINITELY proves it!

[@bluelivesmatter719]

Without a doubt

[@DetroitAlan01]

Honestly, if you want to be 100% comic accurate, where Frank Castle is depicted as being older, Stallone would still make an awesome Punisher.

[@69nikolaus]

Thanks, great review as always...around '86 I happened to reach 17 and there seemed to be a permanent all over silver screen presence of Stallone throwing 3 hits in a row...Rambo2, Rocky4 and Cobra. In Germany the film was heavily censored for theatrical release and got banned on video for public access -like many others- and remained on this status for some 28 years! Anyway, great example of an MTV inspired cutting style and 80s visual atmosphere while at no time compromising the fact that you are witnessing an R-rated razor sharp mid Eighties macho action flick in perfection! Never outdated along with so many other great ones like 'Extreme Prejudice' or 'No Mercy'!

[@8584zender]

Favorite part is the visible microphone on the heavy on Ocean Ave that they didn't even bother removing in the editing room. Always thought Feel the Heat was recorded by Dirk Diggler and Reed Rothchild.

[@acegrafik]

Always loved the film.Back in the 80's it was huge in Eastern Europe VHS's renting market.For days we couldn't get a copy.And still keep an official,genuine VHS copy from 1996 on one of my shelves.

[@patfer1189]

An action classic. Always thought there were missing shots or scenes over some of its inconsistencies.

[@ingleringlet-snipps3rd449]

The editing was horrific at times, but I think it was done to avoid an X-rating.

[@VTuber_Central]

The film was fine, the plot might not be dynamic so it feels like its missing something

[@ingleringlet-snipps3rd449]

@@VTuber_Central The final scene of the Night Stalker on fire and hanging from the hook, I guarantee that was heavily edited.

[@backrowbrighton]

Always liked this movie as an atypical 80's action flick. Loud action, considerable violence and a thumping soundtrack. Shame we will probably never get to see the full cut.

[@bacht4799]

One of the most stylish Stallone movies ever.. that cover of him could be at Vogue..

[@erichobbs4042]

I've had this on VHS, Laser Disc, DVD and Blu-ray. It's a classic, brainless and fun 80's action flick. If you don't expect anything complicated or deep you will enjoy it. 90 minutes has always been my ideal running time length for a film as well, so Cobra just hits so many sweet spots for me.

[@tgriffin3059]

'Brainless?' You've spent too much time listening to liberals. There's nothing brainless about Cobra.

[@ricklp1861]

The most Stallone ish movie ever made!! Love it

[@RICHARDSAUNDERS21]

10 out of 10 classic Stallone flick... love it

[@gmccrarygm]

my favorite memory of this movie is his badass ride...the old Mercs are hard to beat when done just right.

[@iLLWiLL173]

I'll admit... haven't seen this movie in over 20 years ...I remember digging the badassery of sly in this but also being thrown off because he never really played a character like this before this movie...just wasn't used to the cockiness he had in this ..I think it's time for a rewatch 😁✌

[@krishnajaipersad3102]

if it were possible, directors' cuts of both Cobra & Nighthawks are on everyones' wishlist

[@hephaestus6365]

The world would be a better place if every city had a few Cobras running around putting down criminals.

[@NinjaRunningWild]

They even let a disgruntled businessman into their evil cult. All are welcome in the axe-clanking club!

[@mattrobson3603]

I wonder how you recruit people for an axe murderer cult? Casually bring it up to people at work who seem like they'd enjoy axe murder?

[@andrewbrown2888]

The axe clankers trascend all social lines,yes.

[@miikasuominen3845]

That extended cut would be perfection. I think the movie was cut down WAY too much... But yeah, I liked it and still do 😁

[@vanannavarasan4522]

The scene at 4:03 was an important scene in the movie that gave us at the glimpse of Cobra swag on having things on his own way. Also the part cutting a cold pizza with scissors. They don't make movies like this anymore. No CGI just real action. Also the cinematography and punch dialogues was just to the point.

[@sj_harris]

Tremendous film, and a cracking soundtrack I actually think, in places, Stallone brought an unexpected humility to the character, showing he wasn’t above poking fun at himself - this of course only made him even more badass :) As for that opening line... just brilliant (aka unintelligible)!

[@thrillswilbury7057]

This is my favorite movie guilty pleasure but I think you might be overselling it to people who haven’t seen it. For me, the movie’s general incompetence is part of its charm. I don’t think it’s a good example of 80s action, especially if your bar is set as high as First Blood, Rocky III or Commando. I think it’s also unfair to compare it to the Dirty Harry films, which I think are generally much more thoughtful films than Cobra. There’s a certain sadness to the way Eastwood plays Harry Callahan that completely eludes Stallone/Cobretti. Harry sort of hates himself at the end. Cobretti isn’t anywhere near as self aware.

[@grapeshot]

I remember this movie came out when I was in middle school and one day at school we had career day and a police officer was there and somebody asked the question is there really a Zombie Squad🤦🏿‍♂️🤦🏿‍♂️🤦🏿‍♂️

[@Mlopez_602]

I wish the 2 hours version would have been released on DVD.

[@cthewave9955]

If Sly crafts the Cobra Ultimate Director's Cut, he's got a lot of "editing" for Brigitte Nielsen.

[@MikeJohnMentzer]

She recently said Stallone was a really bad husband And she's on her 5th marriage lol

[@tomhahnl1927]

Yea this movie is top-noch Stallone! But considering his most iconic movies like Rambo and Rocky I have to give this one 'only' 9/10 Stallons 😉

[@EmersonWilkes]

I still proudly sport an identical trench coat on rare nights out to the city. Pure cosplay gold.

[@sartanawillpay7977]

When this was first released on VHS my friend and I watched it twice through in one sitting. Not because we thought it was a good action movie (although it does have some good action in it) but because its macho dialogue and posturing were so over the top it is an unintentional comedy.

[@juniordawkins4193]

This is one of the pure gems of action movies during the good old 80's😎👍🏿

[@nemospodcast6766]

When he ripped his tank top down I always thought that guy was a snitch because he was wearing a wire lol Stallone and JCVD are the reason why I became an actor I hope I get the chance to work with them. I also can’t forget to mention Jim Carrey and Eddie Murphy.

[@imustbecrazy5626]

Friggin loved this movie as a kid. I used to sneak it from my dads vhs collection.

[@feck2594]

Growing up I wanted the car , the gun and that cool knife the villain had . I must have watched this movie 20 time's as a kid .

[@kevint1719]

Cannon actually had nothing to do with the making of Cobra. They had already made a deal with Stallone to make Over The Top as his next project after Rocky IV. When Warner Bros wanted Stallone to make Cobra first, they came to an arrangement with Cannon, part of which was a vanity credit for them on Cobra.

[@sartanawillpay7977]

Love when Cobretti goes into the supermarket hostage situation. A woman is cowering on the ground right inside the door- out of sight of the gunman - but never thinks to leave.

[@andrewbrown2888]

She froze up,heard the axe clanking in her head!

[@tgriffin3059]

She's out of sight of the gunman because she's on the floor. If she makes a move, that could change. Besides, how is she to know how many armed men are participating?

[@MikeJohnMentzer]

How do you think she'd know she is out of sight of the gunman When you're hearing gunshots from random directions and hear someone being killed you better stay there

[@martijndekok]

3:20 OMG Sledge Hammer!. I almost forgot about that series. Was funny as hell.

[@axelstone3131]

This film is soo good. It’s like the embodiment of the 80’s all in one. One of Stallone’s and one of the best action movies of all time. I would love a sequel on this.

[@michaelblaine6494]

It’s cool seeing a good review for this for a change

[@RyanCoomer]

I went into Subway today to get a healthy sandwich. The older lady behind the counter helped me and started preparing my sandwich for me. She out of nowhere fell to the ground and started convulsing and shaking. the other teenage girl there just stepped over her and finished up my sandwich as the lady lay on the ground shaking. The two teenage girls that work there just laughed it off and said "Oh, she does this all the time." I peeked over the counter to see the lady foaming at her mouth. I then paid for my sandwich and left the place

[@84cman]

Great video love these flicks miss these old 80s action movies

[@ernestoreveres8780]

Im still expecting cobra 2 : the cure for crime . But I guess my hero Stallone has a huge ego that most likely we will never gonna see this great but underrated masterpiece . Cobra is pure gem , a dark and beautiful gem

[@Benjatron-jw2rg]

I share the same dream of one day seeing a Cobra Director’s Cut.

[@ricklp1861]

That's what's missing in my life!!!

[@elwray470]

Cobra, Crow part 2, A better tomorrow 2 and many directors cuts we probably never gonna see.

[@MikeJohnMentzer]

Did y'all know Rambo first blood was originally like 3 hour or more long and they cut it down Man i'd kill for 3 hours of Rambo

[@Mayor_Of_Eureka17]

Love the slide projector editing !

[@tiagoribeiro885]

This movie lacked stallone's intensity. And also ... Some more fighting. The movie should also stayed in the city, by night... I loved it as a child.

[@ianmangham4570]

Anyone chewing on a match is fkn hilarious 😂

[@ToreHansen]

This was totally banned in Norway, so some video rentals had it unde the counter... Today you have 34 times sicker action on TV...Banshee anyone?

[@prettygal6263]

Cobra is badass and awesome action movie. I just wished Stallone would make a part 2 for Cobra. It screams squeal that never happened.

[@tgriffin3059]

Yeah, I'd have liked a whole series. I think Cobra actually offers more story options than a character like Rambo.

[@MikeJohnMentzer]

He said in an unboxing video that he still regrets not making a sequel to Cobra

[@MikeJohnMentzer]

@@tgriffin3059 To be honest , yeah ....Rambo after Rambo 3 had really no good story options even though I'd have loved seeing Rambo and Colonel do more missions and more Rambo movies in the 90s But there's so much scope for more stories with a character like Cobretti

[@benjaminsmith3753]

Just watched on Blu for 1st time since watching this vid. John's passion for the music really made it jump this time. Make mo mistske, there's a reason I sought out and bought the sdtk twice but that renewed it. Also many echos of Dirty Harry in this re: the cop willing to break rules to stop killers. Not to mention Andy Robinson & Reni Santoni.

[@makatron]

Over the top dumb 80s fun movie, we need more of those.

[@jimbo889]

Cobra Rules! I wish we could find that workprint! THE HOLY GRAIL FOR ME!!!!

[@simonmorgan8539]

This is probably the only 80's Stallone flicks that, for some reason, I have never gotten around to watching. I'd heard that it wasn't terribly good, but after hearing Chris I'm perfectly happy to finally cross this one off the list!

[@tazmania200000]

Personally I highly recommend it. As a big 80s action fan.

[@StephenSatterfieldTheSLSway]

A fine effort, Cobra was like Dirty Harry vs. Jason Voorhees !!!

[@Locadel2003]

Brian Thompson was scary

[@jeremydawe341]

I liked the nickname I heard for Cosmatos, called Comatose. Fun video!

[@roy7561]

One of my favourite 80s classics such a shame there any sequels.

[@nasalpolecat091]

This was a horror flick. With STYLE. Music and all. Very underrated. LOVE this film.

[@youssefverse]

Great video, as usual! But why the wrong aspect ratio? COBRA was shot spherical (flat)--not in widescreen (scope)...

[@kevincooper1982]

Instead bank rolling Snyder's self indulgant passion projects, Warner Bros should be creating director's cuts of this film and Ken Russell's The Devils

[@atwunz]

WB cut ties with snyder.

[@kirk-daroostergordon9961]

I saw Cobra in the theaters in 1986 it was amazing

[@seereadnhear]

The only time ever, Brigitte Nielsen was drop-dead gorgeous as Wednesday had red long hair

[@jmullner76]

Don't forget the music cue: "Angel of the City... Angel of the Ciiiiiiity"

[@yudhajitvishwakarman0825]

I remember the poster in my childhood stuck on my neighbours balcony,with those shades & the toothpick in his mouth ,he looked so cool .....being a kid in the 80's India never knew who Stallone was but dat poster was etched in my memory till today ❤️

[@GenMaster]

It was a match, not a toothpick.

[@Robasaibot]

This and Demolition Man are my two favorite Stallone movies

[@bonghunezhou5051]

Even better than the 'trademark' Rocky and Rambo films ~ I would add Nighthawks (1981) and The Specialist (1996) as well ~

[@Robasaibot]

@@bonghunezhou5051 YASSS

[@MikeJohnMentzer]

@@bonghunezhou5051 Specialist came out in 1994 not 1996 Keeping that aside...can't deny what a great movie that was..everything about it was perfect..definitely in my top 5

[@kylorage5964]

My favourite Stallone movie by far! Just a straight up 80s action movie with a soundtrack to boot!!

[@CyclopsWasRight616]

This came out on DVD when DVD players were just getting hot. So, I picked it up and I really liked it. I haven't watched it again, but now I really want to.

[@zacky4204]

Could you imagine if this one had a sequel!

[@TheJVCMan]

these films will never be made again. The Woke gang wont allow it.

[@atwunz]

@@TheJVCMan shut up.

[@christianwitte81]

Wish we could eventually get the 3 hour cut of Cobra

[@studiostillsoft]

as a huge fan asking for Over the Top review. thank you

[@shallendor]

I love Cobra, one of the best Stallone films!

[@nassmatic]

Chris does a great Stallone voice.

[@smm0]

I always thought of the shirt rip guy wearing a wire as he was an informer or some sort of snitch.

[@neverhawks]

Best narrator award.

[@EduardoBattaglia]

I love JoBlo's videos, but damn I hate the sound of that bell on the final screen

[@eddiecollins453]

I went to see at the pictures,I was 15+3 months, me and my mate Jeff trying to look older,it was a 18,we got in, love it, the bathroom scene is scary

[@ja37d-34]

Wish the uncut movie was out there..

[@ja37d-34]

Great vid, love it too - music, style - all.

[@Superbokka]

I remember the VHS release because Commando came out around the same time and you had to wait weeks to get your hands on either from the video rental store.

[@thegsk]

You forgot to mention that Billy Rosewood has a Cobra film poster in his bedroom in BHC 2.

[@mikeyfn-a6684]

Damn, you totally reminded me that Jim Carrey actually played Dirty Harry's nemesis in The Dead Pool(1988)..has he ever been the bad guy ( no the Cable Guy doesn't count) again? 🤔🤔🤔

[@Surreyredneck]

One of the Batman movies

[@mikeyfn-a6684]

@@Surreyredneck dammit! 😂 You're right!

[@Usernamehear]

A series of unfortunate events And sonic 1 and 2

[@KevinFrame-b8r]

Dude you watched this as a kid, for a baby sitting for you. I was forced to watch this as a fourth grader with my brother who was in first grade by our uncle… I thought it was going to be like rocky boy was I wrong🤣🤣🤣

[@plissken2156]

The man cuts his pizza with scissors. They don't come any tougher than that.

[@almondrick5967]

Waiting for the remake with Sly and Robert Rodríguez. Cobra is of Sly's classic.

[@bonghunezhou5051]

Glad that "Sly" passed on Beverly Hills Cop and had gone on to do this (BHC might have flopped with the "Italian Stallion"). Aside from the violence (significantly toned down from its original version) this film is noted for the notable supporting actors who went on to become prominent; A J Robinson (well, he was prominent before, in Dirty Harry), Brigitte Nielsen, and Lee Garlington (pilot episode of Seinfeld).

[@HamanKarn567]

Cobra was awesome. I loved that jatimatic.

[@LoepkeVisionFilms]

This is my favorite Stallone movie!

[@curtishalcomb3249]

A lot of people don’t know this the 48 Mercury that was the cobra character’s car. Was stallone’s real personal vehicle. The crash scene where it’s destroyed. They used a mock-up.

[@THEBANDIT7979]

Bridgette Nielsen was a goddess back in her prime. Cobra is pure 80s kult.

[@Vaporvice84]

My favorite non-Rocky, non-Rambo Sly flick. "Dirty Harry" mixed with Halloween 2. I have a TV broadcast of the movie that does have a good 10-15 minutes of additional footage.

[@mullybarr9119]

"This is where the law stops and I start......Sucker." Love Cobra..

[@47bloodhound]

The part where he rips the shirt of that guy, exposing the mic, is because he knows the guy's wearing it for internal affairs to get dirt on him. It's a nice little detail