When is the Sylvester Stallone documentary on Netflix?

Action icon Sylvester Stallone is getting his extensive career both on and off screen chronicled in Sly, a brand new documentary feature that’ll soon be landing on Netflix.

For almost 50 years, Stallone has been a Hollywood mainstay, churning out legendary performances in the likes of Rocky and Rambo, before cementing his status as a superstar with turns in '90s action epics Demolition Man, Cliffhanger, Judge Dredd and later with the hugely popular Expendables franchise.

Read more: Demolition Man director casts doubt on sequel

For years, he found himself in the midst of a competitive career battle with fellow muscle-bound movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger. With the latter recently getting his own Netflix docuseries, it makes sense that Sly is set to receive the same treatment.

Here’s everything we know about Sly so far…

When is the Sylvester Stallone documentary on Netflix?

Sly will be available to stream on Netflix from Friday, 3 November at 7am GMT.

Unlike Arnie’s equivalent, Stallone’s career retrospective will take the form of a documentary feature film and not a limited series.

What are the reviews like for Netflix’s Sly documentary?

Does Sly go the distance or does it pull its punches? Well, according to the first reviews for Netflix’s new Stallone documentary, it finds itself somewhere comfortably in the middle.

The Guardian wasted no time calling the feature “dull”, going on to explain that “puff pieces don’t get much puffier than this” - perhaps suggesting that the film needed a bit more grit.

IndieWire had more fun with it though, praising its more intimate moments with Variety largely agreeing, saying the film “takes a movie lover’s journey through Stallone’s career.”

The Wrap enjoyed it too, saying it mixes “familiar stories with fresh insights” and that shows us "some of the heart and the brain behind the muscles.”

Read more reviews below:

The Guardian: Sly review – dull Stallone Netflix documentary pulls every punch (4-min read)

IndieWire: Sylvester Stallone Hits Hard in Intimate Documentary That Still Pulls a Few Punches (4-min read)

Variety: A Profile of Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Road of a Career Is Headier Than You Expect (9-min read)

The Wrap: Sylvester Stallone Documentary Is a Portrait in Restlessness (6-min read)

Is there a trailer for the Sylvester Stallone documentary?

The first trailer for Sly arrived in late October and wasted no time setting up a real-life underdog story.

Following Stallone’s rise from a nobody to one of the highest-paid actors of the 1980s and 1990s, the trailer also doesn’t shy away from addressing the demons he’s faced along the way.

Watch it below:

What will Netflix’s Sylvester Stallone documentary be about?

Narrated by and featuring brand new interviews with the man himself, Sly will take audiences on through Stallone’s unlikely rise from an unknown actor to a writer, filmmaker and acting superstar.

With hurdles facing him every step of the way, it’s a journey that’s not unlike the underdog story that made Rocky Balboa a cinematic champ.

Beyond his acting roles, Sly also promises to inspect the star’s experiences off-screen, looking at how sudden fame impacted him personally and the important role that family plays in his day-to-day life today.

“For nearly 50 years, Sylvester Stallone has entertained millions with iconic characters and blockbuster franchises, from Rocky to Rambo to The Expendables,” explains the film’s official synopsis.

“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 brought to life.”

Who will appear in Netflix’s Sylvester Stallone documentary?

Directed by documentary filmmaker Thom Zimny, Sly will include new interviews with Stallone alongside key players from his story so far.

His former rival Schwarzenegger will share his side of the story, alongside his Rocky co-star Talia Shire and brother Frank Stallone Jr.

Meanwhile, filmmaker Quentin Tarantino will also make an appearance to discuss the factors that make Stallone such an alluring star, alongside Stallone’s friend and Happy Days alum Henry Winkler.

Sly will be available to stream on Netflix from Friday, 3 November.