The Last Action Heroes: The Triumphs, Flops, and Feuds of Hollywood's Kings of Carnage

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This book offers an insider's look at the iconic action stars of '80s and '90s Hollywood—Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Jackie Chan, Steven Seagal, Chuck Norris, Dolph Lundgren, and Jean-Claude Van Damme—and the films that propelled them to fame, such as Die Hard, Rambo, and The Terminator. It begins in 1990 at the Cannes film festival, where Schwarzenegger and Stallone finally ended their long-standing rivalry, marked by memorable incidents like Stallone throwing flowers at Schwarzenegger and the competition over box office dominance. Film journalist Nick de Semlyen chronicles their tumultuous journey from enemies to friends, while also sharing the stories of other notable figures who rose alongside them, including Van Damme and Seagal. However, as the '80s progressed, the era of the invincible action hero began to wane. The release of Jurassic Park in 1993 signaled a shift, marking the end of the reign of these macho icons and the traditional vision of masculinity they embodied. Through candid interviews with the stars and those around them, this account captures a unique moment in Hollywood history, highlighting both the extraordinary fame achieved and the chaos that ensued, both on-screen and off.