Stallone: Hollywood Ignores Middle America, But Sheridan Shines
Sylvester Stallone criticizes Hollywood for neglecting Middle America, praising Taylor Sheridan for connecting with the heartland.
2 min read
Legendary actor Sylvester Stallone has criticized Hollywood for long neglecting Middle America, calling it an overlooked audience that has been ignored for decades. During an interview on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, Stallone said that the heartland has been overshadowed by narratives centered in California and New York, but director Taylor Sheridan is bringing attention back to this neglected region.
Stallone Praises Sheridan for Capturing Middle America
“It’s very, very important because that audience [Middle America] was ignored for centuries, it seems, since John Wayne,” Stallone said. He credited Sheridan for bucking the trend and delivering stories that resonate with the heartland, which he described as having a different vibe than the coastal regions.
“He really mined a consciousness, like, ‘Oh, we forgot about that guy in the middle of America,'” Stallone added. “They’re always writing about California and New York, but Middle America, it’s a different vibe.” He noted that people in the heartland have been starved for such stories, which he described as more confrontational and, in his words, “a more masculine world.”
Stallone’s Move to Florida and New Honors
Stallone, who recently moved his family from California to Florida, said the Sunshine State better suits his personality. “The air seems to always be clean. We’re very, very near the water and that makes my wife incredibly happy,” he said, adding that the environment makes him happy as well.
Stallone was also recently named one of the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors recipients, an honor announced by President Donald Trump in August 2024. The actor, known for his roles in the Rocky and Rambo franchises, continues to be a prominent figure in Hollywood despite his critiques of the industry’s focus on coastal markets.
Hollywood Still Misses Middle America’s Voice
Despite Sheridan’s success in capturing the spirit of Middle America, Stallone noted that Hollywood has not yet adapted its filmmaking to better serve the interests of this audience. He emphasized that while the heartland has been given a voice through such films, the industry as a whole has not fully embraced the shift in storytelling priorities.
Source: Breitbart
