When Demolition Man hit theaters in 1993, it brought together two of the biggest action stars of the era—Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes—for a futuristic showdown that blended sci-fi, satire, and some of the most intense fight choreography of the decade.
But as it turns out, those on-screen punches weren’t just movie magic.
In a recent interview with GQ, where he broke down some of his most iconic on-screen characters, Stallone revealed that he actually wore body armor during certain fight scenes so Snipes could hit him with full force.
The move wasn’t about ego or toughness—it was about authenticity. Stallone wanted the fight sequences between his character, John Spartan, and Snipes’ villain, Simon Phoenix, to look as real as possible on screen.
“He’s a wild man, very energetic, good fighter,” Stallone said of Snipes. “When we were doing kicks, there were some of these, like a plate here [pointing to his torso], so he could really lay into me, and I could feel it and it was good.”
Snipes, who had already made his mark in Major League and New Jack City, brought a level of physical intensity that impressed even the veteran action hero.
“Wesley, he really dug down there and gave a very memorable character,” Stallone added. “Things with his hair and his voice—he was good. He was at the top of his game then.”
Their chemistry on set translated into some of Demolition Man’s most iconic moments, including brutal hand-to-hand combat scenes that helped cement the movie as a cult favorite.
The respect between the two actors carried beyond that film; years later, Stallone invited Snipes to join him in The Expendables 3, continuing their professional connection.
While Snipes’ career took a few detours in the years that followed—including a high-profile prison sentence for tax evasion—he’s since returned to strong form with roles in Dolemite Is My Name and Coming 2 America.