Cobra (1986) is an action-packed thriller directed by George P. Cosmatos and starring Sylvester Stallone in one of his most iconic roles. The film, written by Stallone himself, is a mix of gritty police procedural, vigilante justice, and high-octane action, set against the backdrop of a violent, crime-ridden city. It has become a cult classic, partly due to Stallone’s tough-guy persona and its over-the-top action sequences.

Stallone plays Marion “Cobra” Cobretti, a tough, no-nonsense cop who doesn’t play by the rules. Cobretti is a member of the “Zombie Squad,” a special division of the police force designed to deal with the city’s most dangerous criminals. When a series of brutal murders are committed by a cult-like group of criminals known as “The New Order,” Cobra is called in to investigate. The group is led by the mysterious and violent Night Slasher (played by Brian Thompson), who has a personal vendetta against society and is systematically killing people.

The film begins when Cobra is called to protect Ingrid Knudsen (Brigitte Nielsen), the lone witness to one of the Night Slasher’s murders. Ingrid, played by Stallone’s real-life wife at the time, becomes a key figure in the plot, as the killers are after her to silence her testimony. As the Night Slasher and his followers target Ingrid and Cobretti, Cobra embarks on a solo mission to stop the killers and protect her—his own unconventional and violent brand of justice prevailing as he clashes with both criminals and his superiors.