THE LAST ACTION HEROES
4595
Price:
$28.00
Museum Member Price: $25.20
Museum Member Price: $25.20
The Last Action Heroes: The Triumphs, Flops, and Feuds of Hollywood's Kings of Carnage Hardcover – June 6, 2023 by Nick de Semlyen (Author) The behind-the-scenes story of the action heroes who ruled 1980s and ’90s Hollywood and the beloved films that made them stars, including Die Hard, First Blood, The Terminator, and more.
“This book takes you so close to the action that you can smell the sweat, cigar smoke, and bad cologne that brought these movies to life.”—Paul Scheer
The Last Action Heroes opens in May 1990 in Cannes, with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone waltzing together, cheered on by a crowd of famous faces. After years of bitter combat—Stallone once threw a bowl of flowers at Schwarzenegger’s head, and the body count in Schwarzenegger’s Commando was increased so the film would “have a bigger dick than Rambo”—the world’s biggest action stars have at last made peace.
In this wildly entertaining account of the golden age of the action movie, Nick de Semlyen charts Stallone and Schwarzenegger’s carnage-packed journey from enmity to friendship against the backdrop of Reagan’s America and the Cold War. He also reveals fascinating untold stories of the colorful characters who ascended in their wake: high-kickers Chuck Norris and Jackie Chan, glowering tough guys Dolph Lundgren and Steven Seagal, and quipping troublemakers Jean-Claude Van Damme and Bruce Willis. But as time rolled on, the era of the invincible action hero who used muscle, martial arts, or the perfect weapon to save the day began to fade. When Jurassic Park trounced Schwarzenegger’s Last Action Hero in 1993, the glory days of these macho men—and the vision of masculinity they celebrated—were officially over.
Drawing on candid interviews with the action stars themselves, plus their collaborators, friends, and foes, The Last Action Heroes is a no-holds-barred account of a period in Hollywood history when there were no limits to the heights of fame these men achieved, or to the mayhem they wrought, on-screen and off.
About the Author
Nick de Semlyen is the editor of Empire, the world’s biggest movie magazine, and the author of Wild and Crazy Guys. As a film journalist, he has also written for Rolling Stone, Stuff, and Time Out. He lives in London.
Publisher : Crown (June 6, 2023)
Language : English
Hardcover : 352 pages
ISBN-10 : 059323880X
ISBN-13 : 978-0593238806
Item Weight : 1.25 pounds
Dimensions : 6.36 x 1.25 x 9.43 inches
Drawing on candid interviews with the action stars themselves, plus their collaborators, friends, and foes, The Last Action Heroes is a no-holds-barred account of a period in Hollywood history when there were no limits to the heights of fame these men achieved, or to the mayhem they wrought, on-screen and off.
About the Author
Nick de Semlyen is the editor of Empire, the world’s biggest movie magazine, and the author of Wild and Crazy Guys. As a film journalist, he has also written for Rolling Stone, Stuff, and Time Out. He lives in London.
Publisher : Crown (June 6, 2023)
Language : English
Hardcover : 352 pages
ISBN-10 : 059323880X
ISBN-13 : 978-0593238806
Item Weight : 1.25 pounds
Dimensions : 6.36 x 1.25 x 9.43 inches
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All orders are shipped by USPS Ground.
Processing time (not included in the shipping time) for orders is 1–3 business days. These times may be extended during holidays and promotions. You will receive an email confirmation with a tracking number when your order has shipped.
Ground Flat Rate Shipping―$7.95 Applies to orders shipped in the contiguous 48 US States shipping time is 3–7 business days.
Extended Flat Rate Shipping to Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico - $22.95 - shipping time is 3–7 business days
International Flat Rate Shipping - $42.95(Includes Guam, American Samoa, and US Territories). International delivery time is 5–20 business days (not including time for customs and other import inspections). Shipping costs do not include taxes and import duties.
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For online returns, please email us at academymuseumstore@oscars.org with your first name, last name, and order number so we can assist you.
Refunds will be returned back to the original form of payment and may take up to 7 days to process. Shipping and handling fees are non-refundable.
If you are in the Los Angeles area, online orders can be easily returned in-person at the store. Please bring with you the original order invoice that was included with your shipment. Don't worry, general admission tickets are not required to visit the Academy Museum Store!



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General Admission is not required to visit the Academy Museum Store and is open to the general public during our normal business hours.
The Academy Museum is open six days a week 10am-6pm, closed on Tuesday.
For customer service inquiries, please email academymuseumstore@oscars.org or call us at +1 323.930.3035. Our Customer Service team is available during store business hours. We do our best to respond to all customers within 48 hours. Response times may be extended during holidays and promotions. Inquiries are answered in the order they are received.
We are located at:
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
6067 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036
United States
General Admission is not required to visit the Academy Museum Store and is open to the general public during our normal business hours.
The Academy Museum is open six days a week 10am-6pm, closed on Tuesday.