Cobra

A tough, unorthodox LAPD detective, Lt. Marion 'Cobra' Cobretti, is tasked with protecting a journalist and her baby, the sole witnesses to a brutal murder by a shadowy, cult-like organization known as 'The New Order'. As the killers systematically eliminate anyone connected to the case, Cobra finds himself increasingly isolated and forced to go outside the law to protect the witnesses and expose the conspiracy.

Cobra was a critical and commercial disappointment, widely panned for its excessive violence, thin plot, and Stallone's one-dimensional performance. While it performed decently at the box office initially, it failed to capture the audience's imagination and is generally considered one of Stallone's weaker action films from the era.

• Over-reliance on gratuitous violence and clichés.
• Sylvester Stallone's performance is wooden and uninspired.
• The plot is predictable and lacks substance.

Google audience: Audience reviews often cite the film's over-the-top action and Stallone's tough-guy persona as points of interest, though many also find the plot nonsensical and the violence excessive and repetitive.

Paul Verhoeven initially envisioned 'Cobra' as a more serious, gritty film exploring the rise of neo-fascist groups. However, during production, the script was significantly altered to become a more standard, violent action film, much to Verhoeven's later chagrin.