I've seen it described by screenwriters as having the perfect script. Because everything that happens in the movie is a totally organic, logical consequence of what happened right before.
i think there's a universe out there where Rocky and First Blood establish Stalone as being the contemplative action movie guy. both those movies had interesting things to say about grief, loss, disappointment, and carrying on with the traumas of what pursuit of the american dream actually mean
There’s a strong argument that he’s American film’s Norman Rockwell. Not perfect, but he helped shape the identity of a culture in a way that resonated.