Rocky (1976)
78%RT Audience Score: 69%
Awards & Nominations: Won 3 Oscars
20 wins & 22 nominations total
This story of a down-on-his-luck boxer is thoroughly predictable, but Sylvester Stallone’s script and stunning performance in the title role brush aside complaints
Rocky is the ultimate underdog story that will have you rooting for the Italian Stallion from start to finish. Stallone’s portrayal of Rocky is both charming and hilarious, making you forget about the predictable plot. It’s no wonder why this movie is a classic and a must-watch for any sports movie fan. Plus, who doesn’t love a good training montage?
Production Company(ies)
Ain’t Heard Nothin’ Yet Corp. Goodmovies Entertainment,
Distributor
CBS/Fox, United Artists, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
1818 East Tusculum Street, Kensington, North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
MPAA / Certificate
PG
Year of Release
1976
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Mono
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 59m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 1, 1976 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 8, 2005
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burgess Meredith, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Thayer David, directed by John G Avildsen, written by Sylvester Stallone, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by John Pym, Kathleen Carroll, Arthur Knight, Gene Siskel, Richard Schickel, Nell Minow, PG, Irwin Winkler, Robert Chartoff, CBS/Fox, United Artists, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., mono, flat (1.85:1), Rocky Balboa, Apollo Creed, Mickey Goldmill, Paulie, Jergens
Worldwide gross: $117,250,402
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $664,910,892
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 190
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 72,509,367
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $960,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $5,444,028
Production budget ranking: 1,859
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $2,931,609
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $656,535,255
ROI to date (est.): 7,839%
ROI ranking: 10
Talia Shire – Adrian
Burgess Meredith – Mickey
Burt Young – Paulie
Carl Weathers – Apollo
Thayer David – Jergens
Director(s)
John G. Avildsen
Writer(s)
Sylvester Stallone
Producer(s)
Irwin Winkler, Robert Chartoff
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 3 Oscars
20 wins & 22 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Achievement in Directing Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Editing Winners, Oscar Best Picture Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Winners
All Critics (69) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (63) | Rotten (6)
Rocky, Stallone’s alter ego, is sufficiently engaging to make one forget, momentarily at least, the script’s milk-fed lack of originality.
February 6, 2020
John Pym
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
Like the movies of Frank Capra, Rocky is a glowing tribute to the human spirit – a chin-up reminder that the decent, little guys of the world often accomplish the impossible if only because they try so hard.
February 24, 2016
Kathleen Carroll
New York Daily News
TOP CRITIC
In addition to a heart-warming script, Stallone has created on the screen a character of enormous appeal and charm — half-articulate but funny, gruff but good-hearted.
November 24, 2015
Arthur Knight
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
Sylvester Stallone [is] as likable as a basset hound.
February 6, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
Gene Siskel
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
The story is achingly familiar, and though Stallone has a certain power, he is certainly not the subtlest actor to crawl out from under Marlon’s overcoat.
July 26, 2011
Richard Schickel
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Sly’s best pic winner sets underdog-hero standard.
December 28, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
Rocky is not only the best sports film ever made but one of the best feel-good movies ever made.
February 14, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
David Gonzalez
Reel Talk Inc.
Worst Best Picture ever!
January 17, 2022 | Rating: 1/5
James Wegg
JWR
Movies like Rocky happen once in a blue moon.
November 30, 2021
David Sterritt
Christian Science Monitor
Rocky eschews the cliche knockoutm triumphantly winning on points.
August 4, 2021
David Dugas
United Press International
Sylvester Stallone struck a deep, lasting chord with this fountainhead of clichés…
April 8, 2021 | Rating: 2/4
Josh Larsen
LarsenOnFilm
It isn’t the first encouraging movie to feature an underdog that is entirely likeable and sorely outmatched, but it is one of the absolute finest.
August 31, 2020 | Rating: 10/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins…
Plot
Rocky Balboa is a struggling boxer trying to make the big time, working as a debt collector for a pittance. When heavyweight champion Apollo Creed visits Philadelphia, his managers want to set up an exhibition match between Creed and a struggling boxer, touting the fight as a chance for a “nobody” to become a “somebody”. The match is supposed to be easily won by Creed, but someone forgot to tell Rocky, who sees this as his only shot at the big time.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film Rocky on Fresh Kernels.
John-G.-Avildsen.jpg
