Favorite Scenes from the Rocky Movie Series

blog

Rocky Balboa came from humble beginnings, both figuratively and literally. Sylvester Stallone was a struggling actor when he wrote the screenplay for the film “Rocky” in three and a half days; it was shot on a budget of just over $1 million. The ultimate underdog story went on to be just that in real life; “Rocky” made Stallone a star, won three Academy Awards including best picture of the year and spawned a series of eight films totaling over $1.7 billion at the box office.

The documentary “40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic” from writer-director Derek Wayne Johnson arrives June 9 on digital platforms, detailing the making of the film and its legacy. Utilizing home movies and footage, the film is narrated by none other than Stallone himself. In honor of the film’s release and one of cinema’s greatest stories, we pored over all eight of the movies, through 2018’s “Creed II,” to pick our favorite scene from each one.

  • Rocky: Rocky Won’t Stay Down

    Rocky was never supposed to be a real contender. In the first film, 1976’s “Rocky,” he’s picked by the champion Apollo Creed as a publicity stunt because he’s from Philadelphia and has a cool nickname – “The Italian Stallion.” No one expects him to actually make a showing. And ultimately, Rocky doesn’t even care about winning; it’s about going the distance.

    And that he does, lasting the full 15 rounds against Creed. At one point in the last round, Creed knocks him down. “Down, down! Stay down!” Mickey screams at him as Creed’s arms are already raised in victory. But he doesn’t — he rises and the disbelief on Creed’s face speaks volumes. And when the final bell sounds, Rocky doesn’t even wait to hear who the announcement — he’s calling for Adrian. As she rushes to the ring, losing her hat, Creed is named the victor in a split decision, but Rocky and Adrian don’t even care. 

  • Rocky II: The Proposal

    A huge part of what makes the “Rocky” films so special has nothing to do with the sport of boxing. The film is a love story between two shy, uncertain people who have been underestimated all their lives. The story endures and we keep caring largely because of the love between Rocky and Adrian and even when Talia Shire’s character is gone in later films, her presence is felt. So while the 1979 sequel has many moments to cheer for (Rocky wins! Training with a chicken! The run through Philly!) there’s a wonderful scene at the start where Rocky and Adrian are walking through the zoo after he’s released from the hospital, where he was recovering from the first fight with Creed. Stopping in front of a tiger, Rocky can’t stand still, shifting nervously. “I was wondering, what do you think you’re doing for the next 40 or 50 years?” He asks, adding. “I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind marrying me very much.” Her response is equally low-key but heartwarming: “Yes. I’d like to marry you.” To top it off, he promises to be a good guy and says he “ain’t gonna leave no hair in the sink or nothing like that.” 

  • Rocky III: Rocky Vs. Thunderlips

    Released in 1982, “Rocky III” is when the series begins to get a little silly – not that that’s a bad thing. In fact, “Rocky III” might be the most fun, with a great villain in Mr. T’s Clubber Lang and a bigger role for Carl Weathers’ Apollo Creed. The tonal shift is clear in an early scene about 17 minutes in, where Rocky agrees to a charity match with wrestler Thunderlips, The Ultimate Male, a.k.a. The Ultimate Object of Desire. Played by Hulk Hogan at height of his powers, things get off to a hilarious start when he makes his entrance and Rocky asks, “Why are they carrying him?” Responds Mickey, “He’s walking.”

    Though Rocky suggests they go easy since it’s just for charity, Thunderlips has other ideas. After tossing Rocky into the fifth row (he screams “Catch me!” to the audience) Rocky is only able to fight back after Paulie cuts off his gloves and he jumps on Thunderlips’ back to strangle him. As soon as it’s over, Thunderlips’ entire personality shifts as he tells Rocky, “Good match.” When Rocky asks, “Why’d you get so crazy on me out there?” Thunderlips responds, “That’s the name of the game.” 

  • Rocky IV: Rocky Ends the Cold War

    The 1984 sequel has everything: Patriotism! A robot! A Lamborghini! James Brown! A montage *inside* a montage! But it’s also undeniably fun and moving. Apollo Creed’s death at the hands of Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren, only given about three sentences but making them a meal) is genuinely horrifying. It prompts Rocky to fight Drago in Russia, where he is greeted with boos upon his entrance. But he wins them over and at the end gives a speech that brings everyone – including the Politburo – to their feet. Tell me you didn’t tear up when Rocky tells the crowd, “I seen a lot of people hate me and I didn’t know what to feel about that so I guess I didn’t like you much neither. During this fight, I’ve seen a lot of changing, the way you felt about me, and in the way I felt about you. In here, there were two guys killing each other, but I guess that’s better than 20 million. I guess what I’m trying to say, is that if I can change, and you can change, everybody can change!”

  • Rocky V: Two Generations on the Steps

    Widely regarded as the weakest of the series and all but disowned by Stallone, who was asked to rank it on a scale of 1 to 10 and gave it a zero, the 1990 movie nonetheless has some bright spots. The plot is actually kind of interesting – Rocky is forced to give up fighting and loses his fortune. He ends up managing an up-and-comer (played by real-life boxer Tommy Morrison.) But after III and IV, nobody wanted to see Rocky go from riches to rags and it’s a rather dour affair.

    Still, there are touching moments, like at the end when Rocky climbs the famous stairs outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art with his son Robert and the two Balboas look at his statue. Then Rocky says, “I’ve been running up and down these steps for 20 years and I never knew there were valuable pictures in this building, you know?” As they walk towards the entrance, his son tells him he’ll love Picasso. Adding extra poignancy is the fact that Robert. is played by his real-life son, Sage Stallone, who died in 2012 at the age of 36 from a heart attack. 

  • Rocky Balboa: The Final Fight

    After the critical and commercial failure of “Rocky V,” Stallone went back to basics for the 2006 film. With a budget of only $24 million, the movie took some big risks — killing of Adrian — and reaped big rewards. Gentle and nostalgic, the movie finds Rocky trying to connect with his grown son Robert (Milo Ventimiglia) and deciding to sign up for one last fight, a charity bout opposite the champion, Mason “The Line” Dixon, a good fighter with an image problem. 

    The entire film pays tribute to the characters and stories that came before it and nowhere is this more evident than when Rocky gets back in the ring. For the first time since the original, it’s not about who wins. It’s two fighters with something to prove and both end up victorious. Going into the final round, Rocky explains, “I gotta go out the way I gotta go out.” Dixon greets him with the line, “You are one crazy old man,” but it’s said with respect. Showing his own respect back, Rocky replies, “You’ll get there.” 

    By the end of the night, Dixon is a winner in a split decision (shades of the first film) but Rocky is the true champ. And he goes out with class. “You’re a great champion. Thank you for the opportunity,” Rocky says to Dixon, before leaving the ring for the last time. 

  • Creed: Rocky Meets Adonis

    There are so many thrilling moments in Ryan Coogler’s 2015 sophomore film it’s virtually impossible to pick just one. Even before the title card there’s big feelings as we meet young Adonis in a youth detention center when Apollo Creed’s widow Mary Anne (a wonderful Phylicia Rashad) comes to tell him about his father and offer to take him in. But it’s tough to top the moment Adonis comes face-to-face with Rocky Balboa. 

    Leaving L.A. to find his father’s old friend in Philadelphia, Adonis needs a trainer. He arrives at Rocky’s restaurant and as Stallone shuffles in, it’s the first time we’ve seen Rocky in nine years. Adonis begins spouting facts about the history between the two fighters and Rocky begins to realize who Adonis is.  Then they stand face-to-face in front of a photo of Rocky and Apollo in the ring. So much is unspoken in that moment, and the feeling is palpable — that there’s an exciting new chapter in this story unfolding. 

  • Creed II: Adonis Babysits

    The nostalgia runs thick in the 2018 follow-up to “Creed,” bringing back Dolph Lundgren as Ivan Drago, the man who killed Apollo Creed in “Rocky IV.” After being defeated by Rocky in that film, Ivan has dreamt of revenge and brings it in the form of his son, Viktor, a ruthless boxer who wants to fight Adonis. It’s a compelling story and a great showcase for Lundgren, but the moment that stands out is much quieter.

    After initially losing to Viktor Drago, Adonis is further devastated when his daughter Amara (with fiancé Bianca) appears to be born deaf. Struggling for many reasons and disconnected from those he’s closest to, Bianca asks Adonis to watch the newborn while she steps out. Amara can’t stop crying and Adonis becomes increasingly unraveled. He finally takes her to the gym where he works out his feelings on the bag – and the crying stops. The moment culminates in Adonis letting out a cathartic scream as we cut to Amara’s beautiful, quiet face. He picks her up and holds her, saying, “Daddy’s being a bitch” in a moment both funny and sweet. When Bianca returns home, father an daughter are resting peacefully.

  • BONUS: Rocky Meets Muhammad Ali

    In 1977, “Rocky” was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and went on to win three, including best picture of the year. Stallone was nominated as both actor and screenwriter and while he didn’t win, he was the talk of the night as he took the stage to present the best supporting actress award. As he began to speak, legendary boxer Muhammad Ali snuck up behind him. The crowd went wild, causing Stallone to ask, “What?” before turning around and seeing for himself who had joined him. “I’m the real Apollo Creed, you stole my script!” Ali jokes. The two put up their fists and start sparring across the stage until Stallone turns it into a strut and they hug. Returning to the podium, Stallone tells the crowd, “I just gotta say one thing. I may not win anything here tonight in the form of an Oscar but I really feel it’s an amazing privilege to be standing next to a one-hundred percent, certified legend and its something I’m going to treasure the rest of my life.”

    Watch the video here. 

Read More About:

Jump to Comments

More from Variety

Most Popular

Must Read

Sign Up for Variety Newsletters

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Variety Confidential

A Variety and iHeartRadio Podcast

ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV%2Bcrq24xKuwaKqfmLi6ecyoraKdo2Kvpr%2FTZqqcnZ6awG65zqacp6yjYsC6uNWeqq2domLAta3LpaannV8%3D