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Rocky

Rocky (1976)

tomatometer

91

Average Rating: 8.2/10
Reviews Counted: 46
Fresh: 42 | Rotten: 4

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.

67

Average Rating: 7.6/10
Critic Reviews: 6
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 2

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.

audience

65

liked it
Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 31,852,186

My Rating

Movie Info

Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), a Philadelphia boxer, is but one step removed from total bum-hood. A once-promising pugilist, Rocky is now taking nickel-and-dime bouts and running strongarm errands for local loan sharks to survive. Even his supportive trainer, Mickey (Burgess Meredith), has given up on Rocky. All this changes thanks to Muhammad Ali-like super-boxer Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). With the Bicentennial celebration coming up, Creed must find a "Cinderella" opponent for the big

PG, 1 hr. 59 min.

Drama, Action & Adventure, Romance

Sylvester Stallone

Aug 7, 2006

United Artists

Cast

All Critics (46) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (46) | Rotten (4) | DVD (30)

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 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | Comments (4)
TIME Magazine
Top Critic IconTop Critic

There are occasional flashes that the film may be patronizing the lower end of the blue-collar mentality, as much if not more than the characters who keep putting Rocky down on the screen. However, Avildsen is noted for creating such ambiguities.

February 20, 2009 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

I wanted to like it more than I did, but it'll do.

December 13, 2006 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The screenplay of Rocky is purest Hollywood make-believe of the 1930's, but there would be nothing wrong with that, had the film been executed with any verve.

New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A description of it would sound like a cliche from beginning to end. But Rocky isn't about a story, it's about a hero. And it's inhabited with supreme confidence by a star.

October 23, 2004 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | Comments (10)
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The basic storyline has been done to death over the years; this is still one of the most effective and successful applications of the formula.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: ReelViews | Comment
ReelViews
Top Critic IconTop Critic

One of the greatest, if not the greatest, feel good movies of all time.

August 17, 2011 Full Review Source: Three Movie Buffs | Comment
Three Movie Buffs

It's all here: the famous Bill Conti fanfare, the 'Gonna Fly Now' training montage, the inevitable 'David and Goliath' climax. [Blu-ray]

June 6, 2011 Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews | Comment

transforms the gritty realities of economic hardship and personal desperation into a celebration of individuality and determination without sinking into mushy sentimentalism

June 2, 2011 Full Review Source: Q Network Film Desk | Comment
Q Network Film Desk

Sly's best pic winner sets underdog-hero standard.

December 28, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

A great example of underdog sports cinema.

February 20, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment

This is really Sly's movie as he slugs his way through a heartfelt performance and delivers some cracking punches, both literally and emotionally.

February 20, 2008 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | Comment
Empire Magazine

Rocky retains its power to enthrall ... a quieter movie than some may remember.... It's worth seeing again, for what it was, before it was betrayed by it's less intelligent, testosterone-soaked progeny.

January 15, 2008 Full Review | Comment
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

A dunce who can fight with a contagious likability: Now that's American.

November 12, 2007 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | Comment
Filmcritic.com

Yo Adrian, we're on Blu-ray!

July 25, 2007 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis

This two-disc collection is also the best presentation of the film to date. Even those who have bought any of the many previous DVD versions will be well served in the upgrade.

February 9, 2007 Full Review Source: Calgary Movies | Comment
Calgary Movies

Marty like romance tale with boxing gloves.

December 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comments (10)
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Better films have been made about the world of sports, but for many Rocky is the sports movie.

December 13, 2006 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comment
TV Guide's Movie Guide

A paint-by-numbers inspirational sports film.

December 13, 2006 Full Review Source: Oscar Guy | Comments (14)
Oscar Guy

...there's simply no denying the film's overall effectiveness...

December 6, 2006 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | Comment
Reel Film Reviews

A "guy movie" mega-classic that's really gotten better with age.

December 6, 2006 Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com | Comment
DVDTalk.com

An extremely old-fashioned, if also intermittently enjoyable, sports drama that mixes elements of Marty as well as numerous prize-fighting pictures like The Cahamp, Golden Boy, and Somebody Up There Like Me.

July 25, 2006 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | Comment

Rocky is an old-fashioned fairytale brilliantly revamped to chime in with the depressed mood of the '70s.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Rocky

Rocky is a solid boxing drama that is probably when of the best boxing films ever made. Not only that but this is probably one of the best films that Sly has ever done. Although nowadays boxing films are almost a cliché, Rocky still remains a classic because it was one of the first fight films to feature an underdog

March 28, 2012
TheDudeLebowski65
Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski

Super Reviewer

He lost?

December 26, 2006
superclerk25

Super Reviewer

    1. Mickey: You're gonna eat lightnin' and you're gonna crap thunder!
    – Submitted by Rocky F (2 months ago)
    1. Mickey: Your nose is broken.
    2. Rocky Balboa: How does it look?
    3. Mickey: Ah, it's an improvement.
    – Submitted by Hasan R (3 months ago)
    1. Rocky Balboa: If I Can Change, you can Change. EVERYBODY CAN CHANGE!
    – Submitted by Guido M (6 months ago)
    1. Adrian: Rocky, why do you fight?
    2. Rocky Balboa: Because I can't sing and dance.
    – Submitted by zachary v (11 months ago)
    1. Rocky Balboa: ADRIAAAAAAAAAAAN!
    – Submitted by Rajni A (12 months ago)

Latest News for Rocky

November 21, 2011:
Sylvester Stallone Plans Rocky: The Musical
He joins the Klitschko brothers in bringing his classic 1976 film to the stage; says "it would make...

October 20, 2010:
A Grudge Match for De Niro and Stallone?
Robert De Niro and Sylvester Stallone could play a pair of aging former boxers who climb into the...

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