Do you want to see ‘Rocky’?

Rocky (1976)

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All Critics
Top Critics

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.

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.

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Average Rating: 3.2/5
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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

Directed By: John G. Avildsen

Written By: Sylvester Stallone

In Theaters: Nov 21, 1976 Limited

On DVD: Aug 7, 2006

United Artists

Rocky Trailer & Photos

Cast

Sylvester Stallone
Rocky Balboa
Talia Shire
Adrian
Burt Young
Paulie
Carl Weathers
Apollo Creed
Burgess Meredith
Mickey
Thayer David
Jergens
Joe Spinell
Gazzo
Jodi Letizia
Marie
Bill Baldwin
Fight Announcer
Simmy Bow
Club Cornerman
Tony Burton
Apollo's Trainer
DeForest Covan
Apollo's Corner
Lou Filippo
Championship Fight Anno...
Joe Frazier
Himself
James Gambina
Mike
George Memmoli
Ice Rink Attendant
Jane Marla Robbins
Gloria Pet Shop Owner
Hank Rolike
Apollo Cornerman
Billy Sands
Club Fight Announcer
Stan Shaw
Dipper
Don Sherman
Bartender
Larry Carroll
TV Interviewer
Lloyd Kaufman
Drunk
Frank Stallone
A Street Corner Singer
George O'Hanlon
TV Commentator
Jack Hollander
Fats
Frankie Van
Club Fight Referee
Kathleen Parker
Paulie's Date
Diana Lewis
TV Commentator
Shirley O'Hara Krims
Jergens' Secretary
Al Silvani
Cut Man
Jimmy Gambina

Critic Reviews for Rocky

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)

Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

Top 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

A.D. Murphy

Variety

Top Critic

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

December 13, 2006 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Top 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.

May 9, 2005 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comments (22)

Vincent Canby

New York Times

Top 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)

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top 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

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Top 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

Scott Nash

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

Peter Canavese

Groucho Reviews Source: Groucho Reviews

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

James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

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

December 28, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

A great example of underdog sports cinema.

February 20, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4

| Comment

Film4

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

Adam Smith

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

Philip Martin

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

Chris Cabin

Filmcritic.com

Yo Adrian, we're on Blu-ray!

July 25, 2007 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

| Comment

James Plath

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

Ryan Cracknell

Calgary Movies

Marty like romance tale with boxing gloves.

December 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comments (10)

Dennis Schwartz

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)

Wesley Lovell

Oscar Guy

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

December 6, 2006 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews

| Comment

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

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

December 6, 2006 Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com

| Comment

Scott Weinberg

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

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

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

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Rocky

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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 clich�, Rocky still remains a classic because it was one of the first fight films to feature an underdog

March 28, 2012

Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski

Super Reviewer

He lost?

December 26, 2006

Jason Spencer

Super Reviewer

Rocky Quotes

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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)

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