Perhaps it does not come as a surprise to say that Rocky has been engraved upon our popular culture. The franchise has continued to grow in immense popularity and has spawned a new generation of fans with the continuation of the story, with Michael B. Jordan as the lead in the Creed films.
Although the character of Rocky is not as prominent in the new franchise, he was the boxer to start it all. But the first film in the series to start it all not only defined Sylvester Stallone’s entire career, but it is also one of the greatest dramas of all time. The film does have a sport-like overtone, but it is by no means just a sports movie. There are dramatic themes and emotional beats in Stallone’s screenplay that supersede most in the sports genre and in drama itself, and makes Rocky the best Stallone film of all time.
Is Rocky a Love Story?
The film is most certainly a drama in almost every way. From a piano interluding score to its characterization, Rocky is at its core a love story. Throughout most of the film, Rocky is trying to win the heart of Adrian, played by Talia Shire. He tries to impress her with not-so-subtle puns and jokes and uses his boxing as a way to engage in conversation. He frequently visits the pet store and remembers almost every occurrence. When Rocky makes his first television appearance, he makes his famous “Yo, Adrian,” line for the first time to give his girlfriend a shout-out.
Finally, upon Rocky’s strenuous bout with Apollo Creed, the whole world is watching. The Italian Stallion relentlessly does not give up and is at the forefront of the entire boxing community. He held his own and was faced with reporters and cameras, despite his loss against Creed. Who does he call out to? Adrian. He ignores the reporters and, when faced with Adrian as she finally enters the crowded ring, he tells her that he loves her.
This is the final line of the film. It has nothing to do with the match, it has nothing to do with Creed. It was love that drove Rocky to be the best and to try his best. Perhaps he was trying to win over Adrian the entire time. This is why the film could be considered such a dramatic and romantic piece of cinema.
What Is the Story Behind Rocky?
Prior to Rocky, Sylvester Stallone did not have much to his name, both on film and financially. The actor and screenwriter was inspired by the 1975 bout between Chuck Wepner and Muhammad Ali and penned a first draft for Rocky in just three days. In addition, Stallone is just a lover of good cinema. He told BBC’s Barry Norman about his true inspiration and love of classic Hollywood whilst promoting the film in 1977.
“Well, I felt at the time that cinema, at least the movies I have seen were at an all-time low. Everything was anti-society, anti-christ, anti-government, anti-everything. There was no one to root for. I also feel that movies are very cyclic. I wanted to get back into the cycle of the films of the '40s and '50s where people say ‘Hey, gee I miss the good old films and Hollywood hasn’t taken heed or made any good old fashioned typed films where morality was at the forefront.’ So I took the opportunity to write this particular film. Of course, being somewhat selfish because I had myself in mind for it.
The film is a representation of how Stallone put his best foot forward and tried to make his break into cinema. He fully embodies the role of Rocky, who puts his heart and soul into the sport of boxing by coming up with new ways to train, like punching frozen carcasses. Stallone finally had the chance to present himself as the Everyman who people could root for, and not be typecast as a background character. He continues with BBC by telling Barry Norman of how he convinced the studio to cast him in the film he wrote.
“They first showed [the script] to James Cann [...] Burt Reynolds, Brian O’Niel, Gene Hackman, they showed it to all of these people. But I kept saying I work a lot cheaper, a lot harder and for a lot longer. Also I think they were taking the pioneer spirit of it.”
How Successful Was Rocky?
Did the film do well at the box office? Well, with a budget of $960,000, the film made well over $100,000,000 at the box office worldwide, which one would consider a smash success commercially. Did the film do well critically? The film was nominated for 10 Academy Awards in 1977. Deservingly, Rocky took home three Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Film Editing. Stallone was nominated for his performance as Rocky and his screenplay.
As small of a drama and production as Rocky was upon its release, it surely made its impact on popular culture. The film was followed by five sequels that demonstrated the character’s connection with American cinema. Rocky IV was the film to showcase American patriotism at times of conflict with Russia. Rocky has just been engraved into American culture and is a staple of cinematic history. The franchise has continued with Apollo Creed’s son in his own film franchise Creed.
A Movie for Philadelphia
Rocky is a film that evokes Philadelphia's brotherhood. The sports drama is beautifully shot in the city itself throughout most of the production. Rocky famously runs up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and even more famously throws his fists into the air in a perfectly shot sequence. The stairs are now a tourist attraction that draws in viewers from all over the world. To complement the staircase, a statue of Rocky Balboa stands below the foot of the steps, and it draws in a crowd every single day. Passers take photos with the statue and admire it for what it represents.
Philly is perfectly accented in Rocky. Apollo Creed uses the city as the place to hold the boxing match with Rocky, who is surely the underdog. But Creed wants to evoke the notion that America is the land of opportunity, and it surely can give an underdog like Rocky a chance to make it big. It is fitting that Philadelphia is the place to show this match, as it is the place where America was born. Rocky is not only a film for the city of Philadelphia, but it is a film for anyone who wants to make that one dream come true.