movie:rocky

  • What to Stream: 'The Real Rocky' Looks at Life of Sylvester Stallone's Inspiration–Turned–Foe Chuck Wepner

    The 2011 documentary The Real Rocky (now on iTunes) is an excellent primer on the fighter and his battle with Rocky’s writer-star Sylvester Stallone. Directed by Jeff Feuerzeig (who’s also behind this year’s excellent doc Author: The JT LeRoy Story), the film looks at the life and career of Wepner, the Bayonne, New Jersey, boxer Stallone often referenced when talking about the creation of his most iconic character, Rocky Balboa. Stallone later said that the fight became a loose inspiration for the Rocky screenplay, Stallone’s tale of a working-class Philly brawler who gets a title shot against the charismatic champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers).

  • 'Rocky' Turns 40: We Talked to the Sculptor Behind the Famous Philly Statue

    In 1980, Sylvester Stallone commissioned the nearly 9-foot-tall bronze statue, made in his likeness, from sculptor A. Thomas Schomberg. It all started when Stallone, an avid art collector, bought two of Schomberg’s pieces— both boxing-related — at a gallery in Las Vegas.

  • ‘Rocky’ Turns 40: The Story Behind the Epic Fight and the Last-Minute Change to the Ending

    The most famous fight in the history of Philadelphia, a city with a proud boxing tradition, took place 3,000 miles away in a largely empty arena where two novice boxers failed to connect on nearly every punch they threw. The fight that ends Sylvester Stallone’s 1976 classic Rocky is one of Hollywood’s most enduring portrayals of a once-great sport. But creating the sequence was no easy task. Like Rocky’s success, the final scene proved a fantastic achievement in the face of long odds. ...

  • ‘Rocky’ Turns 40: Philly’s Most Famous Italian Stallion Impersonator on Why Rocky Matters More Than Ever

    For the past five years, Mike Kunda has been leading the Yo, Philly! Rocky Film Tour, taking fans to the movie’s most iconic locations, from Mickey’s gym to the “Rocky steps” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Rocky’s apartment [still has] the 1818 address painted on the red brick.

  • 'Rocky' Turns 40: Talia Shire on Her Screen Partnership With Sylvester Stallone and Creating...Adrian!

    “Adriaaannnnn!” It’s hard to think of a more memorable movie scene than the moment when Rocky, bruised and battered after his epic fight with Apollo Creed, cries out for his soul mate Adrian Pennino. In honor of that auspicious anniversary, we talked to actress Talia Shire, who brought the nerdy pet-store worker to vivid life four decades ago. Where did Adrian come from?

  • 'Rocky,' 'Goodfellas' Producer Irwin Winkler to Receive PGA's Highest Honor

    Irwin Winkler will be honored with the Producers Guild of America’s 2017 David O. Selznick Achievement Award for his work in motion pictures. The award will be presented at the 28th annual Producers Guild Awards on Jan. 28 at the Beverly Hilton.

  • Sylvester Stallone Shares Rare 'Rocky IV' Photos on Instagram

    As the 40th anniversary of 'Rocky' approaches in November, the movie's creator posts pics of himself and Dolph Lundgren from the franchise's fourth installment that even surprised him

  • 10 Awesome Fights in Boxing Movie History

    As new boxing movie 'Hands of Stone' arrives, a look back at the greatest bouts on the big screen

  • Young Fan's Workout With Rocky Wins Sylvester Stallone's Praise

    This kid's going to go the distance

  • The Real-Life Muhammad Ali Fight That Inspired 'Rocky'

    With the passing of Muhammad Ali on June 3 at the age of 74, the world lost one of the greatest athletes and cultural figures of modern times. As just a sidenote to his extraordinary life, he also happened to be the inspiration for one of America’s most hallowed underdog sports movies, which was based in part on one of his bouts.

  • Watch Muhammad Ali and Sylvester Stallone Present at the 1977 Oscars

    Ali and Stallone (YouTube) By Natalie Stone, The Hollywood Reporter Three-time heavyweight champion of the world Muhammad Ali surprised Sylvester Stallone on stage at the 1977 Oscars, the same year the actor was nominated for his leading role in Rocky. As Stallone, who played boxing legend Rocky Balboa in the 1976 Oscar-nominated film, introduced himself to audiences, Ali crept behind him on the stage to the chuckle of onlooking attendees. I’m the Apollo Creed,” Ali quipped of Stallone’s leading role in the boxing film. Upon taking the podium to present the best supporting actress Oscar, Stallone said of Ali: “I just gotta say one thing.

  • Sylvester Stallone Says 'Creed' Feels Like Rocky Balboa's Last Ride

    "I don’t know how much further you can push Rocky.”

  • Sylvester Stallone Says 'Creed' Sequel Could Reunite Rocky and Apollo (Exclusive)

    After a successful comeback in Creed, which has grossed $103 million at the U.S. box office,Sylvester Stallone revealed in a new interview with Variety that he’s already getting ready to step back in the ring for another sequel where he’ll play Rocky Balboa. MGM, which financed the Warner Bros. release with New Line, is onboard. It’s not clear if Ryan Coogler, who is in negotiations for Marvel’s Black Panther, will return as director of the next Creed.

  • Sylvester Stallone Explains How He Persuaded Michael B. Jordan to Take a Real Punch for ‘Creed’

    A few weeks ago, Sylvester Stallone posted a behind-the-scenes video from Creed to his Twitter account, showing star Michael B. Jordan taking a real punch from boxing world champion Tony Bellow (who played his onscreen rival “Pretty” Ricky Conlan). Turns out that getting KO’d by a pro is a Rocky tradition. On Monday’s Tonight Show, franchise creator Stallone (who produced and co-stars in Creed) told host Jimmy Fallon that Jordan’s knockout was his “initiation” into the Rocky family. Watch the clip above.

  • Carl Weathers Looks Back on 'Rocky' and Gives 'Creed' Lots of Glove

    Sylvester Stallone and Carl Weathers in 1976’s ‘Rocky’

  • Red Carpet Flashback! 40 Years of Sylvester Stallone, From 'Rocky' to 'Creed'

    Sylvester Stallone hit Hollywood hard in 1976 with his Oscar nominated role as the brawling underdog in Rocky. Creed  — the seventh installment in the Rocky tale — opens on November 25, so we thought we’d take a look back at almost 40 years of Sly on the red carpet. From fur coats to his Arnold bromance, this is one flashback gallery not to be missed!

  • The Great 'Rocky' Musical That Got Knocked Out Too Soon

    Andy Karl as Rocky and Margo Seibert as Adrian in ‘Rocky the Musical’ (AP Photo/Polk and Co., Matthew Murphy) In February 2014, Rocky Balboa — the boxer who knocked down Mr. T, conquered the human Cold War symbol Ivan Drago, and pioneered the Siberian training montage — did something unprecedented in his nearly 40-year career: He got up onstage and sang his heart out. A musical version of Rocky may sound like a joke, but the show that opened at New York’s Winter Garden Theater last year (starring Andy Karl in the title role) was as heartfelt and thrilling as the 1976 film that inspired it.

  • How Rocky Balboa Become Philadelphia's Signature Superhero

    Sylvester Stallone in the original ‘Rocky’ (Everett) By Carrie Rickey In 1986, when I told my nephew that I was moving to Philadelphia, the L.A. high-school junior asked, “Is that near Boston?” “It’s between New York and D.C.,” I replied. I wondered then — and I still do now, as the Italian Stallion passes the boxing gloves to the son of his onetime rival Apollo Creed in director Ryan Coogler’s new drama Creed that’s hitting theaters on Thanksgiving. From The Philadelphia Story to Trading Places, the Philly story onscreen has mostly been about blue bloods and blue collars initially at odds, but ultimately finding common cause. “Stallone made the Horatio Alger story, tarnished and suspect during Vietnam, credible again,” film historian Jeanine Basinger told me in 2001.

  • 'Creed' Cast Throws Down About Philly Cheesesteaks

    In fact, as Michael B. Jordan told Yahoo Movies in the video above, he requested that the caterers brought cheesesteaks to the set after he finished all of his boxing scenes, so the actor could pig out. In fact, that was the controversial preference offered up by nearly everyone that Yahoo spoke to from the film, including director Ryan Coogler. Tessa Thompson, who co-stars in the film, is also on the chicken bandwagon — but even more controversially, doesn’t like ketchup.

  • 72 Hard-Hitting Facts About the 'Rocky' Movies

    Sylvester Stallone in ‘Rocky’ (Everett) By Adam K. Raymond Sylvester Stallone has been careful to note that Creed “is not Rocky 7.” And that’s a huge relief. Creed, instead, turns the focus to Adonis Johnson Creed, played by Michael B. Jordan. The son of Apollo Creed is a struggling fighter who enlists his father’s old rival to help him in the ring. To get you ready for the new drama that hits theaters on Thanksgiving Day, here are 72 knockout facts — the same as the number of steps in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art — about the first six installments of the Rocky series.