Rocky (1976)
The spirit of the American underdog.
Presentation:
There are some films that are known for specific scenes and lines rather than the film in its entirety - Rocky is one of those for me, a film that I never watched completely from start to finish. And yet, nearly everyone will know that soundtrack and running scene, ubiquitously referenced in the modern zeitgeist whenever someone is training for a monumental task. I understand why the rest of the film’s plot is rarely referenced. It’s a rough indie film in execution despite the amount of extras for the boxing scenes, which are frankly not impressive in comparison to Raging Bull. Luckily, you can’t compare these two films on the same axis because Rocky is at its core a romance drama. I was surprised by the love story - raw, rough around the edges, but real and authentic afforded by the lack of Hollywood flair. There is a real tension and believability from Sylvester Stallone’s costar, not quite like anything else I’ve seen except in real life.
Conclusion:
Although quite long, I think Rocky is worthy of a full watch in 2026 despite all the other great boxing films. Sure, Stallone is no Denzel Washington or Tom Cruise, and the boxing is no Raging Bull. The writing is also not as interesting as the backstory behind Stallone’s film. But one can’t help but feel inspired from the subtle American underdog sensibilities. It doesn’t exactly feel right to give this film an average score. Rocky yet sweet, a classic American dream story that should still sweep you away. The Italian Stallion!
Recommendations
The spirit of the American underdog.