Rocky: 50th Anniversary rerelease still packs a powerful punch
IN 1976, a low-budget sports drama starring an unknown actor landed in cinemas. The film went on to become the highest-grossing film of 1976 and earned ten Oscar nominations, ultimately winning the Oscar for best picture. The film was and it is the greatest underdog story in film history. Rocky Balboa, a small-time boxer, gets a chance to fight heavyweight champion Apollo Creed. In a bid to earn respect and glory, Rocky jumps into the ring, unaware of the tough task ahead of him. Now, in 2026, Rocky is returning to cinemas to celebrate its 50th anniversary and, suffice to say, the Italian stallion has still got the eye of the tiger. With a beautifully human and inspiring story, written by its lead actor Sylvester Stallone (who also delivers a powerhouse performance), an iconic musical score and endlessly quotable lines, has always been a delight of a film and now modern audiences, who may never have had the chance to see it in cinemas, can relive the highs and lows of this Philadelphia’s finest on the big screen.
is one of those rare films that is so deeply embedded into popular culture that, even if you haven’t seen it, you still know everything about it. The plot follows Rocky Balboa, a small-time boxer who feels he never really got his shot in life. Making extra money working as a bailiff for a local loan shark, Rocky dreams of one day making it as a professional boxer. Despite an undeniable talent, Rocky’s trainer, Micky, feels he has wasted his potential and does not hide his disappointment. The chance Rocky has been waiting for his whole life suddenly appears when the undefeated heavyweight champion Apollo Creed chooses Rocky as his opponent for a high-profile fight in Philadelphia during the United States’ bicentennial. Creed’s choosing Rocky is, of course, a publicity stunt – a chance to give an unknown fighter a shot at the heavyweight belt. For Rocky, however, this fight is his one chance. Not a chance to win, but a chance to prove he is not a failure and that he can “go the distance” with the heavyweight champion of the world. With the sheer will and fighting spirit of a true underdog (and a cast-iron jaw), Rocky trades brutal blows with Creed for the full 15 rounds and, though he may not win the fight; he wins the night by achieving his true goal of going the distance.
The one mistake people always make when discussing is describing it as “a boxing movie.” This is not an accurate label. It is a drama with boxing in it. In fact, Rocky could be more accurately described as a love story. Central to the film is Rocky’s tender relationship with Adrien, a quiet girl who works in a local pet store and is the sister of his best friend Paulie. The boxing scenes may be exhilarating, but the romance between Rocky and Adrien is what keeps audiences coming back. I don’t believe anyone could finish watching this film as the final bell rings and Rocky and Adrien embrace in the ring without struggling to hold back tears.
is not just an underdog story on the screen – it is a real-life underdog story, too. Stallone famously wrote the screenplay in three days but refused to sell it to studios unless he was cast in the leading role. Barely making a living as a struggling actor, Stallone was facing homelessness and even had to sell his dog when he could not afford to feed him. Yet, despite this financial hardship, he turned down numerous mouth-watering offers from studios who loved his script but wanted to cast a recognisable face as Rocky. Eventually, having worn down studio executives, the producers at Chartoff-Winkler Productions acquiesced and granted a modest budget to shoot the film in only 28 days, with Stallone in the lead. And the rest, of course, is history. Rocky’s journey from a nobody to a somebody mirrors Stallone’s in more ways than one and is one of the many reasons this film has resonated with audiences on a deeply emotional level for 50 years.
It would be remiss to review and not mention the incredible acting. As previously mentioned, Stallone fought tirelessly to ensure he played Rocky and thank God he did. His performance as the Italian stallion has so many layers to it that every time you rewatch it, you can notice something new about the character. Opposite Stallone, Talia Shire stars as the quiet and gentle Adrien. Having previously been Oscar nominated for her role as Corrie Corleone in The Godfather Part II, Shire delivers a fascinatingly understated yet hugely impactful performance as Adrien, serving as the emotional anchor of the whole film. Finally, Burt Young’s performance as Rocky’s abrasive and eternally loyal friend Paulie cannot go unmentioned. Young’s performance is so entertaining that it makes it easy to forget how unlikeable a character Paulie actually is.
success spawned a billion-dollar franchise, with five sequels and three spin-offs in the Creed films. While these sequels and spin-offs have varied in quality, with some truly excellent entries (and some truly forgettable ones), nothing will ever reach the same heights as the original This is one of those films that everyone remembers their first time watching and never fails to inspire. truly is the undisputed heavyweight champion of cinema. With a new film, called , about Stallone’s struggle to make the film coming in November, now is the perfect time to rewatch the ultimate underdog movie.
