FAQ for
Rocky (1976) More at IMDbPro »

The following FAQ entries may contain spoilers. Only the biggest ones (if any) will be covered with spoiler tags. Spoiler tags have been used sparingly in order to make the page more readable.

For detailed information about the amounts and types of (a) sex and nudity, (b) violence and gore, (c) profanity, (d) alcohol, drugs, and smoking, and (e) frightening and intense scenes in this movie, consult the IMDb Parents Guide for this movie. The Parents Guide for Rocky can be found here.

So far, there are six Rocky movies, all written by and starring Sylvester Stallone as Rocky. Rocky (1976) is followed by Rocky II (1979), Rocky III (1982), Rocky IV (1985), and Rocky V (1990). Rocky comes out of retirement in Rocky Balboa (2006).

The film begins on November 25, 1975 (Rocky's fight with Spider Rico) and ends on January 1, 1976 (Rocky's title fight against Apollo Creed).

When in the bathroom with Paulie (Burt Young), Rocky mentions that he is 30. This scene takes place the day before Thanksgiving 1975. In 1975, Thanksgiving fell on November 27. The film runs from November 25, 1975 to January 1, 1976, and at no stage during that time does Rocky celebrate a birthday. Taken together, this means that Rocky was born sometime between January 2, 1945 and November 24, 1945.

As he says in Rocky II, he made it to the ninth grade.

The Resurrection AC. Tommy Gunn (Tommy Morrison) also fights a match there in Rocky V.

He gets winner's share: $65, less $15 locker and cornerman, $5 shower, and 7% tax. In the end, he gets a total of $40.55.

Spider Rico gets loser's share: $40, less $15 locker and cornerman, $5 shower and 7% tax; a total of $17.20

He lives in Apt. 2, at 1818 East Tusculum Street in the Kensington section of North Philadelphia. He would subsequently move out of this apartment in Rocky II, although in Rocky Balboa, he would visit it once a year while reminiscing about his life with Adrian.

The turtles are called Cuff and Link; the fish is called Moby Dick; the dog is called Butkus. Cuff and Link reappear in Rocky Balboa (played by the same two turtles who play them in Rocky). Butkus (played by Butkus Stallone) also appears in Rocky II.

Mighty Mick's Boxing. It retains this name throughout all six films in the series, although by the time of Rocky Balboa it would be closed down and derelict.

According to Sylvester Stallone on the DVD commentary, it is the combination for the lock on the door. Stallone wanted to convey to audiences that even after six years in the same gym using the same locker, Rocky still can't remember the code.

44 wins (38 KO) - 20 Loss

He has four: The Master of Disaster (mentioned in Rocky II), The King of Sting (mentioned in Rocky III), The Dancing Destroyer and The Count of Monte Fisto (both mentioned in Rocky IV).

Apollo Creed, by a split decision.

Film composer Bill Conti wrote the music, whilst Carol Connors and Ayn Robbins wrote the lyrics. The song was sung by DeEtta Little and Nelson Pigford.

"Gonna Fly Now" was nominated for a Best Original Song Oscar at the 49th Academy Awards in 1977, and although it didn't win, the song hit the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, whilst a modified version by jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson hit the top 30. A disco version by Rhythm Heritage was also in the charts at the time.

Slightly altered versions of the song appeared in Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky V and Rocky Balboa. For the 2006 version from Rocky Balboa, the song was completely re-recorded with Natalie Wilde on vocals.

No. Garrett Brown invented the Steadicam (originally called the Brown Stabilizer) in 1975. The first film production on which it was used was Hal Ashby's Bound for Glory (1976), where it was used at the behest of cinematographer Haskell Wexler. However the first film to be released which featured the Steadicam was John Schlesinger's Marathon Man (1976), where, again, it was used by request of cinematographer Conrad L. Hall. Rocky was both the third film on which it was used and the third film released but many people often make the mistake that Rocky originated the use of the device. This is most likely because of the fame of Rocky as opposed to the other two films (even though Bound for Glory won Best Cinematography at the Oscars). Additionally, the shots in Rocky which employ the Steadicam are all iconic shots, especially the Philadelphia Museum shot, and this extra fame has no doubt contributed to people erroneously believing it to be the first film to feature the Steadicam.

The 2-disc Collector's Edition DVD released by MGM Home Entertainment in 2007 (called the Definitive Edition in the UK) contains the following special features:

A feature length commentary with writer/actor Sylvester Stallone.

A feature length commentary with boxing trainer Lou Duva and boxing commentator Bert Randolph Sugar.

A feature length commentary with director John G. Avildsen, producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, actors Talia Shire, Carl Weathers and Burt Young, and Steadicam operator Garrett Brown.

An interview with boxing trainer Lou Duva (5 minutes).

An interview with boxing commentator Bert Randolph Sugar (7 minutes).

'The Opponents'; a 16 minute featurette looking at Rocky's opponent in each film in the Rocky saga (not counting Rocky Balboa, as the featurette was made prior to the movie).

The theatrical teaser trailer and the theatrical trailer

3 TV spots

'In the Ring'; a 76 minute making-of documentary.

'Steadicam: Then and Now with Garrett Brown'; a 17 minute featurette looking at how Garrett Brown came up with the idea for the revolutionary Steadicam.

'Make-Up!: The Art and Form with Michael Westmore'; a 16 minute featurette looking at the work done on the film by makeup artist Michael Westmore.

'Staccato: A Composer's Notebook with Bill Conti'; a 14 minute featurette looking at the composition of the famous theme tune by composer Bill Conti.

'The Ring of Truth'; a 9 minute featurette looking at the set design for the film with art director James H. Spencer.

12 minutes of rehearsal footage and makeup tests shot by director John G. Avildsen early in preproduction.

'Tribute to Burgess Meredith'; a 7 minute featurette looking at the career of actor Burgess Meredith.

'Tribute to James Crabe'; a 4 minute featurette looking at the career of cinematographer James Crabe.

A 29 minute interview with Sylvester Stallone.

Sylvester Stallone's 1976 appearance on the Dinah! show (15 minutes).