---
title: "Rocky"
year: 1976
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/rocky"
fi1m_id: "rocky"
imdb_id: "tt0075148"
tmdb_id: 1366
wikidata_id: "Q188652"
fi1m_score: 85
critics_score: 77
critics_reviews: 7
published: "2026-09-15"
updated: "2026-10-06T10:37:27.333921+00:00"
region: "VN"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Rocky (1976)

Directed by John G. Avildsen · 2h 00m · Drama, Sport

## Identity

Rocky

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/rocky
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** rocky
- **IMDb ID:** tt0075148
- **TMDB ID:** 1366
- **Wikidata ID:** Q188652
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075148/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1366, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q188652

**Fi1m score: 85** · Critics 77 from 7 reviews

*In a sentence:* All that boxing training, and a conversation still looks like harder work

> *Rocky* is a touching boxing drama, carried by Sylvester Stallone’s awkward charm and John G. Avildsen’s patient direction. The supporting characters deserve more room, but the film earns its big emotional appeals.

## Synopsis

Robert ‘Rocky’ Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) is a boxer trying to make something of himself, with life outside the ring making its own demands. Between the streets, the gym and his dealings with the people around him, he struggles to find a sense of worth. Talia Shire plays Adrian, Burt Young plays Paulie, Burgess Meredith plays Mickey and Carl Weathers plays Apollo Creed. As Rocky commits himself to training, his hopes as a fighter become tied to his need for dignity. John G. Avildsen directs from a screenplay by Stallone.

## Review

*Rocky* is a good-hearted boxing drama that earns most of its sentiment, and we recommend it with a reservation: Stallone the writer is rather too generous to Stallone the star. John G. Avildsen gives the underdog story time to establish how someone with little confidence gets through an ordinary conversation. The boxing matters, but so does the effort of getting a sentence out without making a fool of yourself. That patience is the film’s chief strength.

Stallone plays Robert ‘Rocky’ Balboa with a mumbling awkwardness that could easily become a collection of lovable habits. What makes it work is the impression that he has not rehearsed how to present himself to another person. The dialogue lets him be funny without making him a joke, and Stallone resists the temptation to tidy up every exchange. We can see why a more impatient viewer might tire of his manner, but the performance makes his need for respect convincing.

The ice-rink sequence shows how well Avildsen judges the smaller scenes, allowing an encounter to be charming without making it smooth. Talia Shire’s Adrian gives Stallone someone to respond to, and the film improves whenever we can attend to both of them. There is pleasure here in watching people make an imperfect attempt at company. Burt Young’s Paulie and Burgess Meredith’s Mickey also give the drama some life beyond its central performance, though the writing does not always leave them enough room.

James Crabe’s cinematography gives the streets and gym a rough, ordinary look that helps Avildsen avoid making hardship picturesque. William J. Cassidy’s production design makes those surroundings feel used, giving the gym a purpose beyond supplying a suitably gritty background. Their work helps us believe in the effort required of Rocky, even when the story makes its intentions obvious. Avildsen gets considerable value from spending time in these places, where the familiar underdog plot feels less ready-made than it might on paper.

Richard Halsey and Scott Conrad’s editing is particularly effective in the training sequences, making repeated effort exciting without losing the sense of work involved. Bill Conti’s emphatic music encourages the response without much disguise, and the film would be weaker if it pretended to be above that sort of encouragement. We were moved by the training, because Stallone had made Rocky’s need to feel worthwhile so clear. The shift from hesitant conversation towards physical action feels welcome, and the editors judge that change of pace well.

The limitation is in Stallone’s screenplay, which gives its central character so much attention that the others sometimes seem short-changed. The supporting performances suggest complicated people, yet too much of their value is measured by what they bring to Rocky’s story. Shire and Young make us want to follow them further than the script will go, while Carl Weathers’s Apollo Creed has the difficult task of holding our attention in a film so committed to its leading man. This is where the familiar underdog formula becomes restrictive.

Within that formula, Avildsen is shrewder than the film’s blunt emotional appeals might suggest. He understands that a boxing drama cannot get by on physical exertion alone, and spends enough time with talk, discomfort and everyday company to make us care who is doing the work. At 120 minutes, *Rocky* allows its people to be awkward before asking them to be stirring. Give it an evening when there is time for the conversation as well as the training.

*Fi1m score 85, published 15 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics respond warmly to Rocky as an underdog story whose emotional pull outweighs its familiar plotting. Praise centres on Sylvester Stallone’s convincing, charismatic performance, with the supporting cast and awkward, sharp dialogue giving the relationships weight. The reviews also credit John Avildsen’s use of streets, gyms and quieter locations with grounding the fairytale in a recognisable working-class environment. The training and fight sequences draw praise for making that personal struggle exciting.

The divide concerns how much contrivance the film can carry. For its admirers, the manipulation works because the characters and their hopes matter; familiar Hollywood storytelling is no obstacle to involvement. The New York Times dissents sharply, finding the screenplay stale, the direction indecisive and Stallone’s dominance self-serving. The spread is therefore wider than the broadly positive consensus suggests, with disagreement over the same old-fashioned qualities that most critics find affecting.

## Straight answers

**Is Rocky worth watching?**

*Rocky* is worth watching for anyone who wants a boxing drama that spends as much time on awkward conversation as on training, and we scored it 85. Sylvester Stallone's mumbling, unrehearsed manner makes his need for respect convincing, and John G. Avildsen's patience with the small scenes pays off. Our reservation is that Stallone's screenplay leaves Talia Shire, Burt Young and Carl Weathers too little room.

**How long is Rocky, and what is it rated?**

*Rocky* runs 2h 00m. It is a drama and sport film.

**Where can I watch Rocky in Vietnam?**

*Rocky* is available to rent from Apple TV from ₫39,000. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How does Rocky compare to Rocky II?**

*Rocky* is the better film, and the more patient one; [*Rocky II*](https://film.one/film/rocky-ii) has Stallone directing as well as starring, and it runs the first story again with more money and thicker sentiment. The original earns its emotional appeals by letting its people be awkward first, whereas the sequel's middle hour drags. Newcomers should start with the first; those who liked it will find the sequel's closing fight worth waiting for.

**Do you need to have seen the other Rocky films before Rocky?**

*Rocky* is the first film in the series and needs no preparation; it stands entirely on its own. It sets up Robert Balboa, Adrian, Paulie, Mickey and Apollo Creed from nothing, and the later films assume you have seen it rather than the other way round. It is the natural place to begin, and for many viewers the only one they will need.

**What should I watch after Rocky?**

After *Rocky*, try [*Fat City*](https://film.one/film/fat-city) (1972, Fi1m 73): For the gym’s ordinary disappointments, and people who cannot quite change. Then [*Billy Elliot*](https://film.one/film/billy-elliot) (2000, Fi1m 81): Another working-class hopeful discovers how difficult it is to take himself seriously; and [*The Wrestler*](https://film.one/film/the-wrestler) (2008, Fi1m 85): Physical punishment and private loneliness, with the comforting promises stripped away.

**What order should I watch the Rocky films in?**

Release order is the safe choice for Rocky, and it is the order [our collection page](https://film.one/collections/rocky) lists them in. *Rocky* is the first of the 9 Rocky titles on Fi1m; after it [*Rocky II*](https://film.one/film/rocky-ii). [The full order.](https://film.one/collections/rocky.md)

### Reviews we read (8)

- **RogerEbert.com**, Roger Ebert (4/4): The film succeeds as an involving story of an underdog hero rather than its clichéd plot. Ebert praises Sylvester Stallone's charismatic lead performance and the emotional power of the training and fight sequences. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/rocky-1976)
- **Empire**, Adam Smith (90/100, inferred): The film is the second greatest boxing movie of all time after Raging Bull and Stallone's only real cinematic achievement. Avildsen uses locations masterfully and delivers charming scenes like the ice rink sequence while knowing exactly when to stop. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/rocky-review/)
- **Radio Times**, John Marriott (4/5): The review highlights the film's genuine impassioned commitment and its roots in Stallone's personal drive for stardom. It praises Stallone's convincing performance as the mumbling underdog and notes the film's Oscar wins over strong 1976 competition. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-cfdmfs/rocky/)
- **Time Out**, DP (80/100, inferred): The critic calls it an old-fashioned fairytale brilliantly revamped for the depressed mood of the 1970s, whose underdog success mirrors its theme. They single out the cathartic big fight climax as manipulative Hollywood at its best, along with sharp dialogue and strong supporting performances. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/rocky)
- **Variety**, A.D. Murphy (70/100, inferred): Strong emotional impact comes from the gritty street and gym environment created by Avildsen. Murphy notes manipulative elements but recommends letting the fairy-tale underdog story work on audiences. [Read](https://variety.com/1976/film/reviews/rocky-1200423805/)
- **The New York Times**, Vincent Canby (40/100, inferred): The screenplay is pure 1930s Hollywood make-believe executed without verve under indecisive direction. Canby criticizes it as a vanity project overly dominated by Stallone. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/1976/11/22/archives/film-rocky-pure-30s-makebelieve.html)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Arthur Knight: The critic praises Rocky as an ode to the human spirit, highlighting its portrayal of an underdog transforming himself through determination and self-belief. They single out the exciting fight footage, strong performances, and director John Avildsen's insightful direction and pacing for particular praise. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/rocky-original-1976-movie-review-843549/)
- **Collider**, Elisa Guimarães (B+): The critic views Rocky as a gritty melodrama centered on feelings and relationships rather than boxing action, set in a violent, depersonalizing world where characters are valued only for what they provide. It praises the film's honest, awkward dialogue and performances that capture the struggle for honor and the thrill of the fight in a working-class underdog story. [Read](https://collider.com/rocky-review-sylvester-stallone/)

## Details

- **Director:** John G. Avildsen
- **Director:** John G. Avildsen
- **Writer:** Sylvester Stallone
- **Cinematography:** James Crabe
- **Editor:** Scott Conrad, Richard Halsey
- **Music:** Bill Conti
- **Production design:** William J. Cassidy
- **Producer:** Irwin Winkler, Robert Chartoff
- **Cast:** Sylvester Stallone as Robert 'Rocky' Balboa; Talia Shire as Adrianna 'Adrian' Pennino; Burt Young as Paulie Pennino; Carl Weathers as Apollo Creed; Burgess Meredith as Mickey Goldmill; Thayer David as George 'Miles' Jergens; Joe Spinell as Tony Gazzo; Jimmy Gambina as Mike
- **Runtime:** 2h 00m
- **First release (the US):** 20 November 1976
- **Genres:** Drama, Sport
- **Part of:** [Rocky](https://film.one/collections/rocky.md) · 1 of 9
- **Also in:** [Best Picture winners](https://film.one/collections/oscar-best-picture.md) (Winner, 1976); [BAFTA Best Film winners](https://film.one/collections/bafta-best-film.md) (Nominee, 1977); [Golden Globe Best Drama winners](https://film.one/collections/golden-globe-drama.md) (Winner, 1976)
- **Budget:** $1 million
- **Box office:** $117 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Hk-LYcavrw

## Where to watch in Vietnam

- Apple TV: rent ₫39,000, hd
- Apple TV: buy ₫149,000, hd

*Checked 2026-09-15.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IT, JP, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Academy Awards 1977: Best Actor (nominated); Best Actress (nominated); Best Sound (nominated); Best Supporting Actor (nominated); Best Director (won); Best Film Editing (won); Best Picture (won)

## If you liked this

- *The Set-Up* (1949): Another boxer seeking dignity, with less reassurance and a tighter grip.
- *Fat City* (1972), Fi1m 73: For the gym’s ordinary disappointments, and people who cannot quite change. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/fat-city.md)
- *Billy Elliot* (2000), Fi1m 81: Another working-class hopeful discovers how difficult it is to take himself seriously. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/billy-elliot.md)
- *The Wrestler* (2008), Fi1m 85: Physical punishment and private loneliness, with the comforting promises stripped away. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-wrestler.md)
- *The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki* (2016): A Finnish boxer finds that preparing for a fight complicates everything else.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/rocky