--- title: "Rocky: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/rocky/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/rocky" critics_score: 77 critics_reviews: 7 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): what the critics said Critics' score 77 from 7 reviews: 6 positive, 0 mixed, 1 negative. 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. ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 4/4. 1 January 1976. 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 the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/rocky-1976) ## Empire — Adam Smith Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. 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 the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/rocky-review/) ## Radio Times — John Marriott Rating 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 the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-cfdmfs/rocky/) ## Time Out — DP Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2012. 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 the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/rocky) ## Variety — A.D. Murphy Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 10 November 1976. 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 the review](https://variety.com/1976/film/reviews/rocky-1200423805/) ## The New York Times — Vincent Canby Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 22 November 1976. 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 the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1976/11/22/archives/film-rocky-pure-30s-makebelieve.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Arthur Knight 5 November 1976. 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 the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/rocky-original-1976-movie-review-843549/) ## Collider — Elisa Guimarães Rating B+. 8 March 2023. 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 the review](https://collider.com/rocky-review-sylvester-stallone/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/rocky.md