Rocky

Lore & Background

In the film, Rocky Balboa, a poor small-time club fighter and loanshark debt collector from Philadelphia, gets an unlikely once in a lifetime shot at the world heavyweight championship held by Apollo Creed. Rocky entered development in March 1975, after Stallone wrote the screenplay in three days. Principal photography began in January 1976, with filming primarily held in Philadelphia. Rocky became the highest-grossing film of 1976, earning approximately $225 million worldwide. The film received ten Academy Award nominations and won three, including Best Picture. In 2006, the Library of Congress selected Rocky for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.

Reader's Guide

The film's plot follows Rocky Balboa as he trains for a title bout against Apollo Creed, held on New Year's Day in Philadelphia. Key locations include the Spectrum and the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps (the Rocky Steps). The film popularized rags to riches and American Dream themes.

Did You Know?

• Rocky was written by Sylvester Stallone in three and a half days after watching the Muhammad Ali vs. Chuck Wepner match on March 24, 1975.
• The film had a production budget of about $1 million.
• Rocky premiered at the Paramount Theatre in New York City on November 20, 1976, and was released in the United States on December 3.
• The first sequel, Rocky II, was released in 1979.