The originalRockymovie remains the benchmark by which all other sports films are judged, and it’s a testament to this franchise’s long-lasting appeal that its greatest sequel came out 30 years after the original. WhenRockyfirst premiered back in 1976, it catapulted its star and writer, Sylvester Stallone, to worldwide fame and would even winBest Picture at the Academy Awards. This success set the scene for several sequels that saw Rocky take part in an epic rematch against his rival and later friend Apollo Creed and face more foes like Clubber Lang and Ivan Drago.
Practicallyevery movie in theRockyfranchisehad something special to offer, withRocky IIbeing an inspiring comeback story andRocky IVeven tapping into then-relevant Cold War themes. Watching Rocky grow and evolve as he trained and persevered throughout the series was a sight to behold, but it was not until 30 years after the first one that it truly recaptured what was great about the original. Asa legacy sequel that understood what madeRockysuch a success in the first place,Rocky Balboawas an incredible epilogueto the mainline series.
Rocky Balboa Features Sylvester Stallone At His Best
Stallone Returned To Give Rocky A Proper Send-Off
While entries likeRocky II,Rocky III, andRocky IVfeatured some of the franchise’s most iconic moments,it was inRocky Balboathat Sylvester Stallone was at his best. As a legacy sequel coming 16 years after the disappointment that wasRocky V, Stallone knew that if he was going to revive this long-dormant cinematic icon, he’d better have a good reason for doing it. WhileRocky Vended with an embarrassing street brawl,Rocky Balboaoffered a chance to redeem the character and give him the heroic send-off he deserved.
This was Rocky as we’d never seen him before, and he was all the more interesting for it.
As a mature film that was filled with emotion,Rocky Balboachecked in on an older Rocky who was approaching 60 years old and lived a quiet life as a retired widower following the death of his wife, Adrian, to cancer four years before. The cheesy 1980s aesthetic of many of theRockysequels was absent from this release, and Stallone delivered an impressive dramatic performance that was filled with emotion, humility, and wisdom. This was Rocky as we’d never seen him before, and he was all the more interesting for it.
The Relationship Between Rocky & Robert Was A Highlight
The Rocky Series Was Always About More Than Just Boxing
While many will rememberRocky Balboaas an older Rocky coming out of retirement to fight one last time, the truth was that the emotional core of the story related to his relationship with his son, Robert. As Rocky’s only son, Robert was seen growing up throughout theRockyfranchise and was previously played by Stallone’s late son Sage inRocky V. However, inRocky Balboa, Robert’s character was given a lot more time in the spotlight as the film explored the pair’s fractured father-son relationship.
Milo Ventimiglia played Rocky’s only son, Robert Balboa, Jr., inRocky Balboa.
Rocky Balboarevealed that Robert grew up to be a corporate accountant at a big finance firm, although he always struggled with living in the shadow of his famous father. Rocky and Robert’s relationship eroded following the death of Adrian, with Rocky learning to reconnect with his son being one of the central themes ofRocky Balboa. WhileRobert was initially against Rocky’s decision to go back into the ring, the way he eventually came around to become one of his father’s biggest supporters tapped into the subtle emotional nuances that madeRockysuch a hit back in 1976.
Rocky Balboa Succeeded By Working Stallone’s Age Into The Story
This Was The Story Of An Older Rocky Proving He Could Still Fight
One reason theRockyfranchise started to lose its way over the years was that Rocky was starting to turn into an almost superhuman caricature of the underdog hero we fell in love with in the original movie. By making Stallone’s advanced age a central theme ofRocky Balboa, the film was able to avoid looking ridiculous, asan older Rocky proving his detractors wrong one last timegave the story real emotional stakes. Rocky knew he was too old to be fighting, but the fact that he was doing it anyway was part of its appeal.
Rocky Balboastood as a fitting epilogue to the story of cinema’s most iconic underdog fighter and ended this series on a high note. While Rocky did return in a mentorship role in the spin-offCreedseries, this felt like a natural passing of the torch that elevated the series' legacy even further. Although Stallone made a name for himself as one of the all-time great action heroes through roles like John Rambo,Rocky Balboastands as perhaps his most nuanced, mature, and self-reflective film.
