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topicnews · July 15, 2025

Sylvester Stallone knows exactly why Rocky was such a big hit

Sylvester Stallone knows exactly why Rocky was such a big hit






The 1970s were a turbulent time in the United States. Regardless of whether they look at political scandals such as Watergate, the consequences of the Vietnam War and the serious economic unrest, the Americans felt quite cynical. In view of the country's mood at the time, a large part of what the cinema brought, the moral ambiguity and the Rohe Grit reflected, which at that time were fresh in the minds of the spectators. Films such as “The Godfather” and “Taxi Driver” are a shop window of some of the aspiring filmmakers from Hollywood, whose creative sensitivity has influenced the cinema for generations, and reflected the collective cynicism of the American people this decade. Here you can read the 15 best films of the 1970s.

However, the cinematic taste of the audience began to develop thanks to the publication of “Jaws” in 1975. Steven Spielberg's film became an unprecedented cultural phenomenon and made the modern blockbuster popular for cinema. The audience endeavored to be entertained thoroughly during their visits to the cinema, and their appetite for more inspiring audience films has been continued over the course of the decade thanks to films such as “Star Wars”, “Superman: The Movie” and “Rocky”. While “Rocky” may be a sports film with a smaller budget compared to the epic scale of the other blockbusters, inspired the publication of 1976, which was written by his then not unknown man Sylvester Stallone, inspired the audience with his convincing outsider history. The film became the highest film in 1976 and won three Academy Awards, including the best picture.

Sylvester Stallone believes that the audience has longed for inspiring characters like Rocky Balboa

Before “Rocky” was produced, Sylvester Stallone lived the life of the typical work actor, fought in his career and struck endlessly. He wrote the film's screenplay, which in a way reflected his wishes to get a chance in the spotlight, potentially to lead to a more fulfilling career. Stallones seriousness and authenticity were fully equipped in his script and his lead performance, which charmers and audiences enchanted equally.

In an interview with Roger Ebert from 2012, Sylvester Stallone reflected on his career, especially in the way “Rocky” changed his life and converted him into one of Hollywood's biggest stars, even if it was a bit twice. When looking back on his original film, Stallone has a clear understanding of why the audience was interested in the eccentric, yet sweet Philadelphia boxer for the insertion and roots for the outsider:

“People like it who let their feelings be their guidelines. If they go into intellectually, they hate it, of course. But if they can be entered into, a little will happen in the film. It is emotional. Maybe I have done the boxing.

Although the rocky franchise campy became, the raw humanity of the character remains true

After the critical and commercial success of “Rocky”, Sylvester Stallone returned for five other films in the series. He wrote and staged “Rocky II”, “Rocky III”, “Rocky IV” and “Rocky Balboa”, while John G. Avildsen returned to “Rocky V”, which Stallone also wrote despite his public conviction for the film. “Rocky II” took place immediately after the first film and continues the thread of raw human emotions for the character in a moderately expanded scale. “Rocky III” was when the series started to stand in the spotlight thanks to the size of the survival, and reflected the exaggerated bravery of the popular culture of the 1980s. Villars like Clubber Lang (Mr. T) and Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) were particularly memorable and demanded physically, mentally and emotionally rocky.

Although the “Rocky” series had its share in the warehouse, serious and heart will be maintained during its entire legacy. It helps that Sylvester Stallone is supported by wonderful actors who justify the stories in reality. After all, Rocky's unconditional love for his wife Adrian (Talia Shire) is the heart of the entire series, even if it turns out that she died of cancer before the events of the underestimated “Rocky Balboa”. Rocky's tenderness continues in the “Creed” films, in which he hugs the role of the mentor for Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan), the son of his former rival, the friend Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers).