Rocky Balboa

Remembering Rocky 45 years later

It’s been over 45 years since Sylvester Stallone boxed his way into our hearts as Rocky Balboa. The first film in what would be a decades-long franchise, which premiered on November 21 1976, went on to win the Oscar for Best Picture. Here, a tribute to the film’s most memorable moments.

The Rocky theme

The classical-sounding horns and low-key disco vibes of Bill Conti’s “Gonna Fly Now” quickly became the theme song for underdogs everywhere. The tune made it to the top of the charts and racked up an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.

You can listen to the iconic theme tune here.

"Yo Adrian!"

Rocky Balboa’s iconic bellowing of his love’s name left quite the legacy. Our sympathies to the Adrians of the world, who have suffered a lifetime of hearing “Yo, Adrian!” followed by chuckles. One consolation prize: the beautiful end scene, when Rocky and Adrian run to each other after the big fight.

Punching carcasses

Beating up on raw meat is not a traditional training method employed by boxers. However, Rocky is low on resources, so he practices punches at his best friend Paulie’s place of employment, a meatpacking plant. It’s based on the experiences of the real inspiration for Rocky Balboa: Philadelphia boxing great Joe Frazier, who fought Muhammad Ali (a.k.a. Apollo Creed). Working out with cuts of beef and running up stairs was Frazier’s actual training regimen.

Rocky’s “It Stinks” Monologue

Initially, Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith) refuses to train Rocky—until the boxer gets the chance to fight World Heavyweight Champion Apollo Creed, and Mickey wants in on the action. Rocky sees right through Mickey and lets out all his emotions, ending his tirade with one of the most quotable movie lines ever: “It stinks! “It stinks! This whole place stinks. You wanna help me out? Well, help me out! Come on, help me out, I’m standing here!”

Rocky and Adrian Ice-skating

Boy meets girl. Boy takes girl to an ice-skating rink on Thanksgiving Day, but it’s only open for another 10 minutes because it’s closing early. As girl skates shakily around the rink, boy trots alongside her and describes his fights. Rocky is a love story and sports story!

The Fight Scene

Described by Rocky’s promoter as “the greatest exhibition of guts and stamina in the history of the ring,” it stands as one of the most intense fight scenes in movie history.

And Finally...The Training Montage!

Watching Rocky running through the streets of Philly, doing a one-arm push-up, and finishing in a victory fist-pump at the top of the stairs of the Philadelphia Art Museum: How can one not feel the adrenaline? How can one not feel that anything is possible? It’s inspiration, defined.

Warning: After watching the montage you'll be "eating lightning and crapping thunder!"

Note: most of the text above was taken from a Vanity Fair article written by Jordana Lipsitz.

Rocky's Fictional Timeline

Movie Quotes

Below are some of the most iconic, insiparational and funny quotes from the Rocky Movies.

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows... I don’t care how tough you are – it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”

- Rocky Balboa

"One step at a time. One punch at a time. One round at a time."

- Rocky Balboa

“I don't hate the man, I pity the fool!”

- Clubber Lang

"Going in one more round when you don’t think you can. That’s what makes all the difference in your life"

- Rocky Balboa

"If he dies, he dies."

- Ivan Drago

"Now, if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain’t you. You’re better than that!".

- Rocky Balboa

"I saw you beat that man like I never saw no man get beat before, and the man kept coming after you. Now we don't need no man like that in our lives."

- Duke

"I was wonderin’ if, uh, you wouldn’t mind marryin’ me very much."

- Rocky Balboa

"I just want to say hi to my girlfriend, OK? Yo, Adrian! It’s me, Rocky."

- Rocky Balboa

"I gotta prove it...That I wasn't a mistake."

- Adonis Creed

"The toughest opponent you’re ever going to have to face is in the mirror."

- Rocky Balboa

"Yo Adrian, I did it."

- Rocky Balboa

You're gonna eat lightnin' and you're gonna crap thunder!

- Mickey

"Ah come on, Adrian, it's true. I was nobody. But that don't matter either, you know? 'Cause I was thinkin', it really don't matter if I lose this fight. It really don't matter if this guy opens my head, either. 'Cause all I wanna do is go the distance. Nobody's ever gone the distance with Creed, and if I can go that distance, you see, and that bell rings and I'm still standin', I'm gonna know for the first time in my life, see, that I weren't just another bum from the neighborhood."

- Rocky Balboa