History Franchise / Rocky

--->'''Tony "Duke" Evers:'''''[to Apollo Creed]'' I saw you beat that man like I never saw no man get beat before, and the man [[PunctuatedForEmphasis kept. Coming. After you.]]

--->'''Tony "Duke" Evers:'''''[to Apollo Creed]'' I saw you beat that man like I never saw no man get beat before and the man [[PunctuatedForEmphasis kept. Coming. After you.]]

--->'''Tony "Duke" Evers:'''''[to Apollo Creed]'' I saw you beat that man like I never saw no man get beat before and the man [[PunctuatedForEmphasis Kept. Coming. After you.]]

--->'''Tony "Duke" Evers:'''''[to Apollo Creed]'' I saw you beat that man like I never saw no man get beat before and the man KEPT COMING AFTER YOU.

** The essence of Rocky's fighting style.

A seventh ''Rocky'' film as well as a spinoff film about Ivan Drago (Creator/DolphLundgren), Rocky's main opponent in ''Film/RockyIV'' are in development.

Developments on a seventh ''Rocky'' film as well as a spinoff film about Ivan Drago (Creator/DolphLundgren), Rocky's main opponent in ''Film/RockyIV'', are in progress as of this writing.

The idea for the first film was inspired by a UsefulNotes/MuhammadAli bout against Chuck Wepner on March 24, 1975, for which Stallone (at the time a down-on-his-luck-actor) was in attendance. Wepner was a tough fighter with a lot of heart but little skill and a bad record, and he was most famous for frequently bleeding profusely during his bouts. The bout was intended to be a breather -- an exhibition for Ali after his unbelievable (and hard-fought) victory over George Foreman less than six months earlier -- but to the astonishment of all, Wepner managed to knock Ali down in the ninth round (video replays showed it was actually more of a trip; Wepner happened to be standing on Ali's foot when the blow landed, which caused Ali to lose his balance when he tried to move).

* ''Rocky Super Action Boxing'' (1983) for the UsefulNotes/{{Colecovision}}
* ''Rocky'' (2002) for the UsefulNotes/{{Nintendo GameCube}}, UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 2}} and UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}}.
* ''VideoGame/RockyLegends'' (2004) on the UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 2}} and UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}}.
* ''Rocky Balboa'' for the UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation Portable}}.

The success of the franchise led to a SpinOff series focusing on the son of Apollo Creed (Muhammad Ali's stand-in), Adonis Johnson (Creator/MichaelBJordan), who becomes a fighter against the wishes of his family, eventually seeking out Rocky (Stallone once again) to be his trainer. ''Film/{{Creed|2015}}'', the first film centered on Adonis, was released on November 25, 2015[[note]][[MeaningfulReleaseDate the 40th anniversary of the date of the opening scene in the first film]][[/note]]. The success of the film spawned a sequel, ''Film/CreedII'', which was released on November 21, 2018. A third film, ''Film/CreedIII'', was released on March 3, 2023. Creator/RyanCoogler co-wrote and directed the first ''Creed'' in addition to co-writing the story of ''Creed III'', which notably marks the directorial debut of Jordan (who Coogler had previously directed in ''Film/FruitvaleStation'').

* UnbuiltTrope: The series is frequently bashed for creating a genre of sports movies in which an underdog protagonist wins against a far superior opponent based on sheer willpower alone, with little consideration given to real skill and strategies. This ignores the fact that in the original film, Rocky lost the match against Apollo, despite his hard work, and prior to being chosen for the promotional bout, he was a loser who had to break the law to put food on the table. He initially refused to go back to the ring in the second film because he was exhausted and preferred to settle down with Adrian despite calls for a rematch with Apollo. He only chose to return because of the family's need for money when his new son was born. When the fight itself occurs Apollo dominates Rocky through out most of the match and in the end had Apollo not gone for a knockout victory and instead just kept his distance, Apollo would have won the match via decision. Rocky actually loses in the third film, which shows the consequences that success has on a {{Determinator}}, and the rematch is not decided by willpower alone, but by a strategic approach based on avoiding the opponent and wearing him out gradually. While the fourth film would repeat the underdog and willpower tropes, it deconstructs them in the first half when Apollo (a fighter whose physique was designed for agility and maneuvering, not for ground-and-pound like Rocky's own) fights the antagonist of the film and refuses to throw in the towel, later dying from his injuries. The fifth film deconstructs the trope further, as a doctor's appointment shows that Rocky has serious injuries as a result of the damage cause by boxing and will not be able to box anymore. His obsession with trying to revive his boxing career via proxy through Tommy Gunn, who he adopted as a foster son, strains his relationships and backfires. In the sixth Rocky film, he loses a fight once again despite showing even more resilience than in the first film because age is catching up with him. ''Film/{{Creed}}'' almost averts the film's {{Determinator}} reputation when Rocky refuses to go into treatment for cancer since he has nothing left to live for. It is only the begging of his new apprentice, Adonis Creed, that ultimately makes him seek treatment.

* ''Film/{{Creed}}'' (2015)

The success of the franchise led to a SpinOff series focusing on the son of Apollo Creed (Muhammad Ali's stand-in), Adonis Johnson (Creator/MichaelBJordan), who becomes a fighter against the wishes of his family, eventually seeking out Rocky (Stallone once again) to be his trainer. ''Film/{{Creed}}'', the first film centered on Adonis, was released on November 25, 2015[[note]][[MeaningfulReleaseDate the 40th anniversary of the date of the opening scene in the first film]][[/note]]. The success of the film spawned a sequel, ''Film/CreedII'', which was released on November 21, 2018. A third film, ''Film/CreedIII'', was released on March 3, 2023. Creator/RyanCoogler co-wrote and directed the first ''Creed'' in addition to co-writing the story of ''Creed III'', which notably marks the directorial debut of Jordan (who Coogler had previously directed in ''Film/FruitvaleStation'').

Although an incensed Ali made Wepner pay dearly for that -- and eventually knocked Wepner down and out for the only time in his career -- the roar of the crowd as an [[TheEveryman everyman]] knocked down the greatest athlete in his sport inspired Stallone, who went home and spent the next few days writing furiously nearly around the clock. The end result? ''Rocky'' was born. (However, that's slightly mythologized, too. When Stallone was asked how he managed to write the screenplay in three days, he replied, "I didn't write the screenplay in three days, I wrote ''a'' screenplay in three days"; his shooting script was the product of many rounds of rewriting.)

The success of the franchise led to a SpinOff series focusing on Apollo Creed's (Muhammad Ali's stand-in) son, Adonis Johnson (Creator/MichaelBJordan), who becomes a fighter against the wishes of his family, eventually seeking out Rocky (Stallone once again) to be his trainer. ''Film/{{Creed}}'', the first film centered on Adonis, was released on November 25, 2015[[note]][[MeaningfulReleaseDate the 40th anniversary of the date of the opening scene in the first film]][[/note]]. The success of the film spawned a sequel, ''Film/CreedII'', which was released on November 21, 2018. A third film, ''Film/CreedIII'', was released on March 3, 2023. Creator/RyanCoogler co-wrote and directed the first ''Creed'' as well as co-wrote the story of ''Creed III'', which notably marks the directorial debut of Jordan (who Coogler had previously directed in ''Film/FruitvaleStation'').

* ''ComicBook/{{Creed}}'' (2023)

* WhateverHappenedToTheMouse: Tony Gazzo, the LoanShark from ''Rocky I and II'', is never seen again after the second film. Though in ''Rocky III'', Paulie is unemployed, and Gazzo is briefly mentioned in ''Rocky V'', and in a deleted scene of ''Rocky Balboa''.
** Rocky might consider working for Gazzo an OldShame that he'd rather not have anything to do with, especially after Mickey's death considering how strongly Mickey disapproved of it. Rocky's past association with loan sharking killed his commercial endorsements and wouldn't do his restaurant any favors either.

The success of the franchise led to a SpinOff series focusing on Apollo Creed's (Muhammad Ali's stand in) son, Adonis Johnson (Creator/MichaelBJordan), who becomes a fighter against the wishes of his family, eventually seeking out Rocky (Stallone once again) to be his trainer. ''Film/{{Creed}}'', the first film centered on Adonis, was released on November 25, 2015[[note]][[MeaningfulReleaseDate the 40th anniversary of the date of the opening scene in the first film]][[/note]]. The success of the film spawned a sequel, ''Film/CreedII'', which was released on November 21, 2018. A third film, ''Film/CreedIII'', was released on March 3, 2023. Creator/RyanCoogler co-wrote and directed the first ''Creed'' as well as co-wrote the story of ''Creed III'', which notably marks the directorial debut of Jordan (who Coogler had previously directed in ''Film/FruitvaleStation'').

The success of the franchise led to a SpinOff series focusing on Apollo Creed's son, Adonis Johnson (Creator/MichaelBJordan), who becomes a fighter against the wishes of his family, eventually seeking out Rocky (Stallone once again) to be his trainer. ''Film/{{Creed}}'', the first film centered on Adonis, was released on November 25, 2015[[note]][[MeaningfulReleaseDate the 40th anniversary of the date of the opening scene in the first film]][[/note]]. The success of the film spawned a sequel, ''Film/CreedII'', which was released on November 21, 2018. A third film, ''Film/CreedIII'', was released on March 3, 2023. Creator/RyanCoogler co-wrote and directed the first ''Creed'' as well as co-wrote the story of ''Creed III'', which notably marks the directorial debut of Jordan (who Coogler had previously directed in ''Film/FruitvaleStation'').

The success of the franchise led to a SpinOff series focusing on Apollo Creed's son, Adonis Johnson (Creator/MichaelBJordan), who becomes a fighter against the wishes of his family, eventually seeking out Rocky (Stallone once again) to be his trainer. ''Film/{{Creed}}'', the first film centered on Adonis, was released on November 25, 2015[[note]][[MeaningfulReleaseDate the 40th anniversary of the date of the opening scene in the first film]][[/note]]. The success of the film spawned a sequel, ''Film/CreedII'', which was released on November 21, 2018. A third film, ''Film/CreedIII'', is slated for release on March 3, 2023. Creator/RyanCoogler co-wrote and directed the first ''Creed'' as well as co-wrote the story of ''Creed III'', which notably marks the directorial debut of Jordan (who Coogler had previously directed in ''Film/FruitvaleStation'').

** Then there's the actual boxing, which is less of a boxing match (they might want to try keeping the gloves up, for a change) and more of a take-turns-getting-clean-roundhouses-to-the-face matches. (Aside from the final film, which does strive for realism.)
** The fighting after the bell type mayhem which may even involve the cornermen of both fighters does happen on occasion when things get too heated or a referee loses control of the fight. See the mid-fight skirmish during the Floyd Mayweather/Zab Judah fight for an example. That said, you're generally less likely to see it in a high profile real life bout than what one would assume from watching Rocky fights, and in real life it will generally result in the boxers being penalized and losing points. Losing said points can cost a fighter a match that goes the distance, or result in a disqualification.
** The 5'8 Stallone weighs between 160 and 180 pounds in most of the movies.[[note]]Per Stallone himself: "I was 178 for Rocky, and 200 in Rocky II. For Rocky III I was 163. For my next film, Rocky IV, I went up to 173. I like this weight, because it is a fuller, rounder look, more in keeping with the old Roman athletes. I’m not quite as sinewy as I was in Rocky III, but I feel stronger."[[/note]] As such, even by standards of the [[https://www.proboxing-fans.com/boxing-101/weight-divisions-history/ late 70s and 80s]] (when heavyweights were much lighter and weaker than they are today), he would not have qualified as a heavyweight. He definitely wouldn't have been allowed to fight 220 pound Carl Weathers, 213 pound Mr. T, or ''245 pound'' Dolph Lundgren. The third film seems to [[LampshadeHanging acknowledge this]] in the bout between Rocky and Clubber, when the announced mentions that the former weighs 191 pounds- ''just'' enough to qualify for heavyweight at the time,[[note]]The original cutoff point was 180 pounds, changed to 190 pounds in 1979, and then 200+ pounds in 2000.[[/note]] and much heavier than he looks (indeed, it was nearly thirty pounds above Stallone's actual weight at the time). The announcer also comments that Rocky is "so slimmed down he looks like a middleweight" and indeed, Stallone was just a couple of pounds over the limit for a middleweight (Stallone's statement is that he was 163 pounds, the cutoff for middleweights is 160) which seems like another lampshading of the fact that Stallone is awfully small to be playing a heavyweight boxer.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rocky.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''[[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic ♫ Gonna fly now! ♫]]'']]

Although an incensed Ali made Wepner pay dearly for that -- and eventually knocked Wepner down and out for the only time in his career -- the roar of the crowd as an [[TheEveryman everyman]] knocked down the greatest athlete in his sport inspired Stallone, who went home and spent the next few days writing furiously nearly around the clock. The end result? ''Rocky'' was born. (However, that's slightly mythologized, too. When Stallone was asked how he managed to write the screenplay in three days, he replied, "I didn't write the screenplay in three days, I wrote ''a'' screenplay in three days"; the shooting script was heavily workshopped.)