Rocky Balboa

Sixteen years after Rocky V, Sylvester Stallone returned to the franchise and wrote and directed again, for the first time since Rocky IV. The film goes back to the spirit of the original: Philadelphia, loneliness and an ordinary man handed one last shot.

A real champion as the champion

Stallone wanted Roy Jones Jr. to play Mason Dixon. When Jones did not call back, he cast Antonio Tarver, bronze medallist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and former light heavyweight world champion, the man who had knocked out Roy Jones Jr. in 2004. It is his only film role. The final fight is less scripted than in earlier instalments, and both men landed real punches, with swelling and nosebleeds to show for it.

A fight night on TV

The film recreates a big pay-per-view night: HBO's commentary team (Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant, Max Kellerman), Michael Buffer on the mic, and cameos from Mike Tyson and promoter Lou DiBella. The bout takes place at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The 38-day shoot moved between Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. Boxers will notice the realistic broadcast staging, and an ageing fighter who relies on power because his speed is gone.

A surprise hit

Made for $24 million, it grossed $156 million worldwide. Critics, wary before release, mostly liked it (78% on Rotten Tomatoes), and many rank it among the best in the series. A 116-minute director's cut came out in 2024. The story continued with Creed (2015), where Rocky becomes a trainer.