Rocky III

Rocky III opened in the US on 28 May 1982, written and directed again by Sylvester Stallone. The subject shifts: no longer the underdog on the rise but the comfortable champion gone soft.

Mr. T and Hulk Hogan

Real boxers Joe Frazier and Earnie Shavers were considered for Clubber Lang and turned down over their voices. Casting director Rhonda Young spotted Mr. T on a TV segment about America's toughest bouncers; it was his breakout role. Wrestler Hulk Hogan made his film debut as Thunderlips in a charity exhibition with Rocky, recommended by Terry Funk, who worked on the stunts.

Learning a new style

The rematch rests on an idea every coach knows: Apollo teaches Rocky to move, to use his feet and speed instead of taking shots to land his own. Stallone put himself on an extreme diet and training plan, reportedly dropping to about 155 pounds. The fights are still more spectacle than realism, with very little defence.

Eye of the Tiger

Survivor's Eye of the Tiger spent six weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. The film took about $125 million in North America and around $270 million worldwide. Critics liked the action and music more than the script (66% on Rotten Tomatoes). The Rocky statue Stallone commissioned for the shoot was placed atop the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps and is now permanently installed at the museum.