Rocky
Updated: 12/10/2025, 11:53:22 AM Wikipedia source
Rocky is a 1976 American independent sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen, written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the first installment in the Rocky franchise and also stars Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, and Burgess Meredith. In the film, Rocky Balboa (Stallone), a poor small-time club fighter and loanshark debt collector from Philadelphia, gets an unlikely once in a lifetime shot at the world heavyweight championship held by Apollo Creed (Weathers). Rocky entered development in March 1975, after Stallone wrote the screenplay in three days. It entered a complicated production process after Stallone refused to allow the film to be made without him in the lead role; United Artists eventually agreed to cast Stallone after he rejected a six figure deal for the film rights. Principal photography began in January 1976, with filming primarily held in Philadelphia; several locations featured in the film, such as the Rocky Steps, are now considered cultural landmarks. With an estimated production budget of under $1.1 million, Rocky popularized the rags to riches and American Dream themes of sports dramas which preceded the film. Rocky had its premiere in New York City on November 20, 1976, and was released in the United States on December 3, 1976. Rocky became the highest-grossing film of 1976, earning approximately $225 million worldwide. The film received critical acclaim for Stallone's writing, as well as the film's performances, direction, musical score, cinematography and editing; among other accolades, it received ten Academy Award nominations and won three, including Best Picture. It has been ranked by numerous publications as one of the greatest films of all time, as well as one of the most iconic sports films ever. Rocky and its theme song have become a pop-cultural phenomenon and an important part of 1970s American popular culture. In 2006, the Library of Congress selected Rocky for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant". The first sequel in the series, Rocky II, was released in 1979.
Infobox
Directed by
John G. Avildsen
Written by
Sylvester Stallone
Produced by
mw- Irwin Winkler Robert Chartoff
Starring
Sylvester Stallone Talia Shire Burt Young Carl Weathers Burgess Meredith
Cinematography
James Crabe
Edited by
Richard Halsey Scott Conrad
Music by
Bill Conti
Productioncompany
Chartoff-Winkler Productions
Distributed by
United Artists
Release dates
November 20, 1976 (1976-11-20) (New York City) December 3, 1976 (1976-12-03) (United States)
Running time
119 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$1.1 million
Box office
$225 million
Tables
· Reception › Accolades
Academy Awards
Academy Awards
Award
Academy Awards
Category
Best Picture
Nominee(s)
Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler
Result
Won
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Category
John G. Avildsen
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Actor
Best Actor
Award
Best Actor
Category
Sylvester Stallone
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Actress
Best Actress
Award
Best Actress
Category
Talia Shire
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Award
Best Supporting Actor
Category
Burgess Meredith
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Burt Young
Burt Young
Award
Burt Young
Category
Nominated
Best Original Screenplay
Best Original Screenplay
Award
Best Original Screenplay
Category
Sylvester Stallone
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Film Editing
Best Film Editing
Award
Best Film Editing
Category
Richard Halsey and Scott Conrad
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Original Song
Best Original Song
Award
Best Original Song
Category
"Gonna Fly Now" Music by Bill Conti; Lyrics by Carol Connors and Ayn Robbins
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Sound
Best Sound
Award
Best Sound
Category
Harry Warren Tetrick, William McCaughey, Lyle J. Burbridge, and Bud Alper
Nominee(s)
Nominated
British Academy Film Awards
British Academy Film Awards
Award
British Academy Film Awards
Category
Best Film
Nominee(s)
John G. Avildsen
Result
Nominated
Best Direction
Best Direction
Award
Best Direction
Category
Nominated
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Award
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Category
Sylvester Stallone
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Category
Nominated
Best Editing
Best Editing
Award
Best Editing
Category
Richard Halsey
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Award
Golden Globe Awards
Category
Best Motion Picture – Drama
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Award
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Category
Sylvester Stallone
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Award
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Category
Talia Shire
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Category
John G. Avildsen
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Category
Sylvester Stallone
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Original Score
Best Original Score
Award
Best Original Score
Category
Bill Conti
Nominee(s)
Nominated
| Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
| Academy Awards | Best Picture | Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler | Won | |
| Best Director | John G. Avildsen | Won | ||
| Best Actor | Sylvester Stallone | Nominated | ||
| Best Actress | Talia Shire | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Burgess Meredith | Nominated | ||
| Burt Young | Nominated | |||
| Best Original Screenplay | Sylvester Stallone | Nominated | ||
| Best Film Editing | Richard Halsey and Scott Conrad | Won | ||
| Best Original Song | "Gonna Fly Now" Music by Bill Conti; Lyrics by Carol Connors and Ayn Robbins | Nominated | ||
| Best Sound | Harry Warren Tetrick, William McCaughey, Lyle J. Burbridge, and Bud Alper | Nominated | ||
| British Academy Film Awards | Best Film | John G. Avildsen | Nominated | |
| Best Direction | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor in a Leading Role | Sylvester Stallone | Nominated | ||
| Best Screenplay | Nominated | |||
| Best Editing | Richard Halsey | Nominated | ||
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Motion Picture – Drama | Won | ||
| Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama | Sylvester Stallone | Nominated | ||
| Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama | Talia Shire | Nominated | ||
| Best Director | John G. Avildsen | Nominated | ||
| Best Screenplay | Sylvester Stallone | Nominated | ||
| Best Original Score | Bill Conti | Nominated | ||
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