Rocky struggles in family life after his bout with Apollo Creed, while the embarrassed champ insistently goads him to accept a challenge for a rematch.Rocky struggles in family life after his bout with Apollo Creed, while the embarrassed champ insistently goads him to accept a challenge for a rematch.Rocky struggles in family life after his bout with Apollo Creed, while the embarrassed champ insistently goads him to accept a challenge for a rematch.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 2 nominations
Paul Micale
- Father Carmine
- (as Paul J. Micale)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen Rocky is training for the fight, he is sparring with a smaller quicker fighter. The sparring partner is played by real life Champion Roberto Durán.
- GoofsDuring the fifteenth round, Rocky lands a left hook and Apollo Creed is knocked down. Rocky falls as the result of his own punch. The referee begins to count both fighters out. The referee would only be counting Apollo Creed out because Rocky's punch knocked him to the canvas. According to the rules of boxing, Rocky should not be in danger of being counted out because he was not struck by a punch. Rocky was off balance and so the referee would rule it as a slip.
- Quotes
Gazo: How's about investing in condominiums? It's safe.
Rocky Balboa: Condominiums?
Gazo: Yeah, condominiums.
Rocky Balboa: I never use 'em.
- Crazy creditsThe end credits featured a caricature of Rocky hugging Mickey from the last scene of the movie.
- Alternate versionsApprox. 2 minutes of dialogue were removed from the German theatrical version. Only in 2009 the film was released uncut (with the missing scenes in English with German subtitles).
- ConnectionsEdited from Rocky (1976)
- SoundtracksStreet Scat
Words and Music by Frank Stallone
Featured review
I have to hand it to Sylvester Stallone he did the impossible with 'Rocky II' and made a successful follow-up to 'Rocky,' winner of the 1976 Best Picture Academy Award.
Some argue that 'Taxi Driver' (also nominated) deserved the Oscar more. I'm not so sure. 'Rocky' came along at just the right time it was an uplifting story and people needed that back then. Now, 'Taxi Driver' is usually considered the superior of the two but they're entirely different and, in my opinion (and it's a rare one), 'Rocky' is just as good but in a different way. They're both great films, and I'm not saying that 'Taxi Driver' shouldn't have won but I'm not necessarily saying it should have, either. 'Rocky's' achievement is monumental and it is one of the greatest films ever made. To say it's 'not as good' merely because it is more optimistic is nonsense.
So what's so great about 'Rocky II' and why is it generally underrated? (Its average user score right now on the Internet Movie Database -- with over 8,000 votes -- is a measly 6.2/10, compared to the original's 7.7)
Because it maintains the focus of the first film, and continues the story rather well. A story that didn't really need to be continued, per se, but nevertheless formed the foundation of one of the greatest film franchises of all time. That's right many people hate the 'Rocky' sequels, but apart from 'Part V,' they're all surprisingly entertaining and, more importantly, well made. I like them; they entertain me, and I think they all serve their purpose.
What's particularly interesting about 'Rocky II' is that apart from repeating the central theme of fighting Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), Rocky (Stallone) goes through a character arc here that many sequels totally ignore we see the after-effects of his fight, and him struggling to adapt to the 'New Life.'
Rocky is not a smart person. But he is one of cinema's deepest characters. Stallone (who wrote all the scripts and directed three of the sequels) succeeds at evolving Rocky's self-confidence. After winning a small fortune from his famous fight with Creed, he goes out on an impulsive shopping spree, buying a cool car, a new leather jacket (with a tiger the beast with the 'eye' that Rocky re-captures in 'Part III' printed on the back), and a new luxurious apartment for him and his wife Adrienne (Talia Shire).
The problem is that Rocky soon runs out of money. His happy-go-lucky personality crashes when he is faced with the prospect of losing it all. He promised Adrienne never to fight again, and keeps his word by trying to get a 'real' job at the meat-processing factory (the same one he trained at in the original film). However due to staff cut backs he is fired and soon realizes that he was born for one reason: To fight.
Meanwhile, Apollo is eager to take on 'The Italian Stallion' again to prove he isn't the coward that criticizers are implying he is. He entices Rocky back into the ring for a final match and to say that the outcome is satisfactory is an understatement.
Most people seem to forget that Stallone is almost solely responsible for the entire success of 'Rocky' as a whole. He came up with the idea, wrote a script, fought to get it made, fought to become the leading star, and literally fought to get in shape. All of this fighting paid off and it continued to pay off as he kept on cranking out all the sequels.
Indeed, the 'Rocky' legacy is often poked fun at because it is the typical endless Hollywood moneymaking franchise. But 'Rocky II' and 'III' (more so than the other two sequels) have guts, power, determination and focus they've got the so-called 'Eye of the Tiger' and I can't really say that I agree with anyone who says these movies are worthless. They aren't masterpieces but they certainly aren't trash, either. I give 'Rocky II' a hearty recommendation it's a truly solid sequel that surprises us right when we expect to be disappointed.
Some argue that 'Taxi Driver' (also nominated) deserved the Oscar more. I'm not so sure. 'Rocky' came along at just the right time it was an uplifting story and people needed that back then. Now, 'Taxi Driver' is usually considered the superior of the two but they're entirely different and, in my opinion (and it's a rare one), 'Rocky' is just as good but in a different way. They're both great films, and I'm not saying that 'Taxi Driver' shouldn't have won but I'm not necessarily saying it should have, either. 'Rocky's' achievement is monumental and it is one of the greatest films ever made. To say it's 'not as good' merely because it is more optimistic is nonsense.
So what's so great about 'Rocky II' and why is it generally underrated? (Its average user score right now on the Internet Movie Database -- with over 8,000 votes -- is a measly 6.2/10, compared to the original's 7.7)
Because it maintains the focus of the first film, and continues the story rather well. A story that didn't really need to be continued, per se, but nevertheless formed the foundation of one of the greatest film franchises of all time. That's right many people hate the 'Rocky' sequels, but apart from 'Part V,' they're all surprisingly entertaining and, more importantly, well made. I like them; they entertain me, and I think they all serve their purpose.
What's particularly interesting about 'Rocky II' is that apart from repeating the central theme of fighting Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), Rocky (Stallone) goes through a character arc here that many sequels totally ignore we see the after-effects of his fight, and him struggling to adapt to the 'New Life.'
Rocky is not a smart person. But he is one of cinema's deepest characters. Stallone (who wrote all the scripts and directed three of the sequels) succeeds at evolving Rocky's self-confidence. After winning a small fortune from his famous fight with Creed, he goes out on an impulsive shopping spree, buying a cool car, a new leather jacket (with a tiger the beast with the 'eye' that Rocky re-captures in 'Part III' printed on the back), and a new luxurious apartment for him and his wife Adrienne (Talia Shire).
The problem is that Rocky soon runs out of money. His happy-go-lucky personality crashes when he is faced with the prospect of losing it all. He promised Adrienne never to fight again, and keeps his word by trying to get a 'real' job at the meat-processing factory (the same one he trained at in the original film). However due to staff cut backs he is fired and soon realizes that he was born for one reason: To fight.
Meanwhile, Apollo is eager to take on 'The Italian Stallion' again to prove he isn't the coward that criticizers are implying he is. He entices Rocky back into the ring for a final match and to say that the outcome is satisfactory is an understatement.
Most people seem to forget that Stallone is almost solely responsible for the entire success of 'Rocky' as a whole. He came up with the idea, wrote a script, fought to get it made, fought to become the leading star, and literally fought to get in shape. All of this fighting paid off and it continued to pay off as he kept on cranking out all the sequels.
Indeed, the 'Rocky' legacy is often poked fun at because it is the typical endless Hollywood moneymaking franchise. But 'Rocky II' and 'III' (more so than the other two sequels) have guts, power, determination and focus they've got the so-called 'Eye of the Tiger' and I can't really say that I agree with anyone who says these movies are worthless. They aren't masterpieces but they certainly aren't trash, either. I give 'Rocky II' a hearty recommendation it's a truly solid sequel that surprises us right when we expect to be disappointed.
- MovieAddict2016
- Aug 9, 2004
- Permalink
Sylvester Stallone's Most Iconic Roles
Sylvester Stallone's Most Iconic Roles
We're celebrating the iconic Sylvester Stallone with a look back at some of his most indelible film performances, from Rocky and Rambo, to Joe in the new superhero movie Samaritan.
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- Tay Đấm Huyền Thoại 2
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $7,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $85,182,160
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $6,390,537
- Jun 17, 1979
- Gross worldwide
- $85,187,855
- Runtime1 hour 59 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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