Rocky Balboa (2006)
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An aging boxer is challenged to an exhibition fight by a young, undefeated champion.
The story
Sixteen years after his final fight, Rocky Balboa is a retired boxer living a quiet life in Philadelphia as a widower. He runs a successful Italian restaurant and struggles with personal demons and a strained relationship with his son. His life takes a turn when he meets a woman named Marie and her son, providing him with a new sense of purpose. Meanwhile, the undefeated but unpopular heavyweight champion Mason Dixon faces pressure from his fans and promoters. When a televised simulation of a fight between the two men goes viral, it inspires Rocky to take up boxing again, leading to a high-stakes exhibition match in Las Vegas.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Sixteen years after his final fight, Rocky Balboa lives as a widower in Philadelphia, running an Italian restaurant and struggling with the loss of his wife, Adrian. He finds solace in a burgeoning relationship with Marie and her son, Steps. Simultaneously, the undefeated heavyweight champion Mason Dixon is criticized for never facing a true contender. A computer-simulated fight between a younger Rocky and the current Dixon goes viral, prompting both men to agree to a charity exhibition match in Las Vegas. Despite his son Robert's concerns, Rocky trains intensely under Duke Evers. During the fight, Dixon dominates the first round but injures his hand, allowing Rocky to make a dramatic comeback. They fight through ten rounds, ending in a split decision victory for Dixon. However, Rocky is content with the experience and the respect he earns. The film concludes with Rocky visiting Adrian's grave, where he tells her, 'Yo Adrian, we did it.'
- First release year
- 2006
- Runtime (minutes)
- 102
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Sylvester Stallone
- Writers
- Sylvester Stallone · writer
- Cast and characters
- Sylvester Stallone · Robert "Rocky" Balboa; Burt Young · Paulie Pennino; Antonio Tarver · Mason "The Line" Dixon; Milo Ventimiglia · Robert Balboa Jr.; Geraldine Hughes · Marie; James Francis Kelly III · Stephenson ("Steps"); Tony Burton · Tony "Duke" Evers; Pedro Lovell · Spider Rico
- Genres
- sports drama
- Themes
- grief; redemption; aging
- Tone and mood
- heartfelt
- Premise and plot tags
- sports; boxing; sequel
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for its screenplay, Stalline's performance, and heartfelt exploration of Balboa's character, with many critics calling it a significant improvement over its predecessor, and many labelling the film one of the best entries in the franchise.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 78% · review count: 184; Metacritic · score: 63 · scale: 100 · review count: 36; CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A+ to F
- Production trivia
- The fight choreography was less scripted, featuring real punches thrown by Stallone and Tarver.; It is the first Rocky film not to be released under the United Artists banner.; The film was a commercial success, grossing $156 million worldwide.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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