Rocky II (1979)
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After his first victory, Rocky Balboa must decide whether to embrace his new life of fame or return to the ring for a high-stakes rematch.
The story
Set immediately after the events of the original film, Rocky Balboa struggles to adjust to his newfound fame and family life. While he attempts to navigate his new status as a celebrity, he is confronted by Apollo Creed, who demands a rematch to prove that Rocky's previous victory was no fluke. Despite the risks to his health and the complications of his personal life, Rocky must decide if he is willing to step back into the ring to face his rival once more.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Following a split-decision victory in 1976, Rocky Balboa retires from boxing, only to be hounded by Apollo Creed, who demands a rematch to prove Rocky's win was a fluke. As Rocky navigates his new life of fame and marries his girlfriend, Adrian, Apollo's public campaign forces Rocky to consider returning to the ring. During the training period, Adrian falls into a coma while pregnant; she eventually gives birth to a son, Robert Jr., and gives her blessing for the fight. On the night of the match, Apollo aims to win in two rounds. To protect a damaged eye, Rocky fights right-handed, putting him at a disadvantage. In the final round, Rocky switches back to his natural stance and delivers a series of counter-punches, knocking Apollo down and winning the title. He concludes the fight with an impassioned speech to Adrian, who watches from home.
- First release year
- 1979
- Runtime (minutes)
- 119
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Sylvester Stallone
- Writers
- Sylvester Stallone · writer
- Cast and characters
- Sylvester Stallone · Robert "Rocky" Balboa; Talia Shire · Adrian Balboa; Burt Young · Paulie Pennino; Carl Weathers · Apollo Creed; Burgess Meredith · Michael "Mickey" Goldmill; Tony Burton · Tony "Duke" Evers; Sylvia Meals · Mary Anne Creed; Seargeoh Stallone · Robert "Rocky" Balboa Jr.
- Genres
- sports drama
- Themes
- resilience; fatherhood; sacrifice
- Tone and mood
- dramatic; intense
- Premise and plot tags
- sports; boxing; sequel; underdog
- Franchise connections
- Rocky
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for its characterization, finale, and Stallone's performance.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 68% · scale: percentage · review count: 34
- Awards and nominations
- Best Picture · American Movie Awards · win; Favorite Motion Picture · People's Choice Award · win
- Production trivia
- The film was the last installment released solely by United Artists before their 1981 merger.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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