Rocky V (1990)
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A financially struggling Rocky Balboa must decide whether to step back into the ring or find a new purpose as a trainer.
The story
Following a grueling victory in Moscow, Rocky Balboa returns to the United States only to find himself physically traumatized and financially ruined by a dishonest accountant. Faced with a mounting debt and a medical diagnosis that forces him to retire from professional boxing, Rocky moves back to his old neighborhood in Philadelphia. There, he discovers a dilapidated gym and finds a new sense of purpose by becoming a trainer. He begins mentoring a young, ambitious fighter named Tommy Gunn, while struggling to balance his new role with the needs of his family and his son, Robert Jr.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After his victory over Ivan Drago, Rocky Balboa returns home to find his finances decimated by an accountant's embezzlement. Diagnosed with a brain condition, he is forced to retire from boxing and move back to a working-class neighborhood in Philadelphia. He reopens a local gym and begins training a young, ambitious fighter named Tommy Gunn. While training Tommy, Rocky becomes distracted and fails to notice his son, Robert Jr., is being bullied and falling into the wrong crowd. As Tommy rises to fame, he is lured by a promoter, George Washington Duke, who offers him a path to the title away from Rocky. After Tommy wins the title but is mocked by the public for his lack of loyalty, Duke convinces him to challenge Rocky in a street fight. During the brawl, Rocky experiences visions of his past. With the support of his family and neighbors, Rocky defeats Tommy in the street. The film ends with Rocky and his son visiting a statue in Philadelphia.
- First release year
- 1990
- Runtime (minutes)
- 104
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- John G. Avildsen
- Writers
- Sylvester Stallone · writer
- Cast and characters
- Sylvester Stallone · Robert "Rocky" Balboa; Talia Shire · Adrian Pennino; Burt Young · Paulie Pennino; Sage Stallone · Robert "Rocky" Balboa Jr.; Tommy Morrison · Tommy "The Machine" Gunn; Burgess Meredith · Mickey Goldmill; Richard Gant · George Washington Duke; Tony Burton · Tony "Duke" Evers
- Genres
- sports drama
- Themes
- father-son relationships; redemption; legacy
- Tone and mood
- dramatic
- Premise and plot tags
- boxing; sequel; sports
- Franchise connections
- Rocky
- Reception
- The film received largely negative reviews from critics, who criticized the screenplay, characterization, continuity errors, and medical inaccuracies, and initially deemed it a disappointing conclusion to the series. However, it was commercially successful.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 31% · scale: percentage · review count: 39; Metacritic · score: 55 · scale: 100 · review count: 16; CinemaScore · score: A · scale: A+ to F
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Raspberry Awards · Worst Picture · 1990 · nominated; Golden Raspberry Awards · Worst Actor · 1990 · nominated; Golden Raspberry Awards · Worst Screenplay · 1990 · nominated; Golden Raspberry Awards · Worst Actress · 1990 · nominated; Golden Raspberry Awards · Worst Supporting Actor · 1990 · nominated; Golden Raspberry Awards · Worst Director · 1990 · nominated; Golden Raspberry Awards · Worst Original Song · 1990 · nominated
- Production trivia
- The film was originally intended to have a much darker ending where Rocky was killed in the final fight.; The film was included on a list of the 100 worst ideas of the 20th century by Time magazine.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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