Having been watching the World Series of Pop Culture on VH1 all this week, I realize that I know way more movie trivia than I should, and that there are many important things everyone should know about the Rocky films.
Now, Rocky has been brought up here before and is by far one of those “man” movies that no woman will ever understand - especially never understand why they made five films (soon to be six). Of course, I even ask myself why we have five Rocky films, but here are some of the key things to know so when you’re on the Pop Culture showdown, you can go out with some dignity.
Things to know about Rocky
- Rocky LOSES to Apollo Creed
- It takes place in Philadelphia
- Adrian! She worked at a pet store
- The famous training montage ends with Rocky on the stairs of the art museum
- He drinks eggs, chases chickens, and punches meat
- Won Best Movie Oscar for 1976
Things to know about Rocky II
- Rocky retires, gets married, knocks up Adrian, buys a Trans-Am
- Rocky finally wins the championship in the Apollo Creed rematch
Things to know about Rocky III (best one)
- Mr. T - Clubber Lang, his prediction: pain
- First film appearence of Hulk Hogan, as Thunderlips
- Rocky statue put at the art museum
- Mickey, Rocky’s old trainer, dies
- Rocky gets lazy and loses to Mr. T, then Rocky wins in the rematch
- Eye of the Tiger first used as a song
Things to know about Rocky IV
- James Brown performs
- Apollo Creed gets killed in the ring while fighting…
- The Russian, Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren)
- Rocky and Adrian go to Russian while their son stays home with a robot nanny
- Rocky beats the Russian and single-handedly stops the Cold War
Things to know about Rocky V
- Nothing…no one have to suffer through Rocky V
One over-arching thing to know, which is sort of obvious and probably the one thing that everyone knows about Rocky, the theme song. I’m not talking the “Eye of the Tiger” song, but the trumpety fanare theme song, “Gonna Fly Now”. People know that’s the song to Rocky even if they’ve never seen any of the films.
Please add your own need-to-knows for Rocky to keep the list top notch.
And if you haven’t yet, make sure to watch the trailer for Rocky VI, which isn’t actually called Rocky VI but Rocky Balboa. Surprisingly enough, the trailer looks pretty good. It sounds a lot like Rocky III in that Rocky is retired and comes back for a fight, but this time not because he got arrogant, but because he’s old and wants to “live” again. Whatever…I think this one might work. It’s not going to beat “Rocky” or “Rocky III” - but I’d place my bets on it not being too bad. Of course, there’s not Mickey, no Apollo, and no Adrian…but that should certainly fuel Rocky’s lonleliness and motivate him to get back in the ring.
This is what I know about Rocky: it sucks.
I suffered plenty through Rocky V.
Blasphemy!!! Pure blasphemy.
It doesn’t matter if it sucks. We’re not debating whether it is a good movie or not, you still need to know Rocky. That list is a tool that will save you from “suffering” through more Rocky.
…except Rocky VI, we’re seeing that one…
Why do I need to know Rocky?
Rocky did not suck, in fact it was the best movie that year.
Go watch Cinderella Man if you want to understand how good the Rocky movies are. Cinderella Man is like watching a movie filmed with a hand-held camera on a roller coaster.
Everyone needs to know Rocky because to this day people are still making references to it (them). That’s why Rocky movies are important - being a good movie and being important don’t go hand in hand.
You can walk into any fast food joint and yell “Adrian!” and people will know the reference.