How Many Times Has Sylvester Stallone Watched ’Rocky‘?

Barb Oates June 29, 2024

Rocky Sylvester Stallone, 1976 — United Artists/Everett Collection

Yo! Sylvester Stallone is turning 78 this month (July 6), and if you haven’t noticed he’s hotter than ever. The chiseled movie veteran’s hit Paramount+ series Tulsa King is rolling out on CBS this summer beginning Sunday, July 14, and his classic film franchises continue to dominate cable networks in marathon form.

So how many times has Stallone watched Rocky?

Everett Collection

“Probably 50,” he told us.

Fittingly, AMC has slotted July 4 for a “Great American Rocky Marathon.” The network rings the bell for a five-round marathon of Rocky movies starring Stallone as boxer Rocky Balboa. Underdog Rocky challenges Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) in the Oscar-winning Rocky (1976), which begins the marathon at 2pmET. Rocky gets a rematch in Rocky II, takes on Clubber Lang (Mr. T) in Rocky III, faces Soviet Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) in Rocky IV and brawls with Tommy Gunn (Tommy Morrison) in Rocky V.

Stallone, of course, considers Rocky one of his biggest successes professionally and personally.

United Artists / Courtesy: Everett Collection

“That was out of the blue. I thought I was just making a film for drive-ins, the second bill,” he shares. “So, it’s all been a bonus for me. First Blood was a great character, too; Rocky’s the ultimate optimist, and Rambo’s the ultimate pessimist. They’re pretty close to different aspects of my personality. It’s really wonderful to play something that just comes naturally to you. If someone said, ‘I want you to play Hamlet,’ I don’t think so.”

While the star doesn’t collect too much memorabilia from his 50-plus-year career, he has kept from Rocky the boxing gloves, robe and hat. “I don’t hold on to too much; it’s like you’re stuck in the past a little bit,” he concludes. “As my wife goes, ‘Enough of this ego massage. You don’t need this anymore.’”

We’ll take the ego, it’s more than well deserved.