History Film / RockyV

* ActorAllusion: A double whammy one for Tommy Morrison. His manager's name is George Washington Duke, whose name not only references Tommy's boxing name Tommy "The Duke" Morrison, it references his (supposed) uncle Creator/JohnWayne whose real name is Marion Morrison and was nicknamed "The Duke".

* UnskilledButStrong: Tommy's natural approach is to simply brute force his way through fights, though he gets a bit more skilled after Rocky starts training and managing him.

* AbusiveParents: Tommy's father use to beat him and his mother until he grew up and left his home. This is where all of his aggression and rage comes from as he pictures his opponents as his father to unleash all of his wrath.

Though this was presumed to be the ending of the series, Sylvester Stallone made a sixth film, ''Film/RockyBalboa'', which was released in 2006.

-->'''Rocky:''' *uppercuts Duke, launching him onto his car* Sue me for ''what?!''

* ActorAllusion: A double whammy one for Tommy Morrison. His manager is named, George Washington Duke, whose name not only references Tommy's boxing name Tommy "The Duke" Morrison, it references his (supposed) uncle Creator/JohnWayne whose real name is Marion Morrison and was nicknamed "The Duke".

* PyrrhicVillainy: Tommy casting Rocky aside in favor of sleazy promoter George Washington Duke gets him fame, the heavyweight title, and presumably money, (although considering that the man Duke is an analogue of is absolutely ''notorious'' for cheating and ripping off his fighters, that last one probably shouldn't be automatically assumed) but Tommy's fame is short lived, because he betrayed Rocky the press and fans alike turn on him, and getting arrested after losing to an aging Rocky in a street fight probably means that Tommy won't profit from his actions nearly as much as he expected to, if at all.

* ActorAllusion: A double whammy one for Tommy Morrison. His manager is named, George Washington Duke, who's name not only references Tommy's boxing name Tommy "The Duke" Morrison, it references his (supposed) uncle Creator/JohnWayne who's real name is Marion Morrison and was nicknamed "The Duke".

* DarkerAndEdgier: ''Rocky V'' was an attempt to recapture the grittier feel of [[Film/{{Rocky}} the first film]] after the apogee of over-the-top excess that was ''Film/RockyIV'', with less appealing results.

** Just compare these speeches from Cus D'Amato, Mike Tyson's trainer, and adoptive father, ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QACELH3www&t=2m45s link]]) and Rocky's flashback of Mickey from Rocky V. ([[http://youtu.be/vmj2s6uYuEs?t=2m18s Link]])

* NumberedSequels: the last of the franchise to be numbered until ''CreedII'', 28 years later.

* NumberedSequels: This is the one that started the "Rocky Five ...thousand" gag.

** This might be as well a smart reference to Creator/MuhammadAli's fight against pro wrestler Wrestling/AntonioInoki at the Tokyo Dome. Just like Inoki, Rocky also [[spoiler:beats a world heavyweight champion]] by using non-boxing techniques (including a few literal pro wrestling moves) at the end of the movie.

* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: Tommy Gunn has betrayed Rocky's trust, left him in the gutter despite Rocky's genuinely good intentions for him, has demanded a fight live on television, beaten the crap out of his Uncle Paulie, and very nearly beaten his father to death, but Rocky's son wants Rocky to take Tommy down because ''he took his room''. Priorities, kid!

* HistoricalInJoke: When trying to recruit Rocky to come out of retirement and fight current champ Union Cane, George Washington Duke (a Don King CaptainErsatz) mentions that he wants to set the fight in Tokyo. In real life, Mike Tyson's first defeat at the hands of Buster Douglas came in a bout promoted by Don King and took place in the Tokyodome a mere 10 months before the film opened.

* OldMaster: Rocky, now OlderAndWiser himself, attempts to be this to Tommy Gunn, but [[RageAgainstTheMentor it doesn't go nearly as well]] through no fault of Rocky's. He gave his best effort, but [[SocietyMarchesOn the sport, and particularly the corruption at its top levels, had passed him by since he stepped out of the ring]]. On top of that Gunn didn't have the sense to realize that Rocky ,unlike George Washington Duke, sincerely had his best interests in mind.

** Seemed to be the mission statement during the production of the film. ''Of course'' Rocky's crappy defense and countless headshots would result in brain damage. ''Of course'' his lousy bum of a brother-in-law would screw things up. ''Of course'' his criminal record would come back and bite him as it prevents him from doing endorsements.

* SoapOperaRapidAgingSyndrome: Rocky Jr. (Robert) was nine in ''Film/RockyIV'' when Rocky went to Russia to fight Drago. When he and Adrian return home at the beginning of the film, his son is now in early adolescence. How long were they in Russia?!
** Rocky Krakoff was originally meant to play Rocky Jr. in early scenes and Sage would play him in the later ones (set in 1990). However when Krakoff proved unavailable, it was decided just to flat use Sage for the whole movie. While not especially convincing, Sage looks far more youthful and fresh-faced at the beginning of the movie than he does in later parts where he's older and harder.

* RevisedEnding: The originally ended with Rocky dying after the final fight. The alternate climax can be seen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH8bQ9rF1k4.

* ImmediateSequel: The film begins minutes after ''Film/RockyIV'', with Rocky suffering the effects of Drago's blows. Though do note that while muddled, the story eventually works its way up to Christmas of 1990; it wouldn't be so noticeable if not fo
%%** In a more bizarre instance, Rocky's son ages about ''five years'' between films - if not more, despite them being ostensibly days apart.

* ImmediateSequel: The film begins minutes after ''Film/RockyIV'', with Rocky suffering the effects of Drago's blows. Though do note that while muddled, the story eventually works its way up to Christmas of 1990.
%%** In a more bizarre instance, Rocky's son ages about ''five years'' between films, despite them being ostensibly days apart.

* NiceJobFixingItVillain: [[spoiler:George Washington Duke wanted Tommy Gunn to get Rocky out of retirement and into a fight so he can profit off Rocky's name. Tommy then dashed all chances by pushing Rocky's BerserkButton by punching Paulie out.]]

Rocky has fallen on hard times due to combination of [[BrokeYourArmPunchingOutCthulhu suffering from brain damage after his bout with Drago]] in [[Film/RockyIV the previous film]] and having his fortune stolen by a crooked accountant. He is forced to move back to his old neighbourhood, where he starts running the late Mickey's gym. He becomes a trainer to a young boxer named Tommy Gunn. This doesn't sit well with his son, and their relationship starts to deteriorate.

* AwardBaitSong: Music/EltonJohn's "Measure of a Man".

* CareerEndingInjury: Rocky's brain damage.

* DarkerAndEdgier: ''Rocky V'' was an attempt to recapture the grittier feel of [[Film/{{Rocky}} the first film]] after the apogee of over-the-top excess that was ''Film/RockyIV''. With less appealing results.
* DeceptiveDisciple: Tommy Gunn.
* DudeWheresMyRespect:
** Tommy Gunn's reason for challenging Rocky at the end of the movie largely stems from this. He's upset about first only getting attention as the student of the famous champion Rocky, and then later for being derided for betraying Rocky and only being a "paper champion". Add on Tommy's DaddyIssues and Duke encouraging his anger at substitute father figure Rocky, and you have a time bomb waiting to go off.
* FallenOnHardTimesJob: Rocky's making ends meet at Mickey's old gym, and Adrian is back to working at a pet store.
* FurAndLoathing: The only furs are worn by the corrupt manager, and a woman who seemed to be a gold digger.

* HistoricalInJoke: A blink and you'll miss it one: when trying to recruit Rocky to come out of retirement and fight current champ Union Cane, George Washington Duke (a Don King CaptainErsatz) mentions that he wants to set the fight in Tokyo. In real life, Mike Tyson's first defeat at the hands of Buster Douglas came in a bout promoted by Don King and took place in the Tokyodome a mere 10 months before the film opened.

** In a more bizarre instance, Rocky's son ages about ''five years'' between films, despite them being ostensibly days apart.
* KarmaHoudini: Duke's punishment for turning Tommy against Rocky and ruining Tommy's career is... [[DisproportionateRetribution to be punched by Rocky onto the front of a car]]. Though this feeling is somewhat softened by the fact that he has presumably also lost Tommy's trust and respect. Also Rocky and Tommy having the street fight at the end of the climax ruined Duke's chance of making money off a boxing match between the two which had been his primary motive through out the second half of the movie.

* LonelyAtTheTop: This is the ultimate fate of [[spoiler: Tommy Gunn. He's made it to the top, became world heavyweight champion, and got all the money he could have asked for, including a hot girl. Unfortunately for him, nobody really respects the guy, especially after he chose to dump and forget about Rocky Balboa (the man who trained him into the talented boxer he was), was criticized for not having a real challenge since his opponent got the title without a fight since Rocky lost it due to fighting an unsanctioned match against Drago, and he practically sold his soul to GW Duke, who was only using him to hopefully profit off of a match between him and Balboa, which Gunn himself destroyed any hope of that with a punch at Rocky's friend, Paulie. After the fight, he was disowned by GW Duke (who warned him that he's finished if he lost) is seen getting arrested after a humiliating defeat, and will likely lose it all over again.]]

** Rocky [[spoiler: nearly tore his family apart thanks to his obsession with training and managing Tommy Gunn]].
* NiceJobFixingItVillain: [[spoiler: George Washington Duke wanted Tommy Gunn to get Rocky out of retirement and into a fight so he can profit off Rocky's name. Tommy then dashed all chances by pushing Rocky's BerserkButton by punching Paulie out.]]

* NumberedSequels

* OldMaster: Rocky, now OlderAndWiser himself, attempts to be this to Tommy Gunn, but [[RageAgainstTheMentor it doesn't go nearly as well]] through no fault of Rocky's. He gave his best effort, but [[SocietyMarchesOn the sport, and particularly the corruption at its top levels, had passed him by since he stepped out of the ring]], and Gunn didn't have the sense to realize that Rocky (unlike George Washington Duke) sincerely had his best interests in mind.

** Seemed to be the mission statement during the production of the film. ''Of course'' Rocky's crappy defense and countless headshots would result in brain damage. ''Of course'' his lousy bum of a brother-in-law would screw things up. ''Of course'' his criminal record would come back and bite him (it prevents him from doing endorsements).

* RevisitingTheRoots: As mentioned in DarkerAndEdgier, the film was an attempt at returning to the tone of the first two movies rather than that of the third and fourth installments.

* {{Expy}}: George Washington Duke, the film's true BigBad, is one of boxing promoter Don King. He even says King's {{Catchphrase}} "Only In America".

** Everybody seems to think they can take Rocky in a fight. Did Union Cane really not see the Drago fight where Rocky got the hell beat out of him and still came out on top? And Tommy Gunn should know better, but still he thinks he can take Rocky, who used to break people's thumbs for a living in a street fight, no less.

* DarkerAndEdgier: ''Rocky V'' was an attempt to recapture the grittier feel of [[Film/{{Rocky}} the first film]] after the apogee of over-the-top excess that was ''Film/RockyIV''.

Rocky has fallen on hard times due to combination of [[BrokeYourArmPunchingOutCthulhu suffering from brain damage after his bout with Drago]] in [[Film/RockyIV the previous film]] and having his fortune stolen by a crooked accountant. He is forced to move back to his old neighbourhood, where he start running late Mickey's gym. He becomes a trainer to a young boxer named Tommy Gunn. This doesn't sit well with his son, and their relationship starts to deteriorate.

* DudeWheresMyRespect: Everybody seems to think they can take Rocky in a fight. Did Union Cane really not see the Drago fight where Rocky got the hell beat out of him and still came out on top? And Tommy Gunn should know better, but still he thinks he can take Rocky, who used to break people's thumbs for a living in a street fight, no less.
** Tommy Gunn's reason for challenging Rocky at the end of the movie steams from this.

* FallenOnHardTimesJob: Rocky's making ends meet at Mickey's old gym.

* SoapOperaRapidAgingSyndrome: Rocky Jr. (Robert) was nine in ''RockyIV'' when Rocky went to Russia to fight Drago. When he and Adrian return home at the beginning of the film, his son is now in early adolescence. How long were they in Russia?!

* KarmaHoudini: Duke's punishment for turning Tommy against Rocky and ruining Tommy's career is... [[DisproportionateRetribution to be punched by Rocky onto the front of a car]]. Though this feeling is somewhat softened by the fact that he has presumably also lost Tommy's trust and respect.

->'''George Washington Duke''': "In the ring! In the ring! Tommy Gunn only fights in the ring!"
->'''Rocky''': "My ring's outside."

* KarmaHoudini: Rocky's crooked accountant (unseen in the movie) who squandered all his fortune on bad business deals, disappeared, and left him broke.