History YMMV / Rocky

* EnsembleDarkHorse: Apollo Creed's nameless trainer in the first film gets an expanded role in all the subsequent ones, including getting a name (Duke). He ends up being the only character/actor other than Stallone and Burt Young to appear in all six films.

* UnfortunateImplications:
** [[http://www.avclub.com/article/rocky-series-became-stallone-biography-great-new-e-229235 A retrospective of the entire series]] points out how it can get pretty disturbing how you're asked over and over to root for a white guy to beat up various black guys. One would need to [[IgnoredAesop ignore the ''Creed'' films]] for this take to work, however.
** The franchise has [[http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/63755506/ sometimes also been criticized]] for appropriating the life story of real life Philadelphia heavyweight legend Smokin' Joe Frazier without paying him any financial compensation (The Rocky films broke box office record at the same speed Philadelphia's real life Rocky Joe Frazier struggled to keep his gym open in one of Philly's poorest districts), having the unfortunate side-effect of the public (and even Philadelphia itself) honoring more a fictional white champion than a real life black one, to the point of building a statue to Rocky a full decade before even considering building one for Joe Frazier. The result has been linked to cultural appropriation and erasure of a black sporting icon.

** Rocky's TrainingMontage, especially the [[FirstInstallmentWins one from the first film]], is often copied in format by other serious SportsStories and parodied by more comedic works. An upbeat song is usually playing in the background as well.

** Rocky's TrainingMontage, especially the [[FirstInstallmentWins one from the first film]], is often copied by other serious SportsStories and parodied by more comedic works.

* {{Sequelitis}}: The franchise was widely accused of this, becoming a frequent source of mockery as the series progressed. Averted by Rocky Balboa and even more averted by Creed, which has a Tomatometer score of 95%, the highest in the series.

** The TrainingMontage is also getting popular...

* {{Sequelitis}}: The franchise was widely accused of this, becoming a frequent source of mockery as the series progressed. Averted by Rocky Balboa.
** Even more averted by Creed which has a tomatometer score of 95%, the highest in the series.
* SignatureScene: Rocky's famous run through the streets of Philadelphia, with "Gonna Fly Now" playing in the background and ending with running up the Philadelphia Art Museum steps.

** Don't forget [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioE_O7Lm0I4 Gonna Fly Now]]

Works in this franchise with their own pages:

** [[http://www.avclub.com/article/rocky-series-became-stallone-biography-great-new-e-229235 A retrospective of the entire series]] points out how it can get pretty disturbing how you're asked over and over to root for a white guy to beat up various black guys.

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Rocky can come across as quite a pushy jerk towards Adrian in the movie's first half. First of all, his complaints to Paulie about getting no response to his bad jokes feels very much like modern day complaints about "friendzoning." Then she only goes on a date with him because Paulie bullies her into it, which Rocky has no problem going along with. Then he spends the whole date blathering on about himself, rarely seeming to care if Adrian has anything to add to the conversation. Finally, she ''repeatedly'' tries to beg off going into his apartment, only for Rocky to refuse to take no for an answer and keep badgering her until she gives in (and also, failing her entering, was apparently planning to let her walk home alone in a rough neighborhood). This is supposedly all justified by her being shy, and Rocky just wanting to bring her out of her shell for what she ''really'' wants, which he somehow knows.
** The moments leading up to their first hookup are pretty rapey as well, as Adrian repeatedly tries to leave, says she is uncomfortable, and Rocky actually ''blocks the door'' which is why their make-out session takes place there.

** Still on the topic of race, the film franchise has [[http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/63755506/ sometimes also been criticized]] for appropriating the life story of real life Philadelphia heavyweight legend Smokin' Joe Frazier without paying him any financial compensation (The Rocky films broke box office record at the same speed Philadelphia's real life Rocky Joe Frazier struggled to keep his gym open in one of Philly's poorest districts), having the unfortunate side-effect of the public (and even Philadelphia itself) honoring more a fictional white champion than a real life black one, to the point of building a statue to Rocky a full decade before even considering building one for Joe Frazier. The result has been linked to cultural appropriation and erasure of a black sporting icon.

* UnfortunateImplications: Ultimately subverted. [[http://www.avclub.com/article/rocky-series-became-stallone-biography-great-new-e-229235 A retrospective of the entire series]] points out how it can get pretty disturbing how you're asked over and over to root for a white guy to beat up various black guys. Still on the topic of race, the film franchise has [[http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/63755506/ sometimes also been criticized]] for appropriating the life story of real life Philadelphia heavyweight legend Smokin' Joe Frazier without paying him any financial compensation (The Rocky films broke box office record at the same speed Philadelphia's real life Rocky Joe Frazier struggled to keep his gym open in one of Philly's poorest districts), having the unfortunate side-effect of the public (and even Philadelphia itself) honoring more a fictional white champion than a real life black one, to the point of building a statue to Rocky a full decade before even considering building one for Joe Frazier. The result has been linked to cultural appropriation and erasure of a black sporting icon.

* UnfortunateImplications: Ultimately subverted. [[http://www.avclub.com/article/rocky-series-became-stallone-biography-great-new-e-229235 A retrospective of the entire series]] points out how it can get pretty disturbing how you're asked over and over to root for a white guy to beat up various black guys.

* UnfortunateImplications: Ultimately subverted. [[http://www.avclub.com/article/rocky-series-became-stallone-biography-great-new-e-229235 A retrospective of the entire series]] points out how it can get pretty disturbing how you're asked over and over to root for a white guy to beat up various black guys.
** In his legendary 2013 rant in Philadelphia, comedian Bill Burr, in the middle of ripping everything Philly related, pointed out that Rocky, a fictional character, had a statue and was widely celebrated as a Philadelphia icon, while Joe Frazier, a real life World Champion Boxer from Philly, didn't, and was basically ignored. Even worse, Frazier also normally ran the up the art museum steps as part of his running workout.
*** “Fuckin’ Rocky is your hero? The whole pride of your city is built around a guy who doesn’t even exist. Joe Frazier is from there, but he’s black so you can’t fucking deal with him. So you make a fuckin’ statue for some three foot fuckin’ Italian…”
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* HeReallyCanAct: A lot of younger viewers who only know Stallone from action movies, where he (competently) plays very similar archetypes, are rather surprised at his brilliant performance in ''Rocky''.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: Back when the films were new, when Rocky trained to "Gonna Fly Now" and "Eye of the Tiger" it was electric and inspiring. A million parodies later, the music has become such a cliche you can't even take it seriously anymore. Ditto for the oft-parodied stairs scene.

* RealitySubtext: The unexpected success of the first movie, which made a star out of Stallone, mirrors the actual plot of the movie, and subsequently winning the Best Picture Oscar.

** NoProblemWithLicensedGames: Although many would agree that Rocky on [=PS2=] and X-Box is a worthy attempt, and Rocky Legends is a SurprisinglyImprovedSequel. It helps that it offers a story mode where you follow Rocky and three other main characters, with at least one unique training game for each.

* UnfortunateImplications: Ultimately subverted. [[http://www.avclub.com/article/rocky-series-became-stallone-biography-great-new-e-229235 A retrospective of the entire series]] points out how it can get pretty disturbing how you're asked over and over to root for a white guy to beat up various black guys. Having said that...
** All three of Rocky's African American rivals are portrayed as well spoken, intelligent, and charismatic individuals. Apollo and Mason have their own story arcs that parallel Rocky's, and Clubber (the only one who is an out-and-out villain) is no worse than the white Ivan Drago or Tommy Gunn.
** Apollo is the biggest aversion. He's a SelfMadeMan who proposes the exhibition match that kick-starts the plot in ''I'', his desire for a rematch is what leads to Rocky becoming the heavyweight champ in ''II'', he trains Rocky to help beat Clubber and reclaim his title in ''III'', his death drives the plot of ''IV'', and his son takes over as the main character of the series in ''Creed''. In short, ''five out of seven movies happen because of Apollo''. He even [[{{Handwave}} handwaves]] the racial issue in the original film, dismissing the significance of an interracial boxing match.
*** It's also worth mentioning that Apollo's trainer Duke becomes Rocky's trainer after Mickey and Apollo pass away, leading him to victory against Drago and a narrow loss to Mason.
** Rocky's win/loss record against his African American opponents isn't great, either. He loses his first matches against Apollo and Clubber, he never wins against Mason, and it's revealed in ''Creed'' that Apollo won their second rematch. That's four losses, two wins. By contrast, he never lost to Drago or Tommy Gunn.
*** Rocky's third 'bout' with Apollo was an informal sparring match, not part of either fighter's official record. It's never shown onscreen who actually won that fight. Rocky may have just told Donnie that Apollo won as a friendly gesture, building Apollo up in the eyes of the son who never knew him.

*** [[spoiler:“Fuckin’ Rocky is your hero? The whole pride of your city is built around a guy who doesn’t even exist. Joe Frazier is from there, but he’s black so you can’t fucking deal with him. So you make a fuckin’ statue for some three foot fuckin’ Italian…”]]
** Rocky himself never displays the slightest hint of racism towards his opponents (or anyone else). This is as opposed to Paulie, who constantly drops racial slurs while accompanying Rocky at Apollo's all-black gym in Los Angeles. Two characters with similar backgrounds but radically different world views on race. The only thing that matters to Rocky is how they perform in the ring.

** Even more averted by Creed which, as of November 2015, has a tomatometer score of 92%. That's easily the second highest in the series, and only a single point behind the original.