Rocky poster

Rocky

1976120 minutesPG
4.6
Arcplot Score
📝 Unconventional
Unverified
8.1IMDb
🍅 93%Rotten Tomatoes
Ⓜ️ 70/100Metacritic
🎬 7.8TMDb
📊 8.0Popularity
🏆Won 3 Oscars. 22 wins & 23 nominations total
Genre: Drama, Sport
Directed by: John G. Avildsen
Rocky Balboa is a struggling boxer trying to make the big time, working as a debt collector for a pittance. When heavyweight champion Apollo Creed visits Philadelphia, his managers want to set up an exhibition match between Creed and a struggling boxer, touting the fight as a chance for a "nobody" to become a "somebody". The match is supposed to be easily won by Creed, but someone forgot to tell Rocky, who sees this as his only shot at the big time.

Box Office

Budget:$1.0M
Revenue:$225.3M
Profit:$224.3M

Arcplot Score Breakdown

Beat Timing Precision3.3/10
Emotional Arc Impact5.5/10
Thematic Consistency5/10
Overall Score4.6/10

Beat Sheet

15 plot points

Rocky Arcplot
1
Opening Image
1 min
2
Theme Stated
8 min
3
Set-Up
18 min
4
Catalyst
30 min
5
Debate
42 min
6
Break Into Two
55 min
7
B Story
65 min
8
Fun and Games
78 min
9
Midpoint
90 min
10
Bad Guys Close In
102 min
11
All Is Lost
112 min
12
Dark Night of the Soul
116 min
13
Break Into Three
118 min
14
Finale
119 min
15
Final Image
120 min

Emotional Arc

+100-10

Plot Points

#1

Opening Image

1 min

Philadelphia streets; Rocky Balboa, small-time boxer, delivery man, working-class life.

#2

Theme Stated

8 min

Theme: determination, self-respect, overcoming odds; Adrian encourages belief in potential.

#3

Set-Up

18 min

Training, boxing matches, daily life; community, friends, and love interest Adrian introduced.

#4

Catalyst

30 min

Rocky offered chance to fight heavyweight champion Apollo Creed; career opportunity arises.

#5

Debate

42 min

Rocky doubts himself; lacks confidence; can he really compete with champion?

#6

Break Into Two

55 min

Accepts fight; begins rigorous training; entering new world of professional boxing.

#7

B Story

65 min

Relationship with Adrian deepens; personal stakes and motivation; emotional grounding.

#8

Fun and Games

78 min

Training montages, sparring, preparation; Rocky grows physically and mentally; promise of transformation.

#9

Midpoint

90 min

Fight begins; Rocky surprises opponents; initial success; false victory moments; stakes high.

#10

Bad Guys Close In

102 min

Apollo gains advantage; Rocky battered; personal doubts resurface; losing ground.

#11

All Is Lost

112 min

Near knockout; Rocky seems defeated; dreams threatened.

#12

Dark Night of the Soul

116 min

Reflects on life, love, and courage; Adrian's support motivates him.

#13

Break Into Three

118 min

Rocky pushes through pain; determination renewed; final round strategies.

#14

Finale

119 min

Fight ends; Rocky loses on points but earns respect; personal victory achieved.

#15

Final Image

120 min

Rocky and Adrian embrace; triumph of heart over odds; mirror of opening with hope and dignity.