Parents' Guide to

Rocky

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Boxing Best Picture sets underdog-hero standard; drinking.

Movie PG 1976 119 minutes
Rocky Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 10+

Based on 19 parent reviews

Movefan554
Movefan554 Adult
April 21, 2021
age 8+

11+ is way too high

This is a fantastic movie that every child should watch in their life time, it's a definite must see and it has a great message and a great role model (Rocky). There's no inappropriateness except for one long kissing scene, and a bit of violence while boxing but other than that it's a must see for everybody!
arunmadtrad.
arunmadtrad. Adult
October 20, 2015
age 5+
While some households are not fond of boxing or fightsports, myself and all of my children train and compete in various fightsports including Jiu Jitsu, Boxing, Muay Thai and Fencing. There are many families whose particular sporting enthusiasms include these kinds of hobbies. I love watching this first Rocky movie with all of my children who compete - and in fact, regardless of what sport or hobby your child competes in this message may be beneficial to them - because Rocky's goal isn't even to win. At the end of the film, his "moral victory" as some would call it is simply the fact that he held his own for the entire bout, and never got knocked out. He faced unbelieveable odds and came away from that having been weighed, measured and not found wanting. It is - and all of the Rocky films really are - about heart. Some parents may consider some of the scenes to be violent, which is their prerogative, but personally in our home we do not consider it "violence" as it is two people mutually engaging in a sporting event. Violence is something predatory, ugly and a little bit different. So for our home, this movie is great for all of my children from ages 5 and up; and I have seen very positive influences on my childrens' attitudes as competitors come from watching this family favorite.
See all 19 parent reviews

What's the Story?

ROCKY Balboa (Sylvester Stallone ) is a sweet-natured, but not very bright boxer and small-time enforcer for a loan-shark. He has a crush on Adrian (Talia Shire), the painfully shy sister of his friend, Pauly (Burt Young). When heavyweight champ Apollo Creed's (Carl Weathers) upcoming fight is cancelled, he and his promoters decide to give an unknown a shot at the title, and pick Rocky. Rocky shows potential, but has never made a commitment to anything. Mickey (Burgess Meredith) wants to throw him out of the gym because he doesn't take boxing seriously enough. But Apollo's offer gives Rocky a chance to see himself differently. Rocky has a chance to think of himself as someone who can hold his own with the world champion, and once he has that image of himself, it is just a matter of taking the steps to get there. Rocky also finds courage to get closer to Adrian, and to help her value herself for her strengths. Each sees the other as loveable, as no one has before. This, as much as anything, is what allows both of them to bloom.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (19 ):
Kids say (87 ):

This satisfying, classic boxing movie offers some decent messages. Rocky is realistic about his goal. He does not need to win. He just needs to acquit himself with dignity, to show that he is in the same league as the champion. In order to achieve that goal, he will risk giving everything he has, risk even the small pride of an unbroken nose. He develops enough self-respect to risk public disgrace. This is a big issue for teens -- adolescence has been characterized as the years in which everything centers around the prayer, "God, don't let me be embarrassed today." Rocky begins as someone afraid to give his best in case it is not good enough, and becomes someone who suspects that his best is enough to achieve his goals, and is willing to test himself to find out.

It's worth taking a look at Creed as well. Like the hare in the Aesop fable, he underestimates his opponent. He is so sure of himself, and so busy working on the business side of the fight that he comes to the fight unprepared.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the appeal of the underdog character like Rocky. What other historical or literary characters fit this profile?

  • What messages did you take away from the movie about violence? What about love? Perseverance?

  • What cinematic techniques amp up the drama of this story?

  • How do the characters in Rocky demonstrate gratitude, self-control, and perseverance? Why are these important character strengths?

Movie Details

Inclusion information powered by

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate