Editing Rocky V

{{short description|1990 film by John G. Avildsen}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox film
| name         = Rocky V
| image        = Rocky v poster.jpg
| caption      = Theatrical release poster
| director     = [[John G. Avildsen]]
| producer     = {{Plain list|
* [[Irwin Winkler]]
* [[Robert Chartoff]]
}}
| writer       = [[Sylvester Stallone]]
| based_on     = {{Based on|[[List of Rocky characters|Characters]]|Sylvester Stallone}}
| starring     = {{Plain list|
* Sylvester Stallone
* [[Talia Shire]]
* [[Burt Young]]
* [[Sage Stallone]]
* [[Tommy Morrison]]
* [[Burgess Meredith]]
}}
| music       = [[Bill Conti]]
| cinematography = [[Steven Poster]]
| editing    = {{Plain list|
* John G. Avildsen
* Michael N. Knue
}}
| production_companies = 
<!-- United Artists presents (the distributor) -->
Chartoff-Winkler Productions <!-- (the actual production company) -->
<!-- in association with Star Partners (provided financing so gets a mention) -->
| distributor    = {{Plainlist|
* [[United Artists]] (United States) <!-- an MGM/UA Communications Company -->
* [[United International Pictures]] (International)
}}
| released     = {{Film date|1990|11|16|United States}}
| runtime      = 104 minutes
| country      = United States
| language     = English
| budget       = $30–42 million<ref name="loveinway" /><ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|title=MGM/UA/Pathe at a glance|page=12|date=May 23, 1990}}</ref>
| gross        = $160 million<ref name="The Numbers">{{Cite The Numbers |id=Rocky-V|title=Rocky V|access-date=December 21, 2024 }}</ref>
}}

'''''Rocky V''''' is a 1990 American [[Sports film|sports]] [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] directed by [[John G. Avildsen]] and written by and starring [[Sylvester Stallone]]. It is the sequel to ''[[Rocky IV]]'' (1985) and the fifth installment in the [[Rocky (franchise)|''Rocky'' film series]].<ref name="Rocky V">{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/21906/rocky-v|title=Rocky V|work=TCM database|publisher=[[Turner Classic Movies]]|access-date=February 28, 2016}}</ref> It also stars [[Talia Shire]], [[Burt Young]], [[Sage Stallone]] in his film debut, [[Tommy Morrison]], and [[Burgess Meredith]]. In the film, a financially struggling [[Rocky Balboa]] (Stallone) agrees to train protégé Tommy Gunn (Morrison) at the gym once owned by Balboa's trainer, [[Mickey Goldmill]] (Meredith).<ref>{{cite news|title= Film Flam for 'Rocky' |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 15, 1989|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/15/sports/film-flam-for-rocky.html |access-date=August 12, 2010 | first=Phil | last=Berger}}</ref>

Development for the film began in 1989, after Stallone completed the screenplay. Avildsen, who directed the first installment, was soon confirmed to return and [[principal photography]] began in January 1990, being largely filmed on location around [[Philadelphia]]. The filmmakers encountered creative differences with [[United Artists]] and were disallowed to include darker elements of Stallone's original screenplay, who had envisioned ''Rocky V'' as the final film in the franchise.

''Rocky V'' was released in the United States on November 16, 1990. The film received negative reviews from critics, with criticism for its screenplay, characterization, continuity errors, and medical inaccuracies. The film also underperformed expectations at the box office, grossing $160 million worldwide, making it the lowest-grossing film in the series at the time. A sequel, ''[[Rocky Balboa (film)|Rocky Balboa]]'', was released 16 years later in 2006.

==Plot==
<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summaries for featured films should be set between 400-700 words. -->
During the aftermath of his victory over [[Ivan Drago]] in Moscow, [[Rocky Balboa|Rocky]] finds himself experiencing mental disabilities from the fight. Rocky, his wife Adrian Pennino, his brother-in-law Paulie, and his trainer Tony "Duke" Evers return to the United States where they are greeted by Rocky's son, Robert Jr. who is now 14. At a press conference, boxing promoter George Washington Duke attempts to goad Rocky into fighting his boxer, Union Cane, who is the top-rated challenger, but Rocky declines.

After returning home, Rocky and Adrian discover they are bankrupt after Paulie was fooled into signing a "[[power of attorney]]" over to Rocky's accountant, who embezzled all of his money on [[real estate]] deals gone sour and failed to pay Rocky's [[Income tax|taxes]] over the previous six years. His mansion has been mortgaged by $400,000, but his attorney tells Rocky that it is fixable with a few more fights. Rocky initially accepts the fight with Cane, but Adrian urges him to see a doctor, and he is diagnosed with [[cavum septum pellucidum]].

Reluctantly, Rocky retires from boxing. His home and belongings are sold to pay the debt and the Balboas move back to their old working-class neighborhood in Philadelphia. Rocky visits Mighty Mick's Gym (willed to his son by his old trainer Mickey Goldmill), which has fallen into disrepair. Seeing a vision of himself and Mickey from years past, Rocky draws inspiration to become a trainer himself and reopens the gym.

Rocky and Paulie meet a young fighter from Oklahoma named Tommy Gunn. Rocky agrees to become his manager. Training him gives Rocky a sense of purpose, and Tommy rises to become a top contender. Distracted with Tommy's training, Rocky neglects Robert, who is being [[bullied]] at school. After learning to defend himself, Robert falls in with the wrong crowd and becomes withdrawn from his family.

Union Cane wins the vacant world heavyweight title. Still wanting to do business with Rocky, Washington showers Tommy with luxuries and promises him that he is the only path to a shot at the title. Rocky insists dealing with Washington will end badly, causing Tommy to desert him. Adrian attempts to comfort Rocky but Rocky vents his frustrations by telling her his life had a new meaning by training Tommy. Adrian tells Rocky that Tommy never had his heart and that was something he could never learn. Realizing that his family is his top priority, Rocky apologizes to Adrian and the two embrace. Rocky then apologizes to Robert and they mend their relationship.

Tommy defeats Cane for the heavyweight title with a first-round knockout, but is jeered by spectators for leaving Rocky and hounded by reporters after the fight. Tommy gives all the credit for his success to George Washington Duke, which only fans the flames of contempt for Tommy by the fans and media. They insist that Cane was nothing but a "paper champion", because Cane did not [[Lineal championship|win the title from Balboa]].

Washington convinces Tommy that he needs to secure a fight with Rocky to refute the notion that he is not the real champion. Washington and Tommy show up at the local bar with a live television crew to goad Rocky into accepting a title fight. Rocky declines and tries to reason with him, but Tommy calls him weak, prompting Paulie to stand up for Rocky. When Tommy punches Paulie, Rocky challenges Tommy to a street fight on the spot; despite Duke's objections, Tommy accepts.

Rocky initially knocks Tommy to the ground with a flurry of punches, but Tommy gets up and attacks Rocky from behind. Rocky is beaten down by Tommy, seeing nightmarish visions of Drago, before a vision of Mickey urges him to get up and continue the fight. When Robert and Adrian see the brawl being televised, they rush to the back alley to cheer for Rocky. With Robert, Paulie, Adrian and the neighborhood crowd cheering him on, Rocky makes use of his street-fighting skills and defeats Tommy. While Tommy is escorted away by the police, Washington threatens to sue Rocky if he touches him. After a brief hesitation, Rocky knocks him onto the hood of a car, defiantly replying "Sue me for what?"

Months later, Rocky and Robert climb up the [[Rocky Steps]], see his statue, and are about to go inside and explore the [[Philadelphia Museum of Art]] when Rocky gives his son [[Rocky Marciano]]'s cufflink, given to him years earlier as a gift from Mickey.

==Cast==
{{see also|List of Rocky characters{{!}}List of ''Rocky'' characters}}
* [[Sylvester Stallone]] as [[Rocky Balboa|Robert "Rocky" Balboa]], "The Italian Stallion": Heavyweight Champion of the World, who suffers from brain damage caused by the head-trauma he received at the hands of [[Ivan Drago]] in the previous film. Because of his injuries, Rocky is forced to officially retire from boxing. After moving back to Philadelphia, Rocky trains and manages underdog boxer Tommy Gunn and helps him to rise to fame. 
* [[Talia Shire]] as Adrianna Pennino: Rocky's wife and support throughout his life and his boxing career.
* [[Burt Young]] as Paulie Pennino: Rocky's friend, and brother-in-law.
* [[Sage Stallone]] as [[Rocky Balboa Jr.|Robert "Rocky" Balboa Jr.]]: Rocky and Adrian's only son, who gets involved with the wrong crowds during his father's absence, throughout the training and mentoring of Tommy Gunn.
* [[Tommy Morrison]] as [[Tommy Gunn (character)|Tommy "The Machine" Gunn]]: Underdog boxer, who rises to fame under Rocky's training. Throughout his career he is called Rocky's "shadow", and angrily seeks out another manager. After his achievements as Heavyweight Champion, and the public's continued dis-appreciation for him, he fights Rocky in an unofficial street fight.
* [[Burgess Meredith]] as [[Mickey Goldmill]]: Rocky's deceased friend, manager and trainer, a former bantamweight fighter from the 1920s and the owner of the local boxing gym. Burgess appears in new footage, filmed as a flashback to before Rocky's second fight with [[Apollo Creed|Apollo]].
* [[Richard Gant]] as [[George Washington Duke (fictional character)|George Washington Duke]]: Loud and obnoxious boxing promoter, who repeatedly tries to convince Rocky to re-enter the ring. He becomes Tommy Gunn's manager during his shot at the Heavyweight Champion title.
* [[Tony Burton]] as [[Tony "Duke" Evers]]: Rocky's friend, and former trainer and manager of Apollo Creed.
* [[Michael Williams (boxer)|Michael Williams]] as [[Union Cane]]: Reigning Heavyweight Champion of the World who wants to fight legendary Rocky, and eventually fights Tommy Gunn. Williams was also a real-life boxer. He and Morrison were to have an actual match about a month after ''Rocky V'' was released, but it was canceled when Williams was hurt. The match was being hyped as "The Real Cane vs. Gunn Match."
* Delia Sheppard as Karen

The film has cameos by sportswriters and boxing analysts, including [[Al Bernstein]], Stan Hochman and Al Meltzer, and sportscaster [[Stu Nahan]], who was the ringside announcer in every ''Rocky'' movie except the sixth. [[Dolph Lundgren]] and [[Carl Weathers]] appear as [[Ivan Drago]] and [[Apollo Creed]] in archival footage, uncredited. [[Mr. T]] appears as his ''[[Rocky III]]'' character [[Clubber Lang]] in archival footage, uncredited. [[Hulk Hogan]], from his ''Rocky III'' role as [[Thunderlips]], appears in a still shot during the film's end credits sequence taken from the staredown the two engaged in during said film, also uncredited.

Jodi Letizia, who played street kid Marie in the original ''Rocky'' (1976), was supposed to reprise her role. Her character was shown to have ended up as Rocky predicted she would: a prostitute, but the scene ended up on the cutting room floor. She can briefly be seen during the street fight at the end.{{citation needed|reason=[[WP:V]]|date=December 2024}}

[[Kevin Connolly (actor)|Kevin Connolly]], who gained success as [[Eric Murphy]] on [[HBO]]'s ''[[Entourage (U.S. TV series)|Entourage]]'', was in his first acting role as neighborhood bully Chickie.<ref>{{cite web |date=23 November 2021 |last1=Papadatos |first1=Markos |title=Chatting with Kevin Connolly of 'Entourage': Actor, director, and content creator |url=https://www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/chatting-with-kevin-connolly-of-entourage-actor-director-and-content-creator/article |website=Digital Journal |quote=Strangely, when I got the role in ‘Rocky V,’ it was a big deal for me for a 14-year-old kid from Long Island }}</ref>

==Production==
===Filming===
Filming began in mid-January 1990.<ref name="loveinway">{{cite news |date=January 23, 1990 |last=Hinds |first=Michael Decourcy |title=Love Gets in the Way as Rocky V Starts Filming |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/23/movies/love-gets-in-the-way-as-rocky-v-starts-filming.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=21 December 2024 }}</ref> Some of the fight sequences were filmed at [[The Blue Horizon]] in Philadelphia, a venue which was a mecca for boxing in the city during the 1970s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Philly's Rocky V Boxing Venue Abandoned and Demolished |url=https://totalrocky.com/articles/philadelphia-rocky-v-boxing-venue-demolished/ |website=totalrocky.com |date=January 17, 2017 |access-date=3 July 2022}}</ref>

The Rocky statue, which was commissioned for ''[[Rocky III]]'', had since been gifted to the city of Philadelphia and moved to the entrance of the [[Spectrum (arena)|Spectrum]], and so had to be moved back to the [[Philadelphia Museum of Art]] for the filming.<ref name="loveinway" />

Scenes with Mickey, played by [[Burgess Meredith]], were trimmed in the final film when Rocky fights Tommy. Mickey appeared in ghost form on top of the railway bridge, giving words of encouragement. In the final film, this was made into flashbacks. The speech Mickey gives to Rocky in the flashback sequence is based on an interview with [[Cus D'Amato]] given in 1985, shortly after [[Mike Tyson]]'s first professional bout.<ref>{{cite AV media |title=Mickeys Inspiration was Cus D'Amato ROCKY V SPEECH| website=[[YouTube]] | date=September 21, 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFWwGfqtl4g}}</ref>

In the original script, Rocky is killed during the final fight with Tommy, dying in Adrian's arms in the street.<ref>{{cite news |title= He could have been a contender |date=December 5, 1997 |newspaper=[[Independent (newspaper)|Independent]] |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/he-could-have-been-a-contender-1286809.html |access-date=October 29, 2010 |location=London |first=Nick |last=Hasted }}</ref> The ending, which had Adrian eulogize Rocky by saying, "As long as there are people willing to meet challenges of life and not surrender until their dreams become realities, the world will always have their Rockys", would not come to pass. Producer [[Irwin Winkler]] and Avildsen were not big on the ending, with the former stating that it was never shot while also stating that Stallone eventually was convinced to change the ending.<ref>{{cite web | date=November 19, 2021 |author=Ethan Alter | title='Rocky' producer Irwin Winkler on the movie's original ending, and why Sly Stallone's beloved boxer will never die | url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/rocky-sylvester-stallone-irwin-winkler-original-ending-183035182.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119210952/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/rocky-sylvester-stallone-irwin-winkler-original-ending-183035182.html |archive-date=2021-11-19 }}</ref>

===Continuity===
In the years following the film's release, Stallone acknowledged that the injury which forces Rocky to retire, referenced in the film as a potentially lethal form of '[[brain damage]]', was inaccurate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aintitcool.com/node/30861 |title=Round One With Sylvester Stallone Q&A!! |website=Aintitcool.com |access-date=December 1, 2015}}</ref> Stallone stated that having discussed the story with many boxing medical professionals, the injury Rocky suffered was a milder form of brain damage, similar to that of a long term concussion that many boxers suffer from and by modern-day standards are still able to gain licenses to box. It would not have prevented Rocky from gaining a license to box nor killed him, which is why he is allowed to box again in ''Rocky Balboa''.<ref name="AICNQA">{{cite web|author=Moriaty|url=http://www.aintitcool.com/node/30861|title=Round One With Sylvester Stallone Q&A!!|website=[[Ain't It Cool News]]|date=December 1, 2006|access-date=June 15, 2009}}</ref>

The age of Robert Jr. has often been cited as a continuity error, as in ''Rocky IV,'' which is set in 1985, he is 9 years old, yet in ''Rocky V,'' which takes place immediately after ''Rocky IV'', he is 14 years old.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eker-Male |first=Nathanial |date=2022-09-28 |title=Rocky Theory Finally Explains Robert Balboa’s Infamous Age Jump Plot Hole |url=https://screenrant.com/rocky-v-robert-balboa-age-jump-plothole-theory/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref>

==Music==
{{Anchor|Soundtrack}}
{{main|Rocky V: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture|l1=''Rocky V: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture''}}

==Reception==
===Box office===
Anticipated to be one of the big hits of the 1990 holiday season, ''Rocky V'' finished second in its opening weekend, trailing behind ''[[Home Alone]]'' and it never recovered despite it did managed to beat ''[[The Rescuers Down Under]]'' during its opening weekend at the box office by earning $14 million compared to ''Down Under's'' $3.7 million. The film earned $42.4 million in the domestic box office less than ''[[Rocky IV]]'' 's $127 million but it was financially successful in the international box office earning $118.6 million<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=September 11, 1995 |page=88 |title=UIP Top Ten Pix, 1990-94 }}</ref> for a total of $160 million worldwide and ultimately grossing less than ''Rocky IV'' 's $300 million.<ref name="The Numbers" />

===Critical response===
On review aggregator [[Rotten Tomatoes]] the film has a 32% approval rating based on 38 reviews, with an average rating of 4.2/10. The website's consensus is that "''Rocky V''{{'}}s attempts to recapture the original's working-class grit are as transparently phony as each of the thuddingly obvious plot developments in a misguided installment that sent the franchise flailing into longterm limbo."<ref>{{cite web |title=Rocky V |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rocky_v |access-date=February 29, 2024 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] }}</ref> On [[Metacritic]] it has a score of 55 out of 100, based on review from 16 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews."<ref>{{cite web |title=Critic Reviews for Rocky V |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/rocky-v/critic-reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=20 September 2020}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://m.cinemascore.com |title=CinemaScore |work=cinemascore.com}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=[[WP:LINKROT]] an empty search box is not a suitable reference|date=November 2024}}

In 1999, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' placed the film on a list of the 100 worst ideas of the 20th century.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,991230,00.html |title=The 100 Worst Ideas Of The Century |date=June 14, 1999 |access-date=April 8, 2024 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |first1=Melissa |last1=August |first2=Harriet |last2=Barovick |first3=Michelle |last3=Derrow |first4=Tam |last4=Gray |first5=Daniel S. |last5=Levy |first6=Lina |last6=Lofaro |first7=David |last7=Spitz |first8=Joel |last8=Stein |first9=Chris |last9=Taylor}}</ref>

Upon its release, the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' regarded it as the best of the ''Rocky'' sequels.<ref>{{cite news|title= MOVIE REVIEW : A Kinder, Gentler Rocky Balboa : Of Sylvester Stallone's 'Rocky' sequels, No. 5 comes closest to some of the endearing qualities associated with the first |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=November 16, 1990 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-11-16-ca-4530-story.html |access-date=October 29, 2010 |first=Michael |last=Wilmington }}</ref>

Stallone has publicly expressed hatred towards ''Rocky V'', giving it a 0 out of 10.<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Sylvester Stallone - Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (FULL INTERVIEW) | date=September 10, 2012 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uueiOX1Zxc |via=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2022-07-20}}</ref>

===Accolades===
It was nominated for seven [[11th Golden Raspberry Awards|Golden Raspberry Awards]] in 1990 including Worst Picture, Worst Actor and Worst Screenplay for Stallone, Worst Actress for Shire, Worst Supporting Actor for Young, Worst Director for Avildsen and Worst Original Song for "The Measure of a Man".<ref name="Conconi">{{cite news |date=February 12, 1991 |last=Conconi |first=Chuck |title=PERSONALITIES |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1991/02/13/personalities/2a9d733a-886f-4ba8-a97e-823c20c85060/ |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] }}</ref>

==Sequel==
{{main|Rocky Balboa (film)|l1=''Rocky Balboa'' (film)}}
Sixteen years later, Stallone wrote, directed and starred in the film ''[[Rocky Balboa (film)|Rocky Balboa]]''. Stallone suggested that advances in medical science during the period between the films had shown that the injuries mentioned in ''Rocky V'' were less debilitating than once thought, and that he would receive a "clean bill of health" by the time of ''Rocky Balboa'', allowing him to box again.<ref name=AICNQA/>

== Video games ==
In 2002, a video game called ''[[Rocky (2002 video game)|Rocky]]'', based on the first five ''Rocky'' films, was released by [[Rage Software]].

[[Venom Games]] released a sequel, ''[[Rocky Legends]]'' (2004), which expanded on the story of the first four films.

==See also==
* [[List of boxing films]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Mojo title|rocky5}}
* {{Wikiquote-inline|Rocky V|''Rocky V''}}

{{Rocky}}
{{John G. Avildsen}}
{{Sylvester Stallone}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1990 drama films]]
[[Category:1990 films]]
[[Category:1990s American films]]
[[Category:1990s English-language films]]
[[Category:1990s sports drama films]]
[[Category:American boxing films]]
[[Category:American sequel films]]
[[Category:American sports drama films]]
[[Category:English-language sports drama films]]
[[Category:films about bullying]]
[[Category:films about father–son relationships]]
[[Category:films directed by John G. Avildsen]]
[[Category:films produced by Irwin Winkler]]
[[Category:films produced by Robert Chartoff]]
[[Category:films scored by Bill Conti]]
[[Category:films set in 1985]]
[[Category:films set in Moscow]]
[[Category:films set in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:films set in Philadelphia]]
[[Category:films set in Russia]]
[[Category:films shot in California]]
[[Category:films shot in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:films shot in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:films shot in Philadelphia]]
[[Category:films with screenplays by Sylvester Stallone]]
[[Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films]]
[[Category:Rocky (franchise) films]]
[[Category:United Artists films]]