Sylvester Stallone had to admit: that’s why perhaps the greatest ‘Rocky’ ending was never filmed

Sylvester Stallone (“Cliffhanger”) just made his own mark on action cinema. First and foremost, the “Rambo” star is always associated with his role as Rocky Balboa. Not only is it his most iconic performance, but it also launched a Hollywood career that continues to this day. Sylvester Stallone is not only a superstar, but also a role model for many fans.

Stallone has now played against the former underdog boxer from Philadelphia eight times. Although the series is generally very popular, there is also a problem child for fans: “Rocky V”. Released in 1990, the boxing drama managed to reunite Stallone and the director of the first “Rocky,” John G. Avildsen. Overall, many were disappointed with the film. Not least because Rocky himself no longer entered the ring.

“Rocky V” should have ended very differently

Perhaps ‘Rocky V’ would ultimately have been better received if the originally intended ending had actually been made into a film. Stallone explained this (via ):

“First of all, Rocky was supposed to die in Part 5. At the end of the movie, he’s on the way to the hospital, his head is in Adrian’s lap and he dies. And in the last scene of the film, Adrian comes out of the hospital, the world press gathers and announces that he is dead. But as long as people believe in themselves, the Rocky spirit will live on forever. And when I read that, I said, ‘Wow, what a great way to end the movie. What a beautiful ending.”

Rocky V

Starting date

December 20, 1990

|
1 hour 44 minutes

By
John G. Avildsen

Of
Sylvester Stallone,
Talia Shire,
Burt Young

User rating

2.4

Movie releases

1.5

To the most important thing+ current

A nice ending that ultimately could have provided a fairly average ‘Rocky’ film with strong emotional power. The fact that this ending was not ultimately recorded that way was due to the studio responsible: “We started shooting the movie and a few weeks later I got a call from the studio boss saying, ‘Oh, by the way, Rocky’s not going to die.’ Batman doesn’t die, Superman, James Bond, these people don’t die.’”

Overall, “Rocky V” remains a disappointing entry in the series that has touched and moved so many people over the decades. Stallone not only saved the legacy of the Rocky character with ‘Rocky Balboa’ in 2006. The “Creed” spin-offs have also done their part to remember Rocky as the legend that he is.