With the character of boxer Rocky Balboa — the underdog from Philadelphia who fights his way from poverty to stardom through courage, determination, and passion — Sylvester Stallone wrote the role of a lifetime for himself. Rocky transformed the classic American dream of rising through one’s own effort into reality, both for the fictional character and for Stallone himself. Written by the then virtually unknown Stallone, who had found little success either as a screenwriter or an actor, and produced on a modest budget, the film unexpectedly became a worldwide sensation almost overnight, earning millions at the box office. Rocky won three Academy Awards and turned Stallone into an international star as an actor, writer, and director. The phenomenon evolved into a franchise spanning six films, including Rocky Balboa (2006).

Created in collaboration with Sylvester Stallone and Amazon MGM, this volume gathers the triumphs and setbacks of the entire Rocky saga. A wealth of photographs — including many taken during production by renowned sports photographer Neil Leifer — is complemented by rare archival material from the Academy Film Archive and the Amazon MGM archives. A foreword by Stallone and numerous interviews conducted throughout his career trace the evolution of both the character and this extraordinary film series.

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