Rocky IV

Movie Details:

Cast & Characters:

• Sylvester Stallone as Robert “Rocky” Balboa, “The Italian Stallion”
• Talia Shire as Adrian Balboa
• Burt Young as Paulie Pennino
• Carl Weathers as Apollo Creed
• Brigitte Nielsen as Ludmilla Vobet Drago
• Dolph Lundgren as Captain Ivan Drago
• Tony Burton as Tony “Duke” Evers
• Michael Pataki as Nicolai Koloff
• Rocky Krakoff as Rocky Balboa Jr.
• David Lloyd Austin as Mikhail Gorbachev
• Sylvia Meals as Mary Anne Creed
• George Rogan as Sergei Rimsky
• LeRoy Neiman as the ring announcer in the Creed-Drago match
• Burgess Meredith as Mickey Goldmill (archive footage)
• James Brown as Himself
• Stu Nahan as Himself
• Warner Wolf as Himself
• R. J. Adams as Himself
• Barry Tompkins as Himself
• Al Bandiero as Himself

Storyline:

Rocky Balboa accompanies his friend Apollo Creed to the ring in a boxing match against a Russian Boxer named Ivan Drago. Drago is too strong for Creed, and unfortunately kills him in his match. Balboa blames himself for Creed’s death and is determined to defeat Drago in a boxing match. He gains the help of Creed’s former manager, Duke and travels to U.S.S.R. to take on Drago.

About Movie:

Rocky IV is a 1985 American sports drama written, directed by, and starring Sylvester Stallone. The film, the fourth installment in the Rocky series and a sequel to Rocky III (1982), also features Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Brigitte Nielsen, and Dolph Lundgren.

Development began shortly after the success of Rocky III, though the film faced controversy due to a copyright lawsuit. Principal photography took place in 1984 across various locations including Philadelphia, Wyoming, and Vancouver.

Rocky IV marked Dolph Lundgren’s American film debut and was Stallone’s last directorial effort until 2006. The film’s fight scenes featured authentic punching, which led to Stallone being hospitalized in intensive care. The film also incorporated innovative special effects and sports methods.

Premiering in Los Angeles on November 21, 1985, and released in the U.S. on November 27 by MGM/UA Entertainment Co., Rocky IV received mixed reviews. Critics noted its predictable screenplay but praised Drago’s portrayal as a formidable villain.

The film’s Cold War themes and Drago’s ultimate defeat, with the Soviet crowd’s acceptance of Rocky, were interpreted by some as a metaphor for the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Others criticized the film for its perceived propaganda and negative portrayal of Russians.

Box office success was substantial, with Rocky IV grossing $300 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film in the franchise at that time and the second highest-grossing film globally in 1985. The film gained more favorable critical reception over time, especially for its training montages, and is considered an iconic piece of 1980s pop culture.

In 2021, a director’s cut titled Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago was released, receiving positive reviews. The sequel, Rocky V, was released in 1990.

Budget & Box Office Collection: