Rocky IV

Rocky IV
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySylvester Stallone
Written bySylvester Stallone
Based onCharacters
by Sylvester Stallone
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyBill Butler
Edited by
Music byVince DiCola
Production
companies
Distributed byMGM/UA Entertainment Co.
Release dates
  • November 21, 1985 (1985-11-21) (Premiere)
  • November 27, 1985 (1985-11-27) (United States)
Running time
91 minutes (theatrical cut)
93 minutes (director's cut)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$28 million[1]
Box office$300.4 million[2][3]

Rocky IV is a 1985 American sports drama film starring, written and directed by Sylvester Stallone.[4] The film is the sequel to Rocky III (1982) and the fourth installment in the Rocky film series. It also stars Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Brigitte Nielsen, and Dolph Lundgren. In the film, Rocky Balboa (Stallone) confronts Ivan Drago (Lundgren), a Soviet boxer responsible for another personal tragedy in Balboa's life.

Development for a fourth Rocky film began soon after the success of Rocky III. Principal photography began in 1984, with filming locations including Philadelphia, Wyoming, and Vancouver. Rocky IV was Lundgren's American film debut, and Stallone's last directorial effort until 2006; they engaged in authentic punching in their fight scenes, which led to Stallone being admitted to intensive care. Filming also featured new special effects and bona fide and groundbreaking sport methods and equipment, some of which were years removed from public use. Rocky IV is known for its strong Cold War themes, as well as its successful theme songs "Burning Heart" and "Living in America".

Rocky IV premiered in Los Angeles on November 21, 1985, and was theatrically released in the United States by MGM/UA Entertainment Co. under its United Artists label on November 27.[5] The film received mixed reviews, with praise for Drago's credibility as a villain, but criticised the predictable screenplay. Scholars note that Drago's ultimate defeat and the Soviet crowd's embrace of Rocky represented the dissolution of the Soviet Union, while others criticized the film as propaganda through its Cold War themes and negative portrayals of Russians.[6][7][8][9]

The film was a box office success, grossing $300 million worldwide, becoming the highest grossing film in the franchise and the third highest-grossing film of 1985 domestically and the second highest grossing film worldwide. Critical reception of the film became more favorable in the years later, with praise for the training montages.[10] The film has been considered an icon of 1980s pop culture. In 2021, a director's cut was released with the title Rocky IV: Rocky vs Drago, receiving positive reviews from critics. The sequel, Rocky V, was released in 1990.

  1. ^ Harmetz, Aljean (November 29, 1985). "At the Movies". The New York Times. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
  2. ^ Box Office Information for Rocky IV Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  3. ^ "Rocky IV". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  4. ^ "Rocky IV". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
  5. ^ "Sports Drama". Box Office Mojo.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Rollin was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Strada & Troper 1997, p. 158.
  8. ^ Rushing, J. H.; Frentz, T. S. (1989). "The Frankenstein myth in contemporary cinema". Critical Studies in Media. 6 (1): 61–80. doi:10.1080/15295038909366731.
  9. ^ Smith, Edison (July 10, 2018). "Burning Hearts and Iron Curtains: Rocky IV & Cold War Propaganda". Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  10. ^ "Rocky Movies". Box Office Mojo. Box Office Mojo, LLC. Archived from the original on June 7, 2007. Retrieved September 17, 2007.