Man, do I love Rocky III! I always say Rocky IV is my favorite, but it is more like Rocky IV is 1A and Rocky III is 1B as I love them both so much. I saw this at the perfect age, I was already a huge fan of the A-Team with Mr. T being a hero of mine. So, when my dad sat me down to watch Rocky III and told me that he fights Mr. T, I was so pumped up, but I also remember kind of hoping Mr. T would kick his butt.
How to Download Rocky III
The movie was released on May 28, 1982. You can download or stream the film from a digital platform. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice. Also, have a look at our reviews of Rocky and Rocky II.
The Movie Review
Rocky III takes place a few years after Rocky II and Rocky has been one of the most popular boxing champions of all time. He has had many successful title defenses, but his trainer, Mickey has been keeping an eye on an up-and-coming fighter called Clubber Lang. It has also been revealed that Mickey has been hand-picking easier opponents for Rocky which kind of devastates him.
Rocky III Key Facts
| Fact | Information |
|---|---|
| Movie Title | Rocky III |
| Film Genre | Sports Drama |
| Release Date | May 28, 1982 (US) |
| Download and Streaming | Available on various digital platforms for download/streaming. |
| Main Characters | – Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) – Clubber Lang (Mr. T) – Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) – Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith) |
| Plot | Rocky III follows Rocky Balboa as he faces a new formidable opponent, Clubber Lang, and the emotional journey that ensues. |
| Humor and Heart | The film combines elements of sports drama, humor, and emotional depth in its storytelling. |
| Entertainment Value | Rocky III offers a mix of intense boxing sequences, character development, and memorable moments. |
Clubber Lang’s Challenge
Clubber Lang eventually becomes the number one contender and Micky is against Rocky taking the fight. Clubber Lang is a very different opponent to Appollo Creed! He is angry, focused, and has this raw power and energy that Micky thinks is way too much for Rocky as he has become “civilized” as Mickey puts it!
The World Title Match
They have a huge world title match, which Lang easily wins, but it is Mickey’s death after the match that Rocky takes hard. Thankfully, his former foe, Apollo Creed agrees to train him to fight Lang in a rematch. Rocky III has some epic training montages that are only bettered by Rocky IV in my opinion!
A New Style and Friendship
As the two train together Apollo teaches Rocky a new style. We get to see Rocky and Apollo become closer and the two become friends. It is all leading up to a big rematch at Madison Square Garden where Rocky can showcase his new boxing style as he tries to win the championship back from Clubber Lang!
A Super Fun Movie
Rocky III is just a super fun movie! It is a very clever movie too as Rocky is kind of like Apollo was, all flash and celebrity, whereas Clubber is that hungry, willing to do anything boxer similar to Rocky in the first movie. Rocky III also has an epic 80s soundtrack and this is where The Eye of the Tiger was introduced!
Mr. T’s Surprising Role
I remember watching this as a kid and before each Rocky movie, my dad would tell me very little about it, All I knew about this going in was that it was a new Rocky movie (to me) and it had Mr. T in it. I was used to seeing Mr. T as a hero, a tough, no-nonsense badass, but still a hero. It was kind of shocking for me to see Mr. T as a bad guy when I was a kid.
A Perfect Blend of Fun and Seriousness
Rocky III is just a super fun movie, I love pretty much everything about this and I think that it manages to have some really serious stuff going on with Rocky’s mental state. However, you also have all the fun training and the boxing matches themselves so there is a really good balance in this movie. I can watch this anytime even without watching the first two and have a great time!
