Rocky IV by the slimmest of margins is my favorite Rocky movie of all time! My dad introduced me to the original four Rocky movies in the late 80s and I loved them all! Each time he would introduce a new Rocky movie I would get so excited. With Rocky IV it was a bit different.
How to Download Rocky IV
The film was released in the US on November 27, 1985. 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. If
The Movie Review
When we got Rocky III from the video store, I saw Rocky IV as well! This blew my mind, my dad did not tell me much about the movies, he just let me experience them and make up my own mind. While I knew that day we were going to the store to get Rocky III, I had no idea that there was a Rocky IV and it made me even more excited!
Rocky IV Key Facts
| Fact | Information |
|---|---|
| Movie Title | Rocky IV |
| Release Date | November 27, 1985 (US) |
| Availability | Download or stream from a digital platform. |
| Main Characters | Rocky Balboa, Ivan Drago |
| Plot | Rocky Balboa faces off against the formidable Russian boxer Ivan Drago in a high-stakes boxing match. |
| Training Montages | Rocky IV is known for its iconic training montages, a significant part of the film. |
| Notable Actors | Sylvester Stallone (Rocky Balboa), Dolph Lundgren (Ivan Drago) |
| Soundtrack | Features memorable songs, including “Hearts on Fire.” |
| Director’s Cut | Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago – The Ultimate Director’s Cut offers additional content. |
The Iconic Villain: Ivan Drago
Rocky IV has my favorite villain from the series and that is the ice-cold Russian Ivan Drago played by Dolph Lundgren who to this day is a favorite actor of mine. Drago comes to the USA to showcase Russian superiority when it comes to athletes and this works up Apollo Creed to challenge him to a fight.
Apollo’s Theatrical Entrance
I just love the big theatrical entrance that Apollo makes here! Apollo gets killed by Drago in the middle of the ring and this leads Rocky to issue a challenge to him. As a kid when Apollo died, I was pretty damn devastated, after Rocky III, I really grew to love Apollo Creed. His bravery to challenge Drago and his flamboyant entrance made me love him even more and then he is brutally killed in the ring by Drago!
A Christmas Showdown in Russia
The twist is that the fight is taking place on Christmas Day in Russia. Rocky heads to Russia with Duke (Apollo’s trainer) and Paulie and does all this intense mountain man-style training! Rocky IV has the greatest training montages of any movie in history! A buddy of mine says that this movie is like 90 percent training montages, but I do not care, I love it.
Drago’s High-Tech Training
On the flip side of this, we have Ivan Drago’s training. Drago is training with all the latest technology and a huge team behind him, not to mention a healthy dose of steroids too! Both guys look fantastic in this movie and it has been revealed over the years that Stallone and Lundgren went through brutal training regimes to get into shape for this movie.
The Ultimate Workout Anthem
Speaking of training, I love this movie so much that Hearts on Fire is one of my go-to songs to get me pumped up when I am in the gym. I know that most people think of Eye of the Tiger or Gonna Fly Now (Rocky IV is the only Rocky movie not to have this song) but for me, Hearts on Fire is the ultimate Rocky song! Actually, I have the Rocky Balboa soundtrack which is the best of the songs from the Rocky franchise and it is freaking epic!
The Ultimate Rocky Showdown
I always say that Rocky IV is my favorite Rocky movie, but as I said in my Rocky III review, the two could not be any closer. I just love everything about this movie and if I am in the mood to watch a random Rocky movie, 6/10 it will be Rocky IV, and 4/10 it will be Rocky III. I want to mention the Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago – The Ultimate Director’s Cut which adds a bunch of stuff to the movie, but it also takes some stuff I liked away.
