To say that I was excited for Rocky V is the biggest understatement of all time. If you go back and read my reviews of the Rocky saga, you know what an important franchise it was from my childhood. I never saw the first four Rocky movies when they were new, I saw them on VHS in the late 80s and loved them.
How to Download Rocky V
Rocky V was released on November 16, 1990. 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.
The Movie Review
They were like a real bonding thing between my dad and me and he would make such a big deal about introducing each movie. Rocky IV was my favorite out of the original four, but in 1990, I started to see trailers for Rocky V and I lost my freaking mind. Now, I am not 100 percent sure about this, but I think it may have been Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles where I saw the first trailer for Rocky V.
Rocky V Key Facts
| Fact | Information |
|---|---|
| Movie Title | Rocky V |
| Genre | Drama/Sports |
| Release Date | November 16, 1990 (US) |
| Download and Streaming | Available on various digital platforms for download/streaming. |
| Main Characters | Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), Adrian Balboa (Talia Shire), Tommy Gunn (Tommy Morrison), Paulie Pennino (Burt Young) |
| Plot | Rocky Balboa takes on the role of a trainer as he mentors Tommy Gunn, a talented young boxer. However, their relationship turns sour when Tommy becomes seduced by fame and abandons Rocky. |
| Humor and Heart | Rocky V explores themes of family, loyalty, and the consequences of fame. It combines drama with moments of heartfelt emotion. |
| Entertainment Value | The film delivers a mix of emotional depth and boxing action, catering to fans of the Rocky franchise. |
Excitement Building for Rocky V
Anyway, Rocky V would be the first movie in the series that I would see in the theatre. By the time it came out, we had all the Rocky movies on VHS in our house and I would watch Rocky III and IV all the time. I remember going to see Rocky V in January 1991 with my dad at our local theatre, we went for a McDonalds before and then to the store to load up on snacks.
A Trip to the Theater
The anticipation for Rocky V to start was almost unbearable and then the music hit and I was just immersed in what was going down. To be honest, my expectations for Rocky V were just way too high. I liked the movie, but as a kid, I pretty much liked every movie I saw in the theatre, but I remember on the drive home telling my dad that I liked it, but not as much as Rocky IV.
High Expectations and the Movie Experience
Rocky V takes place right after Rocky IV and Rocky is having major health problems. Health problems that are so bad, that Rocky has to retire from the ring! Rocky feels like he has kind of lost purpose, but no longer being able to fight is actually the least of the problems that Rocky and his family have.
Rocky‘s Health Crisis
Paulie made a mistake and this mistake led to Rocky’s accountant screwing up his finances and leaving Rocky and his family broke! They have to sell their mansion and all their expensive cars and items just to pay a massive tax bill. It is kind of brutal to see, to be honest, and you can just tell that it has broken Rocky’s heart.
Financial Struggles
With next to no money, Rocky and his family move into the rough neighborhood where he was originally from. Rocky’s son is having a hard time fitting in at this new public school and Rocky just feels lost and not sure what he should be doing with his life. I have to be honest, this was not what I was expecting from Rocky V as a kid!
Rocky‘s New Life
Rocky’s life changes when a young fighter called Tommy Gunn comes and finds him and begs him to train him. Rocky takes a liking to Tommy and takes him under his wing and trains him to be a better fighter. I liked seeing Rocky as a trainer, but it was also kind of hard to watch, especially now that I am an adult as Rocky pretty much blows off his son for Tommy.
Rocky Becomes a Trainer
Tommy starts to win fight after fighter and wants a shot at the title. However, that jerk promoter George Washington Duke gets in his head and convinces him that Rocky is holding him back. Tommy turns on Rocky, joins up with Duke and he actually becomes the champion of the world, but the fans hate him because of what he did to Rocky.
The Rise and Fall of Tommy Gunn
Tommy is sick of being in Rocky’s shadow and goes to a bar to challenge him to a fight. Rocky eventually is goaded into fighting Tommy in the streets and this is the big fight of Rocky V. I liked this fight as a kid and as an adult I think I like it better, but as a kid, I had no idea this was the end of the movie, I thought Rocky was going to actually fight Tommy in the ring.
Showdown in the Streets
Look, I know that Rocky V is the weakest out of the six Rocky movies and even if I am including the Creed movies, Rocky V is coming in last. However, I cannot think of this movie without thinking about how excited I was as a kid to watch it. Even though it is not great, I still enjoy watching Rocky V when I am watching all these movies from start to end.
