Sylvester Stallone Reflects on Making the ‘Glorious’ Rocky III Sequel After 43 Years

by

Sylvester Stallone shared a heartfelt post on social media to mark the 43rd anniversary of his movie, Rambo: First Blood Part III, which first hit the screens on May 28, 1982.

Back in the day when we filmed Rocky III, a moment I’ll always cherish came to life. It’s an honor and a privilege to relive this glorious experience with each and every one of my devoted fans. Keep pushing forward!

In addition, I fondly looked back on our shared cinematic journey by posting pictures from the Rocky set, one of which featured none other than Mr. T, who brought James “Clubber” Lang to life in this iconic film.

In the third film of the series, “Rocky III” featured Sylvester Stallone reprising his role as boxing champion Rocky Balboa, also known as the Italian Stallion. Throughout the movie, Rocky defended his heavyweight title against various opponents, one of whom was Clubber, portrayed by Mr. T. Interestingly, to prepare for this tough rematch, Rocky sought help from his old foe, Apollo Creed, who was once the heavyweight champion and had been a long-standing adversary for Rocky. In the course of “Rocky III”, their relationship evolved into a strong friendship, as they grew close following the demise of Mickey, a dear friend, manager, and trainer to Rocky, played by Burgess Meredith. Grieving over Mickey’s death, Rocky found solace in his newfound camaraderie with Apollo and prepared for the biggest fight of his life against Clubber.

In contrast to numerous sports and action series that often produce sequels less impressive than their originals, Rocky III was exceptional. Upon its release in 1982, it became the highest-grossing film in the Rocky franchise, earning an impressive $270 million worldwide. This figure surpassed both the initial Rocky ($225 million) and Rocky II ($200 million).

To this day, the movie “Rocky III” continues to be well-received on Rotten Tomatoes. It boasts a 65% approval rating from critics and an impressive 74% score derived from over 250,000 audience reviews. The film was admired for its action scenes and soundtrack, although it faced criticism regarding its script. The popular theme song, “Eye of the Tiger”, experienced widespread success following the movie’s release, contributing to the development of a cult following for “Rocky III” in the years that followed. The franchise produced three more films featuring Stallone: “Rocky IV“, “Rocky V “, and others.

Stallone is Now Leading Taylor Sheridan’s Crime Drama Tulsa King

These days, although Sylvester Stallone continues to reminisce about the triumph of the Rocky movies, his current character is far removed from that of Rocky Balboa. In a new TV series, Stallone portrays Dwight “The General” Manfredi, an ex-Mafia member freed from prison and transferred to Tulsa, Oklahoma. This role represents Stallone’s debut as the main character in a scripted television production.

The show titled “Tulsa King” debuted in the year 2022, and it has broken viewership records on Paramount+, where it can be streamed. As of now, two seasons have been broadcasted, and it’s confirmed that there will be a fourth season. Additionally, a spin-off series is currently under early development.

Rocky III is now streaming on AMC+.

Read More

2025-05-31 20:06