Sylvester Stallone’s $225M Hit Officially Releases On Netflix After Making 234x Its Budget

A Sylvester Stallone classic is coming to Netflix.

Sylvester Stallone became a major star in the 1970s and 80s, known for his action roles in films like the Rambo series, Cliffhanger (1993), Demolition Man (1993), Judge Dredd (1995), and Cop Land (1997). But he’s also famous for another long-running series that’s about to be available on a new streaming service.

The classic sports drama Rocky, released in 1976, is coming to Netflix on Monday, June 1. Written by Sylvester Stallone and directed by John G. Avildsen, the film is still considered one of the greatest of its kind and was key to making Stallone a star.

In the film Rocky, Sylvester Stallone plays Rocky Balboa, a boxer from Philadelphia who unexpectedly gets the chance to fight the world heavyweight champion. The movie, which also features Talia Shire, Burt Young, and Carl Weathers, became a huge hit with viewers thanks to its inspiring underdog story.

Despite being made with a small budget of just $960,000, Rocky became a huge box office hit, earning over $250 million. The film was also critically acclaimed and received 10 Academy Award nominations, including Best Original Screenplay. Ultimately, Rocky won three Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Film Editing.

The popular 1976 film launched a successful series that now includes six movies centered on Rocky Balboa’s boxing journey, plus three spin-off films called Creed. These Creed movies, starring Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Creed—the son of Apollo Creed from the original film—have all been well-received by both critics and audiences.

The latest film in the series is Creed III, which came out in 2023. Notably, it’s the first Rocky movie not to feature Sylvester Stallone as the iconic character. The franchise isn’t ending there, though – plans are already underway for Creed IV and a TV show called Delphi.

Sylvester Stallone’s life story is heading to the big screen in a new biographical drama called I Play Rocky. The film, directed by Peter Farrelly, tells the story of Stallone’s struggle to get the original Rocky movie made and star in it himself. Actor Anthony Ippolito will portray Stallone in the film.

Sylvester Stallone will be back as a mafia boss in season 4 of Tulsa King, expected to premiere later this year. The Paramount+ series has proven popular, demonstrating Stallone’s continued ability to draw viewers.

The movie I Play Rocky will be available on November 20th, giving fans a chance to re-watch the original Rocky from 1976. And with Rocky coming to Netflix soon, it will be more accessible than ever.

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2026-05-21 19:01