‘Get Out Of Here Before The Police Come’: Sylvester Stallone Tells The Story Behind Rocky’s Famous Steps Scene

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The movie *Rocky* is full of unforgettable moments – from Apollo Creed defeating the underdog from Philadelphia, to Rocky’s intense training with sides of beef. But perhaps the most iconic scene is Rocky raising his arms in victory at the top of the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps. Stallone has shared that they had to film this famous scene very quickly, racing against the arrival of the police.

Before becoming a star with *Rocky*, Sylvester Stallone was struggling and out of work at age 22. His luck changed when he wrote a boxing screenplay that unexpectedly became a huge success. This personal journey is why the *Rambo* actor was so enthusiastic about promoting his memoir, *The Steps*, on *The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon*. During the interview, Stallone discussed both the metaphorical ‘steps’ he took to build his career and the famous steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art featured in *Rocky*. He also shared a funny story about a simple mistake he made early in his career regarding location permissions.

When I filmed Rocky in Philadelphia, the famous steps weren’t even on my mind. We were working with a very limited budget and hadn’t secured the necessary permits to film there.

Sylvester Stallone didn’t realize at the time that filming on public streets or land requires permission from the city or film authorities. That’s why many movies build their own sets – to avoid the hassle of getting permits. It’s a lesson learned, though!

It seemed impossible to film one of the movie’s most inspiring training sequences without the proper permits. But the actor, who hails from New York City, discovered a clever legal workaround that allowed them to make the scene a reality.

I quickly exited the car and said I’d just run up the steps to take a picture, then we’d leave before the police arrived.

Interestingly, Sylvester Stallone initially envisioned having his large dog, Butkus, join him at the top of the famous steps, carrying him in his arms. However, Butkus was so heavy it was too strenuous on Stallone’s knees. While it would have been a memorable image, Rocky Balboa raising his fists in victory at the top of the steps proved to be a more powerful and triumphant ending for the iconic sports movie.

Luckily, police allowed Sylvester Stallone to film the famous 72 Steps scene, which is a big reason why *Rocky* is so closely tied to Philadelphia. While Rocky’s fight against Apollo Creed definitely helped make him a beloved hero, it was actually his determined climb up those steps, finishing with a celebratory shout, that truly captured hearts and made the movie so inspiring.

You can rewatch that exciting scene, now available with your Amazon Prime Video subscription. Plus, don’t miss Sylvester Stallone’s new memoir, *The Steps*, which comes out on Amazon and in bookstores on May 5th.

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2025-09-19 03:08