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‘I Play Rocky’: A Two-Fisted Tale of Hope and Heart

‘I Play Rocky’: A Two-Fisted Tale of Hope and Heart

Last updated on: November 10, 2026 at 12:04 am by Kate O'Hare

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‘I Play Rocky’: A Two-Fisted Tale of Hope and Heart 2026-11-10T00:04:32-08:00 Kate O'Hare

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Directed by Peter Farrelly from a screenplay by Peter Gamble, the hugely entertaining I Play Rocky, currently in limited release, chronicles the unlikely story behind the unexpected 1976 blockbuster boxing drama Rocky.

That film spawned both the Rocky and Creed film franchises, and made a megastar out of its lead actor — and screenwriter — Sylvester Stallone.

So, how did Rocky get made? How did unknown actor Stallone both write and star in it? I Play Rocky is the answer to both questions.

Shot for about $26-$27M ($25-26M more than Rocky cost), I Play Rocky grossed just north of $345K in its first weekend of release, starting on Nov. 6 — but that was only in seven select theaters. It expands to nationwide release on Nov. 20 (one day before the 50th anniversary of the original film’s New York premiere).

The new film comes during a productive 2026 for Amazon MGM, which previously released the critically acclaimed Project Hail Mary and Sheep Detectives, two of my favorite films of the year — and two films that were also suitable for the family audience (imagine that!).

Oh, and Project Hail Mary featured an alien named, wait for it, Rocky. Hmmm. I mean, he was made of rock, but even so …

Bringing the Stallone of the 1970s to Life

Anthony Ippolito, who previously played Al Pacino in The Offer, Paramount+’s series about the making of The Godfather, transforms into the young Stallone.

Struggling on the streets of New York, and even having to revert to things like shooting a softcore porn film to put a roof over his head and that of his stray puppy, Butkus, Sylvester — a k a Mike — meets and falls for movie-theater co-worker Sasha Czack (AnnaSophia Robb).

They move to Hollywood, where she continues to support the dreams of her now-husband. In particular, she hangs in as he both furiously writes the script that will change his life and then nearly torpedoes the whole thing by insisting on starring in the film, forcing the stakes up and the budget down.

Despite the pleas of his producers, Robert Chartoff (Toby Kebbel) and Irwin Winkler (P.J. Byrne), Stallone insists: “I play Rocky.”

Ironically, considering Ippolito’s previous gig, studio Paramount, which released The Godfather in 1972, casts a long shadow over the United Artists exec (Tracy Letts) who ultimately bankrolls Rocky.

Matt Dillon also appears as Stallone’s father, Frank Stallone, Sr., who winds up with a cameo in Rocky.

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Is I Play Rocky the True Story Behind Rocky?

More or less. It’s the movie version of the making of a movie, which is to say, there was actually a lot more to the whole thing than the film shows.

But, it grabs the spirit of Stallone’s determination and Rocky‘s haphazard, shoestring production.

It’s rated PG-13 for strong language, brief sexual material, and smoking, but it feels like an uplifting, funny, touching film meant for the general audience.

Common Sense Media gave it 4 out of 5 stars and rated it for ages 13 and up — and I agree.

It’s not a milquetoast film, but it’s got an underlying positive spirit, embodied in Stallone (Ippolito’s performance could make you forget you’re not actually watching the original).

At a recent press conference in Los Angeles, Ippolito spoke about meeting Stallone:

Yeah, we got to speak about a month beforehand. And by that point, I had already done so much of my own research that it had really built up to this really big thing by that point. And he was so sweet. Sure, I was of course intimidated and nervous.

But he was so disarming and so generous, and open, and willing to share that period of time in his life. Before all this stuff happened, it was pretty dark for him, and pretty lonely road.

So, it was a vulnerable thing to be able to share that. I just really appreciated his vulnerability.

The Death (and Resurrection?) of Hollywood

The ’70s brought us The Godfather, Rocky, Jaws, Star Wars and The Exorcist, to name just a few. It was a period of massive change in Hollywood, and massive opportunity for those with skill, guts and the willingness to take huge risks.

Studios and filmmakers also wanted to attract a mass audience, something the movie industry has been allergic to in recent years — but not Amazon MGM, at least not in 2026.

Say what you like about billionaires — and with the recent merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. into Skydance, run by David Ellison, the billionaire son of billionaire tech mogul Larry Ellison, a LOT has been said — but billionaire Jeff Bezos’ Amazon MGM and Prime Video are leading the way back to four-quadrant entertainment.

Prime Video has also shown a commitment to quality faith-based productions by picking up The Chosen (more on that soon, as it returns on Nov. 15) and by featuring the Bible-based productions of Wonder Project, including House of David.

Stallone’s currently starring in Paramount+’s violent and very adult crime drama/comedy series Tulsa King, from TV impresario Taylor Sheridan, so I don’t think we’ll be seeing him in a Bible story anytime soon.

But, maybe a faith-forward project …

Stallone and the Catholic Church … There and Back Again

Raised Catholic, Stallone drifted away, only to find himself leaning on the faith of his childhood when one of his daughters had a medical crisis.

But Stallone’s faith was there, even in the first Rocky film, although he wasn’t necessarily practicing it at the time.

Speaking to the Dove Foundation about of his final Rocky film, called Rocky Balboa (2006), Stallone said:

In the first ‘Rocky’ movie…I was never a writer and all of a sudden one day I felt like I was being asked to write this. And I’ve said it before, I felt as though God was moving me to do this. That’s why I started the first “Rocky” out with a picture of Jesus. And I feel the same kind of feeling moving through me now, like (it was) Jesus.

I wanted to get to this resurrection or redemption, and this personal relationship that I have with Rocky and with God. I had gone through seventeen years of peaks and valleys and I felt that now was the time to try to put it in the voice of something that people would come to see. They had trusted the character and that character would be able to give the message.”

Stallone met with Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2023.

And, just for fun, here’s a look back at the original Rocky trailer:

Image: Amazon MGM

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About Kate O'Hare

Journalism, screenwriting, Seahawks ... I prefer stories with soul. Covering the intersection of entertainment, faith and pop culture. Writing movies in my spare time -- when not watching Seahawks football, that is. From the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, left my heart in Saratoga Springs. Currently based in Los Angeles, where it's always another day in paradise. No, I don't pick my NFL team by geography. You can read more about the author here.

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