Rocky III (1982)
- Before Sylvester Stallone was cast, several major A-list stars turned down the lead role because they felt the script was too risky.
- Sylvester Stallone originally wanted a completely different ending for the film, but test audiences preferred the one we see today.
- The original script for Rocky III was written over a decade before production finally began in 1982.
Rocky III is a 1982 American sports drama written and directed by Sylvester Stallone. After ten successful title defenses, Rocky Balboa has become a wealthy celebrity who has grown soft, fighting carefully selected opponents hand-picked by his manager Mickey, played by Burgess Meredith, to protect the championship. When the ferocious challenger Clubber Lang, played by Mr.
T in his breakthrough role, defeats Rocky and Mickey dies of a heart attack, Rocky must rediscover his hunger and fighting spirit by training with Apollo Creed, played by Carl Weathers, who teaches him speed and agility in an inner-city Los Angeles gym. Mr. T's Clubber Lang — mohawked, gold-chained, and speaking in clipped, contemptuous bursts — was one of the most menacing sports movie villains ever created.
Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger," commissioned specifically for the film, became one of the most recognized rock anthems in history. Rocky III earned $270 million worldwide on a $17 million budget.
