The repeated ending of the first film is questioned for marathons, though the opening fight supplies action before a long stretch without boxing. — Bill Simmons
The opening credits and remastered Rocky theme are nominated.
Rocky wheeling over to Apollo and asking whether Apollo gave his best is nominated as a short scene. — Bill Simmons
Rocky’s zoo marriage proposal, including his awkward phrasing and invitation to the tiger, is nominated. — Bill Simmons
Rocky struggling to film the Beast aftershave commercial is nominated and described as painful to watch.
The group digresses on period aftershave advertising and the appeal of the Beast campaign. — Van Lathan
Mickey testing Rocky’s injured eye and warning that another fight could hurt him permanently is nominated. — Bill Simmons
Rocky returning to work in the gym and Mickey challenging his dignity is separately praised for Stallone’s acting. — Bill Simmons
Rocky’s quiet job loss and request to finish the workday are praised as understated setbacks.
Duke warning Apollo that Rocky kept coming and is wrong for them is praised as a great sports-movie monologue. — Bill Simmons
Apollo calling Rocky out on television through Mickey deciding they should fight again is nominated. — Bill Simmons
Paulie’s behavior at the press conference prompts an extended objection to the harm he causes Adrian and Rocky.
The eleven-minute coma stretch is criticized for its length. — Bill Simmons
Adrian waking, telling Rocky to win, and Mickey asking what they are waiting for is selected as a favorite sports-movie turn. — Bill Simmons
The one-arm exercise against the sun, chicken-catching, and jump-rope work announce the energized training montage. — Bill Simmons
The montage is praised for establishing the heightened training template of later Rocky films. — Bill Simmons
Rocky beating up scrap metal is singled out as a standout training-montage image. — Bill Simmons
The hosts estimate roughly six weeks of serious training before the fight.
Rocky dropping the heavy log and choosing to pick it up again is praised as a perseverance moment.
The scrapyard hammering prompts a joke about a spinoff following the scrapyard owner. — Bill Simmons
Mickey’s largely silent assistant receives praise for the medicine-ball training and stomach punches. — Bill Simmons
The montage’s contrast between neighborhood-supported Rocky and ego-driven Apollo is praised. — Van Lathan
Rocky’s run through Philadelphia with the children is nominated, while its estimated distance and finishing sprint are questioned.
The fight’s escalation into “World War III” and Rocky refusing to go down are nominated. — Bill Simmons
Rounds three through fourteen and especially the fifteenth-round double knockout are nominated. — Bill Simmons
Rocky’s victory speech produces a debate over ranking the day against marriage and his child’s birth.
One final choice is round fifteen, with the Apollo-and-Duke conversation as a secondary favorite. — Van Lathan
Another final choice is Adrian waking followed by “What are we waiting for?” and the training montage. — Van Lathan