‹ All movies
Rocky IV poster

Rocky IV

year 1985decade 80sdirector Sylvester Stallonegenre Dramagenre Sports

91 minutes (theatrical cut)93 minutes (director's cut)

IMDbLetterboxdJustWatch
Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Sylvester Stallone Robert "Rocky" Balboa
Talia Shire Adrian Pennino Balboa
Burt Young Paulie Pennino
Carl Weathers Apollo Creed
Brigitte Nielsen Ludmilla Vobet Drago
Dolph Lundgren Captain Ivan Drago
Tony Burton Tony "Duke" Evers
Michael Pataki Nicolai Koloff
Rocky Krakoff Rocky Balboa Jr.
David Lloyd Austin Mikhail Gorbachev

Rocky IV | The Rewatchables

host Bill Simmonshost Cousin Salhost Kyle Brandt
Explore episodeClose episode

Producer credits not yet identified.

Most Rewatchable Scene

No consensus: the combined training sequences, Drago–Rocky round two, and the larger fight/entrance sequence each received support.

In the discussion (12)
Approx. transcript time · 00:33:40Read transcript
  • The two training sequences together were the advance favorite and one final choice.
  • Creed’s “Living in America” entrance was nominated for James Brown, Drago’s confusion, and Apollo’s showmanship.
  • The full Drago–Creed fight was nominated, including the nicknames, glove touch, “throw the damn towel,” and “if he dies, he dies.”
  • The “you can’t win” confrontation with Adrian was nominated.
  • The Lamborghini “No Easy Way Out” montage was nominated.
  • Duke’s “Apollo was like my son” training speech was nominated.
  • The first old-school-versus-high-tech training sequence was nominated.
  • The second training sequence, with the mountain climb and “no pain,” was nominated.
  • Round two of Rocky–Drago was nominated for “he’s cut,” the tackle, and “he’s a man.”
  • Round fifteen was nominated for Drago’s collapse, the crowd turn, and “he’s chopping the Russian down.”
  • Rocky’s final speech and Gorbachev slow clap were nominated.
  • One host chose the nine-minute training and Adrian sequence; another chose the second round.

What’s Aged the Best?

Drago’s minimal dialogue, Rocky’s clothes, Paulie’s arc, the training contrast, montage density, opening credits, and Ivan Drago himself were praised.

In the discussion (14)
Approx. transcript time · 00:55:51Read transcript
  • Drago’s six terse English lines remain iconic.
  • Rocky’s oversized jacket was praised.
  • Rocky wearing Cobra-style aviators to Apollo’s funeral was enjoyed as a specific mid-1980s choice.
  • Rocky’s Hugo Boss sweatshirts and Scorpion-like robe were praised.
  • Paulie’s arc from threatening brother-in-law to essential cut man was praised.
  • Adrian’s snake-shaped watch was singled out as exceptionally gaudy.
  • The natural-versus-steroids training montage remains effective despite its irony.
  • James Brown’s credit as “The Godfather of Soul” was enjoyed.
  • “Living in America” was reported as Brown’s first top-40 single in eleven years and the last of his career.
  • The film’s high-tech sports equipment looked ahead of its time.
  • Nearly 32 percent of the movie was reported to be montage.
  • Apollo’s later-unacknowledged son aged well because it enabled the Creed continuation.
  • The exploding Soviet and American gloves made the opening credits immediate and memorable.
  • Ivan Drago’s lasting screen presence was chosen as the strongest aged-best element.

What’s Aged the Worst?

Splintered patriotism, recycled footage, TV-delivered bad news, robot sexual jokes, reduced death impact, poor officiating/training, accents, continuity, and the Stallone–Nielsen relationship were discussed.

In the discussion (15)
Approx. transcript time · 01:02:01Read transcript
  • The film’s uncomplicated patriotism felt less relatable in 2020.
  • Opening another sequel with recycled footage from the prior Rocky was criticized.
  • Characters discovering major news by accidentally seeing it on television felt dated.
  • Paulie’s sexualized robot dialogue was the central robot problem.
  • The robot itself was defended as essential mid-1980s texture and as a nod to Stallone’s son.
  • The hastily made Sports Illustrated and magazine covers looked sloppy.
  • Apollo’s death has less shock on repeat viewings than it did in 1985.
  • Drago repeatedly hit Apollo after the bell without sanction.
  • Rocky’s pre-fight coaching gave Apollo no useful boxing advice.
  • Rocky froze with the towel while Apollo absorbed extra punishment.
  • Brigitte Nielsen’s Russian accent was criticized.
  • Adrian initially refusing to accompany Rocky to Russia was criticized.
  • The anonymous color commentator was treated as a weak replacement for a recognizable boxing voice.
  • Apollo’s boxing gloves disappear between cuts before his exchange with Drago.
  • The Stallone–Nielsen relationship and rapid marriage/divorce became distracting production context.

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

The panel split between Marianne Creed and James Brown, with each receiving a strong case.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:11:53Read transcript
  • Marianne Creed was praised for perfectly selling love, confusion, and terror in a few reaction shots.
  • James Brown was chosen by another host for a complete vintage performance and Apollo fist bump.

Apex Mountain

Stallone’s 1985 global stardom was the clearest apex; Cold War cinema, Dolph Lundgren, Warner Wolf, Barry Tompkins, Vince DiCola, sit-ups, wet-blanket wives, robots, and montages were also assessed.

In the discussion (14)
Approx. transcript time · 01:17:02Read transcript
  • Rocky IV plus Rambo: First Blood Part II made 1985–86 Stallone’s apex.
  • Rocky IV was considered a Cold War movie apex candidate, with Red Dawn preferred by one host.
  • Dolph Lundgren was treated as an apex case.
  • Survivor’s apex remained Rocky III because “Eye of the Tiger” was the larger phenomenon.
  • Warner Wolf’s local influence and “let’s go to the videotape” catchphrase made this an apex case.
  • Barry Tompkins was treated as being at his announcing apex.
  • Vince DiCola was treated as an apex case.
  • The hayloft and fire-lit sit-ups were called an apex for movie sit-ups.
  • The Russian anthem lost to The Hunt for Red October and earlier wrestling or game uses.
  • Adrian was argued as an apex sports-movie wet-blanket wife.
  • Tony Burton was treated as an apex case for Duke’s expanded role.
  • The robot lost the 1980s-robot apex to alternatives including Terminator and Johnny 5.
  • The film’s foreboding synthesizer music was considered an apex case.
  • Rocky IV was selected as the apex for 1980s movie montages.

What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?

The bloody “throw the damn towel” towel became the preferred collectible; the snake watch, Cobra aviators, robot, gloves, trunks, robe, and treadmill were alternatives.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:38:41Read transcript
  • The snake watch and Rocky’s funeral/Cobra aviators were proposed.
  • The bloody towel was the strongest choice if it could be authenticated.
  • The robot, gloves, trunks, James Brown robe, and treadmill were other candidates.

Who Won the Movie?

Ivan Drago/Dolph Lundgren won; “America” was raised as an alternate before the panel converged on Drago.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:40:50Read transcript
  • Dolph Lundgren’s unproven arrival and indelible villain performance were the main case.
  • The United States was proposed as a thematic winner, but Ivan Drago became the shared final answer.

Mentions across The Rewatchables