Rocky IV | Rotten Tomatoes

Rocky IV

PG

1985

1h 31m

Drama

List

Rotten Tomatoes Is Wrong About… Rocky IV

54:59

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40%

Tomatometer

52 Reviews

79%

Audience Score

250,000+ Ratings

After reclaiming the boxing championship title, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) plans to retire and live with his wife, Adrian (Talia Shire). However, during an exhibition match, Rocky's friend Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) is mercilessly beaten to death by hulking Russian newcomer Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren). Rocky vows payback against Drago and flies to Russia to train for a Christmas Day fight. Despite their different training methods, Rocky and Drago both wage a long and intense match.

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Critics Consensus

Rocky IV inflates the action to absurd heights, but it ultimately rings hollow thanks to a story that hits the same basic beats as the first three entries in the franchise.

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Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

Say what you like about the original Rocky, at least it was about something -- a sweet pug up against the system, and in love with a dowd. Rocky IV appears to be an epic about Sylvester Stallone's penchant for self-abuse.

Dec 3, 2018

Full Review

Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

'Rocky IV' still stands, not as a highlight of the series (certainly not that) but as a quintessential artifact of mid-'80s studio filmmaking: soulless, flag-waving, soundtrack-blasting Product.

Apr 30, 2016

Full Review

Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

Padded with clips from earlier Rocky pictures, adding nothing to his mythic, let alone human dimensions, it lacks even the primitive suspense and crude capacity to release underdog emotions that permitted its predecessors to conquer one's better judgment.

May 13, 2015

Full Review

Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

I don’t think there’s been a film before or since that has featured so many montages.

Rated: 6/10

Feb 21, 2024

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Rocky on steroids...full of energy, childish politics, nostalgia for a simple past that never was, and intensely motivational songs…

Rated: 3/5

Oct 1, 2023

Full Review

Patrick Hicks

Feelin' Film Podcast

The fourth entry in the Rocky-verse is a hard-hitting 90-minute music video, using political undertones of the Cold War to amplify a grudge match driven by revenge, fear, and guilt.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 28, 2023

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Ben B

Rocky 4 is a phenomenal movie that raises the stakes of the first three, and has an easy story follow and is a great time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/21/24

Full Review

Brian F

Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my chances Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet Just a man and his will to survive So many times, it happens too fast You trade your passion for glory Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past You must fight just to keep them alive It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight Risin' up to the challenge of our rival And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night And he's watching us all with the eye of the tiger Face to face, out on the heat Hangin' tough, stayin' hungry They stack the odds still we take to the street For the kill, with the skill to survive It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight Risin' up to the challenge of our rival And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night And he's watching us all with the eye of the tiger Risin' up, straight to the top Had the guts, got the glory Went the distance, now I'm not gonna stop Just a man and his will to survive It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight Risin' up to the challenge of our rival And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night And he's watching us all with the eye of the tiger The eye of the tiger The eye of the tiger The eye of the tiger The eye of the tiger

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/15/24

Full Review

Rappo446

Rocky IV embarks on a different take on the Rocky formula by connecting the Cold War to boxing, creating a story that sometimes acts as a political thriller set at the height of the Cold War, with boxing matches mixed in, resulting in a new spin on the series. By far the best sequel in the series, Rocky IV dial's everything up to 11, making an over the top but entertaining film, with all the trademarks of 80s cinema being utilised. The action is absurd, the villain is not the best, and the story could have been improved. And yet Rocky IV remains the best Rocky sequel, and an entertaining and satisfying instalment in the series.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/05/24

Full Review

Techie Time W

One of the best movies ever, I rented this every time my family went down to visit the grandparents when I was a kid and I always loved watching it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/28/24

Full Review

Franky L

The fourth installment in the Rocky franchise, and it lives up to the previous 3 movies. The formula works. Rocky is beaten down by something, has to pull himself up by the bootstraps with Adrian along for the ride, and he "survives" with "the eye of the tiger." What's not to love. Sylvester strutting around in little boxer shorts totally ripped! So the story is a formula, but it works!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/22/24

Full Review

Jesus

Not my favorite Rocky movie but not bad, it's entertaining at least.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/16/24

Full Review

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Sylvester Stallone

Director

Sylvester Stallone

Rocky Balboa

Talia Shire

Adrian

Burt Young

Paulie

Carl Weathers

Apollo Creed

Brigitte Nielsen

Ludmilla

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Rocky IV: Official Clip - Whatever He Hits, He Destroys

1:32

Rocky IV: Official Clip - Press Conference Clash

2:12

Rocky IV: Official Clip - Reaching the Summit

1:29

Rocky IV: Official Clip - I Must Break You

2:17

Rocky IV: Official Clip - The Russian's Cut

2:34

Rocky IV: Official Clip - Moscow is Pro-Rocky

2:11

Rocky IV: Official Clip - If He Dies, He Dies

2:09

Rocky IV: Official Clip - To the End

2:08

Rocky IV: Official Clip - Everybody Can Change

2:01

Rocky IV: Official Clip - Training in Russia

2:38

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Rotten Tomatoes Is Wrong About… Rocky IV

54:59

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Synopsis

After reclaiming the boxing championship title, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) plans to retire and live with his wife, Adrian (Talia Shire). However, during an exhibition match, Rocky's friend Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) is mercilessly beaten to death by hulking Russian newcomer Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren). Rocky vows payback against Drago and flies to Russia to train for a Christmas Day fight. Despite their different training methods, Rocky and Drago both wage a long and intense match.

Director: Sylvester Stallone
Producer: Robert Chartoff, Irwin Winkler
Screenwriter: Sylvester Stallone
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, United Artists
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 9, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $125.4M
Runtime: 1h 31m
Sound Mix: Surround

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