Rocky III is now 40 years old and commiserates with the fools who don't think this is the best Rocky movie, no, more than that, the best boxing movie of all time.
OK, Raging Bull, Million Dollar Baby, and Sylvester Stallone's first Rocky may have won more Oscars. But as a pure piece of popcorn-popping entertainment, 1982's Rocky III is the undisputed champion. In honor of the film's 40th anniversary, here are 40 reasons why it's the ultimate sports blockbuster.
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It's been 40 years since Rocky III hit theaters and introduced us to Clubber Lang.
1. He unleashed 'Eye of the Tiger': the power-rock epic that became boxing's anthem. Rocky III is so incredible that 'You're the Best (which was eventually used in The Karate Kid) was also written for the movie, but Stallone turned it down in favor of the Survivor song.
2. Rocky III features the combined might of Sly Stallone, Carl Weathers, Mr. T, and Hulk Hogan: four men who make the entire Fast and Furious cast look like choir boys. A line-up is so powerful that Hollywood would never bring this incredible quartet together again.
3. More evidence of the cast's greatness: Morgan Freeman auditioned for the coach's role to Mr. T's Clubber Lang but was turned down. Yes, the acting bar was so high that Morgan Freeman wasn't good enough. Amazing.
It has muppets, and what movie couldn't be made better by muppets? (We are looking at you, taxi driver). Footage from Stallone's real-life appearance on The Muppet Show is dubbed so that Kermit introduces 'Rocky Balboa instead of the actor.
5. The best thing about Rocky II is the climactic fight with the double fall. Well, guess what? Rocky III starts with a full recap, so you get the best part of Rocky II even before the third movie starts. Genius.
6. Genuinely reflects Stallone's life. In writing Rocky III, Sly used the fact that he had gone from nobody to megastar to cover Rocky Balboa's struggles with sudden fame, giving the story accurate emotional weight.
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