Rocky (1976)

Country: USA
Director: Sylvester Stallone
Screenwriter: Sylvester Stallone
Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith

Sylvester Stallone wrote himself into stardom with the 1976 Best Picture winning Rocky. The inspirational David v. Goliath-style sports film was a keystone that set the standard for an entire genre of films. Rocky especially succeeds in its training montage, with memorable images of Stallone running through the particularly filthy streets of Philadelphia, up the Museum of Arts steps, punching meat carcasses, and rocking his signature gray sweats.

This marvel of editing inspired thousands of people to run around their hometown looking a sweaty mess, raising their arms for all sorts of imagined glories, maybe even loosing a couple guttural cries of "Adrian!" Equal parts schmaltz and glory to the absolute brim. —GT