1976 Classic Film Phenomenon was Written in 'Just Three Days'

After watching the championship match that took place between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner, actor and filmmaker Sylvester Stallone was struck with an idea. Over the course of just three days, Stallone penned the script (the first he'd ever written) that would become the sports-action-drama film, Rocky.

While most of what Stallone wrote during that time would be cut during significant rewrites, the idea and baseline of the story were there. United Artists liked the script Stallone wrote, but wanted a more established star to play the titular character. Stallone was adamant that he play Rocky, saying he never could have forgiven himself if it went on to be a hit without him in the role. The studio eventually met Stallone's demands, and filming for Rocky started in January of 1976.

Filming for Rocky took place around Philadelphia, and certain elements of the story even evolved during production. Originally, Stallone had Rocky throwing the fight realizing he didn't want to be a part of the boxing world, and the storyline was much darker. Stallone also wrote in dialogue in real time that would end up in the final film.

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While some critics called the movie "gimmicky," Rocky was a massive box office success and Stallone's performance was received with acclaim. Roger Ebert compared him to a "young Marlon Brando" and Box Office Magazine heralded him as "a new star." Awards season agreed, with Stallone nabbing Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay nominations at the Academy Awards for the film.

Rocky has been lauded cinematically over the years and was even preserved by the Library of Congress in 2006. It consistently is ranked on lists as one of the best movies of all time and is considered a must watch amongst cinephiles.

Even though the original "three day" script may not be what graced big and small screens alike, the film that became Rocky is one that has proven to be beyond memorable and worth seeing.

Related: Sylvester Stallone's 1997 Crime Drama 'Cop Land' Lands TV Series Adaptation

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This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 5:42 AM.