Name: I Play Rocky
Genre: Biography, Drama
Released: 2026-11-13
Duration: 2 h 10 min
Rating: 8
Cast: Anthony Ippolito, Tracy Letts, AnnaSophia Robb, Matt Dillon, P. J. Byrne

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An unknown actor with an unshakable dream refuses to sell his screenplay unless he stars in it himself. This movie chronicles Sylvester Stallone's extraordinary fight to bring Rocky to life.

I Play Rocky

The Times of India

A true story of how an unknown actor made it happen, against all odds

Behind a classic boxing film

Peter Farrelly directs the true story behind Rocky, Sylvester Stallone's first hit

Directed by an Oscar winner

Anthony Ippolito set up a punching bag at home and sent in his own audition

He auditioned without being asked

He watched I Play Rocky and told star Anthony Ippolito he really loved it

The real Stallone approves

‘I Play Rocky’ is a film that shows just how much grit and determination a person can come up with when pursuing a dream. Peter Farrelly’s film focusses on the early years of actor Sylvester Stallone and traces how a struggling actor turned a rejected boxing script into one of cinema’s most successful sports dramas. There is an obvious affection for the people behind the making of ‘Rocky,’ but the film doesn't dig particularly deep into their story. It covers only a short period in Stallone’s life, when he was down and out, and focuses on the determination to get his script made despite the obstacles in his way. The multiple rejections and his belief in the story of ‘Rocky’ are at the centre of the narrative, though the less flattering side of his struggle and the realities of working in Hollywood receive little attention. The film offers an entertaining account of the journey behind the making of 'Rocky' but could have easily taken a few more risks.
Set in the mid-1970s New York, the film follows Sylvester Stallone (Anthony Ippolito) as he struggles to find acting assignments and pay his bills while looking after his dog, Butkus. After watching an underdog boxer take on a heavyweight champion, he gets an idea for a screenplay about a Philadelphia club fighter named Rocky Balboa. Producers Irvin Winkler (P.J. Byrne) and Robert Chartoff (Toby Kebbell) like the script, but the studio wants an established actor in the lead role. Stallone refuses to sell it unless he gets to play Rocky himself. His partner Sasha (AnnaSophia Robb) stands by him through the rejections and financial troubles, which eventually force him to sell Butkus. Director John Avildsen (Jay Duplass) comes on board, production begins on a tight budget, and the film goes on to achieve a success few of those involved could have imagined.
The trouble with the film is that Farrelly follows the familiar beats of an underdog story without bringing much new to them. Those who have read Irvin Winkler and Stallone’s memoirs will find that the film adds no new elements to the story. Stallone faces one rejection after another, holds on to his script and eventually gets his chance. The outcome is never really in doubt, so even the difficult moments lack much tension. But it’s the screenplay that elevates the film. The sequences involving Winkler and Chartoff constantly pushing Stallone to sell the script are entertaining, while the scenes involving Butkus are particularly sentimental. What could have made the film more engaging is a closer look at the people and decisions that helped bring the project to life. The studio's resistance, the business negotiations and the risks involved in backing an unknown actor are all touched upon but never explored in any real detail. Farrelly is more interested in celebrating the success than examining the struggle that preceded it.
Anthony Ippolito gives the film its strongest performance, and there are moments when it is easy to forget that Stallone is being played by another actor. He gets Stallone's voice and mannerisms right, including the slightly awkward way he carries himself, but doesn't simply imitate him. There is enough vulnerability beneath the determination to make his portrayal convincing. AnnaSophia Robb brings a practical quality to Sasha, making her more than just a supportive partner. Jay Duplass adds humour as director John Avildsen, while Matt Dillon makes an impression in a brief appearance as Stallone's father. But it's Byrne as Winkler and Kebbell as Chartoff who give the film much of its backbone, with fine performances as the two producers constantly trying to convince Stallone to give up the lead role as dictated by their boss.
‘I Play Rock’ tells an unbelievable story in the simplest way possible, and that is where much of its charm lies. It’s evident that Farrelly is clearly enjoying telling the story. The film captures Stallone's refusal to give up on a script he believed in but could have done more with the difficulties that came with getting it made. Those looking for a straightforward, feel-good account of the making of ‘Rocky’ will find plenty to enjoy. Anyone hoping for a more revealing portrait of Stallone or Hollywood, however, may come away wanting more. The film confines itself to a brief but significant period in Stallone’s life, and there is merit in that approach. This is a story that deserved to be told. While it may not be a perfect film, it makes for a perfect underdog story, striking a good balance between emotion and humour.

I Play Rocky | Official Trailer | In Theatres This November 13

PVR ECX, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi

INOX Insignia At Epicuria, Nehru Place, New Delhi

INOX Nehru Place,  District Centre, New Delhi

PVR Promenade, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi

INOX Vishal Mall, Rajouri Garden, New Delhi

PVR Select City Walk, Saket, New Delhi

Cinepolis DLF Avenue, Saket, New Delhi

Delhi: PVR Directors Cut Ambience Mall

PVR Pacific, Subhash Nagar, New Delhi

PVR Cinemagic, Unity One Elegante, NSP, Pitampura

INOX Pacific Mall, Jasola, New Delhi

PVR Superplex Mall Of India, Sector 18, Noida

PVR Directors Cut, DLF Mall of India, Noida

PVR Superplex Logix, Sector 32, Noida

Gurugram: PVR Directors Cut Ambience Mall

Pepsi PVR Ambience, Ambience Mall, Gurugram

PVR Vegas, Dwarka, New Delhi

HDFC Millennia PVR MGF, Gurugram

PVR DLF Summit Plaza, Gurugram

PVR Gaur City, Gaur City Mall, Greater Noida

INOX Gurugram Ardee Mall, Ardee City, Gurugram

INOX World Mark, Sector 65, Gurugram

Cinepolis Airia Mall, Sohna Road, Gurugram

Devgn CineX (Formerly NY) : Elan Epic, Gurugram

I Play Rocky(2026)

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