Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- sincere
- melodramatic
- tense
- sports movie night
- franchise marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the attempt to return the series to working-class character drama undermined by contrived plot developments and a muddled screenplay.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Rocky shifts from champion boxer to trainer while Tommy Gunn becomes the new center of his professional ambitions.
Rocky remains psychologically attached to his championship past while his finances, health, and family life have changed.
The film returns Rocky to Philadelphia, family concerns, financial hardship, and street-level boxing culture after the international spectacle of the Drago bout.
Tommy Gunn is drawn away from Rocky by managers offering larger salaries and more glittering prizes.
Films like Rocky V, and why
Rocky
shared boxing drama, working-class perseverance, mentorship, and inspirational sports themes
The Champ
shared boxing film structure, trainer fighter relationship, family tension, and underdog determination
The Karate Kid
shared sports drama, mentor protege conflict, ambition, and betrayal within a competitive career
Cinderella Man
shared working-class sports setting, personal reinvention, family pressures, and comeback themes
Movie Details
- Director
- John G. Avildsen
- Release Date
- 1990-11-16
- Runtime
- 104 min
- Rating
- 5.8 / 10 (3583)
Cast
- Sylvester Stallone
- Talia Shire
- Burt Young
- Richard Gant
- Tommy Morrison
- Sage Stallone
- Burgess Meredith
- Tony Burton
- Jimmy Gambina
- Delia Sheppard
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+, AMC, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Rocky V about?
- After brain trauma and financial ruin end Rocky Balboa’s career, the former champion mentors a gifted young fighter whose ambition threatens to sever their bond.
- What is Rocky V like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Rocky V as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Rocky V violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Rocky V as moderate.
- What did critics think of Rocky V?
- Critics broadly found the attempt to return the series to working-class character drama undermined by contrived plot developments and a muddled screenplay.
- Which films are like Rocky V?
- Films with a similar feel include Rocky, The Champ, The Karate Kid, and Cinderella Man.
- How long is Rocky V?
- Rocky V runs 104 minutes.
- Where can I watch Rocky V?
- In United States, Rocky V streams on Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+, AMC, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel.
