The Rocky movie series has transcended cinema, embodying the spirit of Philadelphia and the unyielding determination mirrored by its iconic protagonist, played by Hollywood legend Sylvester Stallone. This connection was further solidified when, in 2023, Philadelphia introduced Rocky Day to celebrate the popular movie series. 

The city is now hosting its inaugural Rocky Fest, a celebration that has quickly become a cherished tradition, honoring the perseverance and grit synonymous with both the films and Philadelphia itself. Amid the festivities, ‘The Italian Stallion’ himself, shared a priceless moment from the event, leaving fans in awe and adding a personal touch to the occasion.

Celebrating Butkus’ legacy

Earlier today, Stallone took to Instagram to share a memorable moment from the ongoing Rocky Fest, which began on December 3rd and runs until December 8th. The post featured a Bull Mastiff closely resembling ‘Butkus’, Rocky’s beloved dog in the films.

The image also showed cutouts of Stallone and Butkus posing together, evoking nostalgic memories for fans. Stallone captioned the post, “Congratulations to the new look-alike BUTKUS at the Rocky Fest [going on] right now in Philadelphia!!!” Butkus wasn’t just Rocky’s loyal companion on-screen—he was also Stallone’s own dog and a cherished member of his family.

Stallone adopted Butkus, a Bullmastiff, in 1969 when the puppy was just six weeks old. “We got [Butkus] when he was about six weeks old,” Stallone said in an interview. “He was a ferocious-looking little devil, and when he ate his security blanket, we decided to name him after Dick Butkus, possibly the fiercest football player in history.”

Butkus appeared in the first two Rocky films before sadly passing away in 1981 from a heart attack. Yet his legacy endures, remembered fondly by fans for his role in one of the most iconic movies of the era. After Stallone’s post went live, fans quickly flooded the comments, sharing their admiration and fond memories of the beloved Bull Mastiff.

Sylvester Stallone convinces fan to get a dog of his own

Butkus was undeniably a memorable character in the Rocky movies, winning the hearts of audiences for decades. Naturally, Stallone’s recent post prompted a wave of nostalgia among fans, who fondly reminisced about the iconic pup. 

One user highlighted Butkus’ significance in the series, commenting, “Butkus is so important to the Rocky movies. Keep punching, Sly! Congrats to the look-alike Butkus.” Interestingly, Butkus’ journey to the silver screen wasn’t planned. When the production team faced the challenge of finding a budget-friendly yet talented dog actor for the film, they turned to Stallone for ideas. That’s when Sly suggested his real-life family dog, Butkus, who quickly became a beloved part of the Rocky legacy.

Meanwhile, this user felt getting a Butkus look-alike of his own would complete his Rocky memorabilia. “I love it! @officialslystallone I want one to add to my Stallone memorabilia collection,” the user wrote. However, bull mastiffs can grow up to 120-130 pounds, so the dog might not be for everyone.

The next user congratulated the new Butkus lookalike. “Awwe! Priceless! Congratulations to the new Butkus looks alike,” the user commented. But if you think about it, don’t all bull mastiffs look like Butkus?

Another user wanted to know more about Butkus’ life. “How long did you have Butkus,” the user asked. Stallone and Butkus were together for 12 years before the pup passed.

Someone else shared a story about a dog in their own life. “PAWSOME. We have a local dog named Butkus Best name ever for a doggo,” the user wrote. Clearly, Butkus touched more lives than he ever realized.

That said, even though decades have passed since the Rocky movies came out, people still seem to remember the effect, especially Butkus, had on them through the movies. What did you think of Butkus’ look alike?