“Made Me Want to Visit Philadelphia”: 44 Years After Generating $200,000,000 Worldwide, Forgotten Fact About Sylvester Stallone’s ‘Rocky II’ Leaves Fans Flabbergasted

There are movies that have transcended beyond the confines of a screen while making their way into the hearts of millions. One such movie that comes to mind is The Rocky series! It has delighted fans of both industries (boxing and movie) while igniting the fire of boxing as a sport in the hearts of countless youth. However, one movie from the series stands tall compared to its sequels and prequels. Rocky II! The reason behind its success? The legendary performance from Sylvester Stallone and the state of Philadelphia with its iconic landmarks and gritty neighborhoods. But why is this movie making the headlines after 44 years?

Back in 1979, the movie was a box office smash, collecting over $200,000 worldwide. In the US itself, it collected over $85 million, cementing the movie among the greats of cinema. But a recent YouTube video rekindled the love for this movie among its fans. The short but nostalgic clip unravels some known but forgotten facts about the movie. Sending fans into a frenzy of astonishment as they took their delightful remarks to the comment section. 

Amazed Fans: Sylvester Stallone & long-forgotten facts from Rocky II

The narrator in the clip goes over three specific scenes of the movie. Coincidently, all of them involve Rocky running. The narrator says, “Most of the scenes of Rocky jogging through Philadelphia were shot gorilla-style, with no permits, no equipment, and no extras.” The first scene is when Rocky runs past a moored boat, and the second is when he runs through the food market. The third and the most popular among the three is when Rocky runs past the Orange seller.

After three months of floating around on YouTube, it garnered significant attention from fans of the movie. But once the fans laid their eyes on the clip, it exploded in viewership. New fans started pouring in to watch the video and reminisce in nostalgia. 

Like this user, who commented, “he’s now the most famous orange seller in Philadelphia.” The user is, of course, referencing the vendor who threw the orange at Rocky Balboa, aka Stallone. As the narrator in the video explains, it was an improvisation on the stall owner’s part.

One user said, “Hollywood hasn’t had an original thought in 30 years. Maybe they could learn something from the old way of doing things.” While the user’s opinion is completely justified, modern-day classics like Brokeback Mountain and Ratatouille impressed critics and fans alike. 

The next user commented, “Best way to film. No permits. Make some damn good movies like that.” Here, the user compliments John G. Avildsen’s thought process while filming the iconic shot of Rocky jogging past the moored boat. 

Also Read: 47 Years After It’s Release, Sylvester Stallone Relives the Time ‘Rocky’ Was Born

This user stated, “One of the greatest films of all times. Made me want to visit Philadelphia.” The urge this user describes is understandable since the movie portrays the state of Philadelphia so beautifully.

Another user comments, “Maybe that’s the magic that made this movie such a great one…” The user awards Avildsen’s work in the movie as the reason behind its success. However, some would say it was the result of collective efforts and impeccable decisions that made the movie a success.

Without question, Rocky II is among the greatest movies the world of cinema has to offer. It has delighted boxing fans and introduced boxing to the general public. But we would like to know about your thoughts on the movie. Did you watch Rocky II?

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