10 Movies So Good They Ruined Genres
6. Rocky
Much like Goodfellas, Rocky built the template for a genre - a successful, feel-good underdog boxing movie - and more than four decades later, its basic formula is still being repeated with little innovation.
With its gritty setting, iconic star, unforgettable music and poignant closing message ("winning isn't everything"), Rocky went on to win the Best Picture Oscar and be imitated by a glut of less-than boxing films.
Pre-Rocky, sports films in general had a far greater emphasis on the protagonist winning, while Rocky defied expectations and explored the virtues of moral victory and proving one's self-worth, which has been repeated in countless underdog sports films ever since, from the earnest to the comedic.
Unless you pull a Scorsese and go far darker with something like Raging Bull, the character-driven sports film generally doesn't stray too far from the beats of Rocky. It's caused the sub-genre to feel tired and repetitive over the years, though if the hero is charming enough and the direction potent enough, it can still be fairly effective.
But if you're on the hunt for unique, vibrant boxing movies post-Rocky, you're sadly going to find precious few.