20 Most Inspiring Movies Of All-Time
3. Rocky
There have been several sports films on this list but, in Rocky, we have one of the most inspiring of underdog stories. The fact that this low-budget film still resonates as strongly as it does nearly forty years later speaks volumes. There have been many films on this list that have dealt with weighty themes but, in the character of Rocky we can truly root for The Italian Stallion and maybe, just maybe, see a little of ourselves in the no-hoper pugilist.
Rocky Balboa is a small-time boxer and loan shark enforcer with a heart of gold. Hes not had any breaks in life but still wakes every morning with the hope of wooing shy pet-shop worker Adrian. Unbeknown to Rocky, a planned bicentennial fight against Apollo Creed is in trouble after Creeds planned opponent injures himself in training. Creed decides to offer a no-hoper a million to one shot for his Heavyweight Title and, after scouring the Philadelphia boxing scene, chooses perhaps the biggest loser of them all, Rocky Balboa.
During the film, we see Rocky get beaten down by life whether its the first head-butt from Spider Rico or loan shark Gazzos driver mocking Adrians shyness, through it all though he remains resilient and positive, even trying to stop little Marie from hanging out with the local losers. Its the burgeoning humiliation in the ring, and his love for Adrian, that drives him forward to the point that he just wants to go the distance.
The film isnt as flashy as later episodes and has the requisite grit required of a seventies low-budget movie. Tie this in with the fact that Rocky was actually writer/actor Sylvester Stallones last chance in Hollywood and the Best Film Oscar (3 wins from 10 nominations) tells its own story.
The film is inspiring enough but when you add the other elements like the first round knockdown, the in-ring declaration of love and, of course, Gonna Fly Now and you have a film not only excellent in essence, but also inspiring in its truth.