If you limit it to top 100 American films of the 70’s, it is worthy. Top 100, worldwide since dawn of cinema? Not a remote chance. I love Rocky and have watched it many times. It is a great character driven film and culturally important for American cinema, at the least.

Well... written by essentially a first timer who also played the lead and it made over 200X it's budget in box office alone, and was a HUGE part of the mid 70's zeitgeist (I remember teenage girls wearing Rocky t-shirts), it's really a major success story in itself.

We are talking about quality of film. Not how much it made at box office.

I will add in that a little it looked like it took partially place in ghetto setting but Taxi Driver took place in such a setting somewhat. ( See my postings on that other film.)

@Benton12 said:

We are talking about quality of film. Not how much it made at box office.

I know what we're talking about. Are you moderating posts?

Well, I started the posting. I answer your question that way, Mongo. Moral right there. This is about quality of film as far as story and camera work and and so on. How much it makes at the box office is not directly related to whether it is one of the 100 greatest films or not!

You did say it was well written, Mongo. More on topic. All right. It was a little old fashionedly done by premise though also very contemporary to the time it was made. Not corny. He actually does not win the fight. Slummy sets it has but then again so did Taxi Driver. This last fact causes me and others to wonder if the only reason TD was considered a better film was being an anti-Vietnam war and if so was Rocky ( minus the Vietnam theme) was considered by many not actually one of the best 100 films because it was minus!

@catmydogs said:

If you limit it to top 100 American films of the 70’s, it is worthy. Top 100, worldwide since dawn of cinema? Not a remote chance. I love Rocky and have watched it many times. It is a great character driven film and culturally important for American cinema, at the least.

Catmydogs, your reply hits it somewhat on the nose for sure. This is what should be said. Rocky was one of the best 100 American films ever made but that is to not to actually say that it was better than all but 99 other single American films. It is to say more that it is one of the 100 best very famous American films to be possibly equalled but never surpassed.

Moderator no. But we who start boards should try to maybe referee.

Mongo, your money comment could, however, lead one to wonder if any of the 100 Greatest Films were total financial flops at the BO.

@Benton12 said:

Well, I started the posting. I answer your question that way, Mongo. Moral right there. This is about quality of film as far as story and camera work and and so on. How much it makes at the box office is not directly related to whether it is one of the 100 greatest films or not!

I mentioned more things than box office, but please go ahead and hone in on that one detail if it helps your case. Rocky struck a cord (as I mentioned) with its audience in a big way, not unlike the Star Wars films which rely on a similar cultural significance factor that lends them a heightened cinematic quality. There ARE people who claim Citizen Kane isn't all that, also, but there are technical aspects of it that help elevate it. Sure, judging Rocky coldly in a vacuum would render it as just another decently made rags to riches, underdog story, but in the world of sentimental, emotional, human beings, art (even commercial art) is rarely judged that way.

My thanks to both of you for coming on and contributing thought provoking points.

@Benton12 said:

Mongo, your money comment could, however, lead one to wonder if any of the 100 Greatest Films were total financial flops at the BO.

Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai lost plenty of money.

@RyanMoore said:

@Benton12 said:

Mongo, your money comment could, however, lead one to wonder if any of the 100 Greatest Films were total financial flops at the BO.

Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai lost plenty of money.

In the US or Japan?