Rocky Balboa (2006)

The American sports drama film, Rocky Balboa (2006), was written, directed by, and starred Sylvester Stallone. The protagonist, now 60 years old and retired from boxing, leads a quiet life as a widower. His wife Adrian passed away four years prior after losing her battle to cancer. Rocky now operates a successful Italian restaurant named after her, where he entertains customers with stories from his past. Alongside coping with his grief over Adrian’s death, Rocky also struggles with his strained relationship with his son Robert – now a moderately successful young corporate lawyer. His brother-in-law and best friend Paulie continues to stand by him but is tormented by his previous mistreatment towards his late sister. During one late night outing, Rocky meets Marie – a woman he had once escorted home many years ago when she was a troublesome young girl.

Marie is now a single parent to teenage son Stephenson, nicknamed ‘Steps’, who was born out of wedlock. As their relationship grows, Rocky quickly becomes a positive influence in Steps’ life, offering him much-needed support during a difficult time. Meanwhile, in the world of professional boxing, Mason “The Line” Dixon remains the undefeated heavyweight champion, though he faces criticism for never facing a true contender. This tension with the public and his promoters prompts him to return to his roots – the small gym where he first started and his wise old trainer who reminds him that true respect can only be earned through challenging opponents. In a simulation broadcasted by ESPN, Rocky is pitted against Mason in a modern-day version of The Super Fight, resulting in a disputed KO victory for Balboa and further stirring up the champ’s anger.