THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND, GRAB A RINGSIDE SEAT TO THE GREATEST BOXING MOVIE SAGA OF ALL TIME WITH EL REY NETWORK’S ‘ROCKY’ MOVIE MARATHON
This Labor Day weekend, El Rey Network provides ringside seats to a “Rocky” Movie Marathon with all five classic films airing back-to-back with original introductions by “Rocky” creator and star Sylvester Stallone. The starting bell for this special marathon rings on Saturday, September 5th, 2015 at 6:00 PM/ET and ends Monday, September 7th, 2015 at 6:00 PM/ET.
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The “Rocky” Movie Marathon kicks off with the original classic Rocky (1976), written by and starring a then-unknown Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa, an uneducated but kind-hearted working class Italian-American boxer who gets a shot at the world heavyweight championship. Directed by John G. Avildsen and co-starring Talia Shire as Rocky’s girlfriend, Adrian, Burt Young as Adrian’s brother Paulie, Burgess Meredith as Rocky’s trainer Mickey Goldmill, and Carl Weathers as heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, Rocky was the sleeper hit of 1976, becoming the highest grossing film of the year and winning three Academy Awards®, including Best Picture.
The Marathon continues with Rocky II (1979), which marked Stallone’s first time directing in the series. In the aftermath of his bout with Apollo Creed, Rocky attempts to lead a peaceful life with his new bride, Adrian, but the fame and fortune from the match soon runs scarce and, to make ends meet, Rocky agrees to a re-match with Apollo. Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers and Burgess Meredith return for this box office hit sequel, which won Best Picture at the 1980 American Movie Awards and the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Motion Picture.
Next up is Rocky III (1982), written, directed by and starring Stallone and featuring returning series’ costars Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith, Talia Shire and Burt Young. Rocky III also marked the film debuts of “A-Team” star Mr. T as James “Clubber” Lang and professional wrestler Hulk Hogan as “Thunderlips.” Another box office smash, the second sequel in the series featured the hit song “Eye of the Tiger,” which was nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Original Song.
Airing next is the third sequel, Rocky IV (1985), which ushered in the end of the Cold War with its Russian-themed storyline. In his fourth round as Rocky, and his third time directing, Stallone pits Rocky against the Soviet Union’s top boxer, Ivan Drago, played by Dolph Lundgren. Co-starring Burt Young, Talia Shire, Carl Weathers, Tony Burton, Michael Pataki, and Brigitte Nielsen, Rocky IV remains the highest-grossing film in the series.
The final sequel presented as part of the “Rocky” Movie Marathon is 1990’s Rocky V, which sees original Rocky director John G. Avildsen returning to direct writer and star Stallone as one-time champ Rocky Balboa, who has now hit rock bottom and winds up in his old Philadelphia neighborhood broke and ostracized. In spite of brain damage from his last fight with super-Soviet Ivan Drago, Rocky is willing to risk everything on another bout. Rocky V also co-stars Stallone’s real life son, Sage Stallone, who sadly died in 2013.
Catch every action-packed fight, power ballad-driven training sequence, and rousing emotional moment of Rocky I-V with El Rey Network’s “Rocky” Movie Marathon, scheduled as follows:
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH
6:00pm Rocky
8:45pm Rocky II
11:30pm Rocky III
1:45am Rocky IV
3:45am Rocky V
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH
6:00am Rocky
8:45am Rocky II
11:30AM Rocky III
1:45pm Rocky IV
3:45pm Rocky V
6:00pm Rocky
8:45pm Rocky II
11:30pm Rocky III
1:45am Rocky IV
3:45am Rocky V
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH
6:00am Rocky
8:45am Rocky II
11:30AM Rocky III
1:45pm Rocky IV
3:45pm Rocky V
About El Rey Network
El Rey Network is a 24-hour English language network founded by maverick filmmaker Robert Rodriguez. Curated by Rodriguez and his artistic collective, the network unites “the new mainstream” through badass content that awakens the renegade in everyone. El Rey’s action-packed slate is anchored by signature series including the original drama, “From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series” which returns for a second season in summer 2015, the one-on-one interview program, “El Rey Network Presents: The Director’s Chair” and “Lucha Underground,” a freestyle wrestling series from Mark Burnett. El Rey Network’s lineup also showcases a wide range of iconic feature films and TV series including grindhouse genre, cult classic action, and horror/sci-fi.
