‘Rocky’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan
March 4, 2025 · Rocky (1976) · Drama · Sport · 1:53:04 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsMultiple scenes including the Spider-Rico fight at the beginning, Apollo's bicentennial plan sequence, and Mickey trying to convince Rocky to hire him as manager▶ 35:31
Big Kahuna Burger Award
Van LathanThe turkey scene where Paul throws the Thanksgiving turkey and wields the turkey leg as a scepter▶ 41:47
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Chris RyanAgrees the courting scenes drag, specifically criticizing how the skating rink date extends unnecessarily to Rocky's house▶ 1:10:40
Van LathanDiscusses the pacing issues with the courting sequence but seems more understanding of the narrative progression▶ 1:10:47
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Bill SimmonsIf this movie didn't exist, Philadelphia would basically be Delaware with more attitude, a nicer art museum, and a couple pro sports teams - Rocky really made Philadelphia▶ 1:17:24
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsHarvey Keitel — Discusses studio alternatives like Redford, Ryan O'Neill, Burt Reynolds, James Caan but argues they were too established/movie star-ish. Notes Ken Norton was targeted for Apollo Creed, Harvey Keitel for Pauly would have been better, Susan Sarandon too pretty for Adrian, Lee Strasberg wanted too much for Mickey▶ 1:18:49
Chris RyanJames Caan — Proposes James Caan as Rocky with Harvey Keitel or John Cazale as Pauly as an interesting alternate casting scenario▶ 1:19:20
What's Aged the Worst
Chris RyanRocky's character conception - they leave him simple in this movie but he gets smarter and more physically talented as he gets older, which isn't realistic for boxers▶ 1:24:55
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsSylvester Stallone — Stallone's apex was Rocky 3/Rambo era (1982), Talia Shire yes for Rocky, John Avildsen possibly this over Karate Kid despite Oscar win, shy girlfriends yes, Philadelphia among top moments▶ 1:27:58
Chris RyanWoman taking glasses off transformation possibly yes, withholding sex during sports training (compared to Bull Durham), Raging Bull over Rocky for desert island pick▶ 1:28:05
Van LathanRocky — Glasses transformation would be bigger than She's All That, Rocky more culturally significant than Raging Bull though Raging Bull is better film, one of most notable images of Philadelphia▶ 1:28:21
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsWhat were the odds on FanDuel heading into this fight? Creed is minus 2,000, maybe 30 to 1 for Rocky like Tyson-Buster Douglas▶ 1:41:23
Chris RyanWhat happens with the live odds and fight dynamics - after Rocky acquits himself decently for two rounds, he has to go down▶ 1:41:45
Van LathanDo women weaken legs? No, women do not in fact weaken legs - there's no scientific proof to it▶ 1:41:16
Best Double Feature
Chris RyanRaging Bull — Initially suggested Raging Bull but didn't clearly state final pick▶ 1:44:13
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsSylvester Stallone — Sylvester Stallone - calls it potentially the number one 'who won the movie' ever, citing his roles as writer, star, and the extraordinary rags-to-riches story▶ 1:45:15
Chris RyanSylvester Stallone — Sylvester Stallone - agrees and suggests they could rename it 'the Stallone who won the movie award' because no one's ever done this▶ 1:45:34
Van LathanSylvester Stallone — Sylvester Stallone - agrees with the others, emphasizing how rare it is for studios to let someone write, star in, and direct when they're not bankable▶ 1:46:01
Movies Referenced (51)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creed (2015) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 16 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | ▶ 25:48 |
| Philadelphia (1993) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan | ▶ 9:31 |
| Raging Bull (1980) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Chris Ryan, Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:32:57 |
| Rocky Balboa (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 39:44 |
| The Ring (2002) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 7:21 |
| Rocky III (1982) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | ▶ 3:20 |
| All the President's Men (1976) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 31:30 |
| Rambo (2008) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Chris Ryan, Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 21:55 |
| Saturday Night Fever (1977) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 12:48 |
| Creed II (2018) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:48:16 |
| Rocky IV (1985) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 9:10 |
| The Godfather (1972) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:02:50 |
Directors Referenced (5)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Molly Dedham | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | The Day After Tomorrow, National Treasure | ▶ 8:27 |
| John Hughes | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck, The Breakfast Club | ▶ 11:16 |
| Julius Erving | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Philadelphia | ▶ 1:26:14 |
| Sean Penn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Mystic River, 21 Grams, Dead Man Walking | ▶ 1:11:57 |
| Sidney Lumet | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | 12 Angry Men | ▶ 31:41 |
Actors Referenced (66)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masha Juergens | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 6:01 | |
| Tom Cruise | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Top Gun, Minority Report | ▶ 1:33:47 |
| Kid Cudi | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons | The Harder They Fall, Don't Look Up, Need for Speed | ▶ 11:01 |
| Burgess Meredith | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons | Rocky, Rocky II | ▶ 32:14 |
| Sylvester Stallone | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Rocky, Rocky IV, Creed | ▶ 2:40 |
| Joe Spinell | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Taxi Driver, Rocky | ▶ 1:21:49 |
| Michael V. Gazzo | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons | The Godfather Part II | ▶ 1:04:17 |
| Bill Baldwin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Rocky II, Rocky, Rocky III | ▶ 2:36 |
| Burt Young | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | Rocky, Rocky Balboa, Rocky IV | ▶ 32:14 |
| Robert De Niro | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Cape Fear, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver | ▶ 2:53 |
| Frank Stallone | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Rambo: First Blood Part II | ▶ 1:22:13 |
| Henry Winkler | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Night Shift | ▶ 20:42 |
Writers Referenced (4)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Cameron | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Avatar, Aliens, Terminator 2: Judgment Day | ▶ 1:13:11 |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 34:28 | |
| George Lucas | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, American Graffiti | ▶ 1:13:01 |
| William Goldman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President's Men, The Princess Bride | ▶ 15:02 |