20 Facts About Rocky IV

Rocky IV is a 1985 American sports drama film written, directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone.

Rocky IV was Dolph Lundgren's first American film debut, and Stallone's last directorial effort until 2006.

Development for a fourth Rocky IV film began soon after the success of Rocky IV III, which faced controversy after it was subject to a copyright lawsuit.

Rocky IV is known for its strong Cold War themes, and for its successful theme songs "Burning Heart" and "Living in America".

Rocky IV has reservations but agrees to help train Apollo for the match.

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Frustrated by the Soviets' cold indifference, Rocky IV decides to challenge Drago himself, but has to surrender his championship to do so.

Duke opens up to Rocky IV, stating that he actually raised Apollo and that his death felt like a father losing his son, and expresses his faith in Rocky IV that he will emerge victorious.

Rocky IV takes a fierce pounding in the first round, but goes on the offensive toward the end of the second round after landing a brutal right hook that cuts Drago's left eye, stunning both Drago and the crowd.

Duke encourages Rocky IV by reminding him that he just proved Drago is a man, and not a machine as he's been made out to be.

In contrast, Drago comments to his trainers that Rocky IV "is not human, he is like a piece of iron, " after his trainers reprimand him for his performance against the "weak" American.

Two boxers spend the next dozen rounds trading blows, with Rocky IV managing to continually hold his ground despite Drago's best efforts.

Rocky IV gives a victory speech, acknowledging that the local crowd's disdain of him had turned to mutual respect during the fight.

Rocky IV ends his speech by wishing his son watching the match on TV a Merry Christmas, and raises his arms into the air in victory as the crowd applauds.

The small farm where Rocky IV lived and trained was in Jackson Hole, and Grand Teton National Park was used for filming many of the outdoor sequences in the Soviet Union.

Rocky IV is one of the few sport movies that applies genuine sound effects from actual punches, bona fide training methods created by boxing consultants, and a bevy of other new special effects.

In 2012, Olympians Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte noted that the training sequences in Rocky IV inspired them to use a cabin similar to what the resourceful Balboa utilized in the film.

Musical score for Rocky IV was composed by Vince DiCola, who would later compose the music for The Transformers: The Movie.

Rocky IV is the only film in the series not to feature original music by Bill Conti, who was replaced by DiCola; however, it does feature arrangements of themes composed by Conti from previous films in the series, such as "The Final Bell".

Rocky IV premiered in Westwood, Los Angeles on November 21,1985.

Stallone has been quoted as saying the enormous financial success and fan-following of Rocky IV once had him envisioning another Rocky movie, devoted to Drago and his post-boxing life, with Balboa's storyline running parallel to Drago's.