Rocky 50

Rocky returns to theaters from November 7 to 11, 2026, as part of Rocky 50, a 50th-anniversary re-release of the 1976 original. It's remastered in 4K and distributed by Amazon MGM Studios, Park Circus, and Fathom Entertainment, playing in select theaters across the country. The run is five days long, so you've got a window rather than a single night to catch it.

If you've only seen it on home video, the 4K remaster is the main draw here. The original was directed by John G. Avildsen from a screenplay and story by Sylvester Stallone himself, who also stars as Rocky Balboa, the struggling Philadelphia boxer. It was produced by Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, and it went on to earn ten Academy Award nominations and three wins: Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Film Editing. In 2006, the Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.

There's a bit of history behind the story, too. Stallone based the character on Chuck Wepner, the "Bayonne Bleeder," whom he saw fight Joe Ali in 1975. The film's success eventually spawned eight sequels and the later Creed series, so this is the one that started it all. This re-release adds a new anniversary logo to the presentation.

Beyond the movie itself, there's an extra for the fans: an exclusive look at I Play Rocky, a Stallone biopic directed by Peter Farrelly and starring Anthony Ippolito as Stallone. Between the remastered film and the first look at the biopic, it's a double feature of sorts. Rocky 50 runs from November 7 to 11 at select theaters, with locations subject to change, so check your local listings for the nearest screen.