Rocky V

Rocky comes home from Moscow with brain damage and finds out he's broke: an accountant drained everything after Paulie signed over power of attorney. The family loses the mansion and moves back to the old neighborhood, and doctors bar Rocky from fighting. He reopens Mickey's gym and starts training Tommy Gunn, a raw young talent. Tommy rises to contender, but Rocky pours so much into him that he drifts away from his son, Robert, who's struggling at his new school. Promoter George Washington Duke lures Tommy away with money and a title shot. Tommy wins, but fans call him a paper champion for never facing Rocky. He punches Paulie, and the two of them fight in the street; Rocky wins and reconnects with his son.

1. CameoA real heavyweight

   Tommy Gunn is played by Tommy Morrison, a professional heavyweight boxer, in his acting debut.

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2. CameoFather and son on screen

   Sage Stallone, Sylvester's son, makes his film debut as Robert, Rocky's son.

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3. Behind the scenesIn the first draft, Rocky died

   In Stallone's original script, Rocky died in Adrian's arms after the fight with Tommy. Producer Irwin Winkler and director John G. Avildsen pushed back, and that ending was never shot.

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4. ReferenceMickey channels Cus D'Amato

   Mickey's flashback speech, with Burgess Meredith in newly shot scenes, was drawn from a 1985 interview with Cus D'Amato, Mike Tyson's trainer.

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