Before the steps, the training montage and the cry of “Adrian!”, there was a struggling actor with a partly paralysed face, a speech impediment and a script that a studio wanted to buy, as long as someone else played the lead. I Play Rocky is the story of how Sylvester Stallone refused to let it go.
Peter Farrelly’s film arrives in UK cinemas this Friday, the same day the original Rocky returns in 4K for its 50th anniversary. It was runner-up for the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Anthony Ippolito does not just impersonate Stallone; he makes you believe in the man who believed in himself.
Movie at a Glance
- UK release: In cinemas from Friday 6 November 2026 (Entertainment Film)
- US release: Limited release from Friday 6 November 2026 (Amazon MGM Studios)
- Director: Peter Farrelly
- Writer: Peter Gamble
- Starring: Anthony Ippolito, Matt Dillon, AnnaSophia Robb, P.J. Byrne and Toby Kebbell
- Certificate: 12A (UK)
- Runtime: 128 minutes
- Genre: Biographical drama
Viewer Match
- Best for: Anyone who loves Rocky, and fans of warm-hearted stories about Hollywood.
- Maybe skip if: You want a tough, warts-and-all biopic.
- Mood and pace: Upbeat, nostalgic and steadily paced, with a big finish.
- Cinema or streaming? Cinema. It plays best with a crowd, and makes a great double bill with the 4K Rocky.
- Spoiler level: Spoiler-free, although you probably know how this one ends.
The Underdog Behind the Underdog
Ippolito plays Stallone, told no at every turn and holding the line on starring in his own script against seemingly impossible odds. Matt Dillon plays his father, Frank Stallone Sr, AnnaSophia Robb is his wife Sasha, and P.J. Byrne and Toby Kebbell play the producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff.
We previewed the film’s story in our I Play Rocky preview feature, and the finished film delivers exactly the crowd-pleasing beats it promised.
A Star-Making Turn
Ippolito is the reason to go. He captures Stallone’s voice and physicality without ever tipping into caricature, and he finds the hunger and vulnerability underneath the bravado. It is the kind of performance that gets an unknown noticed, which is fitting.
Dillon brings a hard edge to the family scenes, and the producers’ double act is a welcome source of comedy.
Broad Strokes
Farrelly has never been a subtle director, and the script paints in very broad strokes. The Hollywood executives are cartoonish, the sentiment is laid on thick, and the film is happier celebrating the legend than questioning it.
But it is hard to resist when it works. The final stretch is genuinely rousing, and anyone with a soft spot for Rocky will be cheering.
Make It a Double Bill
See it this weekend alongside the 4K re-release of the original. Both are in this week’s Weekly Cinema Pack, and for tonight’s viewing at home, see What to Watch Tonight.
Spoiler-Free Verdict
I Play Rocky is broad, sentimental and unashamedly old-fashioned. It is also a lot of fun, and Anthony Ippolito’s lead performance gives it the heart and grit the script sometimes lacks.
- Performances: 8.5/10
- Direction: 7/10
- Screenplay: 6.5/10
- Score: 7/10
- Cinematography: 7/10
- Entertainment Value: 8/10
- Overall score: 7.5/10
Star rating: 3.5/5
Verdict badge: One for Fans
One-line verdict: A rousing crowd-pleaser carried by a terrific lead performance.
Watch the Official Trailer
Watch Anthony Ippolito step into Stallone’s shoes in the official trailer.
Are you seeing I Play Rocky and the original Rocky on the same weekend? Tell us.