The film needed the pathos of Mickey's dying to first depress Rocky, and then to "inspire" him into eventually beating Clubber Lang. Essentially, Mickey was sacrificed to make Rocky a "better" person.

What happened to Mick in Rocky 3?

Fans were caught cold when the unthinkable happened and Mickey died of a heart attack in Rocky 3, but even if they (or Rocky himself) couldn't see it, the shocking moment was the best thing to happen to the franchise.

Why was Adrian Balboa killed off?

Adrian's death improved the original story of Rocky Balboa by providing a richer and more heart-wrenching narrative centered around grief and purpose. Adrian's absence allowed for the exploration of Rocky's relationship with his son, creating one of the best aspects of the movie and a fitting end for the character.

Who was the real villain in Rocky 3?

James "Clubber" Lang is a fictional character created by Sylvester Stallone for the film Rocky III, which was released in 1982. He was portrayed by American actor and real-life wrestler Mr. T and serves as the main antagonist of the film.

Did Mickey think Rocky won?

Kneeling at his side, Rocky speaks to his friend, telling him that the fight ended in the second by a knockout, which Mickey misinterprets as a win for Rocky as he passes away.

ROCKY III | Rocky Says Goodbye to Mickey

How old was Mickey when he dies Rocky?

Another major discrepancy is in relation to Micky's age and date of death. In the first film, Micky says he is 76, placing his birth in either 1899 or 1900. In Rocky III however, his headstone lists his date of birth as 1905, making him 71 in the original film.

Why did Mickey cut Rocky?

Rocky was fighting Apollo Creed, the World Champ, who was super-fast and an amazing boxer. Rocky's face was a mess and his eye almost swollen shut towards the end of the fight. To relieve the swelling, Micky made a small cut so Rocky could see again. Mickey had Rocky's back.

Who was supposed to play Clubber Lang?

For the role of Clubber Lang, two real world-class heavyweight boxers were first considered: Joe Frazier and Earnie Shavers.

Who was supposed to be Clubber Lang?

Stallone revealed that, in order to push boxing movies into territory they had never been before, he wanted Joe Frazier to play Clubber Lang. Frazier was the first boxer to defeat legendary fighter Muhammad Ali and reigned as the sport's undisputed heavyweight champion from 1970 to 1973.

Will Clubber Lang be in Creed 3?

Clubber Lang did not appear in Creed 3, but a Creed 4 return would be a bad idea without Rocky.

Why does Paulie hate Rocky?

Rocky tries to retire again, and the audience sees how Paulie becomes increasingly jealous that Rocky has money and fame now. Instead of asking Rocky for a job like one usually would, he tries to challenge Rocky to a fight and tear him apart verbally while drunk.

Why did Rocky and his son stop talking?

Robert was born in Rocky II and supported his father in Rocky III and Rocky IV. The most notable evolution of their relationship came in Rocky V when they started to grow apart; this was the direct result of Robert being jealous of Tommy Gunn and the attention that Rocky was giving him.

Why isn t Paulie in Creed?

Paulie Pennino, Adrian's older brother and Rocky's best friend, died in February of 2012. The film never gives an explanation of his passing. A possibility of Paulie's death can be link to his excessive drinking and smoking over the years.

Who trains Rocky after Mick dies?

Apollo Creed

Creed's time training fighters is somewhat limited and is seemingly limited to training Rocky himself, helping his former rival after the death of Mickey in Rocky III. Creed is supported by his own trainer, and his approach to teaching Balboa is very much like that of Duke.

What happened to Clubber after Rocky 3?

The series has yet to specify Lang's fate: Clubber Lang eventually retired from boxing and according to Sylvester Stallone, Clubber Lang later became a born-again Christian and a ringside announcer.

What happened to Butkus in Rocky 3?

Butkus' scenes in Rocky II would be the dog's last appearances in the Rocky movies as he was never seen or mentioned. It was reported that the dog, which was Stallone's dog in real life, died around 1981 and thus never made it to the Rocky III and beyond.

What happened to Ivan Drago after Rocky 4?

After his loss to Rocky, Drago was disgraced by the USSR and Ludmilla left him to raise their son, Viktor, on his own. Following the end of the Cold War, Drago was forced to move to Ukraine, where he lived a modest life while relentlessly training Viktor to be an even more formidable boxer than he was.

Who hit harder Clubber or Drago?

Clubber Lang was a fighter of limited skill, who could only last for three rounds before getting winded and losing his edge. Drago would kill him. Literally. The man was a mountain of steroids and high tech Soviet training, with a punch that literally had the force of a bullet.

Was Joe Frazier actually in Rocky?

Frazier appeared as himself in the Academy Award-winning 1976 movie, Rocky. Since the debut of the Fight Night series of games made by EA Sports, Frazier appeared in Fight Night 2004, Fight Night Round 2, Fight Night Round 3, Fight Night Round 4 and Fight Night Champion.

Who was meant to play Rocky?

After repeated negotiations with Rumar and Kubik, Winkler-Chartoff agreed to a contract for Stallone to be the writer and also star in the lead role for Rocky. United Artists liked Stallone's script and viewed it as a vehicle for a well-established star like Robert Redford, Ryan O'Neal, Burt Reynolds, or James Caan.

How old was Hulk Hogan in Rocky 3?

But Sylvester Stallone, 70, still has stories to tell about his time on set with pro-wrestler Hulk Hogan, which he shared in an Instagram pic on Tuesday. Apparently, the then 28-year-old Hulk didn't know his own strength and ended up putting THREE stuntmen in the hospital while shooting the 1982 classic.

Why did Rocky 5 fail?

Rocky V was a failure for multiple reasons, including its weak story, poor characterization, reliance on the past, and more. So, here is an in-depth breakdown of everything wrong with Rocky V.

How did Paulie lose Rocky's money?

Paulie gave a lawyer Power of Attorney, and after promising to invest the Balboa's money in surefire real estate investments with an unscrupulous accountant, along with failing to pay the taxes and mortgage on Rocky's house efor several years, ended up leaving Rocky and Adrian with very little.

What did Mickey call Rocky?

Rocky (1976)

He saw that Rocky was wasting his life working for a loan shark, barely reaching his boxing potential. In one instance when Rocky finds out that his locker at the gym has been given to another fighter, he confronts Mickey about it, to which Mickey responds with this hilarious quote, calling Rocky a tomato.