Rocky Steps | Reenact a Classic Movie Scene in Philadelphia (2024)
In one of the most famous scenes in sports movie history, Rocky Balboa goes for a run through Philadelphiato prepare for his fight. With‘Gonna Fly Now’ blaring, Rocky sprints up a set of stairs to finishhis workout. At the top of the steps, Rocky turns around, shadow boxes for a few seconds and then raises his hands in victory.It’s a classic moment and one that makes the ‘Rocky Steps’ a popular spot for tourists in Philadelphia.
Before I move on, here’s the iconic scene from Rockywiththe ‘Rocky Steps’:
The ‘Rocky Steps’ (the name most people refer to them as)are actually 72 stonestairs leading to the entrance of thePhiladelphia Museum of Art. I honestly didn’t see one person go in the museum when I was there, but I saw everyonerunning the ‘Rocky Steps’ and posing with their arms high in the air.My mom and I jumped in on the fun as well.You just have to do it!
The ‘Rocky Steps’ are perfect for anyonecelebrating the famous scene, but theyalso provide a great view of Philadelphia (one of the reasons I’m sure the film crew chose that location). When you look back toward the city, you see Eakins Oval, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia City Hall and the impressivePhiladelphia skyline. The Philadelphia Museum of Art isa coollookingbuilding as well.
The original‘Rocky Steps’scenewas so popular that the filmmakerswound up usingit in every movie in the series (there weresixdifferent Rocky films). Before Rocky III, Sylvester Stallone commissioned a sculptor to create a large bronze statue of Rocky. The statue was placed at the top of thestairsfor the movie, but itwas eventually taken down and moved to a grassy area next tothe steps. The statue is still there today, and it’s popular with tourists as well.In place of the statue at the top of the ‘Rocky Steps’, you can now find a set of bronze footprints with the name “Rocky” over them.
It’s a little unusual (since the originalRocky was released in 1976),butthesteps are one ofPhiladelphia’s biggest tourist attractions. Thousands of people from all over the world, young and old, run up every year. Unless you’re a Rocky freak, the stairs alonearen’t reason enough tovisit Philadelphia. But if you ever find yourself in the City of Brotherly Love — run baby, run!
Have you ever been to the ‘Rocky Steps’? What was your experience like? We would love to hear all about it! Please leave a comment below or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Don’t forget to also check out Seattle Bloggers for more awesome places to experience in the Emerald City and around the world!
This ascent has become symbolic of the city of Philadelphia and its residents, representing that an underdog can become a champion through hard work, determination, and hustle. Every year, tens of thousands of people make the same trek up the 72 "Rocky Steps," making it one of the world's most famous movie locations.
Others felt the statue lacked dignity and was essentially a movie prop that did not belong permanently at that location. After prolonged dispute, the city formally accepted the gift, and it was moved to the Spectrum, a sports complex in South Philadelphia.
Rocky's iconic training montage, featuring his run up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, helped popularize the use of the Steadicam in filmmaking.
Sylvester Stallone, both the writer and principal actor of Rocky, embodied the spirit of Rocky Balboa, contributing to the film's success.
The 72 stone steps leading up to the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have become known as the "Rocky Steps" as a result of a scene from the 1976 film Rocky. Tourists often mimic Rocky's famous climb, a metaphor for an underdog or an everyman rising to a challenge.
Well, this would not be your average training run, mobs of children aside, as the run would have covered 30.61 miles. That's more than a marathon. And making their film debuts that day: 800 of Philly's finest youngsters. After the huge success of Rocky, Sylvester Stallone was uncomfortable in front of the camera.
The Rocky movies series filming locations were split between Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love and Los Angeles, and on this driving tour, you will discover where the most iconic scenes were shot in Philly from the steps of the Art Museum to the Italian Market.
One was installed atop the steps for the filming of Rocky III, and was ultimately relocated to the bottom of the steps. The second Rocky was in the San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum in San Diego, California, until it closed in 2017.
In 1980, Sylvester Stallone commissioned A. Thomas Schomberg to create the Statue of ROCKY™ for the movie "ROCKY III". Today, this iconic statue resides at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, adjacent to the famous ROCKY steps, for visitors from around the globe to enjoy.
The fictional Rocky Balboa of Sylvester Stallone's Rocky movies was immortalized in bronze by artist A. Thomas Schomberg in 1980 for a scene in the film Rocky III. After the filming was complete, Stallone donated the statue to the City of Philadelphia.
Stallone has many movie regrets like Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot or Rhinestone, while he believes First Blood is his best action movie. When it comes to his favorite Rocky movies, he believes the first entry and Rocky Balboa are the best.
The film received critical acclaim for Stallone's writing, as well as the film's performances, direction, musical score, cinematography and editing; among other accolades, it received ten Academy Award nominations and won three, including Best Picture.
“Gonna Fly Now.” That's the song written by Bill Conti that everyone hums as they run up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. If you don't know the Rocky theme, learn it. And maybe get in a few training runs before you sprint up the 72 steps and raise your arms aloft victoriously.
Character biography. Robert "Rocky" Balboa was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 6, 1945. He was the only child in a Roman Catholic, Italian-American or Italian immigrant family.
The Museum's seventy-two steps leading up to the East Terrace became famous as the “Rocky Steps” after the release of the 1976 movie starring Sylvester Stallone. Visitors to Philadelphia from around the world race up the steps to recreate the iconic movie scene.
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