'I Play Rocky' is the BFI London Film Festival's 2026 surprise screening
Peter Farrelly's Stallone biopic 'I Play Rocky' was revealed as the surprise film at the BFI London Film Festival on Friday night, with Farrelly introducing it on stage.
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The story, neutrally told
Left · 2Peter Farrelly's 'I Play Rocky', a biographical drama about the beginnings of Sylvester Stallone's boxing franchise, was the BFI London Film Festival's surprise film on Friday 16 October 2026. VarietyLC “London Film Festival‘s surprise film on Friday night was “I Play Rocky,” Peter Farrelly’s biographical drama about the beginnings of Sylvester Stallone‘s beloved boxing franchise.” Read at Variety ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “is Peter Farrelly’s I Play Rocky with up-and-coming star Anthony Ippolito” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Left · 1It screened at Royal Festival Hall, the traditional venue for the surprise slot, and Farrelly appeared on stage before the screening; The Hollywood Reporter says he joined LFF director Kristy Matheson. The Hollywood ReporterLC “screening at the British capital’s Royal Festival Hall — as has become tradition”“Filmmaker Peter Farrelly surprised attendees by joining LFF director Kristy Matheson on stage at Royal Festival Hall.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Left · 2Farrelly praised his star Anthony Ippolito, saying he 'could do a TED talk' about him, and said Ippolito tracked down the script and shot three scenes in his grandmother's basement on Long Island, sending a self-tape before the team had begun a wider search for who would play Stallone. VarietyLC ““He heard about the movie, tracked down the script, shot three scenes in his grandmother’s basement on Long Island and sent it to us,” Farrelly continued.” Read at Variety ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “Farrelly looked at Ippolito’s audition and thought: “‘That’s it.’ We never looked past him.”” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
Left · 1Variety reports Ippolito is 27, and that Farrelly said he was proudest that Stallone himself likes the film: 'And he loved it.' VarietyLC ““No matter how well the movie does, how many people like it, if Stallone said, ‘I don’t like it,’ I would be really disappointed,” he said. “And he loved it.”” Read at Variety ↗ Left · 1Farrelly also said the script was sent to him by Peter Gamble, and that the story mirrors 'Rocky' but could be 'even better' because 'Rocky is fiction, and this is reality'. The Hollywood ReporterLC ““The script was sent to me by Peter Gamble,” said the filmmaker.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Left · 2The film tells how Stallone, then a young small-time actor, overcame obstacles to write and star in the 1976 classic, which won three Oscars including best picture. VarietyLC “tells the true story of how Stallone, then a young small-time actor, overcame obstacles to both write and star in the 1976 classic.” Read at Variety ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “the 1976 boxing film that won three Oscars, including best picture” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
Left · 2Besides Ippolito, the cast includes AnnSophia Robb as Stallone's wife Sasha Czack, Matt Dillon as Frank Stallone Sr., P.J. Byrne as producer Irwin Winkler and Jay Duplass as director John G. Avildsen; The Hollywood Reporter also lists Toby Kebbell, Tracy Letts and Kiki Seto. VarietyLC “Matt Dillon as his father, Frank Stallone Sr.; P.J. Byrne as “Rocky” producer Irwin Winkler; Jay Duplass as director John G. Avildsen” Read at Variety ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “Toby Kebbell, Tracy Letts, Jay Duplass and Kiki Seto” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Left · 2The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last month, where it was up for the People's Choice Award; both trade critics reviewed it favourably, with Variety's Owen Gleiberman calling it a 'cleverly-crafted crowd pleaser' and THR's David Rooney saying Ippolito 'holds the movie together'. VarietyLC “where it was up for the People’s Choice Award and generated positive reviews” Read at Variety ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “says Ippolito “holds the movie together” in his review out of TIFF earlier this year” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Left · 2Last year's LFF surprise film was 'Tuner'. The 70th festival runs through Sunday 18 October, having opened with 'Elsinore' and set to close with Jesse Eisenberg's 'The Debut'. 'I Play Rocky' is due in US and UK theatres on 6 November. The Hollywood ReporterLC “Last year, Tuner, starring Leo Woodall and Dustin Hoffman, was the surprise movie at LFF.”“The 70th edition of the BFI London Film Festival runs through Sunday, Oct. 18.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ VarietyLC ““I Play Rocky” is set to hit U.S. and U.K. theaters on Nov. 6.” Read at Variety ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- Both trade outlets treat it as festival news, built around Farrelly's on-stage remarks and praise for Ippolito, backed by their own critics' favourable TIFF reviews.
- Emphasis
- Ippolito's casting story, Stallone's approval (Variety), cast and production credits and festival context (THR).
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither reports audience reaction at the screening in detail or any critical views of the film.
- Charged language
- “cleverly-crafted crowd pleaser”“beloved boxing franchise”
- For example
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“Variety‘s chief film critic Owen Gleiberman called the film a “cleverly-crafted crowd pleaser”” — Variety
“The audience guessing game at the BFI London Film Festival is officially over.” — The Hollywood Reporter
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- 'I Play Rocky', directed by Peter Farrelly, was the LFF surprise film on Friday night.
- Farrelly introduced it and praised Anthony Ippolito, who sent a self-tape shot in his grandmother's basement on Long Island.
- The film premiered at TIFF and drew positive reviews.
Peter Farrelly person
Farrelly introduced the film, lauded Ippolito and said he was proudest that Stallone loved it.
““No matter how well the movie does, how many people like it, if Stallone said, ‘I don’t like it,’ I would be really disappointed,”” — Variety
Left2 articles
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‘I Play Rocky’ Surprise Screens at London Film Festival
Sympathetic Festival report that foregrounds Farrelly's praise of Ippolito and Stallone's approval, reinforced by Variety's own positive review.
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London Film Festival’s Surprise Movie Is… ‘I Play Rocky’
Sympathetic Reveals the surprise title with Farrelly's quotes, full credits, THR's positive TIFF review and LFF surprise-film history.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 16 Oct 21:32 First VarietyLC ‘I Play Rocky’ Surprise Screens at London Film Festival
- 16 Oct 21:47 +15m The Hollywood ReporterLC London Film Festival’s Surprise Movie Is… ‘I Play Rocky’
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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