I Play Rocky: reviews of Peter Farrelly's film on how Stallone won the lead in Rocky
Den of Geek and Radio Times both praise Peter Farrelly's I Play Rocky, a dramatised account of Sylvester Stallone's fight to star in Rocky. It opens in the UK on 6 November 2026 and in limited US release the same day.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2I Play Rocky is a film directed by Peter Farrelly that dramatises how Sylvester Stallone, an out-of-work actor, wrote Rocky and refused to sell the script unless he got to play the lead. Den of GeekN “tells the ever impressive story of Sylvester Stallone’s journey from out-of-work actor to a writer with a hot script he wouldn’t sell unless he got the starring role” Read at Den of Geek ↗ Radio TimesN “This film – which details how Sylvester Stallone came to play his iconic character – is hard not to love.” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 2Both reviews describe it as a drama with comedy rather than a documentary, and say Anthony Ippolito plays the young Stallone, AnnaSophia Robb plays his wife Sasha, and Toby Kebbell and P.J. Byrne play the producers Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler. Den of GeekN “the film’s version of a young Stallone (an eerily uncanny Anthony Ippolito)” Read at Den of Geek ↗ Radio TimesN “Toby Kebbell and PJ Byrne form a terrific double act as Stallone’s producers” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 2The story follows Stallone's move from New York to Los Angeles, his idea for Rocky after watching Chuck Wepner go nearly 15 rounds with Muhammad Ali, and his insistence "I play Rocky" while producers float Burt Reynolds, Clint Eastwood and Ryan O’Neal. Den of GeekN “It begins after the would-be star watches from a bar stool how real-life challenger Chuck Wepner (almost) goes 15 rounds with heavyweight champ Muhammad Ali” Read at Den of Geek ↗ Radio TimesN “While his producers bat around tried-and-tested 1970s names like Burt Reynolds, Clint Eastwood and Ryan O’Neal” Read at Radio Times ↗
Centre · 2Tracy Letts plays a studio executive who is a composite of real figures; Den of Geek says the character represents United Artists executives, and Radio Times names him Sandy Maddox. Den of GeekN “a delightfully shady composite character of various United Artists executives played by Tracy Letts” Read at Den of Geek ↗ Radio TimesN “The Letts character is a composite, reportedly based on selected traits of real-life Hollywood high-fliers of the era” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 1Den of Geek's David Crow calls it a sweet, calculated crowdpleaser that emulates Rocky's formula; he says it becomes more conventional once production starts, that Robb's role shrinks to supporting spouse in the third act, and that he does not know whether it is the "real story". Den of GeekN “it becomes a lot more conventional, with the Rocky making-of story insisting on rhyming with the 1976 classic to the point of occasionally straining credulity”“I have little idea whether it’s the “real story,”” Read at Den of Geek ↗ Centre · 1Crow notes that Farrelly has a record of playing fast and loose with facts, citing the lingering controversy around Green Book. Den of GeekN “Farrelly is no stranger to playing fast and loose with facts in order to spin a good yarn—look no further than the lingering controversy around his Best Picture winner, Green Book” Read at Den of Geek ↗
Centre · 1Radio Times's Terry Staunton says the story has been told before, in the 2023 Netflix documentary Sly and Stallone's 2026 autobiography The Steps, but is most engaging as a drama, and places the film alongside Saving Mr Banks and Mank as a successful Hollywood-about-Hollywood film. Radio TimesN “has been told before, in both the 2023 Netflix documentary Sly and the actor’s 2026 autobiography The Steps”“I Play Rocky is a proud addition to the list” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 2Both reviewers single out Ippolito's uncanny but nuanced performance and praise supporting turns by Jay Duplass as director John G. Avildsen and Stephan James as Carl Weathers. Den of GeekN “Ippolito’s performance is far fuller than impersonation” Read at Den of Geek ↗ Radio TimesN “Jay Duplass warrants a shout-out as the sardonic and straight-talking Avildsen” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 2The film opens in limited US release on 6 November and wide on 20 November, and in UK cinemas on 6 November 2026. Den of GeekN “I Play Rocky opens in limited release on Nov. 6 and wide on Nov. 20.” Read at Den of Geek ↗ Radio TimesN “I Play Rocky is released in UK cinemas on Friday 6 November 2026.” Read at Radio Times ↗
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.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both centre outlets give warm reviews of a feel-good underdog story. Den of Geek adds reservations about sentiment and accuracy; Radio Times is almost unreservedly enthusiastic.
- Emphasis
- Ippolito's performance, the Rocky parallels, the comic industry satire and the supporting cast.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Radio Times does not question the film's factual accuracy; Den of Geek mentions Stallone's later career and politics, which Radio Times does not.
- Charged language
- “crowdpleaser”“sweet and syrupy”“punching the sky with joy”
- For example
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“it is definitely a crowdpleasing yarn that leaves audiences feeling like they saw the little guy win one” — Den of Geek
“it will have you punching the sky with joy like Rocky Balboa himself” — Radio Times
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Peter Farrelly directed I Play Rocky, a dramatised account of Stallone winning the lead in Rocky.
- Anthony Ippolito plays the young Stallone and both reviewers praise the performance.
- Tracy Letts plays a composite studio executive.
- The film opens on 6 November (limited in the US, UK-wide).
Sylvester Stallone person
Stallone is the film's subject; the reviews portray him as a stubborn underdog. Den of Geek mentions his later reputation as a 'Hollywood Trump whisperer' and says the film invites audiences to forget it. Neither review quotes him.
“practically begs audiences to forget what came later, from Stallone’s reigning diva status in ‘80s action cinema to his more modern reputation as a Hollywood Trump whisperer” — Den of Geek
“the guy who came up with the idea of a nobody boxer getting a shot at the big time is adamant” — Radio Times
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Den of GeekN · · Opinion
I Play Rocky Review: A Crowdpleaser Sylvester Stallone Would Be Proud to Claim
Sympathetic Appreciative review that admits the film is calculated and sentimental, questions its factual fidelity, and still recommends it as a charming crowdpleaser.
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Radio TimesN · · Opinion
I Play Rocky review: Will have you punching the sky with joy like Rocky Balboa himself
Celebratory Enthusiastic review presenting the film as a joyful, well-cast addition to the best Hollywood-about-Hollywood films.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 3 Nov 17:04 First Den of GeekN I Play Rocky Review: A Crowdpleaser Sylvester Stallone Would Be Proud to Claim Opinion
- 4 Nov 15:58 +22h 54m Radio TimesN I Play Rocky review: Will have you punching the sky with joy like Rocky Balboa himself Opinion
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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