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Warner: First Look at Upcoming Rocky 4K Blu-ray Releases
Posted December 28, 2022 04:44 PM by
Warner Bros. is preparing 4K Blu-ray releases of the original four Rocky films: John G. Avildsen's Rocky (1976), and Sylvester Stallone's Rocky II (1979), Rocky III (1982), and Rocky IV (1985). The releases are scheduled to arrive on the market in February.
Rocky
Description: Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), a small-time boxer from working-class Philadelphia, is arbitrarily chosen to take on the reigning world heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), when the undefeated fighter's scheduled opponent is injured. While training with feisty former bantamweight contender Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith), Rocky tentatively begins a relationship with Adrian (Talia Shire), the wallflower sister of his meat-packer pal Paulie (Burt Young).
Rocky II
Description: Although working-class Philadelphia boxer Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) lost his high-profile bout with the cocky world champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), his Cinderella story has caught the national sports media's attention, and he now has the opportunity to capitalize on his sudden fame. Meanwhile, Creed is still smarting from nearly losing to some palooka no one has ever heard of, and arrogantly prods his newfound nemesis into getting back into the ring.
Rocky III
Description: Having become the world heavyweight champion, former working-class boxer Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) is rich and famous beyond his wildest dreams, which has made him lazy and overconfident. In a double whammy, he loses his trainer and father figure Mickey (Burgess Meredith) and then has his title stolen by the arrogant, menacing challenger Clubber Lang (Mr. T). Turning to his former adversary, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), for help, Rocky struggles to get his old fire back.
Rocky IV
Description: After reclaiming the boxing championship title, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) plans to retire and live with his wife, Adrian (Talia Shire). However, during an exhibition match, Rocky's friend Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) is mercilessly beaten to death by hulking Russian newcomer Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren). Rocky vows payback against Drago and flies to Russia to train for a Christmas Day fight. Despite their different training methods, Rocky and Drago both wage a long and intense match.
looks like WB is copying Paramount's release of the Star Trek original films on 4K: first release I-IV, then a year later release the remaining two. I'm sure after we've all bought Rocky I-IV, a boxset including V and Balboa will conveniently be released.
I think I'm going to hold back on these cause one I find it strange that Rocky V and Rocky Balboa aren't coming out also. I also think ONLY Rocky IV got a decent looking Steelbook here, the others seem rather poor in design.
I think I just rather wait for better designed steels or a complete series set.
Will wait on news of the final 2 too, or a discount too good to pass on, just in case they decide to release 5 and 6 only as part of some boxset. Glad to see they're at least including 4K and 2K together. Hopefully the standard BDs will be remastered too. Since they appear to be 3-disc cases, one would naturally assume there will either be multiple cuts or a healthy amount of extras on a third disc for each, which would imply that the BDs may be new too.
Word is that Stallone has approved transfers on all of the Rocky films, and bear in mind, these aren't even listed on BestBuy.com yet and there's no detailed press release. Let's wait until there's something more official than just packaging images to go off of first.
I was hoping this would be all 6 movies, but I’ll definitely pick up the steelbooks. Hopefully part 4 has both cuts of the movie. I’ll probably keep my Blu-ray set unless all the special features are carried over to the 4K’s
They left Sly's bra off on that first Rocky art. What a totally undynamic design and what's with the monochrome and red highlights? Is this a case of the lowest bid agency gets the job?
Lol at anyone not buying because Rocky V isn't included. 1 of the 10 worst films in history. Rocky loses all his money because his brother in law signs a piece of paper. Brilliant!
Would it have hurt them to include an image of Mr. T somewhere on the Rocky III steel? Also, where did that image on the back of Rocky II come from? ; He's holding Adrian while she wears the jacket she had on in the first film, but...
SPOILERSPOILERSPOILERSPOILERSPOILERSPOILERSPOILER
He doesn't win the belt in the original and in II, Adrian watches the fight at home.
Boy they really dropped in the towel on Rocky IV release. You would think they would of added Rocky vs Drago cut? Take a lesson from Francis Ford Coppola. He knows how to do this. He places every cut, remastered and all special features. Same with Ridley Scott.
@indisposed I was wondering the same thing. Where did that image come from? My Blu-ray box set of I-VI is nice and thin, taking up minimal space, so I'll wait for something similar for 4K. Glad these are getting released, though. Just in time for Creed III...
I'm on the fence about getting these since there's no news on Rocky V and Rocky Balboa. This is one of my all time favorite series w/ Balboa being one of my personal faves of it.
Assuming this is the original cut of IV only, I wonder if we will have to wait for a collection later on to see Rocky vs Drago get a physical release if we get one at all.
Kind of original poster art for IV, but not for the rest? Lazy as susual, and I'm guessing no DV since it's WB (they always save that for the "true" fans who stream and couldn't care less about DV).
@goathead1 - They're probably also copying Paramount with their handling of "Rocky IV". Just like "Star Trek: The Motion Picture", WB will probably release its DC at the same time they pump out a full 6-movie box set.
The very first post I saw these in said the Rocky IV directors cut was the one being released... Not sure if that is still the case, V should have been done as well, 6 has Sony involved.
Rocky 4 Directors cut I would need...and I love 5 also. 5 is gritty and has that old school 90's feel, be nice to get that workprint that's been out in a proper release. These covers are boring I agree.
I am not sure how people got burnt on the Star Trek movies, the box that came out had 1-4, a year later they put out the first one as the directors cut, and V and VI, I bought the box used for 30 bucks, then just got the DC and V and VI, the others were the same release with different packaging, I do not mind have both cuts of Star Trek, 2,3,4 would have cost me 60 bucks, I got 1,2,3,4 for 30. These images have been out for a little while now, as I understand it the release date is Feb 14th on these, no words on extra's if there are even going to be any. Rocky V SHOULD be with these 4, they were all United Artists and MGM, so they just decided to skip V or maybe the artwork is not done on V, not sure... Balboa had revolution studio's involved, so that one could be tricky. Cover art is not that good, no doubt, BUT it is what is ON the disc I care about, I want to see these get the best possible treatment, and the restoration they deserve. I am sure a box set will come along, but the Steels will probably be out of print by that time, and people tent to pay crazy prices for out of print Steelbooks... We will see how this plays out.
No question in my mind that within 6 months of their release, they will come out with a 4K combo package of all of them.This time I will wait till then.
@balboarules70 People got burnt on the Star Trek movies because Paramount released a box set of the first four movies and then one year later put out another box set of the original six movies. They should have released a box set with them all from the start. A lot people would have waited to buy that one instead of the first one had they known that was the plan all along.
The inner shots are fine here (except III) but the outside artwork is ultimately boring; and as others have pointed out photoshopped to heck. I'll nab the set of all six that will probably release around when Creed III and an inevitable Creed Trilogy 4K set drops. Heck I might even double-dip on Creed I and II if they do a franchise collection of all nine films as an option.
On one hand, I want to pass until all films (plus the director’s cut of IV) is out, because this is going to be Star Trek all over again. On the other hand, I really want to buy these so WB knows that we value the MGM/UA catalog. Ugh. I hope they don’t jerk us off with that other film series we’ve been waiting for. -_-
V is the weakest but doesn’t mean it’s not worth watching / releasing. In fact the fight and Mickey’s cameo at the end is a great scene. Also, when the heck do we get a physical release of Part 4 redux? More than worthy of a physical 4K release.
At least Paramount's individual releases of the Star Trek films had the original theatrical posters as the cover. These are just abominations. Still will buy though. Curious as to what is on each film's bonus disc.
The Knockout Boxset says it includes the director’s cut of Rocky IV. Another fan wanting V and Balboa. I want V workprint as well even if it’s just in VHS quality.
Also agree the artwork is terrible. Only IV has the original poster art. There has never been one single home release with the original poster art for Rocky II. Abominable.
Ok guys who is going to hold fire on this box set and who is going to bite? We all know that something else will turn up eventually, including V and Balboa, but when? A year, two years? I really want these in 4K now but I hate the cover art and it’s not a complete series. I’ve got several 4Ks (mainly from Kino) due in the next few weeks so the finances will probably make the decision for me.
@John Earls Umbrella depending on the price, I may, but I’m going to hold off a while, not a day one for me considering I dislike the artwork and no 5 and 6.
Agree about the awful artwork. A solid white label with the title printed in black Times New Roman font would be better if they're going to be this generic and lazy.
Good News! Was waiting for this series to get the 4K treatment/a remaster. Good that I held off with buying a year ago.
Hopefully it gets a good remaster, Warner has at least delivered some good UHD releases lately it seems.
What's up with the Steelbook comments though? I don't need those movies on SB, at least that's my current view, but there seems to be some hate towards them; why? O.o
I saw the first four at the cinema and enjoyed them all but I am a lot older now and tastes change. I will just be picking up the Oscar winner which still holds up for me and passing on the sequels.