4 Years On, Sylvester Stallone’s Superior Rocky IV Recut Returns To Theaters For Just 2 Nights

by

A special director’s cut of Rocky IV had a limited theatrical release in 2021 and will be shown in theaters again in 2025. The Rocky series started with a script written by Sylvester Stallone himself, launching his career in Hollywood. While the series has had its share of highs and lows, it’s largely been entertaining, with just one truly disappointing film. Rocky IV has become a beloved cult classic, known for featuring Rocky’s biggest opponent, the imposing Ivan Drago, played by Dolph Lundgren, who gained prominence with the role.

The movie Rocky IV has some plot points fans have questioned, so Sylvester Stallone, who directed it, released a revised director’s cut in 2021. Initially, this version was shown in theaters for a single night before becoming available digitally. Now, fans have another opportunity to see it on the big screen, with showings scheduled for November 5th and 9th next month.

What Makes Rocky IV Director’s Cut Different From The Original

In Rocky IV, a massive Russian boxer named Ivan Drago, portrayed by Dolph Lundgren, faces off against veteran champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) in an exhibition match. The fight tragically ends with Drago accidentally killing Creed with a powerful punch. Drago’s cold statement at the post-fight press conference – “If he dies, he dies” – fuels Rocky Balboa’s quest for revenge, leading to their eventual showdown.

The boxing match between Rocky and the Russian fighter during the Cold War was the main draw of the movie, but some choices made in the original cut were later changed by Stallone in the director’s cut. One of the most noticeable changes involved the character Paulie and his robot helper. In the first version of the film, Paulie had a robot designed to assist him with daily tasks as his health declined. This robot wasn’t just a plot device for Stallone; it held personal significance, as it was a device originally used to help his son, Seargeoh, with his autism.

After the robot’s appearance in the Seargeoh commercial proved successful, Sylvester Stallone included it in Rocky IV, assigning it to help Paulie with chores around the house. However, Stallone later removed the robot in the director’s cut of the film, declaring, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, that it would be “going to the junkyard forever.” Even though the robot was based on a real-life device, it was always considered an odd addition to the movie.

The editing of Rocky IV included some surprising choices. Stallone cut several scenes featuring Brigitte Nielsen, including moments where she interacted with Apollo Creed’s wife and spoke on her husband’s behalf. This lessened the impact of the later reveal in Creed 3 that she eventually left Drago after his defeat. However, these cuts actually strengthened Drago’s character, hinting that he understood even then that the Soviet Union was exploiting him and didn’t care for him personally. The director’s cut of Rocky IV significantly improved this aspect of his portrayal.

The film also underwent some changes at the end. Originally, Rocky IV showed boxing as a way to bring about world peace, with Soviet leaders applauding Rocky’s message of hope and change. However, Stallone felt this didn’t ring true, so he replaced it with a scene where the leaders simply walk out, which better aligned with the film’s overall message. The closing credits music was also updated, swapping John Cafferty’s “Heart’s on Fire” for Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger.” These changes ultimately improved the movie, and now audiences have another opportunity to see it in theaters.

I recently saw the director’s cut of Rocky IV back in theaters, courtesy of Fathom Entertainment, on November 5th and 9th. It’s a chance to revisit this classic with the director’s vision, and I’d recommend checking it out if you’re a fan.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/movies/news/netflix-is-losing-stephen-kings-best-sci-fi-at-the-worst-possible-time/embed/#

Read More

2025-10-25 23:10