1. Rocky competes with himself 2. Tenderness is manliness 3. Shares credit and gives praise 4. Accepting influence 5. Unafraid of affection with other men 6. Shows kindness and respect 7. Speak the truth boldly with love 8. Own and correct your mistakes

My dad stood in line for hours to see Rocky in theaters when he was 11 years old. Decades later he and I saw Creed together, and the ending of that film when Adonis and Rocky climb the iconic steps together had my dad sobbing. That was one of the few times I’ve seen my old man cry. I love Rocky.

I'm surprised you didn't mention the backstory behind the first film, since at least Alan usually knows some interesting trivia and this really ties in to the spirit of the character. Stallone wrote Rocky when he was dirt broke and struggling, but passed up some good money for the screenplay because he wanted to act in it, but no one would give him the chance. But Stallone believed in what he had and what he could do, so he kept fighting for it. It came to the point that he had to sell his dog so he could have something to eat. Then he finally gets the deal that allowed him to act as Rocky, the movie happens, and the first thing he does when he gets paid is reunite with his dog. That first Rocky film was a true passion project that he believed in with his soul.

My favorite quote from the series is directed at Paulie. “Nobody owes nobody nothin'. You owe yourself. Friends don't owe! They do because the wanna do.”

I admire that Rocky isn't afraid to be emotional, to cry or to overtly express his feelings to the people he loves, while having a traditionally masculine demeanour. Emotions are not a sign of weakness, but a show of strength.

One thing I like about Rocky is that when he found confidence in himself, Adrian found confidence in herself. She was told growing up that she wasn’t beautiful and I believe one of the reasons she rejected Rocky at first was because she didn’t believe he ever actually liked her. She let Paulie push her around and berate her a lot. But when Rocky and her started a relationship, she realized that she had self worth. That gave her the courage to stand up to Paulie and learn that she deserved to be treated well. That’s what makes her running into the ring and telling Rocky she loves her in the end of the first film shows up how much she’s changed. The Adrian in the beginning of the film wouldn’t have done that. And Adrian also helped Rocky as well. While Adrian made the choice to change and Rocky was not all to do with that change (I’m not implying that at all. It’s possible to gain confidence and make positive changes to yourself without needing someone else), it shows how when we’re in love with someone and in a healthy relationship, it can help us out for the better.

Something else that I've always loved about the series is that Rocky (and also creed) are also never shown as womanizers or even interested in the idea which given the fame/rich theme would've been very easy to get into. They're respectful and thoughtful about their relationships just as much as everything else

I love that in the end of Rocky 2, he goes out of his way to thank his opponent, too. He stood in the ring against him pummeling him, and there's still that solid sportsmanship.

I’m a 43 year old woman who doesn’t love sport/action movies, but I love the Rocky movies (especially the early ones). Thank you for doing this video, it was great, and I totally cried…..a lot!

He's one of the best role models ever. That's why I love rocky cause he reminds you that it doesn't matter if you win as long you show up and try your best. Not to mention he's really kind and is there for people

The dialogue between Rocky and Mick in the first film is masterful. there’s so much of that tough guy facade between the two that hides so much subtext of the pain and the rejection that they’ve both faced. And that mask drops a little bit when Mick finally admits, “I’m seventy-six years old.”

So when my wife and I were struggling with some issues with our marriage, stress with work, and having moved to a new area, I sat down and showed her Rocky giving his speech to his son and told her that we can do this together because we could take the hits life threw at us. That quote has become our family motto.

I love that Rocky had such a huge impact on audiences that even years later people who don’t even know the story are familiar with the music.

Truly a great take on rocky. We hear so much about toxic masculinity, the best remedy is a good example of positive masculinity. This is so needed in today’s toxic climate.

As a mom raising a son, healthy masculinity is very important to me. I haven't seen Rocky, but I think I will with my son and bring up some of these themes you've talked about.

I love your channel, guys. As a kid who grew up feeling like a loser who is now a fighter, a coach, and a father this is my favorite episode so far of Cinema Therapy. Thank you so much.

Stallone never getting an Oscar for playing Rocky and not being able to get the rights for his own character is criminal.

Yes, yes, finally. I've been waiting for this. Rocky is the character we are all inspiring to be in life. I'm forever grateful to Sylvester Stallone for creating Rocky. That man taught me to be a good man in life. Words aren't enough to bless that man. Thank you, Jonathan Alan, and crew for making this video 🙏

My boyfriend just recently made me watch the entire Rocky series with him - I had always refused to watch it because I thought it was just a "stupid boxing movie" 🙈 Well, I was very wrong, and I was so surprised at how much I loved his character. I also really appreciated his positive, strong, yet realistic relationship with Adrian (Adrienne?) throughout the whole series. Also his dorkiness that just makes him so likeable while being a badass. In Rocky, Sylvester Stallone just created such a timeless role model through and through!

I cried more this episode than any others. It's so beautiful seeing a man be a good person. A REAL person. I haven't seen much of that from anyone in my life other than my internet dads. This is who I strive to be

Rocky quoted the best life advice ever: "Nobody is going to hit you harder than life, and it will drive you down to your knees and keep you there if you let it."

The lesson taught by the character of Rocky is an impactful one and definitely one that I resonate with personally (as it is also the underlining lesson of Dragon Ball) "One does not strive for victory over an opponent... one strives to avoid defeat by one's own self." - Master Roshi

The proposal scene is so sweet and cute. This huge boxer that towers over Adrianne being shy and awkward around the woman he's in love with - that gap in expectations is just so charming and cute. I love it!!

This video is amazing! We hear all the time about “toxic masculinity “, and that’s good, but too little about HEALTHY masculinity…I see a lot of young men struggling to find their identity and purpose, and I feel that videos like these are excellent for providing relatable exemples

Jono, you're not the only one. Rocky is THE best (cinematic) character ever created. I was genuinely waiting for you guys to do Rocky and I never thought that you'd actually do it but I'm happy it happened.

I find the parallel between Stallone and Rocky interesting. By the time you get to 3, Stallone is fully into the macho 80s and has transformed himself and the series. It's not until you get to 5 that Stallone takes a step back and realizes he had fallen into the trappings of success. So he dialed everything back. Balboa is extremely introspective of life.

One time I walked in when my Dad was watching Rocky Balboa & he asked me to watch the scene of Rocky’s speech to his son. My Dad knows I struggle with anxiety & he wanted to encourage me to keep fighting the fight even when it’s beating me down. I’ll always be grateful for his belief & assurance.

The relationship between Adonis and Rocky and how he showed Donnie what it means to be a man reminds me of Zuko and Iroh from Avatar the Last Airbender, which is also another great example of healthy masculinity.

As a male kindergarten teacher, this video was super impactful. I'm really glad y'all decided to do this one together 💪🏿

I love how even Rocky does change throughout the series, he's always the same guy in the core. He's a shy, goofy, lovable man who loves people and boxing.

Not only did you have me at healthy masculinity (something that I’m actually learning about right now), but you just took the greatest film series of all time and made it even better for me.

Some of you asked for my thoughts on Rocky's seduction of Adrian in the first film, so here goes. I'm speaking to my own opinions, not presuming to speak for anyone else on the CT team here. It's that film's only major flaw, in my opinion, but it's also more nuanced and complicated than it appears to modern eyes. The fact is, he should have respected her boundaries. Full stop. I hope and believe Stallone would write that scene very differently today. That said, there's a worthwhile discussion to be had about the interplay between the in-story context, the era in which the film was made, and the larger message that scene sends. To be clear, I'm not justifying the scene. But I'm also not willing to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Some personal context: in college I took a women's studies course because I wanted to understand experiences outside of my own. It was my first deep dive into feminism. I learned a lot from my female professor and female classmates about the false dichotomy women have been placed in for thousands of years: "virgin or wh*re." Asserting oneself sexually means being seen as the latter, so woman have had to feign disinterest in sex and allow men to take the lead in order to maintain their virtue. For example, the song "Baby, It's Cold Outside" plays differently to our ears today because "no means no" is more firmly (and rightly) established as our cultural value. So today that song sounds like a woman drawing a boundary and a creepy man stepping over it. But in the 1940's, when that song was released, it played completely different. Why? Because it wasn't considered "proper" or "ladylike" for a woman to assert herself sexually back then. Not saying the song is about sex per se, but it IS at the very least about staying late or staying overnight at a man's house. The song is meant to be flirtatious and coy. She's "playing hard to get," but the implication is that she actually does want to stay. Today we would expect her to say either "I'd love to stay" or "I want to leave" and mean exactly what she says. And yes, that's how it always should have been. But it wasn't. And in the context of the 1940's it's a fun, even cute, song no matter how awful it sounds to some today. Of course, this whole dynamic has contributed to men being socialized to believe that "no actually means yes" or "she really does want you, you just have to try harder." In our James Bond episode we rightly roasted the sexism and misogyny of the early films, yet those also featured a similar dynamic. And Rocky the film, unfortunately, was influenced by that same social more and then fed back into it. (To be clear, Rocky is a much more positive role model than 007. I'm just saying, same era). In the context of the film, some people find the seduction scene to be creepy, others think it's sweet. I find it to be both, again, in the context of the film. I'll address the wider message in a moment. In the film, Adrian likes Rocky. He's kind to her. She's afraid that he's going to break her heart, that his kindness is a front to have sex with her, and that he's not for real. Of course, HE knows that he's in it for real and he wants her to trust him. He says as much when he's remembering the moment in Rocky Balboa (2006). He wants to take care of her and treat her well. He invites her in. She says that she should go home. He presses, but doesn't force. He leaves the door open for her and goes inside, much like Jennifer Connelly does for Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick. He leaves her there to make her choice. Adrian could leave at this moment, but she chooses to go inside. This is crucial, because it signals to the audience and to Rocky what she actually wants. Of course, she's free to change her mind, and he should respect it if she does. Once inside the apartment he definitely turns up his awkward verbal seduction attempt. She draws clear boundaries. He presses. I understand what the film is TRYING to say. Adrian wants to be with Rocky, but she's also afraid. Afraid that it's improper. Afraid of what her brother will think. Afraid that Rocky will "use her and lose her." Again, HE knows that he's not going to hurt her physically or emotionally, but she doesn't know that. He sees her as shy (which she is) and needing encouragement to live life (which she does). She goes to leave. He corners her and puts his hand on the door, asking her to stay. He gently asks her to take off her hat and her glasses. He tells her she's beautiful. She replies "don't tease me," and he tells her that he means it. She's so accustomed to Paulie telling her she's garbage that she's confused when Rocky sees her differently. It's a sweet moment in a creepy scene. He tells her he'd like to kiss her, but that she doesn't have to kiss him back if she doesn't want to. Interpreted one way, that line sounds terrible, like he's just going to have his way with her no matter what. But I think what he actually means is that he doesn't want to obligate or pressure her to kiss him back, and if she doesn't willfully reciprocate then he'll back off. Why do I think this? Because when he actually does kiss her, he starts on her cheek, not on her lips, and then he stops and pulls back. He's clearly checking to see if she's going to respond positively or not. He's betting that she actually DOES want to be with him, but if she doesn't move to kiss him back then he would stop and take her home. That's my read on it based on everything we know about this character. He's kind. He's got integrity. He's respectful. He looks out for people (like little Marie). He doesn't use force or hurt people outside of the boxing ring. But Adrian DOES move to kiss him on the lips when he stops and pulls back, showing that this is what she wants. So he kisses her. He was pushy and disrespectful before, but once they actually kiss he's very respectful about it. He takes it very slow, like he's checking moment-by-moment to make sure not to go further than she wants to. When she gets more passionate, so does he, and vice versa. He's responsive to her cues. End scene because this is a PG-rated film. While it may work for the characters, the message it sends to the viewer is indeed a harmful one: "A woman who says no likely means yes. You just need to try harder. It's okay to pressure her and corner her; she'll thank you later." That's the message for men. For women, the message is "if you say no and he pressures you, it's okay to give in because he'll likely end up to be a decent guy who treats you well." That's what happens in the movie. It's usually not what happens in real life. I don't really blame young Stallone for it. I blame the social mores of the era he grew up in. Perhaps I'm tolerant and forgiving because, for my part, I certainly used to believe what I now consider to be stupid ideas from growing up in the 80's and 90's. I couldn't see them at the time because neither I nor society had evolved past them yet. As for the characters, Rocky and Adrian are both about thirty years old. So they were born in the 1940's and were teens in the 1950's. Yes, the sexual revolution happened in the 1960's, but these characters are Catholics who hold to traditional gender roles. I'm not knocking Catholics (I actually love the faith aspect of Rocky), I'm just stating the facts of the case. Adrian asserting her sexuality as the aggressor would have been unthinkable for her. Rocky would likely see it as his role to give her permission to explore that with someone who cared for her. And young Stallone the writer was from an era where sweet women like Adrian weren't overtly sexual. Again, the "virgin or wh*re" dynamic. I don't agree with it. I'm not making excuses for it. But it is the way things were. Paulie reflects this dynamic when he drunkenly flips out after learning that Rocky and Adrian are sleeping together. "She's busted!" he exclaims. Rocky, for his part, displays a slightly more progressive take on it when he defends Adrians honor by holding Paulie back and staring him down. Adrian may no longer be a virgin, but she's still virtuous. She's still good. For Rocky, it was about love, not sex. She's not diminished for being sexually active. He sees her worth. I don't like the seduction scene. But, like "Baby It's Cold Outside," I also don't think it was meant to play the way it appears to modern audiences. Part of me would prefer a healthier scene. Like maybe Rocky and Adrian date longer before he invites her in. She expresses that she wants to be with him, but is scared he'll break her heart. He respectfully tells her that he won't, that this is real, and that he's willing to wait if that's what she wants. She chooses to trust him and to sleep with him. That would be a healthier dynamic and a more empowering scene. But I have to ask: would it have been true to the characters at this point in the story? Is Rocky mature or smart enough yet to have that conversation? Does Adrian have enough of a voice yet to speak this? Maybe. Maybe not. I don't like the scene. I do appreciate what it was going for when it comes to the characters' emotions and journeys. I just don't think it nailed it. The messaging is murky at best, very harmful at worst. But it doesn't ruin Rocky and Adrian for me. They're still my favorite cinematic love story, especially if you take the rest of the series into account. As a married couple they're second-to-none. Rocky II, Rocky III, the Rocky IV director's cut (the only version to watch) and Rocky Balboa especially give us such a wholesome, healthy dynamic. She's dead in Rocky Balboa, but that entire film is a love letter to her. It's all beautiful. Consent is key. No means no. That scene isn't great. Rocky and Adrian, though, still very much are. That's my opinion. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. What are your thoughts?

Thank you for doing this one. I've always loved how he was never a jerk. Always had good intentions. A scene that always makes me smile is how he rejects Adrian's advances in the first movie. He can tell that her feelings get hurt and so he goes to reassure her. He's always telling Adrian how great she is. He never puts her down.

I don't think I've ever had a movie resonate with me the way the original "Rocky" has. It's my go-to film when I'm feeling unmotivated. It has that magical aura about it.

my grandfather, who passed in 2019 and I miss him more everyday raised me on Stallone films. We laughed, we cried, and we had fun watching them together, but Rocky was always his favorite, cause he was always the UNDERDOG and fought to get where he was. He's a likeable character, and my grandfather and I WALKED up those stairs in Philadelphia before he passed and we got to the top and threw our hands up and just screamed together...I will always miss him and Rocky was our rock.

Guys, you always do this to me. Was having some problems with my toughness to everybody... Was not being kind as I like to be, was kind of a stone cold guy... This, as many other times, helped me reconnect with myself, so thank you guys, you are awesome!😘

my father always described this series as a hidden chick flick, which i definitely understand where he got that from, considering that the boxing is not the purpose of the film. also awesome job edititors like usual!!

I really liked Rocky VI/Rocky Balboa. It felt like a thoughtful, passionate examination of identity in ageing. I watched it in conjunction with Indiana Jones IV and was really impressed with Rocky’s maturity over the frantic “I still got it!” energy of Indy’s last outing. I so appreciate y’all bringing in the “keep moving forward” scene!

When it comes to the Rocky theme, I think there’s an emotional catharsis when Rocky has this interaction with Adonis. You have that tension and pain of what he said previously which rejected the meaningful nature of their relationship, and here Rocky has resolved it and he is agreeing to fight - while also accepting Adonis as part of his family and someone worth fighting for. So he’s not Rocky, he’s a Creed, but he’s also now a Balboa and the spiritual successor to Rocky’s legacy. It’s his mantle to carry now.

If you look into the comment section underneath the scene of Rocky talking to his son about life, I'm going to quote user Teru, "I applied to more than 100+ companies for a job, and I got rejected from all of them. I was depressed and lost all of my confidence, but this video helped me so much to push myself forward during that time. And I recently got a job offer - I'll value this video and quote forever in my life." Rocky appeals to people because he's tough, honest and vulnerable when life gets him down instead of self destructive and mean.

I actually had this discussion with some friends of mine when we were discussing healthy masculine characters in film. Of course Rocky was my first choice, we also brought up Luke Skywalker, Furious from Boyz N The Hood, and Rick O' Connell from The Mummy.

I had no idea about the tender side of this character. I had never seen the films myself (just snippets) but I got the impression from the scenes everyone always brings up that it is a motivational film that preached a nuanceless picture of masculinity. I'm surprised to see so much expression of Rocky being so gentle; since when I saw bits of the movie as a child I was afraid of him due to my association big = scary. I wish I had seen it in full growing up. It would have been an introduction to healthy masculinity that I only otherwise encountered in my adulthood.

These movies have been a thru-line for me in my life. I'm female and yet I love these movies. Rocky Balboa is in my opinion one of the most captivating and legendary movie characters in film history. He is so well written. Even if some of the latter movies in the franchise are subject to the politics and trends of the day, the true heart always shines through. Not to mention the Creed films have been such a masterful addition/sequel/continuation of the series, I truly believe it is hands down one of the best film franchises we will ever see. I am glad these movies played over and over again on tv as I grew up. There are days where I have to remind myself of Rocky's speech to his son in 6, "Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody ain't gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!" Those words will forever live with me.

My dad was too excited for Creed 1 to come out, but never got the chance to see it. It was one of his favorite movies, so I grew up watching this a LOT. I ended up taking the same lessons of masculinity from my father as you talked about in the video. This was really refreshing to watch and gave me a good cry. Thanks a lot, cinema therapy!

Honestly, I would love another 40 or 50 years of Cinema Therapy please! Also loved this episode! It was needed!

This series of movies is one of my favorites. I love how Rocky can honestly admit his mistakes and genuinely hopes others will learn from them.

His quote to his son helped me become my own man while at the same time recognizing everything my father had ever done for me.

As someone who’s never been a boxer, these movies are the single most motivating series I’ve ever watched. I can’t watch these movies and not want to immediately train or just try harder at anything and everything. Love this franchise

Where I lose it is when he sees Paulie when he's painting and start talking about "the stuff in the basement" 🥺😭 so so good 🙏🏼

I'm a late bloomer trans guy and have done SO MUCH thinking about toxic masculinity and healthy masculinity, especially when I was reconciling with who I am. I really love y'all's videos touching on healthy manifestations of masculinity in pop media. I hope you make this a whole series. It's such a complex and compelling subject.

I've never seen a Rocky movie except for "Rocky Balboa." I'd seen and read stories where major characters were based on or inspired by Rocky's character, but never any of the actual story of Rocky itself. That one movie made me fall in love with the character, and even though to this day I still, sadly, haven't been able to see any of the other movies, that one has stuck with me for over a decade, even though I've only really seen the whole thing once. That's a big deal. Big accomplishment.

This freaked me out! I’ve been watching you guys weekly for months, and this weekend I had a wild hair to watch all of the rocky movies. I finished Rocky Balboa last night, and this is what I woke up too! Kinda creepy but also I haven’t clicked on a video faster 😂

I have been waiting for this one. Rocky is the embodiment of endurance and courage. He's the one movie character that genuinely inspires me.

Thank you so much for this episode! I remember watching the movies with my father on TV, and we would always start cheering for Rocky. No matter how many times we watched them. My father died three years ago after he lost the fight to cancer, and I almost completely forgot about these movies. I'm going to watch them again, maybe one day with kids of my own and start cheering again. So thank you for this episode and reminding me of these beautiful memories. ❤️

I watched the first Rocky movie not long ago. Honestly, I didn't know if I would even like the movie before watching it, I had seen clips, heard how it effected others, even watched this episode, yet I still didn't know if I could truly connect with it with how old it was, and how simple it seemed. I regret not watching it sooner. It's the kind of movie that you can only truly understand by experiencing it yourself, alone, and no amount of other people telling you will ever be able to match it. I've been going through, to put it bluntly, the worst year of my life so far, I've had almost all my optimism beaten out of me with a metaphorical emotional sledgehammer, and I've had moments where the only reason I'm holding on is because of a vague idea that maybe if I keep going, things might not be as bad in 10 years or so, even if I have absolutely no idea where I may be in 10 years. Watching this movie, not the whole series, but just this first one, in my own experience, there's something that is so unfiltered and raw about how real it is. There are no villains. There are no big twists. There's just life, and there's just people living it... I'd seen the Rocky run before, it never really clicked with me, but watching the movie unfold, I began seeing the full picture. I won't spoil it, because I think it's best if you go watch it yourself, as nothing I can say, and even no amount that our favorite movie dads can say or show can do it justice, and that says A LOT. Probably the most impactful moment to me in the entire film, was actually the very first clip they show. "It really don't matter if I lose this fight. It really don't matter if this guy opens my head, either. 'Cause all I wanna do is go the distance. Nobody's ever gone the distance with Creed. And if I can go that distance... You see and that bell rings, and I'm still standing... I'm gonna know for the first time in my life, you see... That I weren't just another bum from the neighborhood." I haven't done much that I'm proud of in my life, and right now even after a year I still don't know if I might have lost the most important person in my life over some bad calls...I have no way of truly knowing since I don't know how they feel since they wouldn't be able to tell me even if they did still care... But I wanna go the distance...and I wanna prove to myself, and to them, and to...really everyone, but especially myself... That I'm not just some bum taking the easy way through life. And hearing that same thing expressed in Rocky, is one of the most "It hurts in all the right ways" moments, I've ever experienced during a movie, or anything really. I will end with this. I have been hit with the biggest loss I've ever had the past year, I've hit rock bottom multiple times this year to the point that I think I may have left a crater that has made it slightly deeper than it was before. I don't know if I can say that I'll come out of this on top, it's too early to say. But for better or worse, I'll keep getting back up, no matter how many times I get knocked down and I feel like things are hopeless and there's no one to help me. I will get up, and go that distance, even it takes going through hell with broken legs to do it. Because the essence of Rocky, is not just the underdog that wins, it's the underdog that refuses to lose, that refuses to give up no matter what. Where even if winning isn't a possibility, losing will never be an option. I go on for my dogs, my family, my friends, and a girl that I hold dear who may or may not still be waiting for me in New York. If you read this and are having a hard time like me...or even if you view this as the new normal... No matter how hard it is, keep going... Win or lose, life is tragically short, make the most of it even in the hardest of times, so that no matter what, at the very least, you can take pride in knowing that you put everything you had into this life. It's all we got.

I haven't seen any of the Rocky films but I'm looking forward to this video! On the first glance, the Rocky movies look so motivational so perhaps I'll watch them after all. 😊 God knows I'll need all the motivation I can get for studying biochemistry.

I just realized that Red Riot from My Hero Academia May have been inspired by Rocky Balboa because he LIVES this type of masculinity and even his villains respect him! Heck, even his superpower is built around the idea of its not how hard you can hit but how hard you can get hit! Just something I wanted to say.

It is hard to nail a character that is a badass, that isn't afraid to show emotions but doesn't feel to emotional. Rocky can be emotional and tender, but is also tough when it matters, he doesn't talk overly about those emotions - just enough. Great writing to be honest. Often we end up with a character that is either to far on one side or the other.

Loved how you guys connected the movies to your personal lives and experiences, was beautiful to hear.

I need to binge them… thanks. My dad would be proud of the man I have become. I miss him everyday.

I love how you mentioned masculinity can be portrayed in any gender, because I as a woman exhibited toxic masculinity and it took me a while to get healthy again.

You made me tear up watching this, but I actually cried at Rocky's speech to his son. I needed that. I feel like that's what my dad has been trying to say to me.

I'm so glad you guys did this! Rocky, and Creed to an extent, is my grandfather's favorite movie series. When I was like 7-9 my grandfather showed them all to me over the course of a weekend. A great character portrayed in a simplistic story but done so well that it is an instant masterpiece. Thank you for shining some light on it and you guys keep doing what you're doing

I absolutely love Rocky Balboa! He is without a doubt one of the greatest movie characters of all time. There is SO MUCH to unpack about why Rocky displays a lot of healthy masculine traits. For one, he knows what his mission and purpose is in life: He’s a fighter. That’s been his identity since the first film. Being a fighter both inside and outside the ring shows that no matter how tough his life is, he refuses to give up. Like Stallone says, “Keep punchin’!” I love that Rocky can be a tough guy, but deep down inside he’s not afraid of being vulnerable. It’s like what Brene Brown says: “There is courage in vulnerability.” That scene in Rocky III where he tells Adrian he’s scared showed that Rocky is like us, he can be afraid. What makes him different is that he walks through that pain to get to where he needs to be. Most importantly, Rocky always did what he did for his friends and family. I love that he is selfless and thanks everyone who helped him on his journey from underground fighter to 2x Heavyweight Champion of The World.

The way you describe Rocky’s journey oddly reminds me of Scott Pilgrim vs the world. In that film, the whole journey was focused on dating Ramona. All the lies, the half victories, and other struggles were to have his princess in the castle. Even the super weapon he used was the sword of love. It wasn’t until he learned to be self confident that he finally become a hero to himself and to the people he is with. I know the concept of self confidence and masculinity has been covered multiple times, but I thought these themes were echoed pretty well there.

Another great one. Being from Philly, this always resonated with me. But Rocky's getting up no matter how many times he is knocked down, resonates even more. I love that Rocky is the example of healthy masculinity. Jono and Alan's observations, as always, are right on point.❤️

You guys need to do more character voices for the credits again because Alan and Jono talking as Rocky was THE BEST.

I wasn’t a big fan of any of the Rocky movies, but the analysis that both you two gave is so beautiful that I will rewatch this movie with a fresh set of eyes and appreciate how brilliant it is

Greetings from Brazil, where we are (once more) trying to make people (men) understand that the traditional views of masculinity are toxic, dangerous, violent. I watch most of your videos and this one really got me as a so needed breathing spot. Rocky is one of the most captivating characters in movie history and I had never thought of him as a role model for healthy masculinity. And now I love him even more.

Ive truly never had the urge or want to watch any Rocky movies until now. Lol you guys always end up being my introduction to so many beautiful movies. I love it!

The first video of yours that I ever saw was the one about Aragorn versus Toxic Masculinity. I gotta say that I'm proud of you guys for making really quality and helpful stuff for so long. Thank you.

I have loved Rocky's speech to his son since the first time I saw it, and it's something I come back to often. I've been through a lot in life, the passing of my half sister when I was 10, ten major surgeries before I turned 18, struggles with mental health and addiction, and a two week hospital stay because of those struggles. That speech sums up my approach to life, it doesn't matter if you take one step forward a day or a hundred, all that matters is you get up and keep moving forward.

props to your EDITORS, who are now capable of making me cry with the opening montage before we even hit the cinematherapy logo and intros. its beautiful!

Previously, I only ever saw the Rocky movies as sports-themed motivational stories like Miracle (the hockey movie) for example. I never really noticed the gentle masculinity Rocky displayed in these movies until Decker pointed them out in this video. Thank you Jonathan Decker (if you ever see this comment) for showing me another dimension of these movies to appreciate!

OMG! Jonathan! That is a spot on Stallone impression!

I think anyone cross age 18 or 19 and saw some hardship can relate to Rocky and I learned a lot from Rocky when I was struggling few years ago. Thanks Mr Stallon. And Great Video guys

I remember I watched the first and second Rocky on TV, I was just zapping and it was on. I thought «meh, I might as well watch this, it’s a classic apparently ». I was surprised with how emotional and human it felt ! I was expecting awesomeness and fights and I got it, but in such a relatable way. I think that also might be why I started to read the webcomic « The boxer ». To anyone liking Rocky, the Boxer is an amazing story with impactful drawings and remarkable characters. Love on you all

That is a scary good Stallone impression! This is fantastic, thank you guys so much!! And another trivia bit... apparently Stallone ran track in high school so he had extra fun on Rocky 3 for the beach run😄 and in rocky 4 they had a great talk at the beginning that shows how rocky is only competing with himself

I was 9 years girl when I watched Rocky 6 and...that line that all people know until now stick with me until now and I am already 23 years old.I watched all Rocky movies too Creed 1-2 and still is one of my fav movies. Is a legacy for all generations like Terminator. Unforgettable legendary.

Beauty of Adrian/rocky proposal was that tigers tend to be very loyal and protective of their mate

Thank you very, very much!! I can tell you enjoyed making this as much as your audience watching did. 👏👏👏

I remember people saying that when they went to go see the original, people in the theatres would stand up and cheer at the ending. THAT is how impactful this underdog story is. How do you not get teary-eyed at least once? (I do at the end of the 2nd.)

The way Rocky says “so…,” in the middle of the sentence when he is telling Adonis why he’s not getting treatment punches me in the gut. It’s like he’s talking normally before it, and he’s mostly got his emotions reigned in after it, but just that one moment saying that one word his voice catches because it seems like he’s overwhelmed with emotion.

The summary at the end is so perfect in describing healthy masculinity… 👏👏 Great video guys

I needed to see this video. I've been in a depressed state for a while now, and a part of it is because I've seen so much in the media telling me that, because I'm a white male, I'm inherently toxic and the cause of all society's problems. And the only way out is to accept all these movements and turn myself into a complete beta male. I'm a sensitive guy, and seeing these subliminal undertones everytime I turned around really did a number on my psyche. Recently self-help books and videos have been helping me out of my mental gutter. Thanks for making this video. It's message of ''it's ok to show weakness and still traditionally masculine'' really brightened up my day.

That scene between Rocky and his at the end of Creed 2 actually had me in tears. Me and father have.. had a tough go.. to put it lightly. But in recent years we've been trying to open up to each other ever since my grandfather passed. And I don't know why Rocky taking that first step to healing their relationship to try and set things right. Just hit me in the feels more than an angry russian ever could in the face.

How are you two just magic together? I love your content so much. 💜 Rocky might be a cheesy and awkward character sometimes but you can never deny he’s got heart.

I would love to see you guys do the dead poets society. It’s such a classic and even tho I’m gen z I find it so touching and so complex. I would love to see your take on all of it. Anyways loved the vid ^^

Can I just say that found y’all’s channel a few months ago right around when I started cognitive processing therapy for my ptsd. Seeing two men have such a genuine caring friendship discussing incredibly important things like healthy masculinity has been so healing as I work through all my stuck points related to men and my safety around them. Happy to be doing the work to heal and get to listen to such important conversations ☺️

The Rocky impressions from both of you at the end are pure gold.

You know it’s such a coincidence that you just posted a video on these movies. My dad and I have planned to watch all the Rocky movies in a row since the third Creed movie is coming out soon. I saw the first one a few days ago and I was blown away by how (for a 70’s movie no less) the messages of masculinity, self-worth, and love where sprinkled through the film. Rocky and Adrian have one of the sweetest on-screen relationships I’ve ever seen and overall it was really nice to see a movie that reached out to those who do feel lost and want to fight (literally and figuratively) to prove who they are and what they’re capable of. And the whole film was packed full of great humor so that was a huge bonus too

I love that you’re looking back at older films, please keep it up!!!

Love this episode, thanks guys! The story behind Rocky is also beautiful. Thank you Stallone! And yes, we need more movies with him as a director and writer.

I really want to hear you guys talk about the level of platonic compassion between men in LOTR.

This whole episode was wonderful (thank you, Sophie, for the close-up of them muscular thighs, btw), but your bit at the end, reading the patron names, was just so wholesome and cute. I love seeing the bits of your friendship that you guys share with us. You two are also perfect examples of healthy masculinity.

Early on when I was questioning myself at the dawn of my transition, I had the pleasure of being able to watch Rocky with my dad. It's stuck with me ever since. My whole life, I'd been taught that men were aggressive, rough, abrasive, and self-righteous -- and many men are, for sure -- this was one of the first if not The First example of what a man Could be. While I'm not the kind of burly, Man's Man kinda guy in even the remotest sense, I could finally learn that this kind of man exists, and that it's absolutely possible to be gentle as a man. I still don't understand sports, but set dressings aside, Rocky was one of the first male lead characters I could genuinely see myself in. (not to mention he strikes me as kind of autism-coded, as an autistic guy, but that's a whole other topic)

How dare you assume that I wouldn't want to watch a cinema therapy on one of the greatest action heroes of all time! ;)

Rocky has been a huge inspiration through my life. Besides the obvious cultural references being from the Greater Philadelphia Area, I love the family aspects (esp to Creed) and the self development throughout the series.

I can't help but to cry when i hear Rocky Screams "Yo Adrian, I did it"

I’m not even through the intro and I’m crying 😭 Rocky is THE best trilogy and will always be my favorite. I was born in the 70s and had the privilege growing up on these films. I agree 100%: the message of these films is YOU are your biggest opponent. It’s getting back up after life hits you, over and over. 🙌🏻 And Rocky and Adrienne are the best on screen romance. They bring out the best in each other. I will die on this hill. ❤❤❤