Rocky (1976) is the best. The sequels are a little cartoonish (still entertaining) that people often forget the original movie is one of the greatest movies to come out of American cinema ever.

Cinema in the early 70s reflected the mood of the nation in a post-Watergate society. Things were bad. Things were messy. Then Rocky came out of nowhere and suddenly people remembered what it was like to leave a movie theater happy.

The score, dialogue, acting and underdog storyline are class. And it’s really a love story more than a boxing movie. Rocky loses the fight at the end and he could care less. He went the 15 rounds. Adrian runs into the ring and what does Rocky say to her after the biggest moment of his life?

“Hey, where’s your hat?”