"Rocky" is a boxing film series created by Sylvester Stallone. The first film, simply titled "Rocky", was released in 1976 and became a huge success, winning three Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Stallone. The film tells the story of Rocky Balboa, an amateur boxer from Philadelphia, who is given up for dead but gets the opportunity to fight world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed. The series has since spawned numerous sequels, including "Rocky II", "Rocky III", "Rocky IV", "Rocky V", "Rocky Balboa", and "Creed" (which follows Apollo Creed's son, Adonis). The "Rocky" series has become an icon of popular culture and has inspired many in the world of film and sports.