I Play Rocky: Farrelly's Stallone Biopic Splits Critics at TIFF

Key points

• I Play Rocky, directed by Peter Farrelly and written by Peter Gamble, premiered at TIFF 2026.
• Anthony Ippolito, 27, stars as Sylvester Stallone, delivering a performance that critics describe as uncanny and emotionally powerful.
• The film received a standing ovation and mid-film applause from the TIFF audience, mirroring the reception of Farrelly's 2018 hit Green Book.
• The film is distributed by Amazon MGM Studios and is scheduled for a wide US release on November 6, 2026.
• Sylvester Stallone, who turned 80 in July 2026, has not been directly involved in the film's production or financials, but has reportedly approved the finished product.
• The film's narrative is based on the long-standing, but partially disputed, origin story of Rocky that Stallone has promoted for decades.

Background

The 1976 film Rocky, written and starred by Sylvester Stallone, won the Academy Award for Best Picture, defeating major contenders like All the President's Men and Network. The film's origin story, in which Stallone insisted on starring in his own script against the wishes of a skeptical studio, has become a legendary part of Hollywood lore, though some details have been questioned over the years. Farrelly's 2018 film Green Book also premiered at TIFF, polarized critics but won the audience award, and went on to win the Best Picture Oscar. I Play Rocky is being compared to both films in terms of its potential Oscar trajectory.

How outlets are covering it

The reception to I Play Rocky is sharply divided. The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline are highly positive, with Deadline's Pete Hammond calling it a 'fantastic crowd-pleasing biopic' that 'carries the same emotional wallop as the original Rocky' and praising Ippolito's performance as 'uncanny.' The Hollywood Reporter's Scott Feinberg sees the film as a likely contender for a Best Picture Oscar nomination, drawing a direct parallel to Green Book's path. In contrast, The Daily Beast's Nick Schager is scathing, calling the film a 'corny pantomime' that 'reveals nothing' and is an 'insult' to the original Rocky, arguing that the story is already well-known and the film fails to add anything new. A notable point of contention, raised in a Deadline comment, is the film's omission of the roles of Stallone's agents, Lawrence Kubik and Craig T. Rumar, who were instrumental in securing the deal, with the commenter accusing the film of perpetuating a 'revisionist' mythology. The Hollywood Reporter also highlights a potential risk: Stallone's public stance on the film. While he has reportedly approved it, his history of publicly disputing financial arrangements related to the Rocky franchise (as with producer Irwin Winkler) means his public opinion could significantly impact the film's Oscar campaign.

Why it matters

I Play Rocky is a major release from Amazon MGM Studios that is already generating significant Oscar buzz, particularly for Anthony Ippolito in the best actor category. The film's performance at TIFF, with its strong audience reception, is a key indicator of its potential success at the Academy Awards. The controversy over its historical accuracy and the potential for Sylvester Stallone to publicly endorse or criticize the film add layers of complexity to its campaign. The film also serves as a 50th-anniversary tribute to the original Rocky, a film that holds a unique place in American cinema history.

What to watch

I Play Rocky is scheduled for a wide US release on November 6, 2026. The film's performance at the box office and its critical reception in the coming weeks will be crucial in determining its Oscar prospects. The public stance of Sylvester Stallone on the film will be a major factor in its awards campaign. The film's performance at the upcoming awards season, including the Golden Globes and the Oscars, will be the next major milestone.