Rocky II Opening Scene – Best Five Minutes in Cinematic History

August 5, 2018
Movies


Rocky II Opening Scene

Rocky Balboa hugging Adrian in the ring after a split-decision with Apollo Creed in Philadelphia.

I’ve always told my wife and son that I absolutely love Rocky II. I’ve told them repeatedly that I am crazy for the Rocky II opening scene. Yes, this opening scene in the video clip below. Now in case you’re wondering, there isn’t any other opening scene of Rocky II, but when you see that little warning at the beginning of every movie broadcast on television which says the original film was modified, they’re not lying.

Rocky II has been broadcast on television twice in the past couple weeks and my son is the one who usually notifies me it’s on. I run into the room to watch the opening scene and I have not made it in time to see the absolute beginning, the absolute opening scene from Rocky II. The last time I was called to see it, the big bold lettering of “ROCKY II” scrolled across the screen and the first scene was the ambulance with Rocky inside being transported through the busy streets of Philadelphia.

Wait, I know there used to be more to that opening scene than that. There used to be a fight, the last two rounds of the fight with Apollo Creed. Was I going crazy? That’s what I was thinking. Then I searched YouTube for “Opening scene from Rocky II” and I found this masterpiece of film making. Here are the original five minutes, maybe the best five minutes in the history of movies, yes, just my opinion. But after years of not seeing this scene, I had tears in my eyes. Call me sentimental.