Rocky IV is a
1985 film that was the fourth and most financially successful entry in the
Rocky franchise.
(played again by
Sylvester Stallone), plans to retire from boxing after regaining his title from Clubber Lang in
Rocky III. An unknown amateur boxer from the
Soviet Union, Ivan Drago (played by
Dolph Lundgren), makes a bid to enter the U.S. boxing ranks. After an exhibition match with
Apollo Creed goes tragically wrong, Rocky must step in and challenge the Russian boxer himself to avenge the passing of his friend.
Plot
The story opens with "
Eye of the Tiger" during the flashback of Rocky's rematch against
Clubber Lang, where Rocky defeated Lang with a KO in the third round to regain his title. The picture then fades to
Apollo Creed who is seen presenting his favor to Rocky shortly after the Lang fight
for helping him train. Meanwhile,
Ivan Drago (
Dolph Lundgren), a highly intimidating 6 foot 4 inch, 261 pound
Soviet boxer, arrives in America with his wife Ludmilla (
Brigitte Nielsen), an Olympic
gold medal swimmer, his manager, Nicolai Koloff (
Michael Pataki), and a team of trainers headed by grizzled Russian coach Igor Rimsky (
George Rogan), and the Cuban Manuel Vega (
James "Cannonball" Green) to challenge the best
American fighters. His manager takes great pride in showing off the hi-tech equipment which aids in improving Drago's performance. As a demonstration, Drago throws punches at a machine that measures the hit's strength. Motivated by patriotism and an innate desire to prove himself, Apollo is desperate to step back into the ring in an exhibition bout against Drago. A press conference is held to publicise the bout. It begins on affable terms but the mood quickly changes when Apollo is accused of being a "has been" by Drago's manager, who suggests Creed shouldn't even be in the same ring with Drago. Livid with such a statement, Apollo tells Drago they'll "finish this in the ring" before abruptly leaving the conference. Drago appears completely unfazed by this.
