"Rocky" is an icon. Few other films have achieved the lasting legacy Sylvester Stallone's 1976 classic reached. With five sequels, one spin-off film, a broadway musical and some of the most repeated pop-culture references and imitations in history, it's no surprise that a heavyweight film like this one was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.

But just what is it about this film that has left such a powerful impact on our culture?

Two Underdog Stories In One

“Rocky” centers on the character of Rocky Balboa who is a very small-time boxer in Philadelphia. Just like so many people, Rocky is just a guy who is barely making anything of his life and does what he has to do to make end's meet. Unexpectedly, he gets a chance to prove himself when he is chosen to fight the current heavyweight champion Apollo Creed in a special exhibition match. No one expects Rocky to win, but he trains diligently. Rocky doesn't even aim to win, necessarily, but to go the distance (stay standing through all 15 rounds) with Creed as no one has ever been able to go that far. Sure enough, our underdog goes the distance. Though he technically doesn't win the fight, he proves himself to everyone watching.

Everyone loves an underdog story. There's just something inspirational about seeing the “little” guy (not to be taken literally in this instance) coming out on top when all the odds were against him. The interesting thing about this underdog story is that the film itself was an underdog. Sylvester Stallone had been in a handful of films in the early '70s, but only minor roles with almost no real success. In 1975, Stallone wrote the screenplay for “Rocky” in three and half days. He shopped it around to various studios with the intention to star in the film as well. United Artists picked up the screenplay from Stallone but wanted an established actor to star in it. After pleading with UA producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, the budget for the movie was lowered to just over $1 million , and Stallone was permitted to star.

The production process was not without its share of hindrances. It was difficult to find cast members that would take the low pay offered, and some of the lead roles were filled very close to the start of filming as a result. Many little things would go wrong with props, which can be seen in the film. For instance, the robe that Rocky wore at the beginning of the big fight arrived the day that scene was to be shot. When it finally got there everyone realized the robe was too large, but there was no time to alter or replace it. So, the discrepancy was written into the film. You can hear Rocky comment on how they got his robe size wrong. Production was a little rocky (pun fully intended), and on top of that, there was little promotion for the film. No one expected it to do well. Despite all of that, the film became the biggest box-office success of 1976 earning $225 million worldwide, and it was also well-received on a critical level. "Rocky" was nominated for 10 Academy Awards of which it won three (Best Picture, Best Director and Best Editing). Not only has it won its fair share of awards, but it continues to win a special place in our hearts with the unique lessons it teaches.

New Spins On Old Lessons

“Rocky” teaches lessons in a way that went against the norm of its day, which really makes them memorable. The biggest and most obvious example is that though Rocky doesn't win the fight at the end, he is still a winner at heart. His goal was never to beat Apollo Creed but to prove that he could box with the best of them. He wasn't just another “bum” from the streets of Philly. He does that by holding his own and going the distance. Even though they declare Creed the winner, everyone learns that Rocky is worthy of their respect. The crowd cheers for him, and one announcer says that the fight was “the greatest exhibition of guts and stamina in the history of the ring.”

As much as “Rocky” is about a guy proving who he is in the arena, it also teaches who a guy can be in a relationship. The budding romance between Rocky and Adrian is captivating and shows us the power of mutual love and respect. Rocky meets the ridiculously shy Adrian who works at a local pet shop. His interest in her takes her off-guard at the beginning of the film. Adrian is a girl who has never been complimented and always keeps to herself. She has almost no self-confidence and is stepped over by many. As we see Rocky continue to pursue her, we see her confidence blossom. Rocky shows Adrian a respect that she never got from her verbally abusive brother. He doesn't treat her like a trophy or a piece of meat. He instead treats her like an equal, like someone worthy of attention and love. As Rocky loves her in this way, her character evolves into a beautiful and confident woman. By the end of the film, we wind up with an Adrian who is almost completely different from the Adrian we first met. Guys, let this be a lesson to you.

While "Rocky" is a movie that is full of valuable life lessons, you have to remember that it is also a movie meant for entertainment. And when it comes to entertaining us, this film does a spectacular job.

Just An All-Around Good Film

“Rocky” has many boasts, not least of which is its superb cast. Talia Shire is wonderful showing the evolution of Adrian. Personally, I think she deserved the award for Best Actress, which she was nominated for. Carl Weathers is the perfect Apollo Creed, pretending to be everyone's best friend and America's mascot, but in reality being a pompous jerk in need of an ego-deflating. Perhaps the best character in the movie, aside from Rocky, is Mickey Goldmill portrayed by Burgess Meredith. Meredith adds heart as the feisty, old trainer. When Rocky's getting the life beat out of him, Mickey's always there in his ear with a retort like, “Your nose is broken. It's an improvement.”

I think it's safe to say that “Rocky” popularized the training montage. What do you do when there's a lot of little, potentially boring details you need to get out of the way? Montage!

And the song “Gonna Fly Now” has become a staple in American culture. I'll bet you any amount of money that just about everyone has listened to that song for inspiration during a workout routine. I will admit that I am guilty of running while listening to this on my iPod, trying to find a set of stairs to climb when the song came to a close.

It is easy to see why “Rocky” had such an impact on our culture, and I'm sure other people can give you way more reasons than I've listed here. All of the Rocky movies are great in my opinion, but this is the one that started it all and the one that will be remembered. “Rocky” is the one that went the distance.