Rocky II

Rocky II
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Sylvester Stallone
Written by	Sylvester Stallone
Produced by	Irwin Winkler Robert Chartoff
Starring	Sylvester Stallone Talia Shire Burt Young Carl Weathers Burgess Meredith
Cinematography	Bill Butler
Edited by	Danford B. Greene Stanford C. Allen Janice Hampton
Music by	Bill Conti
Production company	Chartoff-Winkler Productions
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date	June 15, 1979 (1979-06-15) (United States)
Running time	120 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$7 million
Box office	$200.1 million[1]

Rocky II is a 1979 American sports drama film written, directed by, and starring Sylvester Stallone.^[2] The film is the sequel to Rocky (1976) and the second installment in the Rocky film series. It also stars Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, and Burgess Meredith. In the film, Rocky Balboa (Stallone), struggling to adjust to his newfound fame and family life, finds himself in a rematch fiercely demanded by Apollo Creed (Weathers).

Development of Rocky II began in 1977, after Stallone completed the screenplay. United Artists was reluctant to allow Stallone to direct after John G. Avildsen, the director of the first film, was unable to return. Stallone was eventually hired after refusing to allow the film to be made without him as director, and the returns of the rest of the cast were secured soon thereafter. Principal photography commenced in 1978, with filming held primarily on location in Philadelphia, during which Stallone sustained several injuries. The film is dedicated to the late Jane Oliver who was Stallone's first agent.

Rocky II was theatrically released in the United States by United Artists on June 15, 1979. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for its characterization, finale, and Stallone's performance. It grossed $200 million worldwide and $85 million in North America, making it the third highest-grossing film of 1979 domestically and the second highest-grossing film worldwide. The sequel, Rocky III, was released in 1982.