Sylvester Stallone to Introduce Labor Day Weekend ROCKY Marathon on El Rey Network

By: Caryn Robbins Sep. 02, 2015

This Labor Day weekend, EL REY NETWORK has your ringside seat to the greatest boxing movie saga of all time with its "Rocky" Movie Marathon featuring movie introductions by Rocky creator and star Sylvester Stallone. Weighing in Saturday, September 5th at 6:00 PM/ET and running through Monday, September 7th at 6:00 PM/ET, the "Rocky" Movie Marathon includes the first five films in the series, aired back-to-back with introductions by Stallone.

The "Rocky" Movie Marathon kicks off with the original classic Rocky (1976), written by and starring a then-unknown Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa, an uneducated but kind-hearted working class Italian-American boxer who gets a shot at the world heavyweight championship. Directed by John G. Avildsen and co-starring Talia Shire as Rocky's girlfriend, Adrian, Burt Young as Adrian's brother Paulie, Burgess Meredith as Rocky's trainer Mickey Goldmill, and Carl Weathers as heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, Rocky was the sleeper hit of 1976, becoming the highest grossing film of the year and winning three Academy Awards®, including Best Picture.

The Marathon continues with Rocky II (1979), which marked Stallone's first time directing in the series. In the aftermath of his bout with Apollo Creed, Rocky attempts to lead a peaceful life with his new bride, Adrian, but the fame and fortune from the match soon runs scarce and, to make ends meet, Rocky agrees to a re-match with Apollo. Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers and Burgess Meredith return for this box office hit sequel, which won Best Picture at the 1980 American Movie Awards and the People's Choice Award for Favorite Motion Picture.

Next up is Rocky III (1982), written, directed by and starring Stallone and featuring returning series' costars Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith, Talia Shire and Burt Young. Rocky III also marked the film debuts of "A-Team" star Mr. T as James "Clubber" Lang and professional wrestler Hulk Hogan as "Thunderlips." Another box office smash, the second sequel in the series featured the hit song "Eye of the Tiger," which was nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Original Song.

Airing next is the third sequel, Rocky IV (1985), which ushered in the end of the Cold War with its Russian-themed storyline. In his fourth round as Rocky, and his third time directing, Stallone pits Rocky against the Soviet Union's top boxer, Ivan Drago, played by Dolph Lundgren. Co-starring Burt Young, Talia Shire, Carl Weathers, Tony Burton, Michael Pataki, and Brigitte Nielsen, Rocky IV remains the highest-grossing film in the series.

The final sequel presented as part of the "Rocky" Movie Marathon is 1990's Rocky V, which sees original Rocky director John G. Avildsen returning to direct writer and star Stallone as one-time champ Rocky Balboa, who has now hit rock bottom and winds up in his old Philadelphia neighborhood broke and ostracized. In spite of brain damage from his last fight with super-Soviet Ivan Drago, Rocky is willing to risk everything on another bout. Rocky V costars Talia Shire and Burt Young.

Catch every action-packed fight, power ballad-driven training sequence, and rousing emotional moment of Rocky I-V with El Rey Network's "Rocky" Movie Marathon, scheduled as follows:

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH

6:00PM ROCKY

8:45PM ROCKY II

11:30PM ROCKY III

1:45AM ROCKY IV

3:45AM ROCKY V

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH

6:00AM ROCKY

8:45AM ROCKY II

11:30AM ROCKY III

1:45PM ROCKY IV

3:45PM ROCKY V