1 / 6 · Rocky III
The sculptor A. Thomas Schomberg made the eight-foot statue for Rocky III.
After filming, the bronze was left on the steps, and the museum fought to have it removed.
Sylvester StalloneRocky Balboa · writer
November 25, 1975Philadelphia
Main event · 7 rounds
Rocky
vs. 72 steps, one city
Sylvester Stallone wrote it and plays Rocky Balboa. Scheduled for 28 days, held to a million dollars, shot in Philadelphia and one Los Angeles arena.
From the record
Rocky opens on a title card: November 25, 1975, Philadelphia. Stallone wrote the screenplay and plays Rocky Balboa.
The director was given a 28-day schedule and a budget of $1,000,000; the closing fight was filmed at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.
Talia ShireAdrian
Burgess MeredithMickey
Round 1 · The Rocky Steps
72 steps.
Beat his time.
There are 72 stone steps, designed largely by Julian Abele, one of America’s first Black architects. The staircase is in every Rocky film except Rocky IV, and in Creed and Creed II. He made it to the top in under 12 seconds. One press, one step.
0.00s
0 / 72 steps
His time: under 12s
72 steps. The clock starts on your first press.
The steps are free. The museum opens Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 10am–5pm and Friday 10am–8.45pm; closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
From the record
Round 2 · South 9th Street
Through the market,
then a side of beef.
This autumn the city has people punching frozen meat on Filbert Street. Practise here: every punch knocks loose something true about Rocky’s South Philly.
0 punches
Nothing loose yet.
South 9th Street · 3.6 km to the museum steps as the crow flies
Stalls and shops keep their own hours. The Italian Market Visitor Center opens Tuesday to Saturday 9.30am–5.30pm and Sunday 10am–3pm.
From the record
1237 East Passyunk Avenue, at 9th and Wharton
Open 24 hours, every day. Look for the plaque.
From the record
Round 3 · The Rocky Statue
The statue that
won’t stay put.
A bronze of a man who never lived, made for a sequel. Philadelphia has argued about where to put it ever since. Move it.
At the top of the steps, by the museum’s east entrance. Free.
From the record
Independence Visitor Center
Rocky Philadelphia Bus Tours
From the base of the Rocky Steps · 10am · select dates to 29 November 2026
The city’s official Rocky bus tour, first run in 2024, through places from the films. Board at the base of the steps.
See datesRound 4 · Kensington, under the El
Not South Philly.
Kensington.
1818 East Tusculum Street
Rocky’s home in the 1976 film is a brick corner rowhouse with a modest stoop at 1818 East Tusculum Street, in Kensington.
Rocky’s house, his gym and the pet shop were all filmed in Kensington, not South Philadelphia.
The one Rocky tour that stops there asks fans not to climb the steps or stand on the porch: people still live here.
A private home. It is not open, and it is not on our map.
From the record
Mighty Mick’s, the gym in Rocky, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky V, Rocky Balboa and Creed, never existed; only its outside was filmed here.
Boxing gloves were painted on the Front Street side for Rocky V.
From the record
The Yo, Philly! Film Tour
The Yo, Philly! Film Tour
Citywide · 3 to 3½ hours · $350 flat, for one to seven people
A private van tour with Mike Kunda, endorsed by Stallone, past Rocky’s apartment, Lucky 7 Tavern and Adrian’s Pet Shop, ending at the steps. It books two to five months ahead.
Request a dateRound 5 · The sequels and Creed
Eight films.
One city.
Choose a film and its places light up.
Rocky II: 7 of the 16 places on this page.
The steps from the bottom, looking up at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, July 2026. Dough4872 · CC BY-SA 4.0 The Rocky Steps
Rocky · Rocky II · Rocky III · Rocky V · Rocky Balboa · Creed · Creed II
There are 72 stone steps, designed largely by Julian Abele, one of America’s first Black architects.
From the record
The Rocky Statue at the foot of the museum steps, February 2025, before its move inside and then to the top. Horcrux · CC BY-SA 4.0 The Rocky Statue
Rocky III · Creed · Creed II
A produce stall under the awnings, South 9th Street, September 2006. Derek Ramsey · CC BY-SA 2.5 South 9th Street Italian Market
Rocky · Rocky II · Creed
In the training scenes of Rocky and Rocky II, Rocky runs past, and then with, the onlookers here; Adonis does the same in Creed.
From the record
Pat’s King of Steaks, Passyunk Avenue at 9th Street, August 2023. Jim Henderson · CC BY-SA 4.0 Pat’s King of Steaks
Rocky
Kensington Avenue under the El, in the Kensington neighbourhood where Rocky’s house stands; the house itself is private. Dasprevailz · Public domain 1818 East Tusculum Street
Rocky
York–Dauphin station on the El over Front Street, at the north end of the block from No. 2147, November 2013. DanTD · CC BY-SA 3.0 Mighty Mick’s Gym, now Lost Time Brewing
Rocky · Rocky II · Rocky III · Rocky V · Rocky Balboa · Creed
Mighty Mick’s, the gym in Rocky, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky V, Rocky Balboa and Creed, never existed; only its outside was filmed here.
From the record
Chestnut Street in front of Independence Hall, August 2019. Myotus · CC BY-SA 4.0 Independence Hall
Rocky II
Independence Hall is a backdrop in Rocky II’s training run.
From the record
Rittenhouse Square in October 2010. Daderot · Public domain Rittenhouse Square
Rocky II
Rocky and Adrian think about the baby on the way here, in Rocky II.
From the record
The Philadelphia Zoo’s main entrance, April 2024. Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0 Philadelphia Zoo
Rocky II
In Rocky II, Rocky proposes to Adrian in the snow in front of the tigers, with a real tiger behind them.
From the record
The Moshulu at Penn’s Landing, May 2024. 颐园居 · CC BY-SA 4.0 Penn’s Landing and the Moshulu
Rocky II
In Rocky II’s training montage, Rocky runs through a riverfront industrial tract here and past an old ship.
From the record
Boathouse Row at sunrise, October 2024. Domaking9000 · CC BY-SA 4.0 Boathouse Row
Rocky Balboa
The gatehouse at Laurel Hill East, June 2016. Bestbudbrian · CC BY-SA 4.0 Laurel Hill East
Rocky Balboa · Creed · Creed II
The Mario Lanza mural at Broad and Reed streets, a short walk from Victor Café, September 2021. Ben (Commons) · CC BY-SA 2.0 The Victor Café
Rocky Balboa · Creed · Creed II
Richmond Street in Port Richmond, the neighbourhood of Front Street Gym, August 2009. Wikited · Public domain Front Street Gym
Creed
Max’s Steaks, Germantown Avenue at Erie, August 2020. Valoem · CC BY-SA 4.0 Max’s Steaks
Creed · Creed II
Inside the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, January 2011. Neon Tommy · CC BY-SA 2.0 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
Rocky
Laurel Hill
Adrian’s headstone at Laurel Hill
3822 Ridge Avenue · Daily 7am–7pm, 7am–5pm in winter · free
The prop headstones from Rocky Balboa and Creed stand next to the Gatehouse at Laurel Hill East, in Section M. Free.
Plan a visitRound 6 · Los Angeles · 3,847 km from the steps as the crow flies
The fight was shot
in Los Angeles.
The film’s closing fight was shot at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, with the new Steadicam carried by hand.
Rocky stays in the ring and calls for Adrian. It was reshot in close-up, with a few extras, to save money.
From the record
In 2016 the arena’s site was cleared for a 22,000-seat stadium for Los Angeles FC. The stadium opened in 2018 and was renamed BMO Stadium on 19 January 2023.
The arena is gone. BMO Stadium, home of LAFC and Angel City FC, stands on the site; go on a match or concert day.
Round 7 · In the corner
The people,
as themselves.
Sylvester StalloneRocky Balboa · writer
Talia ShireAdrian
Burgess MeredithMickey
Carl WeathersApollo Creed
Bill ContiComposer
From the record
Sylvester Stallone plays Rocky Balboa and wrote the film; Talia Shire plays Adrian, Burgess Meredith plays Mickey and Carl Weathers plays Apollo Creed. John G. Avildsen directed.
Bill Conti composed the score, including “Gonna Fly Now”.
AFI Catalog of Feature Films: Rocky (1976)MusicBrainz: Rocky, Original Motion Picture Score (United Artists, 1976)
The final bell.
Now go.
Where it is now
15 places you can visit, 14 in Philadelphia and one in Los Angeles. Rocky’s house on Tusculum Street is a private home and is not on the map. Front Street Gym is a working gym: call ahead.
Pins mark public places; private homes are named but not pinned.
General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: building · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. The steps are free. The museum opens Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 10am–5pm and Friday 10am–8.45pm; closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: site · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. At the top of the steps, by the museum’s east entrance. Free.
General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: site · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. Free, every day. Gates 7am–7pm from spring to autumn clock change, 7am–5pm in winter. The headstones are next to the Gatehouse, in Section M.
General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: site · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. Daily 9.30am–5pm, last entry 4pm. Buy dated tickets online in advance.
General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: site · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. The clubhouses are private. See them from Kelly Drive or across the river, best after dark.
The steps from the bottom, looking up at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, July 2026. Dough4872 · CC BY-SA 4.0 Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
The Rocky Steps
There are 72 stone steps, designed largely by Julian Abele, one of America’s first Black architects.
The steps are free. The museum opens Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 10am–5pm and Friday 10am–8.45pm; closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
From the record
The Rocky Statue at the foot of the museum steps, February 2025, before its move inside and then to the top. Horcrux · CC BY-SA 4.0 Top of the museum steps
The Rocky Statue
The sculptor A. Thomas Schomberg made the eight-foot statue for Rocky III.
At the top of the steps, by the museum’s east entrance. Free.
From the record
The gatehouse at Laurel Hill East, June 2016. Bestbudbrian · CC BY-SA 4.0 3822 Ridge Avenue
Laurel Hill East
Rocky visits Adrian’s and Paulie’s graves here in Rocky Balboa, Creed and Creed II; the prop headstones stand next to the Gatehouse, in Section M.
Free, every day. Gates 7am–7pm from spring to autumn clock change, 7am–5pm in winter. The headstones are next to the Gatehouse, in Section M.
From the record
The Philadelphia Zoo’s main entrance, April 2024. Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0 3400 West Girard Avenue
Philadelphia Zoo
In Rocky II, Rocky proposes to Adrian in the snow in front of the tigers, with a real tiger behind them.
Daily 9.30am–5pm, last entry 4pm. Buy dated tickets online in advance.
From the record
Boathouse Row at sunrise, October 2024. Domaking9000 · CC BY-SA 4.0 Kelly Drive, on the Schuylkill
Boathouse Row
Boathouse Row and Kelly Drive can be seen in Rocky Balboa.
The clubhouses are private. See them from Kelly Drive or across the river, best after dark.
From the record
Stay
Sleep near the steps.
A hotel on the Parkway that leads to the museum, and the city’s free-parking deal for Center City hotels.
The Logan Philadelphia, Curio Collection by Hilton
The Logan Philadelphia
One Logan Square
Not a filming location. A 391-room hotel on Logan Square, on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the avenue that runs up to the museum steps; ask for a Parkway View room.
Check rooms
Visit Philadelphia
Visit Philly Overnight Package
Center City · Up to $140 of parking for two nights
Free hotel parking for one- or two-night stays at nearly 40 Center City hotels, worth up to $140 for two nights. Not tied to the films.
See the hotelsGo there
Ride, walk, or pay a respect.
The city’s Rocky bus, a private van tour with a Stallone-endorsed guide, and Adrian’s headstone at Laurel Hill.
Independence Visitor Center
Rocky Philadelphia Bus Tours
From the base of the Rocky Steps · 10am · select dates to 29 November 2026
The city’s official Rocky bus tour, first run in 2024, through places from the films. Board at the base of the steps.
See datesThe Yo, Philly! Film Tour
The Yo, Philly! Film Tour
Citywide · 3 to 3½ hours · $350 flat, for one to seven people
A private van tour with Mike Kunda, endorsed by Stallone, past Rocky’s apartment, Lucky 7 Tavern and Adrian’s Pet Shop, ending at the steps. It books two to five months ahead.
Request a dateLaurel Hill
Adrian’s headstone at Laurel Hill
3822 Ridge Avenue · Daily 7am–7pm, 7am–5pm in winter · free
The prop headstones from Rocky Balboa and Creed stand next to the Gatehouse at Laurel Hill East, in Section M. Free.
Plan a visit
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Rocky tours in Philadelphia
Philadelphia
Live marketplace results for Rocky film-location tours. Check each itinerary.
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Punch, climb, run.
The film’s fiftieth autumn: frozen meat on Filbert Street, a race up the steps, and the Rocky Run.
Checking current event dates…
Take it home
Posters, the score and the books.
Original one-sheets from our store, Bill Conti’s 1976 score, and two books.
Printed Originals · Our poster store
Rocky II (1979)
Original 1979 US one-sheet, 27 × 41 in, near mint. The film of the zoo proposal and the riverfront run.
In stock
View poster
Printed Originals · Our poster store
Rocky (1976)
Original 1976 US one-sheet, 27 × 41 in, linen-backed.
Sold out · archive reference
View poster
Printed Originals · Our poster store
Rocky III (1982)
Original 1982 US one-sheet, 27 × 41 in. The film the statue was made for.
Sold out · archive reference
View poster
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Rocky: Original Motion Picture Score
Bill Conti · LP, United Artists UA-LA693-G, 1976
“Gonna Fly Now”, “Philadelphia Morning”, “Going the Distance” and “The Final Bell”.
Live marketplace search · listings and condition change
Find a copy
Bookshop.org UK · Ad / affiliate
Rocky: The Complete Films
Sylvester Stallone
Taschen’s 2018 book on the films.
Find the book
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Bookshop.org UK · Ad / affiliate
Rocky
Sylvester Stallone
The Ballantine paperback published in November 1976, 138 pages.
Find the bookDates, prices, rooms and stock change: confirm with the provider before you travel or buy. A stay or tour is described as a filming location only where the card says so.
The scorecards
Every place and moment behind this page, with sources.
16 of 16 places · 17 of 17 Moments
The Rocky Steps
Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Up the steps
Rocky runs up the museum steps in training, in under 12 seconds.
The Rocky Statue
Top of the museum steps
The statue
The statue was made for Rocky III and appears in Creed and Creed II.
South 9th Street Italian Market
South 9th Street, between Fitzwater and Wharton streets
The run through the market
Rocky runs through the Italian Market, and the onlookers join in.
Pat’s King of Steaks
1237 East Passyunk Avenue, at 9th and Wharton
Gazzo
Rocky meets Tony Gazzo at Pat’s before the fight with Apollo Creed.
The Victor Café
1303 Dickinson Street
Adrian’s
The Victor Café plays Adrian’s, Rocky’s restaurant.
Mighty Mick’s Gym, now Lost Time Brewing
2147 North Front Street, Kensington, under the El
Mighty Mick’s
The outside of Mighty Mick’s Gym.
1818 East Tusculum Street
Kensington
Home
Rocky lives in a corner rowhouse with a stoop.
Front Street Gym
2076 East Clearfield Street, Port Richmond
The new gym
Rocky moves Adonis to Front Street Gym.
Max’s Steaks
3653 Germantown Avenue, at West Erie
First cheesesteak
Bianca takes Adonis for his first cheesesteak at Max’s.
Laurel Hill East
3822 Ridge Avenue
The graves
Rocky visits Adrian’s and Paulie’s graves.
Philadelphia Zoo
3400 West Girard Avenue
The proposal
Rocky proposes to Adrian in the snow by the tigers.
Boathouse Row
Kelly Drive, on the Schuylkill
Kelly Drive
Boathouse Row appears along Kelly Drive.
Independence Hall
520 Chestnut Street
Independence Hall
Independence Hall is a backdrop on Rocky’s training run.
Rittenhouse Square
Walnut and South 18th streets
The square
Rocky and Adrian sit in Rittenhouse Square and think about the baby.
Penn’s Landing and the Moshulu
Christopher Columbus Boulevard, on the Delaware
Past the old ship
Rocky runs past the Moshulu on the riverfront.
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
Exposition Park, Los Angeles; now BMO Stadium
The fight
The closing fight with Apollo Creed was filmed at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.
The first ending
The first ending, in an empty arena, was replaced by Rocky calling for Adrian in the ring.