Back in 1990, CBS produced a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Rocky 5. This short video documentary captured Sylvester Stallone, director John G. Avildsen, and the Rocky 5 cast and crew as they filmed in the heart of Philly.
While this footage available on YouTube is only part of a larger three-part series, what remains is a great look at how Rocky 5 came together—complete with fan-packed streets, intense training montages, and a return to the Rocky Steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Sylvester Stallone: The Man vs. The Legend
One of the highlights of this Rocky 5 behind-the-scenes footage is seeing Stallone interacting with fans on set. Whether in character as Rocky Balboa or just being himself, Sly is met with non-stop adoration.
In an interview from the documentary, Stallone reflects on why people love Rocky so much:
“It’s not so much [about] Sylvester Stallone at all – it is what the character represents.”
That’s the power of Rocky Balboa—he’s more than just a movie character, he’s a symbol of perseverance that still resonates today.
Filming Rocky 5 in the Heart of Philly
Times sure have changed.
Unlike the original Rocky, which was filmed in Philadelphia on a rushed schedule of just a few days, Rocky 5 took a much more involved approach. The cast and crew spent two months shooting in some of the most iconic locations from the first film.
One standout moment? Director John G. Avildsen, returning to the franchise for the first time since Rocky (1976), sets up camera shots at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Meanwhile, Stallone and Tommy Morrison, dressed in their training gear, wait for direction before their training sequences are filmed.
The Crowd Still Came for Rocky
Even though Rocky 5 centers around Tommy Gunn’s rise and fall, the Philly fans weren’t showing up for him—they were there for Rocky.
During Tommy Gunn’s boxing match against Union Cane at the Philadelphia Civic Center, thousands of extras filled the seats to create an electrifying fight-night atmosphere. But let’s be honest—most of them were cheering for Rocky, even though he wasn’t even in the fight!
At one point, Stallone grabs the microphone in the ring and addresses the massive crowd:
“Your energy is overwhelming.”
It’s a reminder that no matter what was happening in the story, Rocky Balboa was still the main event.
A Classic Rocky Training Run Through the Italian Market
The footage also captures one of the most nostalgic training montages in the series—Rocky and Tommy jogging through Philadelphia’s Italian Market. Cameras track them as they weave between fruit stands and vendors, a clear callback to Rocky’s original run through the streets of Philly in Rocky (1976).
It’s one of those moments that reminds us why this city is just as much a part of the Rocky story as the characters themselves.
