- Primary Subject: Sylvester Stallone's reaction to Anthony Ippolito's portrayal of him in I Play Rocky
- Key Update: Sylvester Stallone officially gave his blessing to I Play Rocky, praising Anthony Ippolito's "magnificent" performance.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: November 9, 2026
- Quick Answer: Sylvester Stallone praised Anthony Ippolito’s portrayal of him in I Play Rocky, calling his performance magnificent and admitting he forgot he was watching himself.
Sylvester Stallone recently showed his support for Anthony Ippolito's performance as himself in the new biopic I Play Rocky.
The Hollywood A-lister is the subject of a new film that tackles the making of Rocky, which ended up being his breakthrough into becoming an iconic movie star. Fans of Stallone have been wondering whether he has a blessing on the project and what he thinks of Ippolito's portrayal.
What Does Sylvester Stallone Think of Anthony Ippolito's I Play Rocky Performance?
In a recent interview with CBS Mornings, Sylvester Stallone was asked what he thinks of Anthony Ippolito's performance in I Play Rocky.
He expressed his compliments for the actor's work in the film and the surreal feeling that he had seeing the rising star portray him in the biopic.
"It was very surreal because at first I was gonna be hypercritical, like that's me. I don't walk like that. But I did walk like that. I did talk like that. I'm realizing this guy did a magnificent job, and I actually forgot I was me, and I sat back and watched the movie like the audience," the A-list star said.
In addition, Stallone joked that Ippolito may have also been injured during the training for the film.
Stallone and Ippolito have also interacted for the first time recently as they crossed paths during the 50th anniversary screening of Rocky in Brooklyn. They shook hands on stage and exchanged a few words.
What Is I Play Rocky About?
I Play Rocky is an electrifying true story about an unknown actor with an unshakable belief that he wasn’t just meant to write Rocky; he was meant to be Rocky Balboa. Told "no" at every turn, Sylvester Stallone bets everything on himself, holding the line on playing the lead against seemingly impossible odds. The result is the ultimate underdog story behind the ultimate underdog movie.
The cast includes Anthony Ippolito, Matt Dillon, AnnaSophia Robb, P.J. Byrne, Toby Kebbell, Tracy Letts, Jay Duplass, and Kiki Seto.
The film is already out in select theaters, but it is expected to expand nationwide in North America on November 20. It is expected to be a major contender during awards season.