Rocky

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, Rocky is available in Australia on Stan and HBO Max, and in the US on Netflix and Philo right now. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. With 8,709 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Sylvester Stallone's performance alone is worth the time investment. Available now on Stan — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Rocky earns its spot. The writing in Rocky treats its characters as people first, plot devices second. Rocky Balboa is a Philadelphia club fighter who seems to be going nowhere. But when a stroke of fate puts him in the ring with a world heavyweight champion, Rocky knows that it's his one shot at the big time — a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go the distance and come out a winner! Sylvester Stallone and Talia Shire lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It hit screens in 1976. The performances in Rocky do a lot of work in the silences between the dialogue. The hit rate here is high enough that skipping ahead never feels like an option.

Rocky is what you recommend to people who say they do not really watch much. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Sylvester Stallone carries the material with a performance that rewards close attention. Worth starting sooner rather than later.