Rocky fans set Guinness World Record at Philadelphia Museum of Art steps

Hundreds of people dressed as boxer Rocky Balboa gathered outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Friday and claimed a Guinness World Record for the biggest crowd ever assembled in the fictional fighter's attire, according to CBS Philadelphia and 6abc Action News.

An announcer at the event said 570 participants were counted when the record was certified, 6abc reported. The station said Guinness had set 250 people as the minimum needed for the attempt. CBS Philadelphia put the turnout in the hundreds.

According to 6abc, the required costume copied the character's training look: a dark knit cap, gray sweatsuit and black Converse high-tops. The crowd swelled over the course of the afternoon, the station said, and those already in place cheered as late arrivals joined. After the count was confirmed, participants dashed up the famous stairs and gathered at the top for a group photo, 6abc reported.

The event was one of several the city arranged this month for the film's 50th anniversary, according to 6abc. The station said the schedule also featured a race up the museum steps, a ceremony rededicating the Rocky statue now that it has a permanent home, and a challenge at a meat market where fans can imitate the movie scene in which the boxer hits frozen beef as part of his workout.

A Rocky Run through the city was planned for Saturday, with tourism officials expecting roughly 45,000 participants drawn from every U.S. state and 75 nations, 6abc reported.

Released in 1976, the original film was written by Sylvester Stallone, who also played the title role. It tells of a little-known South Philadelphia fighter handed a chance to face heavyweight titleholder Apollo Creed in a match staged around the country's 200th birthday. Rocky does not win the bout, but he earns respect and the affection of Adrian, who works at a local pet shop.

6abc reported that the production cost less than $1 million and that Stallone, then unknown, wrote the screenplay in hopes of landing acting work. The movie took the Oscar for best picture and, at the time, earned more than any previous sports film. With its many sequels and spinoffs, the series holds the Guinness title for most successful sports film franchise, the station said.

The city staged its first Rocky Day in 2023, which Stallone attended, and grew the event into a weeklong Rocky Fest a year later, according to 6abc. This year's celebration opened with the Sept. 29 publication of Stallone's memoir, "The Steps," the station reported.

Compiled by True News from reporting by CBS Philadelphia and 6abc Action News. Each outlet's original story is linked below.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/1057