Sylvester Stallone Rocky Photo Shows He's Still As Fit In 2019 As He Was In 1976

Turn on the Rocky theme in your head and take a moment to respect the hell out of Sylvester Stallone's fitness work ethic. Sly is 72-years-old, but still clearly in top shape. He shot to fame back in 1976 with Rocky, which was the highest-grossing movie of the year and won three Oscars, including Best Picture. Stallone brought Rocky back for two Creed movies, with Creed II coming out in 2018 and marking what may be his retirement.

It's now early 2019, so almost 43 years have passed since Sylvester Stallone wrote and starred in Rocky. But his new side-by-side workout photos show, thanks to hard work, not that much has changed:

Sylvester Stallone in 1976 and 2019 via Instagram

Well, daaaaamn, Rocky. He's an inspiration. Maybe a don't try this yourself without having done it for the past 40 years kind of inspiration, but good for him. Sylvester Stallone shows that hard work and discipline can keep you healthy and fit. (Meanwhile, I like to think I show that a sedentary lifestyle and Reese's can keep you a Zootopia sloth.)

Sylvester Stallone tends to share a lot of throwback photos on Instagram, including lots of Rocky memories. However, he's also been looking ahead, giving fans glimpses from his other major franchise, Rambo.

Sylvester Stallone wrapped filming on Rambo V: Last Blood a couple of months ago, but he's been posting photos from the set to keep fans up to date until the movie arrives in theaters at some point later in 2019.

After Creed II came out in November 2018, Sylvester Stallone posted what looked like a goodbye for the character of Rocky Balboa, saying, in part:

I just want to thank everyone around the whole wide World for taking the Rocky family into their hearts for over 40 years. It’s been my Ultimate privilege to have been able to create and play this meaningful character. Though it breaks my heart, Sadly all things must pass... and end. I love you Kind and generous people , and The most wonderful thing of all , is that ROCKY will never die because he lives on in you ....

Sylvester Stallone has kept himself fit through eight Rocky movies, now five Rambo movies, three The Expendables movies, and three Escape Plan movies. So that may be the secret to staying jacked into your 70s -- become an action star and stay an action star for decades! (The Rock is probably following this recipe too, and we should expect to still see him lifting weights 40 years from now.)

As we wait for more details on Rambo V: Last Blood, and see if maybe there will be a Creed III even without Sylvester Stallone, bookmark our 2019 movie release date schedule to keep up on everything headed to theaters this year.

Gina Carbone

Gina grew up in Massachusetts and California in her own version of The Parent Trap. She went to three different middle schools, four high schools, and three universities -- including half a year in Perth, Western Australia. She currently lives in a small town in Maine, the kind Stephen King regularly sets terrible things in, so this may be the last you hear from her.