Going the Distance

A love letter to the city of Philadelphia, and the remarkable behind-the-scenes story of the creation of a timeless and beloved piece of American pop culture: Rocky.

The greatest underdog story in movie history will soon celebrate its golden anniversary. Rocky turns 50 in 2026, and in Going the Distance, Mike Sielski delivers the definitive account of the film’s making, the factors that drove Stallone to write and star in it, and its everlasting emotional connection to Philadelphia and to people around the world.

Armed with his intimate knowledge of Philadelphia’s texture, culture, and history, Sielski strips away the myths and semi-truths about Rocky, details how and why it came to be made, and puts it in its proper context of time, place, and significance. Through extensive research and exclusive insights from some of the film’s legendary collaborators -- including producer Irwin Winkler and composer Bill Conti, among others -- Sielski will tell Rocky’s story in a completely new way.

The backbone of the book will be Stallone’s rise from an aimless kid to an ambitious artist, one who was willing to do whatever he had to do to succeed in Hollywood, who made loyal friends and bitter enemies on his path to stardom. Along the way, Going the Distance will also answer many intriguing and lingering questions about Stallone and the movie.

Going the Distance will deliver the unfiltered origin story behind one of the most inspirational films of all time. This is more than a book about a movie. It’s a dramatic and revealing ride in and of itself.