Rocky (1976)

Directed by John G. Avildsen

Starring Sylvester Stallone, Carl Weathers, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Burgess Meredith, Thayer David, and Joe Spinell

Probably the fourth-best movie nominated for Best Picture in 1976 (I still haven't seen Bound for Glory, so it might be the fifth best), Rocky is still a classic and a benchmark for its genre. In the mid-70s, inspirational sports movies were not as common as they are today, but the success of this quitessential underdog story has spawned countless imitators, including this own film's five sequels. Despite the fact that it is to blame for some of the most formulaic movies of the last thirty years, it's still the best example of the inspirational sports movie, and should be viewed by anyone interested in sports or film.

Other nominees: All the President's Men (Alan J. Pakula), Bound for Glory (Hal Ashby), Network (Sidney Lumet), and Taxi Driver (Martin Scorsese)