Preliminary approval was given on Wednesday to move the Rocky statue, which Philadelphians have embraced as a symbol of their city for almost half a century, back to the top of the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum.
First created in 1980 for the film “Rocky III” (1982), the statue has had several homes in the city, drawn millions of tourists and sparked conversations as philosophical as “What is art?”
Under the plan, the statue, currently located on street level at the side of the museum steps, will spend Spring and Summer 2026 on display inside the museum before moving to a permanent home at the top of the steps, where Rocky Balboa trained in the original film.
Creative Philadelphia, the city’s arts board, said it scrapped an earlier plan to give the statue to Rocky himself, Sylvester Stallone, and place a different cast of it on the steps, after “strong and heartfelt feedback from the public.” (A third Rocky statue cast from the same mold is on display at the Philadelphia airport.)
When the statue was first displayed outside the museum, some art lovers were rattled, seeing it as a movie prop unworthy of a place at an institution that holds Cézannes and Picassos.
That sentiment hasn’t gone away. During a public comment session at a meeting on Wednesday, a member of the public expressed concern that “this could also sort of turn the top of the art museum steps into essentially a ‘Rocky’ visitors center.”
But opinions of that sort have never stopped people from lining up day or night to take photos with Rocky, and not with Vincent Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” or “the Gross Clinic,” by Thomas Eakins, which can be found inside.
Marguerite Anglin, the public art director with Creative Philadelphia, said at the meeting that, for once, all of the key stakeholders — the mayor, the museum, the city’s parks and recreation department and the visitor center — were “unified in believing that this is the right long-term placement for the statue and the right moment for the city to make this happen.”
Cherelle Parker, the mayor, said in a statement that was read at the meeting, “Far more than a movie prop, the Rocky statue has grown into a cultural touchstone that reflects the values, grit and spirit that define this city.”
Mr. Stallone did not respond to a request for comment through his talent agency.
The first “Rocky” film, released in 1976, won the Oscar for best picture. In a memorable scene, Rocky, a journeyman boxer, concludes a training montage to the film’s theme song, “Gonna Fly Now,” by running up the steps of the art museum and lifting his arms in celebration with the Philadelphia skyline in the background.
The sculpture, which depicts the fictional fighter bare-chested in boxing trunks and gloves with his hands raised, was made by A. Thomas Schomberg in 1980.
It was first placed atop the museum steps during the filming of “Rocky III.” In the scene, Rocky is confronted at the unveiling of the statue by Clubber Lang, a boxer played by Mr. T.
In 1982, the statue, still not considered “art” by most of those in positions of authority, was moved to South Philadelphia and displayed outside the Spectrum, the city’s basketball and hockey arena.
It made temporary returns to the top of the steps several times, including in 1987 for the movie “Mannequin,” 1990 for the filming of “Rocky V” and in 1993 for the filming of “Philadelphia.”
There was always a clamor from fans that the statue’s true permanent home should be the art museum. In 2006, it did return, although not at the top of the steps, but near the bottom. Under the new plan it would return to the top of the steps, an even more photogenic spot for tourists eager to pose with their own arms raised.
The Philadelphia Art Commission took up the proposal on Wednesday.
Some members of the public called for more attention to be paid to a statue in South Philadelphia of an actual boxer from the city, Joe Frazier, while others expressed concern that not everyone who wanted to see the Rocky statue would be able to get to the top of the steps.
Officials emphasized that opinions on the statue had evolved.
The commission gave the plan preliminary approval with a vote of 3-1, with two abstentions.
The Art Museum moved to its current neoclassical home, a city landmark, in 1928. It includes works by Rubens, Renoir, Cézanne, Duchamp and Oldenburg.
And joining them now is Rocky.
Victor Mather, who has been a reporter and editor at The Times for 25 years, covers sports and breaking news.
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