The 1976 Best Picture Winner was 'ROCKY'. It is a sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and written by Sylvester Stallone, who also stars in the title role. The film tells the story of ROCKY Balboa, an uneducated but kind-hearted working class Italian-American boxer, who gets a shot at the world heavyweight championship. It was a critical and commercial success, earning $225 million at the box office and winning three Academy Awards, including Best Picture.