Now, city officials are considering a proposal to move the original sculpture from its current location at the base of the Philadelphia Art Museum to the top of the museum's iconic steps.
Visitors from around the world continue to flock to the statue as a Philadelphia tourist attraction.
"To me it's number one," said Ed Bolt of Detroit, Michigan.
David Laei of Xi'an, China, added, "It's a symbol of America. Symbol of this city."
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Many visitors who run to the top of the steps may not realize that the statue there is a replica.
The original was unveiled on the steps in Rocky III in 1982, but has since been relocated several times and was even in storage for a while.
It was placed at the base of the museum in 2006 and is scheduled to be part of an exhibition inside the museum from April to August.
After the exhibition concludes next August, city officials were planning to give the original statue back to Rocky himself, Sylvester Stallone, who commissioned the statue.
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But Stallone changed course, opting to take back the replica instead and allow the city to keep the original.
"He graciously said, 'Oh, the last thing I wanted to do was upset fans,'" said Philadelphia Chief Cultural Officer Valerie Gay.
The city's Art Commission heard the proposal on Tuesday. One commissioner voted against it, while two abstained.
Despite concerns about accessibility, including the need for a wheelchair-accessible shuttle, the commission granted "conceptual approval."
If the original statue is moved, another piece of art would replace it at the base of the museum, though officials have not decided which one.
The proposal has not received final approval but has the endorsement of Mayor Cherelle Parker.
The next Art Commission meeting is scheduled for January.
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