Sometimes, history repeats itself.

Exactly a half-century ago, in the year of the American bicentennial, a low-profile film — the story of a small-time boxer who, against all odds, went the distance against the champ — became a gigantic hit and ended up vanquishing the likes of All the President’s Men, Network and Taxi Driver to win the best picture Oscar. That film was John G. Avildsen’s Rocky, which was written by and starred Sylvester Stallone.

Eight years ago, another film with a low-profile premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it polarized critics but played through the roof with festivalgoers and ended up winning the TIFF audience award en route to several Oscar nominations, including one for best picture, which it ultimately won. That film was Peter Farrelly’s Green Book.

On Saturday night, Farrelly returned to TIFF for the world premiere of I Play Rocky, a film about the inspiration for and making of Rocky. Like Green Book, it polarized critics, but delighted festivalgoers — indeed, it generated numerous instances of mid-film applause, as well as a lengthy standing ovation at the end — and it will probably follow in the footsteps of Rocky and Green Book to a best picture Oscar nom, if not a win.