Sylvester Stallone poses with Philly's Rocky statue. (George Widman/Associated Press)

Statues of prominent figures have long been used to inspire civic pride and, taking a cue from Rocky in Philly, the city of Detroit is poised to get its own movie-inspired ambassador.

In less than a week, an online group has raised $50,000 US to commission a bronze monument to the superhuman cyborg Robocop -- a response to Detroit Mayor Dave Bing's call for city improvement suggestions.

"Robocop has a real chance of becoming this kind of avatar for goodness and newness and collective action in Detroit," said Jerry Paffendorf, one of the organizers of the campaign.

One of the best known movie statues is likely Sylvester Stallone's Rocky Balboa, who stands -- arms proudly raised -- near the famed steps of Philadelphia's Museum of Art seen in the Rocky films. The bronze was Stallone's gift to Philadelphia after he finished shooting the franchise's third installment.

Other performers similarly immortalized include Henry "Arthur Fonzarelli" Winkler in Milwaukee and martial arts legend Bruce Lee, memorialized with statues on the Hong Kong waterfront and another in Mostar, Bosnia.

Even the former Governator is getting his due, with a larger-than-life monument to Arnold Schwarzenegger set for display outside his childhood home in Thal, Austria.

Toronto has a large bust of early Hollywood actress, studio founder and "America's Sweetheart" Mary Pickford installed in front of the Hospital for Sick Children, which is located on the site of her childhood home. There's also a bronze of Al Waxman, aka the King of Kensington, installed in the downtown neighbourhood's Bellevue Square Park.

It's fun to think of other pop culture figures who could be honoured in bronze: say Bob & Doug McKenzie in Hamilton, Ont., Cline Dion in Montreal's Charlemagne suburb or perhaps illusionist Doug Henning in Winnipeg.

Who (or what characters) would you like to see in statue form?