Best to Worst ROCKY Movies

[Rikk]

I'm not sure if this has been done before on our site...but I figured I'd try it. I know there are at least some posters here who love this franchise.

I thought of putting this in the Carl Weathers tribute thread...but this is technically a different topic.

I'd really be curious how some of our posters rank these films. (Kristy will, I'm sure, have a very colorful response to the concept of ranking films which are full of "homo-erotic masculinity and ridiculous bromances."

Carl Weathers' death was really unexpected and actually really upset me; that guy was so awesome in basically everything he was in. I need to dig out our ACTION JACKSON Blu-Ray...we own the film but I haven't watched it in 30 years. Since he died, I've been digging out the ROCKY movies and watching most of 'em, not even necessarily going in order.

SO...here is my order, from BEST to WORST. A lot of these lists go from WORST TO BEST, but I decided to go BEST to WORST just because I fucking feel like it. Also, I did not include the third CREED movie. Honestly, I have NOT seen it yet and have not been able to bring myself to see it, mostly because I do not want to watch a ROCKY movie in the ROCKY franchise without fucking ROCKY himself!!!

BEST to WORST:
1. ROCKY (1976): I used to put ROCKY II here, but after re-watching the first film a few more times in recent years, I have to admit that (without a doubt), this is the best.
2. ROCKY II (1979): The first ROCKY film I ever saw (the network showing when I was maybe 7 around 1983). Has the absolute best fight in the series and brings back virtually everybody.
3. ROCKY III (1982): Probably the first in the series that is less actual drama & more comic book. But Mr. T. is awesome and the friendship between Rocky & Apollo is cemented. (Carl Weathers' favorite Rocky film.)
4. ROCKY BALBOA (2006): Paulie (maybe my favorite character in the franchise) is great in this. Of all the sequels, this feels most like the first two.
5. ROCKY IV (1985): An insanely silly ROCKY film. But it's admittedly a lot of fun. I was looking forward to seeing the 2021 re-cut, but it really didn't improve the film that much (almost nothing new in it).
6. CREED (2015): I like it, but I don't like it as much as some people do. I just don't find Adonis as interesting or likeable a character. Stallone is great in it, though.
7. CREED II (2018): Nice to see Drago back. The ending with Drago & his son is actually pretty touching. But I found it diminishing returns.
8. ROCKY V (1990): An abomination. A horrible film. Nobody wanted to see Rocky lose all his money. And the whole idea, after the fight in Russia...it's just SO badly-written. What were they thinking??

Maybe I'll see CREED III at some point. But I don't have much interest. If Sly is not going to be in them anymore, I don't find the Adonis character strong enough to carry the franchise.

Stallone has a script for another ROCKY film, with Rocky taking another young fighter under his wing. But with Stallone's fight over the rights to the character (with producer Irwin Winkler), it just doesn't seem likely that this film will ever see the light of day.

[Von Halen]

Isn't 5 the one with Tommy Gunn? I love that one.

I'd go:

1
2
3
5
4

I've never seen any of the Creed movies or the Rocky Balboa movie.

[Rikk]

I've never seen any of the Creed movies or the Rocky Balboa movie.

I'm not necessarily going to tell you to rush out to watch the CREED movies (though Stallone is amazing in the first CREED film, even nominated for an Oscar for it...not that I give a shit about fucking awards shows)...

...but you really should watch the 2006 film (ROCKY BALBOA). It's damn good. Adrian is dead in this one (there was no falling out...he just thought he could write a better script if his character had to try and find his way in the world with his wife gone). It definitely feels most like the 1st two films.

[twonabomber]

Creed III is a little far-fetched. I won't spoil it.

[Rikk]

Creed III is a little far-fetched. I won't spoil it, but the premise is very unlikely.

Yeah, I didn't see it...but I read something like what you just stated in the review I read.

Not only is Stallone pissed that he doesn't personally OWN the rights to his own character (and, thus, his refusal to work with the producer now) but he also said he HATED the direction they were trying to take the film.

And I read Michael B. Jordan (who plays Creed) say something like, "It's time to see Adonis' story without having to have Rocky in there." Uh...I guess. But, really...Jordan's character is really not that interesting. That was my own problem with the film. His character is a kind of second-rate re-write of the original Rocky character. It might have been more interesting if Adonis had a lot of his dad's characteristics...but not once does his character's behavior remind me of Carl Weathers...and he has NONE of Weathers' charisma.

I suppose I'll maybe see the film at some point. But I HATE when producers/studios try to tell audiences, "You know that original icon that this whole franchise is based on? Yeah, that icon doesn't matter anymore. We're making the film anyway...and you're going to come even though Rocky isn't in the series anymore." I was basically thinking, "Fuck you!"

I highly doubt we will ever see the character Rocky Balboa on a movie screen ever again.

[Catfish]

1
2
3
Balboa
Creed
4
Creed 2
5

Not including Creed 3 since Rocky's not in it. And it'd probably be at the bottom anyway.

I'll never understand people who put 4 on a pedestal.

[Rikk]

I'll never understand people who put 4 on a pedestal.

Yeah, 4 is really silly. For one, I don't like that it gets rid of Apollo.

Also, again...it's REALLY silly. And it doesn't have the classic Rocky music, really. (No Bill Conti.)

It's like the Rocky version of Red Dawn.

But I rate it higher than the first Creed film simply because it still has Carl Weathers in it...and I just find it more entertaining than both Creed films.

I appreciate Von's enthusiasm for 5...but I just hate the film. I cannot get behind it in any way.

[Terry]

I'm not gonna do best to worst.

Partly because I haven't seen any of the Rocky movies since the 2006 one: I couldn't give two shits about Apollo Creed's kid.

What I will do is say which Rocky movies out of those I have seen I would still be willing to watch today re: test of time (which is more telling than ranking the franchise).

Rocky 1976: the first and obviously the best, and not simply because it was the first one. Realistic, endearing, gritty, whatever million other superlatives other reviewers have used a million times over.

Rocky 2 1979 / Rocky Balboa 2006 : split decision, with the nod going to Balboa. Yeah, you fuckin' read that right. Sure, Rocky 2 picked up right where Rocky 1976 left off. However, it was a given with Rocky 2 that Rocky would win the big fight at the end. With Rocky Balboa, it was poignant watching Rocky kick around, settling into old age, a widower.

Rocky V 1990 I'm not sure I'd really want to watch again, but I'd sooner watch that than Rocky III or Rocky IV.

Rocky III and Rocky IV = blech. Clubber Lang and Ivan Drago each would have knocked Rocky's block off into tomorrow.

[Catfish]

Yeah, 4 is really silly. For one, I don't like that it gets rid of Apollo.

Also, again...it's REALLY silly. And it doesn't have the classic Rocky music, really. (No Bill Conti.)

It's like the Rocky version of Red Dawn.

But I rate it higher than the first Creed film simply because it still has Carl Weathers in it...and I just find it more entertaining than both Creed films.

I appreciate Von's enthusiasm for 5...but I just hate the film. I cannot get behind it in any way.

4 had no soul. There were like 5 scenes, then training and a fight. I agree it was silly. But still fun. Low on my list though.

5 prob needed Sly directing. And the bad early 90s hip hop didn't hold up. A grittier approach would have worked better, but then, the film was downtrodden as it was. I don't think people liked seeing Rocky down on his luck like that.

Something people dismiss about 5: it was incredibly dramatic if you saw it in theaters upon its release because there was a legit possibility of Rocky dying. I recall seeing it in the theater was a great experience.

[Catfish]

Yeah, I didn't see it...but I read something like what you just stated in the review I read.

Not only is Stallone pissed that he doesn't personally OWN the rights to his own character (and, thus, his refusal to work with the producer now) but he also said he HATED the direction they were trying to take the film.

And I read Michael B. Jordan (who plays Creed) say something like, "It's time to see Adonis' story without having to have Rocky in there." Uh...I guess. But, really...Jordan's character is really not that interesting. That was my own problem with the film. His character is a kind of second-rate re-write of the original Rocky character. It might have been more interesting if Adonis had a lot of his dad's characteristics...but not once does his character's behavior remind me of Carl Weathers...and he has NONE of Weathers' charisma.

I suppose I'll maybe see the film at some point. But I HATE when producers/studios try to tell audiences, "You know that original icon that this whole franchise is based on? Yeah, that icon doesn't matter anymore. We're making the film anyway...and you're going to come even though Rocky isn't in the series anymore." I was basically thinking, "Fuck you!"

I highly doubt we will ever see the character Rocky Balboa on a movie screen ever again.

I'm a bigger Rocky dork than most. Hosted a Rocky Blitz one day showing them all back to back leading up to see Creed 2 when it opened. And once took the Rocky film tour in Philly with a Rocky impersonator guide.

That said, none of that Creed 3 stuff bothers me. Rocky's story is over and Adonis needed his own. Even though it wasn't all that good (great performances though from MBJ and Jonathan Majors).

I think they pulled the trigger too soon on the Creed-Drago stuff though. That should have been the 3rd movie. But who knows if Sly would have stuck around that long.

[Warham]

Rocky II is my favorite. Rocky V is my least favorite, including all three Creed movies.

[Kristy]

Rocky IV was a cinematic masterpiece of pro-Reagan/anti-RuZZian propaganda. A Cold War mainstay and a epic synopsis of the festering evil that was the Soviet Empire, Rocky IV clearly demonstrated America's need to bring focus to the public (via propaganda) that the Ivan Dragos of the world were out to get white suburban USA and invade their swimming pools. Mind you, Rocky IV was the brainchild of Republican faith that America was rotting and the only way to save it was by a boxing match between an Italian porn star and a horrible Swedish actor. You diss on Rocky IV well, you're just shitting all over America in my opinion.

[Nitro Express]

Rocky IV was a cinematic masterpiece of pro-Reagan/anti-RuZZian propaganda. A Cold War mainstay and a epic synopsis of the festering evil that was the Soviet Empire, Rocky IV clearly demonstrated America's need to bring focus to the public (via propaganda) that the Ivan Dragos of the world were out to get white suburban USA and invade their swimming pools. Mind you, Rocky IV was the brainchild of Republican faith that America was rotting and the only way to save it was by a boxing match between an Italian porn star and a horrible Swedish actor. You diss on Rocky IV well, you're just shitting all over America in my opinion.

You vill lose!

[Catfish]

Rocky II is my favorite. Rocky V is my least favorite, including all three Creed movies.

I'm with you there. I could easily put R2 as my #1 of the franchise. Best fight and best training scenes of all the movies. How do you top Adrianne coming back from the dead and giving him the green light to kick ass followed by Mick: "WHAT ARE WE WAITIN' FOR???!!!" Then he hits the weights, catches the chicken, and all while Mick preaches SPEED, SPEED, SPEED!!! Then Rocky puts is baby boy to bed and hits the road for the best run of the series, leaping over benches and taking all the kids to the top of the steps YESSSSS!!!!

[Seshmeister]

These lists are very close to just being in order of when they were made.

Rocky got Oscar nominations for best actor, best actress and 2 best supporting actor.

Rocky V not so much...