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... :)

[Seshmeister]

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.

Nowadays the big final bout would be set in Florida and the crowd would turn on Rocky chanting "Drago Drago Drago!". Rocky shouts 'Adriane!" one last time as he hits the canvas dead and Putin and Trump fist bump in their bullet proof VIP box...

[Terry]

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.

Rocky IV sucked.

Even Survivor half-assed their contribution to that flick, because why not? Everything else about the movie was half-assed.

America circa Rocky IV was the shit, but Rocky IV was just plain shit.

[Seshmeister]

Rocky IV sucked.

Even Survivor half-assed their contribution to that flick, because why not? Everything else about the movie was half-assed.

America circa Rocky IV was the shit, but Rocky IV was just plain shit.

I only watched it at the time it came out once and thought it was shit too I think it's ended up with a bit of a following as time has gone on with people who could view it as a bit of WWE fun. I seem to remember the Russian crowd changing to be Rocky fans was just too ridiculous for me to get by. :)

[Terry]

I only watched it at the time it came out once and thought it was shit too I think it's ended up with a bit of a following as time has gone on with people who could view it as a bit of WWE fun. I seem to remember the Russian crowd changing to be Rocky fans was just too ridiculous for me to get by. :)

I watched it a bunch of times on cable tv - probably HBO - maybe 6 months or so after it had the US theatrical run.

I had watched Rocky III a bunch of times on cable tv - probably HBO - several years before.

Rocky III wasn't any great shakes either, especially compared with the first two Rocky flicks. BUT Rocky III had the novelty of Mr. T when nobody knew who the fuck Mr. T was. And a cameo by Hulk Hogan just as WWF was starting to really take off in a big way in the US. And a truly great song, Eye Of The Tiger, by Survivor. Plus, Rocky got his ass kicked, Mickey died, Apollo trained Rocky, Rocky came back and beat Mr. Clubber T Lang.

Rocky IV had a lame song by Survivor. It had this wacky plot. I mean, has anybody ever been punched to death in a pro boxing match? And, yeah, the idea that a fight between an American and a Russian in Russia in an arena full of Russians would end up with the spectators cheering for the American...look, I could suspend disbelief when Rocky came back and beat Clubber in III, but Drago would have beat the shit out of Rocky.

[Catfish]

Drago's pouncing power was*1,850 pounds per square inch. Even if Drago landed 50 or so punches to the face at around 1,400psi throughout the bout, the laws of physics alone would kill Rocky by the end of the fight. At least Rocky was properly tarded up in Rocky V to at least save SOME face.

[Seshmeister]

My memory of it is that Rocky seems to jump about 50 IQ points between Rocky II and III though so that was him just going back to normal. :)

Is there not a story that Stallone ended up in hospital for a while when Drago hit him for real?

Also other little bit of trivia I believe without looking it up that Dolph Lungren fucked his way onto the screen by banging Grace Jones and she then got him a little part in A View To A Kill.

[Seshmeister]

It had this wacky plot. I mean, has anybody ever been punched to death in a pro boxing match?

Yeah totally. Maybe not like that but I can think of at least a couple in the 80s and I'm no boxing expert.

[Catfish]

My memory of it is that Rocky seems to jump about 50 IQ points between Rocky II and III though so that was him just going back to normal. :)

Is there not a story that Stallone ended up in hospital for a while when Drago hit him for real?

Also other little bit of trivia I believe without looking it up that Dolph Lungren fucked his way onto the screen by banging Grace Jones and she then got him a little part in A View To A Kill.

In R3 Mickey tells Rocky that the worst thing that can happen to a fighter happened: you went and got civilized.

Yeah, they were really slugging each other and Dolph nailed him in the chest and it swole up part of his heart.

I heard the same about Jones. In the movie you see him pull a gun on her lol.

[Nitro Express]

Rocky. Rambo. We really did have Sylvester Stallone shoved up our ass in those days.

[Nitro Express]

Eat lots of protein. Live in the gym. Take steroids. Become a Hollywood boy toy. You might become a star.

[twonabomber]

I mean, has anybody ever been punched to death in a pro boxing match?

Duk Koo-kim

[Rikk]

Kim Duk-koo was a southpaw who was killed in a Lightweight Championship match with Ray Mancini in November 1982. (He died five days after the match, with a mass of blood on his brain from one of the punches putting him in a coma immediately after the match.)

NOT AS WELL-KNOWN:
His mother, who flew from South Korea to be with her son before they turned his life-support off, killed herself three months later by drinking a bottle of poison (pesticide). ALSO, the fight's referee, Richard Green, killed himself with a gun less than a year after the right.

Kim's fiancee was pregnant at the time (very early) and had Kim's son in July 1983. The son and his mother met Mancini in a cordial meeting in 2011. (Kim's death greatly affected Mancini for years after the fight.)

[Rikk]

OH...and when Kim lay dying in the ring, Mancini did NOT stand over him and say into the microphone, "And if he dies, HE DIES." (I bet Mancini never watched ROCKY IV.)

[Catfish]

OH...and when Kim lay dying in the ring, Mancini did NOT stand over him and say into the microphone, "And if he dies, HE DIES." (I bet Mancini never watched ROCKY IV.)

What a missed opportunity!

[Terry]

Ok, fine, fuck it.

Since a real-life somebody once died in a boxing match it stands to reason Rocky IV is the greatest boxing movie ever...or at the very least, the greatest movie in the Rocky series after Rocky I, Rocky 2, Rocky 3, Rocky 5 and Rocky 6.

Ivan Drago can box my sweaty sack.

[Rikk]

:D

Hey, I'm just saying a fighter CAN die in the ring. It has happened actually a small handful of times.

ROCKY IV is STILL no ROCKY, ROCKY II, ROCKY III or ROCKY BALBOA.

[Catfish]

Ok, fine, fuck it.

Since a real-life somebody once died in a boxing match it stands to reason Rocky IV is the greatest boxing movie ever...or at the very least, the greatest movie in the Rocky series after Rocky I, Rocky 2, Rocky 3, Rocky 5 and Rocky 6.

It makes me feel better knowing someone in real life died in the ring

[Rikk]

It makes me feel better knowing someone in real life died in the ring

There are all sorts of strange things that happen on this-here planet.

I remember we once had a moderator named Pete. Legend has it, Fabulous Shadow ate him.

[Seshmeister]

Ok, fine, fuck it.

Since a real-life somebody once died in a boxing match it stands to reason Rocky IV is the greatest boxing movie ever...or at the very least, the greatest movie in the Rocky series after Rocky I, Rocky 2, Rocky 3, Rocky 5 and Rocky 6.

Ivan Drago can box my sweaty sack.

It's a lot more than one... :)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_deaths_due_to_injuries_sustained_in_boxing

[Terry]

It's a lot more than one... :)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_deaths_due_to_injuries_sustained_in_boxing

Oh, good lord!

My only wish is that Apollo Creed wasn't a fictional character and had an actual grave so that I could kneel next to it and beg forgiveness for my thoughtless comment re: Rocky IV licks my taint.















Btw, R4 STILL licks my taint!!!!



There's no easy way out...

[Seshmeister]

You said something that was factually incorrect on this forum and you know that is completely forbidden. :D

[Terry]

Hey, motherfucker!! Those guitar strings Eddie Van Halen used to boil? Those were Ernie Ball Super Slinky .008 strings!!! NOT .009!!!!

Fuckin' dumbass!

[Seshmeister]

Yeah and Ed never lied when he said he never used any guitar effects, he used to just move between different sized rooms very quickly and what people thought was him using a phaser was just him opening and closing his mouth around the amp mic like you can do when you brush your teeth.

[Nitro Express]

Ed said he never used distortion pedals. He did say he used effects. I have an exact copy of Ed’s 68 Super Lead. You drop it down to around 88 volts and turn the bias pot up and dime all the knobs the amp compresses. It gets that tone with no pedals and it’s real saggy. You can use a regular PAF or a high impedance pickup and either sounds good. You get more drive with the hotter pickup. My amp has Heyborer transformers which are US made but they sound like the old British Drake Transformers. MojoTone uses them.

[Nitro Express]

Hey, motherfucker!! Those guitar strings Eddie Van Halen used to boil? Those were Ernie Ball Super Slinky .008 strings!!! NOT .009!!!!

Fuckin' dumbass!

They actually were Fender pure nickel XL’s. They don’t make them anymore but that’s what I used to string my Ibanez Roadstar with. The wrap was pure nickel so they sounded warmer than the Super Slinkies.

[Seshmeister]

Ed said he never used distortion pedals. He did say he used effects.

Back in the early 80s when he was super paranoid about being copied he used to say he didn't use any effects. It's the kind of thing you remember because as a kid you are so surprised the first time you see a lie printed in a magazine.

If you pick one of those early years and google Eddie Van Halen effects you will quickly find a quote say

https://jasobrecht.substack.com/p/eddie-van-halen-1982-interview-part


On “Where Have All the Good Times Gone,” do you have an Echo-Plex in the beginning?

Actually, that’s about the only effect that I ever really use. I probably did.

[Rikk]

Nobody lies on this-here forum.

I may live outside Chicago now...but I was once the owner of a huge oil company in Dallas and my real name is Rikk Ewing.

[Von Halen]

Ed said he never used distortion pedals. He did say he used effects. I have an exact copy of Ed’s 68 Super Lead. You drop it down to around 88 volts and turn the bias pot up and dime all the knobs the amp compresses. It gets that tone with no pedals and it’s real saggy. You can use a regular PAF or a high impedance pickup and either sounds good. You get more drive with the hotter pickup. My amp has Heyborer transformers which are US made but they sound like the old British Drake Transformers. MojoTone uses them.

You should do a video on this set up and post it in the gear forum. We do have a gear forum, don't we? We'd love to see it and hear it.

[Catfish]

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

I don't disagree with this. But one of the things Creed III did very well IMO was bring us inside the fight game. I loved all the behind the scenes stuff with promoters, trainers, etc. But the dramatic payout of Adonis' past felt flat to me and in the end I didn't see any motivation for him to fight Damien.

And I swear to god if Creed IV is about his stupid deaf daughter becoming a boxer I'm going to puke! Watch, it'll happen!!!

[Catfish]

You fucking geeks talking about Ed's strings and toys. This is a thread about Rocky!

God dammit where's the moderator!!!!!

[Nitro Express]

You fucking geeks talking about Ed's strings and toys. This is a thread about Rocky!

God dammit where's the moderator!!!!!

I think if Ed met Clubber Lang, he would shove a guitar neck up his ass and turn him into a popsicle.

[DLR Bridge]

https://youtu.be/wxpsIbzpCrg?si=W6Ehj-jXQ1CHWqr8

Thought this thread needed a soundtrack.

[Kristy]

That's terrible.

[DLR Bridge]

Sorry, I couldn’t find a Jimmy Page version.

[Mushroom]

This Fuckin’ Kristy

[Mushroom]

https://youtu.be/wxpsIbzpCrg?si=W6Ehj-jXQ1CHWqr8

Thought this thread needed a soundtrack.

I give the performance a B+. I dig Paul’s adaptation but he can’t help himself puking out the obligatory and unnecessary speed runs, thereby detracting from the overall performance for me.

[Mushroom]

I saw Rocky III in the theater as a late pre-teen. Rocky III did something the first two movies did not: introduced a frightening character Clubber Lang. Apollo Creed was Rocky’s adversary but he was also suave, confident, likable; that’s also why Rocky III-IV worked. Clubber Lang was Rocky’s nemesis.

Brilliant franchise! Bravo

[DLR Bridge]

I give the performance a B+. I dig Paul’s adaptation but he can’t help himself puking out the obligatory and unnecessary speed runs, thereby detracting from the overall performance for me.

Oh, no doubt. He’s a total caricature of himself in that regard. I saw him do the primary root of the theme on his Rick Beato interview and was actually more impressed by that. He is one of those guys who can pretty much play whatever he wants, always.

[DLR Bridge]

I saw Rocky III in the theater as a late pre-teen. Rocky III did something the first two movies did not: introduced a frightening character Clubber Lang. Apollo Creed was Rocky’s adversary but he was also suave, confident, likable; that’s also why Rocky III-IV worked. Clubber Lang was Rocky’s nemesis.

Brilliant franchise! Bravo

Yeah, it’s III and IV for me. The original is a classic, but too drawn out and II is sort of the same thing only sillier. I actually haven’t seen any of them after IV.

[Jérôme Frenchise]

The only Rocky I ever saw was III, at the flicks with my Dad and a couple cousins. I remember my Dad had taken us there for our own pleasure. He couldn't help giggling at the "eye of the tiger" as, for him, he rather had the "eye of the fried fish".:biggrin:

[Nitro Express]

The first one was the best. It got more ridiculous and cartoonish after that. But hey, the public gobbles shit up like a swarm of flies so why not sell them some?