Rocky (1976), Rocky II (1979), Rocky III (1982), Rocky IV (1985), Rocky V (1990), and Rocky Balboa (2006) are the rocky movies in order.
The Rocky movie series is a boxing epic comprised of several blockbuster movies written and starring Sylvester Stallone, who portrays Rocky Balboa.
He’s a struggling teenage club fighter who works in a meat-packing plant and works every day as a collector for a local loan shark on occasion.
In the first movie, he makes a significant impression on the World Heavyweight Champion at the time, Apollo Creed, who former NFL linebacker-turned-actor Carl Weathers plays.
After an unexpectedly brave performance in a split decision loss against the much-favored champion Creed, he also gets an unexpected championship shot battle that surprises the world.
In Rocky II, he regained the belt by defeating Creed in a rematch. So far, the movie series has made over $1 billion at the global box office.
Creed (2015), Creed II (2018), and the impending Creed III are the first three installments of a spin-off trilogy centered on Apollo Creed’s illegitimate son.
Here are the Rocky movies in order.
Rocky (1976)
- Director: John G. Avildsen
- Star casts: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, and Burgess Meredith,
- IMDB Rating: 8.1
This is one of the rocky movies in order. Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) is a small-time boxer who appears to be going nowhere in life.
He works as a collector for a loan shark and fights in filthy bars for small pay.
Rocky is taunted and called a ‘bum’, particularly by gym trainer Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith).
Rocky is courting Adrian Pennino (Talia Shire), a timid woman with an alcoholic brother, Paulie, at the same time (Burt Young).
The moment the world heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), picks Rocky as his opponent in a title battle because of his nickname.
That’s when the Italian Stallion, Rocky realizes he now has the opportunity to prove he is not worthless.
Rocky struggles for his self-respect with Adrian as his backing and Mickey as his trainer and manager.
Rocky II (1979)
- Director: Sylvester Stallone
- Star casts: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, and Burgess Meredith,
- IMDB Rating: 7.3
Rocky expects the good life to come soon after proving himself, even if he loses to Apollo Creed.
He marries Adrian and immediately begins squandering the money he won from the match.
Rocky realizes that the only way he can live is to return to boxing after failing at both endorsements and a succession of low-wage jobs.
On the other side, fans are criticizing Creed for failing to win the bout. As a result, he provokes Rocky into a rematch through media, for which Rocky trains with Mickey once more.
Rocky knocks Creed to the ground in the fifteenth round, tumbling to the ground as a result.
Both boxers have difficulty getting to their feet, but only Rocky succeeds.
Rocky gets crowned the World Heavyweight Champion for the first time.
Rocky III (1982)
- Director: Sylvester Stallone
- Star casts: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, and Burgess Meredith.
- IMDB Rating: 6.8
Rocky takes advantage of his newfound fortune and popularity after winning the heavyweight belt, appearing in several advertisements and television shows, and enjoying his new stardom.
Rocky is ready to retire after severally defending the championship, but the No 1 contender, James “Clubber” Lang (Mr. T), openly challenges him.
Rocky gets overcome by the stronger, hungrier Lang and knocked out in the second round after coping with Mickey’s heart attack before the fight.
After the fight, Mickey dies, and Rocky’s old opponent Apollo Creed takes over, teaching Rocky how to fight in Creed’s old style with more guile and skill.
Rocky outboxes Lang in the rematch, exhausting the stronger opponent and knocking him out in the third round.
After the battle, Apollo summons his “favor” for Rocky’s training, which consists of one-on-one combat in the gym with no cameras, no media, and just man vs. man. As they each throw their first punch, the movie ends.
Rocky IV (1985)
- Director: Sylvester Stallone,
- Star casts: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith and Brigitte Nielsen.
- IMDB Rating: 6.8
This is among the rocky movies in movies. Rocky intends to spend some time with his family after reclaiming the championship from Clubber Lang.
However, destiny has other plans for him that prevent him from leaving the ring.
Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) is a new boxer from the Soviet Union who challenges Rocky to an exhibition battle.
Instead, Apollo fights, and the thrashing he receives from Drago results in him dying in Rocky’s arms, still in the ring, as Drago looks on coldly.
Rocky challenges Drago to a rematch on Christmas Day in Moscow to avenge Apollo.
Rocky trains in a remote cabin in Siberia with the help of Creed’s old trainer Duke, his brother-in-law Paulie, and (eventually) Adrian.
He was doing exercises like chopping wood, lifting rocks, running in the snow, and climbing a mountain covered in snow.
While Drago is seen in an ultra-technological training facility running on treadmills and using weightlifting machines, he has been injecting steroids to boost his strength.
Rocky gets the worst pounding of his life during the fight but refuses to give up.
He finally won over the foreign crowd with his bravery and tenacity and knocked Drago out with seconds remaining in the final round.
Rocky V (1990)
- Director: John G. Avildsen
- Star casts: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Sage Stallone, Burgess Meredith, and Tommy Morrison.
- IMDB Rating: 5.3
This is one of the rocky movies in order. On paper, Rocky V appears to be a fantastic concept for bringing the franchise back to the streets of Philadelphia, where it all began.
Stallone even rehired Rocky director John G. Avildsen, but instead of returning the brand to its roots, Avildsen continued the series in the direction Stallone had taken it. This was even a campier terrain.
Rocky tries to mentor Tommy “The Machine” Gunn (Tommy Morrison), be a decent father to Robert (Sage Stallone), and escape taunting from Don King stand-in George Washington Duke (Richard Gant). However, the picture juggles too many plot lines.
The emotional honesty has been replaced with an after-school special in which Rocky learns that he should prioritize his flesh and blood above Gunn.
This guy has no reluctance to share his terrible upbringing with the Balboa family when they first invite him over for dinner.
Rocky Balboa (2006)
- Director: Sylvester Stallone
- Star casts: Sylvester Stallone, Antonio Tarver, Burt Young, Geraldine Hughes, and Milo Ventimiglia
- IMDB Rating: 7.2
If you ignore the ridiculous framing device in which a computer simulation urges Rocky to return to the ring.
Rocky Balboa appears to have the same arrogance as The Expendables and Rambo, with Stallone attempting to sell himself as a viable heavyweight.
What’s so remarkable about Rocky Balboa, and what sets the movie apart from previous sequels, is that it seems like a real tone and sentimental follow-up to the original.
It ignores all of the other sequels, focusing instead on the intimate human drama that made the original Rocky so lovable.
While certain parts, such as Rocky’s connection with his son (Milo Ventimiglia), might be developed out a little more.
The essence of the story remains the same, which is studying the character of the underdog rather than stressing the boxing battle.
