It is a purely American genre, which has left us extraordinary classics such as Raging Bull , Million Dollar Baby or Nobody can beat me and perhaps for this reason, it had the fertile ground to become a classic in the history of cinema itself. Rocky was the dream of a young actor, Sylvester Stallone, who in 1976 fulfilled his dream of conquering the world from the cold streets of Philadelphia. Ladies and gentlemen, here you have the Italian Stallion.
A phenomenon of the 70s
1976 is a year that Sylvester Stallone will remember all his life because it was the moment in which he understood that he could dedicate himself to the cinema and be one of the shining stars of Hollywood. Rocky was the catapult that propelled him to stardom through a big door that even he didn’t expect to cross: an Oscar for best picture, more than 115 million dollars in grosses in the US alone, and plans to continue the work and miracles of a boxer who would go on to be the best known on the
planet.
Such was the importance of Rocky that in 2006 it was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress of the United States, for being “culturally, historically and aesthetically significant”. Right now it is considered one of the most important sports movies in the history of cinema, only surpassed by another boxing-focused classic such as Raging Bull , released in 1980 and directed by Martin Scorsese.
Rocky has become a prolific saga, closely linked to its main character, a Sylvester Stallone who has sought to extend it over time with a spinoff that focuses on one of his old friends on the big screen: Apollo Creed.
All the rocky movies
These are all the movies linked to the Rocky saga that have hit theaters over the last few decades.
Rockey (1976)
Rocky Balboa is an Italian-American who scrapes by collecting bills for a Philadelphia loan shark. Fed up with a life doomed to failure, he takes refuge in a gym where he will try his luck with boxing and a unique opportunity: reach the world heavyweight championship in an epic fight against the current champion, none other than Apollo Creed. Along the way, he will create a modest family with Adrian, his wife and an endearing circle that has in his coach, Mickey, the person he most trusts.
Rocky I (1979)
After the events of the first movie, Rocky doesn’t think he can make a living from boxing. His loss to Apollo Creed has brought him back to reality so he looks for opportunities away from the ring. The reigning champion, the target of numerous criticisms for the outcome of the first fight, will have no better idea than, between laughter, jokes and public humiliation, to seek a rematch against Rocky Balboa. That will lead the Italian-American to accept a new confrontation that could have unforeseeable consequences.
Rocky III (1982)
Rocky is the world heavyweight champion but his life is not going through a good time. Mickey, his old trainer, suffers a heart attack and ends up in the hospital while being challenged by a new contender who wants to take the world title from him. His name is James “Clubber” Lang (played by Mr. T himself). This time Apollo Creed will be Rocky Balboa’s trainer and among many vicissitudes, he will try to stop the enormous strength of his new enemy in two absolutely mythical battles. Especially remembered the final scene of the film. Do you remember her?
Rocky IV (1985)
The saga could not be abstracted from the times of the Cold War that were lived in the eighties between the USSR and the USA, so in this fourth installment, the threat comes from the cold, from Russia. Iván Drago will be the ruthless killing machine who wants to become the heavyweight world champion. The problem is that he will cross the path of Apollo Creed, a moment in which we will experience an event that will mark the entire future of the saga. Needless to say, Rocky Balboa will have to return to the ring to avenge his friend and bring glory back… to the US? This is, without a doubt, one of the most popcorn deliveries of the entire franchise.
Rocky V (1990)
With Rocky IV , popcorn flew through the rooms with more epic and simple arguments than anything else. But Sylvester Stallone had the wisdom to return five years later, with a story that was much more reminiscent of the first film than those that came later. Rocky Balboa has been diagnosed with a brain injury that doesn’t look good so he decides to retire. Also, to aggravate the situation, he finds out that he is broke because of his accountant. He has to go back to the origins, to his old house, where he will meet Tommy, a young boxer whom he wants to train. The hope of becoming the Mickey of the new world champion will be cut short by a betrayal that will lead the legendary Rocky Balboa to return to the ring.
Rocky Balboa (2006)
When it seemed that the fifth installment was going to be the last of Rocky Balboa, 16 years later the one that is to this day the definitive culmination was released. A much more intimate film that focuses on the hard life he leads after his legendary fight against Tommy. Adrian has died and a prisoner of melancholy takes refuge in a restaurant that he runs and that bears his name. One day he will see some images of his fights on television and will understand that, despite the years that have passed, he still has the strength and impetus to climb the ring one last time.
Creed: The Legend of Rocky (2015)
Starting with this film, a decade after Rocky Balboa , we enter the field of the spinoff where the legendary boxer leads a quiet life running the restaurant he founded when his wife died. Adonis Johnson Creed, son of his old friend Apollo Creed, will arrive there, who wants the Italian Stallion to train him. After many doubts and friction, in the end the trainer and the boxer will strengthen the ties that they could not maintain for years. Unfortunately, the end of the film leaves us with one last dramatic plot twist.
Creed II: The Legend of Rocky (2018)
The success of the first installment of Creed encouraged Sylvester Stallone to continue this path opened around the son of Apollo Creed. Precisely, in this film the paths of Ivan Drago and his son Viktor will meet with those of Adonis, and the possibility will arise that the two heirs settle the pending accounts of their respective families. There is a death that both the boxer and Rocky Balboa want to claim 32 years later while the old legend sees that his life is coming to an end.