Ranking the ‘Rocky’ Movies

“Rocky” movies

Back when boxing still mattered to most American sports fans, including me, Sylvester Stallone wrote the screenplay for and starred in “Rocky.” Over the next 30 years, Stallone would make a total of six movies in the series. Take a look back at the ranking of the six “Rocky” movies.

6. “Rocky V” (1990)

This is the only movie in the series that I do not like. In fact, I remember sitting in the theater thinking how much I despised this film. Part of the reason for this is because I couldn’t stand Tommy Morrison. Also, by the time “Rocky V” took place, both Mickey and Apollo Creed had passed away. It really just seemed like the series had run its course by the time “Rocky V” was made.

5. “Rocky Balboa” (2006)

After a hiatus of 16 years, Stallone brought back the series by producing, directing, writing and starring in “Rocky Balboa.” After the disaster of the previous film, not much was expected from this movie. However, both Rocky and Paulie (Burt Young) give moving performances as they reminisce over the loss of Adrian (Talia Shire). While the fight scenes do not measure up to the earlier films, the personal, dramatic scenes more than compensate for this.

4. “Rocky II” (1979)

Unlike most sequels, this movie was outstanding and truly paved the way for all future sequels in the series. The mood and feel of “Rocky II” are almost identical to the original. To me, the most gripping and heart-rending scene is when Rocky is trying to read the cue cards for a commercial. Stallone portrays a sympathetic, punch-drunk boxer so well that I remember not being able to watch that part of the movie when I was a boy.

3. “Rocky IV” (1985)

“Rocky IV” was one of the critics’ least favorite movies in the series. However, most fans consider this film to be one of their top two movies in the series. For the average, red-blooded male, this movie was made at the perfect time. In the mid-1980s, American patriotism and anti-Soviet sentiment were at an all-time high. For me, I can’t rank this movie higher because I thought the scene with the Russian people cheering for Stallone was not believable.

2. “Rocky III” (1982)

There was a lot about this movie that I loved. My favorite character in the series is Paulie. In “Rocky III,” Paulie is brilliant and hilarious. I am also a big wrestling fan and it was great to see Hulk Hogan and Stallone go at it. And who doesn’t like Mr. T? And yet, there was drama as well with the passing of Mickey. “Rocky III” was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song.

1. “Rocky” (1976)

I believe that one of the main reasons why this movie was so popular with critics and fans was that our hero actually lost to Apollo Creed. The storyline of boy-meets-girl/boy-gets-girl is fairly typical. And there have been underdog sports heroes before. But by losing, Rocky truly gains everyone’s sympathy. Rocky” was nominated for nine Academy Awards, won three, and was named one of the 100 Greatest American Films by the American Film Institute.