The American Film Institute ranksRocky as one of the 100 greatest movies of all time. In my book, it’s always been number one. I love boxing movies, and no film from this genre has managed to combine the heart, storytelling, and character drama quite like Rocky (although 2010’s The Fighter came closest yet.) Here is my ranking of the films in this series, from knockout to flop.
1. Rocky, 1976. Opponent: Apollo Creed
Sylvester Stallone was still relatively unknown (unless I missed 1975’s Lords of Flatbush on AFI’s list?) when he wrote and starred in a film about a small time club fighter who is given the chance to compete for the heavyweight championship of the world. Rocky is the ultimate underdog movie, difficult to praise without gushing cliches. The broken down streets of Philadelphia provide a gritty backdrop for the memorable cast of characters who go on to define the fighter’s world throughout the series. The steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, or “Rocky Steps,” became a cultural icon after Stallone’s famous climb, and to this day thousands of eager fans snap photos of themselves at the top, momentarily suspended in time with arms raised in victory. 35 years after the film debuted, Bill Conti’s feel good anthem “Gonna Fly Now” still earns top spots on workout playlists everywhere. Rocky’s influence on not only boxing films but the entire sports film genre cannot be overstated. More than just a movie about a down and out boxer looking to go the distance, Rocky has become a symbol of the American dream.
2. Rocky 2, 1979. Opponent: Apollo Creed
The rematch. I love the opening scene with the ambulances blaring through the Philadelphia streets as the opening credits roll, and the exchange at the hospital. Apollo: “What you did was a miracle. You’re the luckiest man on the face of the earth!” Rocky: “Do I look lucky?” Although Rocky officially retires (a prerequisite for a Rocky film), he decides to return to the ring against not only the odds but the wishes of his wife. He finally gets Adrian’s blessing after she awakens from coma in a memorable scene at the hospital: “There’s just one thing I want you to do for me…win!” Cue training song / montage. The rematch fight is as tense as the first, and I still break out in a nervous sweat when both fighters hit the canvas as the ref begins his 10 count. They went a bit heavy on the makeup; granted it was the 70’s and before computerized touch-ups, but Rocky’s face post fight looks a like an allergic reaction to shellfish paired with a bad sunburn . Overall a very solid film, with a few early filler scenes that fall a little flat (Beast after-shave, take one!)
3. Rocky 4, 1985. Opponent: Ivan Drago
East vs. West! Us against them! Rocky 4 lacks the realism and grit of the earlier entries, but is still a really fun film. Starting with Rocky 3, the series began shifting to more popcorn-action type movies, in typical 80’s style. Still, audiences bought into it for good reason. Ivan Drago, a juiced up Soviet giant who could pass for a James Bond villain, is the most memorable of all of Rocky’s foes. Fighting to avenge the fallen Apollo Creed (“If he dies…he dies”) Rocky faces not only the brutality of the bionic Drago, but the hostility of an entire nation rooted in the Cold War. Rocky’s raw and primitive training montage in the harsh mountainous terrain is one of the best in the series, thanks in part to an adrenaline rush of a soundtrack (tell me “Heart’s on Fire” doesn’t make you want to chop wood in the snow). Although formulaic (but how else would we have it?) and requiring a heavy dose of suspended disbelief, the fight itself is flashy and intense. Despite some corniness (can we say a bizarre James Brown number and a creepy talking robot), and a watered down element of human emotion, Rocky 4 is another feel good film that fits right into the action 80s movie culture.
4. Rocky 3, 1982. Opponent(s): Thunderlips, Clubber Lang.
I pity the fool who don’t like Rocky 3. Mr. T. has his breakout role as Clubber Lang, the brute with the bling who lures Rocky into the ring with his loud mouth and self promotion. In typical Rocky fashion, the champ loses badly in their first fight, right after Mickey dies of a heart attack. This prompts a surprise twist, as Apollo Creed, always hungry to get back in the spotlight, seeks to train Rocky for a rematch. Creed takes him back to his roots on a quest for the “eye of the tiger” which was lost in Rocky’s newfound fame and fortune. Paulie once again shines as the sarcastic mope brother in law (Apollo: “Can he swim?” Paulie: “With a name like Rock?”). Hulk Hogan makes an appearance early on as Thunderlips, the wrestler who takes on Rocky in a charity event (or as per Thunderlips, “the ultimate male versus the ultimate meatball”). This is an irrelevant sideshow, but it works as a fun diversion, and Hogan shows the flair that eventually earned him his legacy in the wrestling world. The film is a little leaner than earlier entries, both on time (99 minutes – I think the first Rocky/Apollo fight alone was just a tad shy of that) and character development. Still, despite its raggedness and lack of much depth, it still makes for an entertaining movie, and offers just enough of the Rocky lore to satisfy.
5. Rocky Balboa, 2006. Opponent: Mason “The Line” Dixon.
I flip flopped a couple of times when deciding between this and Rocky 3 for the 4 and 5 spots. I eventually put 3 one notch up, if only for nostalgia’s sake. A lifelong Rocky fan, I went to the theater apprehensively when Rocky Balboa was released. If Rocky was over the hill in Rocky 5 (1990), I half expected him to be fighting for the Sunny Oaks Retirement Village championship 16 years later. Surprisingly, this film knew its limitations, and did a solid job accomplishing what it set out to do: explore Rocky’s character after coming full circle from where he started. His career is over, his wife has passed, and his grown son is continually trying to distance himself from his father’s shadow. When a challenge arises from current champ Mason Dixon, Balboa accepts in an attempt to rid himself of the “beast inside.” In typical Rocky fashion, he once again finds himself fighting for more than fame, money, or a title. Stallone, at 60 (?!) years of age, kept himself in great shape to retain credibility, although with bulging veins as thick as rope, he more closely resembles a bodybuilder than a boxer. It was nice to see Duke back as Rocky’s trainer, after being MIA in Rocky 5. The interwoven character storylines (coping with Adrian’s death, the bond between father and son, and befriending “Little Marie” from the old neighborhood) make up the meat of movie, while the fight against Dixon provides a satisfying conclusion to the series. Stallone may have been pushing the envelope announcing a 6th and final movie 30 years after the original, but he made it work. For the sake of the Rocky legacy, let’s just hope that this is in fact his last round.
6. Rocky 5, 1990. Opponent: Tommy Gunn
This is one of those movies I like to pretend was never made. While I occassionally catch myself watching bits and pieces on TBS or TNT, Rocky 5 is pretty cringe-worthy. Rocky has transformed into a characture of himself; I get that he is supposed to have brain damage, but does he have to talk like he just woke up after a novocaine injection? Tommy Gunn, Rocky’s backstabbing protege, pails in comparison to the mythical foes of previous films. George Washington Duke, Tommy’s promoter, is a flat and predictable Don King impersonation. The storyline itself is about as solid as Paulie’s midsection: Rocky’s whiny son (who somehow aged 10 years during the couple of months Rocky was in Russia) competes with Gunn for his father’s attention, while a broke Rocky “officially retires” for the 4th or 5th time. It all boils down to a street fight at the end, which the entire city somehow makes its way to see, yet not one cop shows up on the scene to break it up. A few flashbacks to the old days in the gym with Mick are not enough to capture the spirit of the original. I’m just glad that Rocky Balboa was able to redeem the series, even if we did have to wait 16 more years.
So there you have it, my ranking of the Rocky films. I would be interested to hear any comments or opinions, agree or disagree, from fellow fans!
Source: AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies
