Everyone knows the story of Rocky.

The underdog, hardworking guy who became a champion and is now an American icon.

But how many others are there? What about the other movies that have nothing to do with Rocky?

HOW MANY ROCKY MOVIES ARE THERE

What Are The Rocky Movies?

The Rocky movies are all about the underdog.

They’re about a man who was told he had no chance of being anything in life and then went on to become one of the most successful boxers in history, winning world heavyweight champion and an Academy Award for Best Picture.

It’s not just his story though, it’s also the story of all those people around him that help make his dream come true.

How Many Rocky Movies Are There?

The first movie, Rocky, was released in and it’s the most popular of all the films.

Rocky II followed 2 years later and is often considered to be the weakest of all the entries.

Rocky III (1982), IV (1985), and V (1990) are pretty much interchangeable with one another as far as quality is concerned but they’re all worth a watch at least once.

Then came Rocky Balboa in 2006 which was actually a prequel to the original film about his comeback after retirement.

In 2015 we got Creed which focused on Apollo Creed’s son Adonis who becomes friends with an aging Rocky Balboa.

But the answer to that question depends on how you define “Rocky.”

If you’re counting the films starring Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa, then there are six.

But if you include spin-offs and other related media, like animated series or video games, then the number is closer to 13.

   

How Many Rocky Movies Are There

All Rocky Movies In Order

The Rocky series of movies has been a cultural phenomenon spanning decades.

Rocky movies are loved by many, but it can be hard to keep track of which movie came before the other.

That’s why this blog post is going to give you a rundown of all of the Rocky movies in order!

Rocky (1976)

It’s been 45 years since Rocky Balboa first graced the silver screen.

The iconic boxing movie has become a staple of American culture, and for good reason.

It is an ode to the underdog who refuses to give up no matter how daunting the odds are stacked against him.

The Rocky Balboa story begins with a small-time boxer from Philadelphia, PA.

He is seen in the film as an underdog and has no shot of ever winning against Apollo Creed, who is one of the best boxers in the world.

Rocky starts off slow but eventually trains to become strong enough to compete.

Rocky 1976 is a classic sports drama that follows the life of Rocky Balboa, an uneducated but kind-hearted debt collector for a Philadelphia loan shark.

The film was directed by John G. Avildsen and written by Sylvester Stallone who also played the starring role.

It tells the rags to riches story of Rocky from being a small-time club fighter, ranked 16th in Philadelphia’s light heavyweight division, to becoming world heavyweight champion as well as his personal struggles and how he overcomes them along with other obstacles throughout this journey.

Rocky is a 1976 American sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and both written by and starring Sylvester Stallone.

The story of Rocky Balboa (played by Sylvester Stallone) begins with his being the unknown, undisputed underdog in a fight against heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers).

His lack of boxing skills is quickly overshadowed by his determination to go the distance — and beyond that — for himself and for Adrian, played brilliantly as always by Talia Shire.

Sale
Rocky: Heavyweight Collection (Rocky / Rocky II / Rocky III / Rocky IV / Rocky V / Rocky Balboa) [Blu-ray]
  • Brand Name: FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT Mfg#: 883904301769
  • Shipping Weight: 1.00 lbs
  • Manufacturer: MGM ENTERTAINMENT
  • Genre: Drama
  • All music products are properly licensed and guaranteed authentic.

Rocky II (1979)

In Rocky II, the second installment of the blockbuster boxing film series, we see a more mature and confident boxer, Rocky Balboa.

He has won his first match in an exhibition against Spider Rico (the reigning world champion), but he is still haunted by thoughts of a rematch with Apollo Creed (the former world champion).

Meanwhile, Creed is on top of the world as he prepares for another fight.

The film stars Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa and was released on November 20th, 1979.

A sequel to the 1976 film “Rocky,” Rocky II picks up with a match between challenger Apollo Creed and heavyweight champion, Rocky Balboa.

The fight is being held outdoors in Los Angeles (in contrast to the first movie’s Philadelphia setting).

   

Creed wins by knockout in the 15th round, but both men are so exhausted from fighting that they forget their feud and embrace on the ring steps.

The sequel to Rocky, released in 1979, had trouble living up to the original.

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Rocky II [Blu-ray]
  • Factory sealed DVD
  • Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young (Actors)
  • Sylvester Stallone (Director)
  • English, French, Spanish (Subtitles)
  • English (Publication Language)

Rocky III (1982)

Rocky III is a movie with unforgettable characters and scenes. It’s one of the most entertaining sequels in cinematic history, but it also brings up some important topics such as racism and product placement.

In 1982, Rocky Balboa faced off against his toughest opponent yet in the form of Clubber Lang.

The film is a sequel to the first two films in the franchise and remains one of the most popular boxing movies ever made.

Rocky III is the third installment in the Rocky series and was released in 1982.

The film stars Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa, along with Carl Weathers as Apollo Creed, Burgess Meredith as Mickey Goldmill, Talia Shire as Adrian Pennino, and Burt Young as Paulie Pennino.

The movie starts off with a montage of Rocky’s training for his fight against Apollo Creed.

He trains by sparring with Duke Evers (played by Tony Burton) and running up the steps of Philadelphia’s City Hall in an iconic scene that concludes with him standing on top of the building to raise his arms triumphantly after he has completed his arduous workout.

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Rocky III [Blu-ray]
  • Factory sealed DVD
  • Various (Actor)
  • Various (Director)
  • English, French, Spanish (Subtitles)
  • English (Publication Language)

Rocky IV (1985)

Rocky IV is the fourth installment of the Rocky franchise.

The movie takes place in 1985, in Russia, where Rocky Balboa travels to fight against Russian heavyweight champion Ivan Drago.

The film was directed by Sylvester Stallone and written by Stallone and Lawrence Hauben as well as George Bellak.

The screenplay for this film is based on characters from a story idea that Sly wrote when he was 16 years old.

Rocky IV is a 1985 film that follows the new world heavyweight champion, Rocky Balboa, as he deals with the uncooperative Soviet Union.

The movie was directed by Stallone, written by Jason Guggenheim and Stalin T. Vardis, produced by Robert Chartoff, William N. Panzer, and Irwin Winkler.”

Rocky IV has a simple plot. Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) is an underdog in his profession of prizefighting, and the Russian boxer Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) is the invading force that will test if he still has what it takes to survive as champion.

The film was released on November 15th, 1985.

The screenplay was written by Sylvester Stallone and James Cameron.

Directed by John G. Avildsen with music composed by Vince DiCola, Bill Conti, and Michael Kamen.

This movie has been rated PG for violence and language.

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Rocky IV [Blu-ray]
  • Factory sealed DVD
  • Various (Actor)
  • Various (Director)
  • English, French, Spanish (Subtitles)
  • English (Publication Language)

Rocky V (1990)

The fifth installment of the Rocky franchise was released in 1990 and it was a big hit.

The film highlighted how much Stallone had changed as an actor and director.

His vision for this movie is very different from the previous installments, with more violence and less humor.

In this version of Rocky, he has to contend not only with his own life but also with the lives of those around him who depend on him for support.

When Adrian dies, he realizes that all he’s been fighting for is gone and he doesn’t know what else to do anymore so does something drastic: befriends his opponent Clubber Lang (Mr. T) in hopes that they will fight again.

In 1990, Sylvester Stallone’s fifth installment in the Rocky series hit theaters.

The film is often considered one of the worst sequels to a popular franchise because it was not well-received by critics or fans alike.

In the 5th installment of the Rocky franchise, we see a darker and more mature side to our beloved underdog.

In this movie, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) is at his lowest point in life.

He has lost his wife Adrian (Talia Shire), he has no friends left to talk to since Paulie’s death in Rocky IV, and he barely makes enough money as a debt collector for an agency where most of his clients are not paying him what they owe on their debts.

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Rocky V [Blu-ray]
  • Factory sealed DVD
  • Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Jimmy Gambina (Actors)
  • John G. Avildsen (Director)
  • English, French, Spanish (Subtitles)
  • English (Publication Language)

Rocky Balboa (2006)

Rocky Balboa is a American sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and written by Sylvester Stallone, who also stars in the title role.

It tells the story of Rocky Balboa, an uneducated but kind-hearted debt collector for a loan shark in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The film depicts his personal triumphs and losses as he pursues the American Dream to become a world heavyweight champion while confronting social prejudices related to race and ethnicity.

This movie has been loved by viewers around the world for decades now, ranking in at #3 on IMDb’s list of highest-rated films of all time.

It also won an Academy Award for Best Picture.

The film’s budget was $24 million.

The movie grossed over $70 million domestically and more than $200 million worldwide at the box office.

The 1976 Academy Award-winning film Rocky Balboa has been remade for the big screen in 2006.

The story is about a man named Rocky Balboa who was once an up-and-coming boxer, but now he is looking to take on one more opponent – himself.

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Rocky Balboa (RPKG/BD) [Blu-ray]
  • Factory sealed DVD
  • Various (Actor)
  • Various (Director)
  • English, French, Spanish (Subtitles)
  • English (Publication Language)

Creed (2015)

Every year, we are bombarded with a slew of movies about the same old themes.

There’s always an underdog protagonist who must overcome adversity and fight for what they believe in against all odds to save their family or some far-off land from destruction.

These films often have cliche villains (a bad guy who wants to take over the world, sometimes), cliche heroes (the hero who will do anything to stop him), and cliche plot lines that follow a predictable course from start to finish.

Creed is different than these other films because it doesn’t shy away from digging into deeper issues such as depression, alcoholism, and grief while still maintaining its focus on overcoming obstacles through hard work.

The movie Creed was released in 2015 and it is the seventh installment of the Rocky series.

This film stars Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Johnson, an illegitimate son of Apollo Creed who decides to follow his father’s footsteps and become a boxer. The film also features Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa.

The movie follows Adonis Creed, the son of Apollo Creed, as he tries to make a name for himself in America’s boxing scene.

Not only does this film have all of the classic qualities that people love about an underdog story, but it also brings up a lot of important discussions about race and identity.

Creed tells the story of Adonis Johnson, a young man who was born into poverty but finds himself in an unexpected inheritance that leads him to Rocky Balboa’s doorstep.

Creed is the latest installment in the long-running Rocky series of movies and it follows Adonis “Donnie” Creed as he moves from his poor upbringing in Philadelphia to seek out his father’s past – with guidance from Rocky.

The film also stars Tessa Thompson (Thor: Ragnarok), Phylicia Rashad (Cosby Show), and Wood Harris (The Wire).

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Creed (Blu-ray)
  • Sylvester Stallone, Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson (Actors)
  • Ryan Coogler (Director) - Ryan Coogler (Writer) - Nicolas Stern (Producer)
  • Portuguese, Spanish, French (Subtitles)
  • Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)

Creed II (2018)

The new Creed II movie is a sequel to the original Creed which was released in 2015.

It stars Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Johnson, son of Apollo Creed, and his wife Mary Anne.

He takes up boxing after he learns that Rocky Balboa died from brain injuries, and wants to honor him by stepping into his shoes as a champion of the world.

The film continues on with Adonis’ journey both inside and outside the ring as he strives for greatness while being challenged by Viktor Drago, son of Ivan Drago who killed Apollo in Rocky IV.

The Creed II movie is a sequel to the first Creed movie released in 2015.

It picks up where the original left off, with Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis Creed fighting Viktor Drago (Dolph Lundgren) in Russia for revenge on his father Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), who died at the hands of Drago’s father Ivan Drago (played by Dolph Lundgren).

The newest installment in the Rocky series, “Creed II” was released on November 21st.

The film is directed by Steven Caple Jr., and stars Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Creed, Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa, Tessa Thompson as Bianca Taylor-Creed, Phylicia Rashad as Mary Anne Creed, and Dolph Lundgren reprising his role of Ivan Drago from “Rocky IV”.

Michael B. Jordan is back as Adonis Creed in the sequel to 2015’s “Creed.” The film follows on the heels of Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) training his son for a boxing match with Viktor Drago, who killed his father Apollo Creed in a fight.

Creed II (4K Ultra HD) [4K UHD]
  • Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson (Actors)
  • Steven Caple Jr. (Director) - Juel Taylor (Writer) - Irwin Winkler (Producer)
  • French, English, Spanish (Subtitles)

 

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