Honestly, it’s a bit of a trick question. If you ask a casual fan how many movies are in the Rocky series, they’ll probably count on their fingers, hit six, and call it a day. But if you're talking about the whole Balboa-verse—the blood, the sweat, and the Creed legacy—the number is actually nine.
Wait. Or is it?
Strictly speaking, there are six "Rocky" films where the title is basically just the man's name and a Roman numeral (or a subtitle). But the franchise didn't just stop when Sly hung up the gloves in 2006. It evolved. It's like trying to count how many times Rocky gets hit in the face before he actually starts blocking; the numbers get fuzzy if you aren't paying close attention. As of right now, in early 2026, we are sitting at nine total films, though the rumors of a tenth—specifically Creed IV—are swirling like a Philly blizzard.
The Original Six: Rocky’s Personal Journey
Let's look at the core. The "Original Six" are the ones everyone remembers from those TBS weekend marathons. You've got the 1976 masterpiece Rocky, which somehow won Best Picture and turned Stallone from a guy with $100 in the bank into a global icon. That one is gritty. It’s a 70s character study that happens to have a boxing ring in it.
Then things get... well, very 80s.
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Rocky II gave us the rematch we all wanted. Rocky III brought in Mr. T and Hulk Hogan, which was basically the peak of Saturday morning cartoon energy. Then came Rocky IV. Look, if you want to understand the Cold War, you don't read a history book; you watch Rocky Balboa end international tension by punching Ivan Drago in Moscow. It's peak cinema, even if it’s totally ridiculous.
By the time Rocky V rolled around in 1990, the wheels were starting to wobble. Most fans (and Stallone himself, if we're being real) kind of want to pretend that one didn't happen. It took sixteen years to fix the legacy with Rocky Balboa in 2006. That movie was a miracle. It was the "old man Logan" of boxing movies before that was even a trend. It felt like a perfect ending.
The Creed Era: Passing the Torch
But then Ryan Coogler showed up with an idea about Apollo Creed’s son.
This is where people get confused about the count. Are the Creed movies part of the series? Absolutely. They aren't just spin-offs; they are direct continuations of the timeline. Rocky is there. The history is there. The trauma of the previous fights is literally written into the DNA of these scripts.
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- Creed (2015): Michael B. Jordan steps in as Adonis. Rocky is the trainer. It’s beautiful.
- Creed II (2018): This one pulls the thread from Rocky IV, bringing back Dolph Lundgren. It’s a heavy, emotional revenge story that actually gives the Dragos some humanity.
- Creed III (2023): This was the big shift. Michael B. Jordan directed it, and for the first time, Stallone wasn't on screen.
So, that’s nine. Nine times we’ve sat in the dark and waited for that Bill Conti fanfare to kick in.
Breaking Down the "Rocky" Confusion
Why do people struggle with the count? Mostly because of how the marketing changed. The first five were numbered. Then we got a name. Then we got a brand new title with Creed.
There’s also the "Director’s Cut" factor. In 2021, Stallone released Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago. It’s a completely different edit of the fourth movie. It cuts out the robot (RIP Paulie’s robot) and adds forty minutes of new footage. Some fans count this as a separate experience, but for the sake of the official tally, it’s still part of the nine-movie overarching narrative.
The Breakdown of the 9-Film Saga
| Film Title | Year | The "Vibe" |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky | 1976 | Gritty indie drama |
| Rocky II | 1979 | The emotional payoff |
| Rocky III | 1982 | High-energy spectacle |
| Rocky IV | 1985 | Cold War propaganda (the fun kind) |
| Rocky V | 1990 | Street-level struggle |
| Rocky Balboa | 2006 | Bittersweet nostalgia |
| Creed | 2015 | Modern rebirth |
| Creed II | 2018 | Generational closure |
| Creed III | 2023 | New legacy/Directorial debut |
What's Next? Is There a Tenth Movie?
If you're looking for how many movies are in the rocky series because you want to finish the marathon, nine is your magic number. But don't get too comfortable. Creed IV is officially in development. Michael B. Jordan has confirmed he’s coming back to direct and star.
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There have also been years of whispers about a Rocky VII or a prequel series about a young Balboa. Stallone is always writing. He’s like the character he created; he doesn't know how to stop. While Creed III worked well without him, the door is never truly closed on a Balboa cameo.
Actionable Tips for a Rocky Marathon
If you're planning to dive into all nine films, don't just watch them back-to-back. You'll get "montage fatigue."
- Watch the Rocky IV Director’s Cut: If you’re a purist, watch the original theatrical version first, but Rocky vs. Drago is actually the superior film. It makes the stakes for Creed II feel much more grounded.
- Skip Rocky V? Some say do it. I say watch it once just so you can appreciate how much better Rocky Balboa is.
- The Soundtracks Matter: Each era has a distinct sound. From the brassy 70s soul of Bill Conti to the synth-heavy 80s of Vince DiCola and the modern hip-hop influence in Creed, the music tells the story as much as the dialogue does.
Start with the 1976 original. It’s still the gold standard for a reason. By the time you get to the ninth film, you'll realize this isn't just a series about boxing—it's a 50-year-old soap opera about not giving up, even when your legs are shaking and your eyes are swollen shut.