Honestly, it’s kinda wild that a movie about a guy who loses a boxing match in 1976 is still the blueprint for every underdog story we watch today. You’ve seen the montages. You know the theme song. But when you actually sit down to look at the full list of rocky movies, you realize it’s not just about boxing. It’s about a guy who was basically a nobody, a "bum" as Mickey would say, who just wanted to prove he wasn't a total failure.
Sylvester Stallone famously wrote the first script in a few days and refused to sell it unless he played the lead. He was broke. Like, "selling his dog" broke. That raw desperation is what makes the original Rocky feel so real, even fifty years later. It’s not shiny or polished. It’s gritty, gray, and smells like a Philadelphia basement gym.
The Original Rundown: Every Rocky Movie in Order
If you're planning a marathon, you've got to follow the timeline. It’s a journey from a small-time debt collector to a global icon, then a fall from grace, and finally a transition into the mentor role.
The Rise and the Glory (1976–1985)
The first stretch of the list of rocky movies is where the legend was built.
- Rocky (1976): This is the one that won Best Picture. It’s a drama first, a sports movie second. Rocky Balboa gets a "million-to-one shot" against the champ, Apollo Creed. He doesn't even win the fight, but he "goes the distance," which was the whole point.
- Rocky II (1979): The rematch. Apollo is ticked off because people think he lost, and Rocky is struggling with sudden fame. This one ends with that iconic double-knockdown where Rocky just barely stands up before the count of ten.
- Rocky III (1982): Things get flashy here. We get Mr. T as Clubber Lang and "Eye of the Tiger." Rocky has become civilized and "soft," losing his edge until Apollo Creed steps in to train him. This is where the famous bromance begins.
- Rocky IV (1985): Basically a Cold War music video. It’s Rocky vs. Ivan Drago, the Russian "Siberian Express" who kills Apollo in the ring. It’s over-the-top, full of 80s synthesizers, and features a training montage in the snow that makes you want to run through a brick wall.
The Struggle and the Final Bell (1990–2006)
After the high of the 80s, the series hit some bumps.
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- Rocky V (1990): Most fans (and Stallone himself) aren't huge fans of this one. Rocky loses his money, moves back to the old neighborhood, and tries to train a protégé named Tommy Gunn who eventually turns on him. It ends in a street fight rather than a ring. It felt like a sad ending for a hero.
- Rocky Balboa (2006): Sixteen years later, Stallone fixed the ending. Rocky is in his 60s, Adrian has passed away, and he owns a restaurant. He takes one last exhibition fight against the current champ, Mason Dixon. It’s surprisingly emotional and serves as a beautiful love letter to the character.
The Creed Era: Passing the Torch
Just when we thought the list of rocky movies was done, Ryan Coogler showed up in 2015 and revitalized everything. He shifted the focus to Adonis Creed, the illegitimate son of Apollo.
Creed (2015) brought back that 1976 grittiness. Michael B. Jordan is incredible as Donnie, and Stallone actually got an Oscar nomination for playing a sick, aging Rocky. It wasn't just a spinoff; it felt like a legitimate evolution.
Then came Creed II (2018), which brought the story full circle by having Adonis fight Viktor Drago—the son of the man who killed his father. It handled the legacy of Rocky IV with way more nuance than the original 80s movie did.
Most recently, Creed III (2023) took a big risk. Michael B. Jordan directed it himself, and notably, Rocky Balboa isn't in it. It focuses on Adonis’s past and a childhood friend turned rival, played by Jonathan Majors. It proved the franchise could survive without Stallone on screen, though fans still argue about his absence.
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Why We’re Still Talking About This in 2026
The reason the list of rocky movies keeps growing—and why people keep watching—is that the "underdog" theme never gets old. Life hits hard. As Rocky says in the 2006 film, "It ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward."
It’s a universal truth. Whether you’re a boxer or just someone trying to pay rent, that sentiment resonates.
Future of the Franchise
Right now, as we head further into 2026, the "Creed-verse" is expanding. There are talks of a Creed IV and even potential spinoffs like a Drago movie or a series focused on Adonis’s daughter, Amara. The 50th anniversary of the original film is coming up, and there’s always a rumor that Stallone might put the hat on one last time for a cameo.
How to Watch Them Right
If you're new to the series, don't just skip to the fights. The magic is in the quiet scenes—Rocky talking to his turtles, Cuff and Link, or his awkward dates with Adrian.
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- Start with the 1976 original. If you don't like that, you won't like the rest.
- Watch Rocky IV for the pure spectacle, even if it’s "cheesy."
- Definitely watch the first Creed. It’s a masterclass in how to do a "legacy sequel."
The list of rocky movies isn't just a list of sequels; it's a 50-year-long document of a man growing old, losing people he loves, and finding a reason to keep standing. It’s about the "will to win," sure, but mostly it's about the will to keep going when everyone else thinks you're finished.
If you want to dive deeper, look into the production stories of the first film. The way they used the then-new "Steadicam" to film the run up the museum steps changed how movies are made forever. It’s a piece of cinema history that just happens to have a lot of punching in it.
Now that you've got the full timeline, the best thing to do is find a rainy weekend, grab some snacks, and start from the beginning. Just try not to shadowbox in your living room afterward. It’s harder than it looks.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check streaming availability: Most Rocky films rotate between Prime Video and Max; check your local listings.
- Watch the 4K restorations: The original films have been remastered recently and look significantly better than the old DVD versions.
- Visit the "Rocky Steps": If you're ever in Philadelphia, the Art Museum steps are a must-visit. Just prepare to be one of fifty people running up them at any given time.