The “Rocky” films were among the first of the modern kind of franchises. Historically movie series were mostly comprised of individual, largely self-contained installments, like the Mickey Rooney-led Andy Hardy films of the ’30s and ’40s or the 50-year-plus Bond cycle. But the “Rocky”s were among the first brands that kept a story going for years, following the same character as he ages and changes. “Rocky II” even came a year before “Star Wars” wrought “Empire Strikes Back.” With “Creed,” its new semi-spin-off now out, we offer our purely objective ranking of the films title-by-title. RELATED: Review: “Creed” shows how to do “Rocky” and fan fiction right 1. ‘Rocky’ (1976)
Along with “Jaws” the year prior and “Star Wars” the year after, the first “Rocky” is often credited with helping break the gritty, downer streak that had come to somewhat (if by no means entirely) dominate Hollywood in the ’70s. But it’s still pretty downer and gritty, and it doesn’t end with our palooka pugilist even winning. What its many, many knockoffs get wrong is that it’s not just about the melodrama and a cheer-able close. Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky really has his hills and valleys before he hits the mountaintop. Also often neglected: Stallone’s performance, which is so lived-in, so lively, so genuinely lovable that it’s easy to take for granted. 2. ‘Creed’ (2015)
3. ‘Rocky III’ (1982)
4. ‘Rocky Balboa’ (2006)
5. ‘Rocky II’ (1979)
‘Rocky IV’ (1985)
The same year Stallone had Rocky fight the evil Soviets, he sent Rambo, in his second adventure, back to re-win Vietnam. It was peak Reagan for the actor/filmmaker, and “Rocky IV” feels especially ridiculous. Still, look closely and there are subtle, occasional nuances about the West demonizing the U.S.S.R. — in between sledgehammer subtle moves like showing Rocky running up actual mountains while Dolph Lundgren’s Ivan Drago gets pumped full of drugs. Half the movie is montages, as though Stallone shot it and realized he’d only made 45 minutes of movie. Also there’s also a robot. It’s the perfect sign of how much America had changed in the last decade, from grimy and depressing in the ’70s to out of its mind in the ’80s.
7. ‘Rocky V’ (1990)
Though far more down-to-earth than its “America, F— Yeah” predecessor, the fifth — and for a long time, it seemed, final “Rocky” — only proved you couldn’t return home. (That is, until “Rocky Balboa,” which return home but with several extra pounds of sadness.) And yet Stallone has Rocky literally return home, abruptly (and unconvincingly) losing all of his riches and returning to his old stomping grounds to start anew, this time as a mentor. The “Rocky”s are often compared, and not always flatteringly, to old-timey melodramas, but “V” is the only one that goes way into the sappy, even having Rocky play tutor to a kid (Tommy Morrison, a real fighter who would later contract HIV and die) who proves too easily corruptible. Original “Rocky” helmsman John G. Avildsen returned, and Stallone’s touch is missed. Surely he never would have so badly botched an already wincing scene where Rocky has a ghostly pow -wow with deceased trainer Mickey (Burgess Meredith), or a climactic street fight with peppered with lots of poor black-and-white flashbacks. In addition to our review of “Creed,” you can also read our interviews with stars Michael B. Jordan and Tessa Thompson. Follow Matt Prigge on Twitter @mattprigge