Rocky Balboa is one of the most iconic characters in film history. His underdog story of a journeyman boxer who gets an unlikely shot at the title has inspired over 40 years' worth offilmsand even astatue in Philadelphia.
Pocket-lintdecided it was time to give the legend his due, by compilingevery filmin the Rocky Universe (Creed movies too) into one handy list of everything Italian Stallion-related. Honestly, it’s never a bad time to start a re-watch of Rocky. We recommend watching all nine films just to perfect your argument about which is best. Or you can just catch up to prepare forCreed IV, which is in early development. It’ll see Michael B. Jordan return to direct, as well as reprising his role as Adonis Creed.
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Rocky and Creed movies in chronological order
Here’s the Rocky Universe in release date order, which also happens to be chronological. you’re able to find a detailed list below. You can also find most lists below for how to watch just the movies you need to see in order to understand the Creed films.
Film Title
Streaming Platform
John G. Avildsen
Amazon Prime Video
Sylvester Stallone
Rocky Balboa
Ryan Coogler
Steven Caple Jr.
Michael B. Jordan
Amazon Prime Video, MGM+
NOTE: THERE ARE SPOILERS BELOW.
The original underdog story
The first Rocky film sees the original underdog get a shot at Apollo Creed and the Heavyweight Championship.
In this ultimate underdog story, Rocky Balboa (played by Sylvester Stallone) is a small-time prizefighter who’s given a shot against the undefeated world heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed (played by Carl Weather). This first installment in the Rocky franchise was written by Stallone and eventually won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
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Rocky gets a second shot at the title
Sylvester Stallone wrote, directed, and starred in the follow-up to the original Rocky.
The film picks up right where the first film ended, following Creed’s victory by split decision. It sees Rocky retire from boxing due to injuries he sustained, but Creed (Weathers) wants a rematch to prove Rocky’s success is a fluke.
3Rocky III
A new challenger pushes Rocky to the brink
After years as the champion, Rocky faces an adversary he’s unprepared for in Clubber Lang.
After his victory in Rocky II, Rocky (Stallone) has a string of title defenses, but little does he know his manager, Micky (played Burgess Meredith), has been keeping him from an up-and-coming fighter, Clubber Lang (played by Mr T), who might be too much for Rocky to handle. Stallone once again directed, starred, and wrote this Rocky installment.
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Rocky ends the Cold War
A super soldier from the Soviet Union kills Apollo Creed in an exhibition bout, so Rocky heads to Russia to for his own fight with Ivan Drago.
Rocky (Stallone) is out for vengeance against the top boxer from the Soviet Union, Ivan Drago (played by Dolph Lundgren), who killed his friend Apollo Creed in an exhibition bout. Rocky heads to Russia to fight the dangerous Drago on his own turf on Christmas. Like the two films before this installment, Stallone not only directed but also wrote and starred in Rocky IV.
Optional:In 2021, Stallone retooled Rocky IV to seem more like the original Rocky. His new Rocky IV: Rocky vs Drago is only a few minutes longer than the original cut, but there’s a significant amount of change toward the beginning that’s intended to add more nuance to Rocky’s relationships with his friend and rival Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) and his wife Adrian (Talia Shire). It also notably removes the infamous robot given to his brother-in-law, Paulie (Burt Young), as a birthday gift.You can watch the trailer for Rocky vs Drago here.
A retired Rocky takes on a protégé
Rocky struggles to find money in retirement leading to him taking on a new protoge in Tommy Gunn.
After his fight with Drago, Rocky (Stallone) is forced to retire from boxing again. This time, he quickly falls into financial ruin due to poor business decisions made by his brother-in-law, Paulie (played by Burt Young). Rocky eventually finds and trains a young fighter by the name of Tommy Gunn (played by Tommy Morrison). Keep in mind Rocky V was a critical and box office failure and is considered the worst Rocky film.
Interestingly, although Stallone wrote this film, he didn’t direct it. John G Avildsen did, the same guy who directed the first Rocky.
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6Rocky Balboa
Rocky returns for one last fight
Rocky, now in his 60’s, is lured back to the ring for one final fight against the reigning heavyweight champion, Mason Dixon.
Sylvester Stallone was lured back to his most iconic role 16 years after the failure of Rocky V. The film sees Rocky - now in his 60s and running a small restaurant after the death of his wife - return to boxing. When the current heavyweight champion, Mason “The Line” Dixon (played by Antonio Tarver), hears of Rocky’s return to the ring, he moves to set up a fight between himself and the legendary Rocky Balboa.
Stallone directed, wrote, and starred in Balboa.
Apollo Creed’s son begins his own boxing journey
Michael B. Jordan stars as the estranged son of Apollo Creed who sets out to make his own name in the boxing world.
Creed sees the debut of Michael B Jordan as Adonis Johnson. He’s the son of Apollo Creed from an extramarital affair. Adonis decides to become a boxer like his father but has trouble finding anyone who will train him, so he heads to Philadelphia to see if Rocky (Stallone) will help him.
It’s worth noting Rocky isn’t the lead character in the Creed series. And, although Stallone reprises his role, he didn’t write or direct Creed.
Adonis fights the son of his father’s killer
After becomng world heavyweigh champion, Adonis must fight the son of his father’s killer.
Three years after the events in Creed, Adonis (Jordan) - who is now sporting his father’s last name - has become the heavyweight champion of the world. This leads to Ivan Drago (Lundgren), the man who killed his father in the ring, seeing an opportunity to promote a fight between Creed and his own son, Viktor Drago (played by Florian Munteanu). Once again, Rocky isn’t the lead, and Stallone didn’t write or direct.
9Creed III
Adonis takes on a childhood friend
Adonis has to face off with a childhood friend who’s returned from a lengthy prison sentence.
Adonis Creed returns to face off against a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, Damian, portrayed by Jonathan Majors. Damian resurfaces after serving a long sentence in prison, eager to prove himself in the ring. Also returning in the film is Tessa Thompson, who plays Adonis' wife, Bianca. Michael B. Jordan took the reigns to direct the film while also starring.
Q: What’s the spoiler-free Rocky and Creed movie order?
Here’s the order above without any spoilers:
Q: What’s the order for just Rocky movies
Here’s the order for just the original Rocky movies:
Q: What’s the order to watch the Creed movies?
Here’s the watch order to follow if you just want to catch up for the new Creed films:
