Hi, it is Bill and Teddy the Chihuahua again!
With I Play Rocky in cinemas, we share our ratings and reviews of all the Rocky (and Creed) movies. These are the scores and reviews we have logged on Letterboxd, in release order, from the 1976 original right through to Creed III.
So, ding ding, round one…
Rocky (1976)
Our Letterboxd score: 
(5/5)
The definitive boxing film. No wonder Stallone became a star, as this film shows the struggles of day-to-day life and believing in a dream.
🎬 Rent or buy Rocky on Amazon | Rocky: The Knockout Collection (I–IV) on 4K
Rocky II (1979)
Our Letterboxd score: (5/5)
A great sequel, with Rocky struggling to join back into life, which sees him having to return to the ring as he feels boxing is all he is good at.
🎬 Rent or buy Rocky II on Amazon | Rocky II 4K Steelbook
Rocky III (1982)
Our Letterboxd score: (5/5)
The storylines get a bit weaker from now on, but the fights are great.
🎬 Rent or buy Rocky III on Amazon | Rocky: The Knockout Collection (I–IV) on 4K
Rocky IV (1985)
Our Letterboxd score: (5/5)
This is more of a training montage, but it is done well.
This is what the 80s could do so well: glorious movies at or just over 90 minutes. When did 2 hours become the norm for everything?
Epic soundtrack too. Shame that poster is such a spoiler, but come on, you must know Rocky had a good chance of winning =)
🎬 Rent or buy Rocky IV on Amazon | Rocky: The Knockout Collection (I–IV) on 4K
Rocky V (1990)
Our Letterboxd score: 
(3/5)
Possibly not as bad as I thought, but by far the weakest of the series.
It feels all over the shop and the soundtrack really dates it.
🎬 Rent or buy Rocky V on Amazon | Rocky V on 4K Ultra HD
Rocky Balboa (2006)
Our Letterboxd score: 
(4/5)
A fine return to form after the poor Rocky V, and it would have been a fitting end to the franchise. But luckily, even though it continued with Creed, its legend continues not too tarnished.
🎬 Rent or buy Rocky Balboa on Amazon | Rocky Balboa on 4K Ultra HD
Creed (2015)
Our Letterboxd score: (4/5)
A great addition to the Rocky legacy. Great cast and script, plus the now dream team of Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler follow Fruitvale Station to box office success, and Stallone just puts on the Rocky character like I put on trainers. A great rewatch, thankfully Rocky V never ended this franchise.
🎬 Rent or buy Creed on Amazon | Creed on Blu-ray
Creed II (2018)
Our Letterboxd score: (3.5/5)
A slow and almost Rocky-less sequel that never matched the heart of Creed 1.
🎬 Rent or buy Creed II on Amazon | Creed II on Blu-ray
Creed III (2023)
Our Letterboxd score: (4/5)
A great finale to the trilogy 🥊
🎬 Rent or buy Creed III on Amazon | Creed III on Blu-ray
So there you have it, our ratings and reviews for the whole Rocky saga. Which one is your favourite? Let us know in the comments.
You can also find the full list, The Rocky Saga, on our Letterboxd, and follow us there for more of our film ratings.
Also if you want to know more about the origins of Rocky and his career, why not check out Sylvester Stallone’s book, The Steps.
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