Rocky Balboa Movies: The Quotes, the Montages. The Best Series of Films Ever

The story of Rocky Balboa has been inspiring worldwide audiences for 35 years. He's the quintessential underdog story and the hometown boy made good. While Rambo might be the guy you want fighting for your life, doing whatever it takes, Rocky is the guy we all aspire to be.

For newbies, this hub will hopefully fill in a few gaps about the Rocky movies. For Rocky cynics, hopefully I will be able to cast a less skeptical eye on an inspirational hero and some world-class films.

Rocky Balboa is a small time boxer and a collector for a loan shark. Everyday he tries unsuccessfully to flirt with his friend Paulie’s sister Adrian who works in a pet store and is incredibly shy.

Apollo Creed is one of the most successful heavy weight boxers of all time but is unable to find a suitable opponent for the bicentennial celebrations. They decide to give an unknown a shot, and eventually decide on Rocky due to his nickname, the Italian Stallion because of the association with the Italian Christopher Columbus. The fight ends up being the toughest of their lives.

Following their battle Creed begins to get a lot of criticism about the result of the first fight. He eventually goads Rocky into a rematch. However, after his injuries from the first match Adrian is unable to support him and Rocky struggles to be motivated.

When she eventually comes round Rocky, now with Adrian in his corner, once again gives Creed the fight of his life.

A hungry young fighter starts calling out the champ, Rocky Balboa. However, Mickey has been protecting Rocky and cherry picking his opponents. Not as hungry anymore, Rocky struggles and loses to the powerful boxer, Clubber Lang (Mr T). The stress gives Mickey a heart attack and he dies.

For the rematch Rocky rediscovers his drive and teaches the young buck a lesson.

Ivan Drago from the USSR is a monster of a boxer, honed with the finest scientific training and medical advancements. He challenges Rocky, who refuses. Creed fights instead but is killed in the ring. Rocky must now avenge his friend against all odds and under their rules and in front of a parochial crowd.

Rocky 4 introduced the world to Dolph Ludgren, and we thank it for that.

Suffering from all the knocks to the head in his illustrious career, it's time for Rocky to hang up his gloves. Unfortunately his hard earned fortune has been squandered by his dishonest accountant.

A young fighter, Tommy Gunn, persuades Rocky to train him. However, Gunn becomes frustrated at always being in Rocky's shadow and the eventually descend into a brutal street fight. Despite suffering from his head injuries, Rocky once again shows what he is made of.

Rocky Balboa takes place 16 years after Rocky V. Adrian has passed away due to cancer and Rocky owns and operates a restaurant in her name. His relationship with his son is strained due to his son's difficulty in operating in Rocky's shadow.

Interest in a fight between Balboa and current champ Mason Dixon is generated due to a computer generated match that has Rocky emerge victorious. The pair agree to an exhibition match. This gives Dixon a chance to earn the respect of the public and himself, while Rocky gets to exercise a few of his inner demons.

Rocky Balboa: The Best of Rocky

1. Gonna Fly Now- Bill Conti

2. Eye Of The Tiger- Survivor

3. Going The Distance- Bill Conti

4. Living In America- James Brown

5. Redemption- Bill Conti

6. Conquest- Bill Conti

7. Burning Heart- Survivor

8. Alone In the Ring- Bill Conti

9. Overture- Bill Conti

10. Mickey- Bill Conti

11. Hearts On Fire- John Cafferty

12. Rocky's Reward- Bill Conti

13. Adrian- Bill Conti

14. No Easy Way Out- John Tepper

15. Fanfare For Rocky- Bill Conti

16. It's A Fight- Three 6 Mafia

17. Gonna Fly Now (Remix)- Bill Conti (remix by John X)

Because there are so many Rocky films, new viewers might be intimidated by which ones to watch. As a rule of thumb if a Rocky movie does not end in V or 5 and was not released in 1990 then it’s worth watching. Rocky V has a talking robot, enough said.

Rocky 4 has a talking robot in it too, but I choose to overlook that due to Rocky 4's awesome training montage and Drago's "He's made of Iron" line.

Rocky: [upon seeing Apollo Creed] He looks like a big flag.

Rocky : I wrecked everything by not thinking for myself. I mean, why couldn't Mickey tell me where I really at right from the start? He didn't have to carry me and lie to me and make me think I was better than I really was when I wasn't.

Mickey: Because you can't win, Rock! This guy will kill you to death inside of three rounds!

Rocky: Nothing is real if you don't believe in who you are!

Clubber Lang: I pity the fool

Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa

Appeared in: Rocky, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V and Rocky Balboa

Burt Young as Paulie Pennino

Appeared in: Rocky, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V and Rocky Balboa

Talia Shire as Adrian Balboa

Appeared in: Rocky, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V and Rocky Balboa (flashback/archive footage)

Tony Burton as Tony "Duke" Evers

Appeared in: Rocky, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V and Rocky Balboa

Burgess Meredith as Mickey Goldmill

Appeared in: Rocky, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV (flashback/archive footage), Rocky V (flashback/archive footage) and Rocky Balboa (flashback/archive footage)

Seargeoh Stallone/Ian Fried/Sage Stallone/Milo Ventimiglia as Robert Balboa, Jr.

Appeared in: Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V and Rocky Balboa

Carl Weathers as Apollo Creed

Appeared in: Rocky, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V (flashback/archive footage) and Rocky Balboa (flashback/archive footage)

Mr. T as Clubber Lang

Appeared in: Rocky III, Rocky IV (flashback/archive footage) and Rocky Balboa (flashback/archive footage)

Dolph Lundgren as Ivan Drago                                                                   

Appeared in: Rocky IV, Rocky V (flashback/archive footage) and Rocky Balboa (flashback/archive footage)

Tommy Morrison as Tommy Gunn

Appeared in: Rocky V    

Antonio Tarver as Mason "The Line" Dixon

Appeared in: Rocky Balboa