10 Most Shockingly Improved Movie Sequels

6. Rocky Balboa

When a sixth Rocky film was first announced, a chorus of groans could be heard around the world from those who quite understandably assumed the belated sequel to be yet another flaccid Sylvester Stallone vanity project.

After all, Rocky V was a miserable disaster, and given that Rocky Balboa's plot focused on the legendary boxer (Stallone) coming out of retirement to fight a much younger opponent, the potential for embarrassment was sky-high. What a shocker it was, then, when Rocky Balboa released to the series' best reviews since the first movie. 

A big part of its success lies in the fact that it not only downplayed the more depressing revelations from Rocky V - namely Rocky's brain damage - but also didn't shy away from Stallone's age or, worst of all, have him win in the end.

Rocky got to prove himself once again in a way that fittingly mirrored the original movie, and while this wasn't the absolute end of Rocky's story per his appearances in the first two Creed films, it was a perfect way to sunset the character where in-ring action was concerned.