10 Times Changing The Tone Saved Movie Franchises

10. Rocky Is No Longer About Rocky (Creed)

Ok, so this is a different kind of saving here. Rather than being knocked down from critical bashings and public infamy, the Rocky franchise was on the ropes (pun intended) due to the narrative corner the story got backed into.

Rocky Balboa put a full stop on the series, with Rocky's story being tied up perfectly. So where do you go from there now Rocky's journey has come to the end?

The answer was shifting the focus to a new protagonist. The introduction of Michael B. Jordan in front of the camera and Ryan Coogler behind it injected fresh new life. Contrasting the light-hearted enjoyable romps of its predecessors, Creed brought grit and realism that put you right in the middle of the Philadelphia streets. The new urban feel made the city feel like it's a character if its own, allowing Adonis' journey to mirror Rocky's in an emotionally satisfying way that was still fresh.

The best thing about the major changes from Rocky Balboa to Creed is that it facilitated so much of the great elements the film brought to the table including some jaw-dropping fights and an impeccable performance from Stallone that even the Academy had to acknowledge.