2. Rocky II (1979)
This may be the choice that most people disagree with on this list. But in my opinion, it never should have happened. If Rocky had stayed as a standalone film, then I feel it would be far more highly regarded now. The idea of a boxer, plucked out of obscurity, going toe-to-toe with the champion and not only survived, but is competitive to the very end. This was Rocky Balboa's (Sylvester Stallone) true victory and what makes the original film such a fantastic underdog story. He didn't need to win. Rocky II destroyed that idea, with Stallone becoming the champion himself. It just didn't need to happen. It doesn't mean that Rocky II was a bad film by any means, but the original could stand tall without any of the sequels. The engrossing action was still there, as Rocky once again went up against Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) and eventually defeated him. Of course, this all took place before Creed's love affair with Burger King began (I hope somebody gets that reference...) and Stallone went on to play Rocky in every other film he's been in. After grossing $200,182,160 worldwide, then it was inevitable that more sequels would happen, progressively getting worse and worse until Rocky Balboa was released in 2006 which redeemed the franchise somewhat.