20 Essential Movie Performances That Will Define 2015

5. Sylvester Stallone - Rocky Balboa (Creed)

Release Date: November 25 The Movie: Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station) writes and directs this spin-off from the Rocky franchise, which sees the late Apollo Creed's grandson Adonis (Michael B. Jordan) training for the title fight of a lifetime. The Role: Stallone will be reprising his iconic Rocky Balboa role, but in a nifty twist, he'll be playing the trainer this time, hopefully taking on a Burgess Meredith-type part. This would give Adonis enough space to breathe as a character rather than the movie just ending up as two more hours of face time with Rocky. Why It'll Define 2015: Because if everyone gets it right, this essentially allows Stallone to have his cake and eat it: Rocky was already given a fitting send-off with 2006's Rocky Balboa, and by bringing him back as a trainer, fans get to see him again without groaning at him playing a wildly over-the-hill boxer once more. Also, given that rumours suggest Rocky may be fighting an illness in this movie, if the pic as a whole is good enough, could Sly even end up with a Best Supporting Actor nomination? It would be fitting given that he was nominated for Best Actor for the original movie.