Every Rocky Movie Ranked Worst To Best

Rocky II works because it doesn't strain itself to become more than it is, which is an entertaining but safe sequel that re-plays the original film with a different ending. As fun as it is, it's pulling its punches.

Following his defeat at the end of the previous film, Rocky is challenged to a rematch by Apollo Creed, who wants a more decisive win. Stallone and Weathers work wonders off one another in their respective roles, though this pairing is frequently sidelined for some rocky (sorry) family melodrama.

It ticks all the right boxes and, as a comeback story attempting to match its predecessor, it's incredibly inspiring, but it's also the safest and most predictable the franchise has ever been, refusing to take risks whilst re-treading familiar ground.

From this point, for better and for worse, the franchise would try numerous things to keep the series fresh. Here, it's going through the motions, neither extraordinary nor forgettable.