Rocky / Creed

9 movies in this series

It started with an underdog from Philadelphia who got one shot at the heavyweight champion of the world. Decades later, that story has grown into one of cinema's most beloved and enduring franchises, spanning generations of fighters, families, rivals, and champions.

In this series, Now Playing Podcast steps into the ring with every Rocky and Creed film, following the journey from Rocky Balboa's unlikely rise to the top through the next generation led by Adonis Creed. Along the way we'll witness legendary training montages, unforgettable championship bouts, crushing defeats, hard-earned victories, and the personal struggles that take place outside the ropes.

More than a boxing saga, these films explore ambition, perseverance, friendship, family, legacy, and the determination to keep moving forward when life knocks you down. Whether facing Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang, Ivan Drago, Tommy Gunn, Damian Anderson, or the challenges of aging and loss, the fighters at the heart of this franchise are always battling for something greater than a title belt.

Join us as we review every punch, every triumph, every setback, and every comeback in the Rocky and Creed series. And with new contenders always waiting for their shot, this is one franchise that may not have heard the final bell.

Movie Reviews

Rocky II

Spoiler Alert: Halfway through the podcast Arnie goes int...

Reviewed Dec 6, 2011
After Rocky goes the distance with champ Apollo Creed, both try to put the fight behind them and move on. Rocky settles down with Adrian but can't put his life together outside the ring, while Creed seeks a rematch to restore his reputation. Soon enough, the "Master of Disaster" and the "Italian Stallion" are set on a collision course for a climactic battle that is brutal and unforgettable. Genres: Drama, Theatrical Release

Rocky IV

Paulie's robot has more emotional development than the hu...

Reviewed Dec 20, 2011
Rocky Balboa holds the world heavyweight championship, but a new challenger has stepped forward: Drago, a six-foot-four, 261-pound fighter who has the backing of the Soviet Union. This time, Rocky's training regimen takes him to Siberia, where he prepares for a globally televised match in the heart of Moscow. But nothing can truly prepare him for what he's about to face – a fight to the finish, in which he must defend not only himself, but also the honor of his country! Genres: Christmas/Holiday, Drama, Theatrical Release

Rocky Balboa

Yo Adrian! Where are you?

Reviewed Jan 3, 2012
When he loses a highly publicized virtual boxing match to ex-champ Rocky Balboa, reigning heavyweight titleholder Mason Dixon retaliates by challenging the Italian Stallion to a 10-round exhibition bout. To the surprise of his son and friends, Rocky agrees to come out of retirement and face an opponent who's faster, stronger and thirty years his junior. Rocky takes on Dixon in what will become the greatest fight in boxing history! Genres: Drama, Theatrical Release

Creed III

Killmonger vs. Kang: Rumble in Wakanda

Reviewed Mar 7, 2023
After dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed has thrived in his career and family life. When a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, Damian Anderson, resurfaces after serving a long sentence in prison, he is eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face-off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damian — a fighter with nothing to lose. Genres: Action, Drama, Theatrical Release