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Rocky IV (1985) backdrop
Franchise guide · by Marcus Reyes

Rocky Movies: Every Rocky and Creed Film, 1976 to 2023

The Rocky movies are a franchise of nine films released between 1976 and 2023: six Rocky films, from Rocky (1976) to Rocky Balboa (2006), and three Creed films, from Creed (2015) to Creed III (2023). Sylvester Stallone plays Rocky Balboa in the first six films and in Creed (2015) and Creed II, Michael B. Jordan directed Creed III, and no Creed 4 has an official date.

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Image: TMDB

Every Rocky / Creed Movie

How many Rocky movies are there

What Are the Rocky Movies?

The Rocky movies are a franchise of nine films, six built around Rocky Balboa and three built around Adonis Creed, released between 1976 and 2023. How did a boxing drama about a Philadelphia club fighter become a saga that has run since 1976? It kept finding new opponents and, eventually, a new champion. How many Rocky movies are there lists every title with its runtime and director.

The Rocky series began with Rocky (1976), directed by John G. Avildsen, in which Sylvester Stallone plays a small time boxer who also collects debts for a loan shark. Heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) loses his scheduled opponent about five weeks before a Bicentennial title bout, and he picks Rocky because of the nickname the Italian Stallion. Rocky also courts Adrian (Talia Shire), the shy sister of his friend Paulie (Burt Young), and the gym owner Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith) offers to train him. According to History, Stallone insisted on starring in the film. It cost about $1 million to make and grossed about $225 million worldwide, according to The Numbers.

Stallone then directed Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV and Rocky Balboa himself, four of the six Rocky films, while Avildsen returned for Rocky V. Each sequel added a rival who defined it: Mr. T as Clubber Lang in Rocky III (with Hulk Hogan as the wrestler Thunderlips), and Dolph Lundgren as the Soviet boxer Ivan Drago in Rocky IV. Stallone told Good Morning America that a punch from Lundgren during that shoot put him in the hospital for four days.

The Creed films moved the story to the next generation. Creed (2015), directed by Ryan Coogler, follows Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan), the son of Apollo Creed, who moves to Philadelphia and asks Rocky to train him. Creed II (2018), directed by Steven Caple Jr., brings back Lundgren as Drago, now with his son Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu). Creed III (2023) is directed by Jordan himself, and Stallone, who worked on it as a producer only, does not appear.

Rocky movies list, release dates and years (US release dates)

  1. Rocky (1976), directed by John G. Avildsen: December 3, 1976
  2. Rocky II (1979), directed by Sylvester Stallone: June 15, 1979
  3. Rocky III (1982), directed by Sylvester Stallone: May 28, 1982
  4. Rocky IV (1985), directed by Sylvester Stallone: November 27, 1985
  5. Rocky V (1990), directed by John G. Avildsen: November 16, 1990
  6. Rocky Balboa (2006), directed by Sylvester Stallone: December 20, 2006
  7. Creed (2015), directed by Ryan Coogler: November 25, 2015
  8. Creed II (2018), directed by Steven Caple Jr.: November 21, 2018
  9. Creed III (2023), directed by Michael B. Jordan: March 3, 2023

The money side is lopsided. Added together, the nine films have grossed about $1.9 billion worldwide, using Box Office Mojo and The Numbers figures. Rocky IV is the biggest earner at about $300 million, Creed III is the biggest of the Creed films at about $276 million, and Rocky V is the smallest at about $120 million. Rocky Balboa, made on a $24 million budget, grossed about $156 million. Rocky box office breaks down every film.

The music is as recognizable as the fights. Bill Conti scored Rocky (1976), Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky V and Rocky Balboa, and "Gonna Fly Now" is the theme most people hum. Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" arrived with Rocky III, Vince DiCola scored Rocky IV alongside James Brown's "Living in America," and Ludwig Göransson scored Creed (2015) and Creed II before Joseph Shirley took over for Creed III. The Rocky soundtrack page lists the composers and songs film by film, Rocky cast covers who returned, and the Rocky timeline puts the story in order.

Still from Rocky (1976)
Rocky (1976)

In Which Order Should You Watch the Rocky Movies?

The release order and the chronological order of the Rocky series are the same: Rocky (1976), Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V, Rocky Balboa, Creed (2015), Creed II and Creed III. Because no film is set before another one that came out later, there is no second list to memorize, and the full breakdown sits on Rocky movies in order.

  1. Rocky (1976)
  2. Rocky II (1979)
  3. Rocky III (1982)
  4. Rocky IV (1985)
  5. Rocky V (1990)
  6. Rocky Balboa (2006)
  7. Creed (2015)
  8. Creed II (2018)
  9. Creed III (2023)

Is it necessary to start at the beginning? In my opinion, yes if you have the time, because the sequels pick up almost directly from each other. Rocky II opens right after the first fight with Apollo, with Rocky told that an eye injury could cost him his sight. Rocky III then finds a champion who has defended his title ten times and is starting to coast, which is exactly why Clubber Lang's challenge stings, and Rocky IV only hurts as much as it does if you remember the friendship built with Apollo in the earlier films. Rocky V opens with Rocky coming home from Moscow after facing Drago, so each chapter hands a bruise to the next one.

Skipping Rocky V is the shortcut some viewers take, and I understand it, since it is the lowest grosser of the nine. Perhaps the saga plays better unbroken, though, because Rocky Balboa is about an older Rocky living with the loss of Adrian, and it lands harder when you have watched him age. It is also a film with real craft behind it: according to ESPN, the Las Vegas fight was shot to look like an HD television broadcast, and Antonio Tarver's knuckle injury and a knockdown were kept in the finished fight.

If you only want the newer story, Creed (2015) works as a standalone start, as Adonis asks his father's old rival to train him and the film explains the history it needs. It could be argued that Creed II rewards you much more if you have seen Rocky IV first, because Ivan Drago and Apollo's fate drive the whole plot. Creed III is the first film where Stallone does not appear, so it plays more like a new chapter than a sequel to Rocky (1976). If you are short on time, my four film shortcut is Rocky (1976), Rocky IV, Creed (2015) and Creed II.

Is There a New Rocky or Creed Movie Coming?

As of November 3, 2026, no new Rocky or Creed sequel has an official title, release date or greenlight, and the nearest project, Creed 4, is only in development. Producer Irwin Winkler said at an event in Los Angeles on November 18, 2023 that Creed 4 is being planned and that Michael B. Jordan will direct, according to TheWrap. That was a producer's statement rather than a studio announcement, so it counts as a report, and nothing about cast, story or timing has been confirmed. Creed 4 tracks every update as it arrives, and any footage will be collected at creed 4 trailer.

There is one Rocky related release on the calendar, but it is not a sequel. I Play Rocky is an Amazon MGM Studios film directed by Peter Farrelly about the making of Rocky (1976). The Hollywood Reporter announced in January 2026 that it would open in a limited run in November and expand nationwide on November 20, 2026, a wide date carried by FilmNation and Dark Horizons that has not changed in any source reviewed. If you have been asking whether Rocky 7 is coming, this is the closest thing, and it tells the story behind the camera rather than continuing Rocky Balboa's.

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Creed 4: status, cast and rumors

Who Are the Main Rocky Characters?

Rocky characters

The main Rocky characters are Rocky Balboa, Adonis Creed, Apollo Creed, Adrian, Paulie, Mickey Goldmill, Clubber Lang, Ivan Drago, Viktor Drago and Bianca. The full roster lives on Rocky characters, and here is who is who at a glance.

  • Rocky Balboa, played by Sylvester Stallone, is the Philadelphia fighter at the center of all six Rocky films, and he returns as Adonis's trainer in Creed (2015) and Creed II.
  • Adonis Creed, played by Michael B. Jordan, is the son of Apollo and the lead of all three Creed films.
  • Apollo Creed, played by Carl Weathers, is the heavyweight champion who faces Rocky in the first film and appears through Rocky IV.
  • Adrian, played by Talia Shire, is Rocky's partner and later his wife, seen from Rocky (1976) through Rocky V.
  • Paulie, played by Burt Young, is Adrian's brother and Rocky's friend, in the first five films and Rocky Balboa.
  • Mickey Goldmill, played by Burgess Meredith, is the gym owner and trainer who appears in Rocky (1976), Rocky II, Rocky III and Rocky V.
  • Clubber Lang, played by Mr. T, is the hungry contender in Rocky III.
  • Ivan Drago, played by Dolph Lundgren, is the Soviet boxer of Rocky IV, and he returns in Creed II.
  • Viktor Drago, played by Florian Munteanu, is Ivan's son and appears in Creed II and Creed III.
  • Bianca, played by Tessa Thompson, is Adonis's partner across all three Creed films.

If you want the fights and the training sequences that tie these characters together, Rocky fights and Rocky training montage go through them one by one.

Rocky / Creed Music: Composers and Songs

Rocky soundtrack

  1. Gonna Fly Now

    Written for the film

    Bill Conti, DeEtta West, Nelson Pigford · Rocky

    Rocky runs through Philadelphia in his training montage, climbs the 72 stone steps to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and raises his arms in a victory pose.

  2. Eye of the Tiger

    Written for the film

    Survivor · Rocky III

    An instrumental version plays as Rocky trains in Apollo's old gym, and the film uses a demo recording of the song rather than the finished album version.

More songs

Facts

  • Still from Rocky (1976)
    Rocky (1976)
  • Still from Rocky II (1979)
    Rocky II (1979)
  • Still from Rocky III (1982)
    Rocky III (1982)
  • Still from Rocky IV (1985)
    Rocky IV (1985)
  • Still from Rocky V (1990)
    Rocky V (1990)
  • Still from Creed (2015)
    Creed (2015)
  • Still from Creed II (2018)
    Creed II (2018)
  • Still from Creed III (2023)
    Creed III (2023)

Where to Watch Rocky: Streaming in the US, UK and Australia

All nine Rocky and Creed films stream in the US on Paramount Plus and on Amazon Prime Video, according to JustWatch data on TMDB checked on November 3, 2026. Hulu also carries the three Creed films in the US, and all nine can be rented or bought on services such as Apple TV, Amazon Video and YouTube.

In the UK, Amazon Prime Video streams all nine films, and ITVX adds Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V and Rocky Balboa. In Australia, Stan streams all nine, and Amazon Prime Video carries the first eight, with Creed III on Stan but not on Prime Video. Streaming rights move often, so check where to watch Rocky for the film by film table before you commit to a subscription.

Still from Creed III (2023)
Creed III (2023)

Streaming availability data from JustWatch. Where to watch Rocky by country.

Explore Rocky / Creed

FAQs

Is there a Rocky 7 film coming out?

No Rocky 7 has been announced. Rocky Balboa (2006) was the sixth Rocky film, and the story continued with the Creed films, so Creed III (2023) is the ninth film overall. Producer Irwin Winkler said in November 2023 that Creed 4 is being planned with Michael B. Jordan directing, according to TheWrap, but no date or greenlight has been reported. The closest release on the calendar is I Play Rocky, a biopic about the making of the first film that Amazon MGM Studios plans to take nationwide on November 20, 2026. It is not a sequel.

What is considered the best rocky film?

There is no single agreed answer, and it depends on whether you value the original underdog story, the sequels or the Creed films. By box office, Rocky IV leads the series at about $300 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo, and Rocky (1976) turned a budget of about $1 million into about $225 million. For a full ordered list with a reason for each placement, see Rocky movies ranked.

Why doesn't Stallone like Rocky 5?

Putting a single reason on Stallone would be speculation, but the documented history of Rocky V (1990) explains why the film is often treated as the series' low point. Director John G. Avildsen said the original ending was darker, with Rocky meant to die, and that the studio changed it about two weeks into filming, as CBS News reported in 2014. The film also earned about $120 million worldwide, the lowest of the nine, and the song "The Measure of a Man" was nominated for a Razzie. Details are on the Rocky V page.

How did Sylvester Stallone create Rocky (1976)?

Sylvester Stallone insisted on starring as Rocky Balboa in Rocky (1976), according to History, and the film went on to launch the whole series. John G. Avildsen directed it, and it grossed about $225 million worldwide on a budget of about $1 million, according to The Numbers. Stallone then directed four of the later Rocky films himself. The Rocky (1976) page covers the production.

Is there a Rocky Balboa 6?

Yes, in the sense that Rocky Balboa, released on December 20, 2006, is the sixth Rocky film. Stallone directed it, and it follows an older Rocky in Philadelphia who runs a small restaurant named after his late wife Adrian. Milo Ventimiglia plays his son, and Antonio Tarver plays the champion Mason Dixon. It was made on a $24 million budget and grossed about $156 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. See Rocky Balboa for more.

How many Rocky movies are there?

There are nine Rocky movies: six Rocky films released from 1976 to 2006 and three Creed films released from 2015 to 2023. All nine are theatrical features. The full list with directors and runtimes is at how many Rocky movies are there.

Which Rocky movie made the most money?

Rocky IV made the most, at about $300 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. Creed III is next at about $276 million, then Rocky III at about $270 million. The lowest earner is Rocky V at about $120 million. Every film is covered at Rocky box office.

Who directed the Rocky and Creed movies?

John G. Avildsen directed Rocky (1976) and Rocky V, and Sylvester Stallone directed Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV and Rocky Balboa. Ryan Coogler directed Creed (2015), Steven Caple Jr. directed Creed II, and Michael B. Jordan directed Creed III.