Rocky Soundtrack: Composers and Songs for Every Rocky and Creed Film

Bill Conti scored five of the six Rocky films, Vince DiCola scored Rocky IV (1985), and Ludwig Göransson scored Creed (2015) and Creed II (2018). Joseph Shirley took over for Creed III (2023). Conti is the sound of the saga, and each handoff is easy to follow film by film.

Conti scored Rocky (1976), directed by John G. Avildsen. Its score album, "Rocky: Original Motion Picture Score", was released on United Artists on December 3, 1976, and opens with "Gonna Fly Now", the best-known theme. Other cues include "Going the Distance", "Philadelphia Morning", "Reflections" and "Fanfare for Rocky". For Rocky II, the album "Rocky II" came out in 1979, with cues such as "Redemption (Theme From Rocky II)", "Conquest" and "Vigil". For Rocky III (1982), the album "Rocky III: Original Motion Picture Score" was released on Liberty in 1982, with cues such as "Pushin'", "Decision", "Mickey" and "Adrian".

DiCola's album for Rocky IV (1985) is "Rocky IV: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack", released on Scotti Bros. Records in 1985. His cues include "Training Montage" and "War / Fanfare From Rocky". Conti returned for Rocky V (1990). Its album, "Rocky V (Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture)", is a soundtrack of songs released on Bust It Records on December 4, 1990. Conti also scored Rocky Balboa (2006).

Göransson scored Creed (2015). "Creed: Original Motion Picture Score" came out on WaterTower Music on November 20, 2015, with cues titled "Juvy", "Adonis", "Meeting Rocky", "Front Street Gym" and "The Sporino Fight". The companion "Creed: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" was released the same day on Atlantic. He also scored Creed II (2018). The score album "Creed II" was released on Sony Music on November 16, 2018, with cues including "Drago", "Wheeler Fight", "Ice Cold" and "Adonis and Amara". The soundtrack "Creed II: The Album" appeared the same day on the Creed 2 Soundtrack label.

Joseph Shirley scored Creed III (2023). "Creed III: Original Motion Picture Score" was released on Masterworks on March 3, 2023, with cues including "Diamond Dame", "Checkmate", "Underdog" and "A New Contender".

The signature songs of the Rocky and Creed films are "Gonna Fly Now" from Rocky (1976), "Eye of the Tiger" from Rocky III and "Living in America" from Rocky IV, with the Creed films adding hip hop walkout tracks. Here are the notable songs, film by film.

Rocky (1976). "Gonna Fly Now" by Bill Conti, with DeEtta West and Nelson Pigford, was written for the film. It plays as 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. "Take You Back" by Frank Stallone is also on the soundtrack. "Summer Madness" by Kool & the Gang plays when Rocky returns home after his match against Spider Rico.

Rocky II (1979). The main song is a reprise of "Gonna Fly Now" by Conti, this time with a children's choir. It plays while Rocky trains by running through the streets of Philadelphia.

Rocky III (1982). "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor was written for the film. 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.

Rocky IV (1985). The soundtrack is the most song heavy of the saga. "Burning Heart" by Survivor and "One Way Street" by Go West were written for the film. "Living in America" by James Brown plays as Brown performs while Apollo Creed makes his flashy entrance before his fight with Drago in Las Vegas. The album also carries "Heart's on Fire" by John Cafferty, "No Easy Way Out" by Robert Tepper, "Double or Nothing" by Kenny Loggins and Gladys Knight, and "The Sweetest Victory" by Touch.

Rocky V (1990). The soundtrack leans on pop and rap. It includes "The Measure of a Man" by Elton John, "Keep It Up" by Snap!, "Go For It! (Heart and Fire)" by Joey B. Ellis and Tynetta Hare, "Take You Back (Home Sweet Home)" by The 7A3 and "All You Gotta Do Is Sing" by Joey B. Ellis.

Rocky Balboa (2006). "It's a Fight" by Three 6 Mafia was written for the film. "High Hopes" by Frank Sinatra and "Ooo Baby Baby" by The Miracles are also featured.

Creed (2015). The film brings back Conti's themes at the climax: "Gonna Fly Now" plays between the eleventh and twelfth rounds of the final fight, and "Going the Distance" plays during the twelfth round. "Waiting for My Moment" by Donald Glover, Jhené Aiko, Vince Staples and Ludwig Göransson was written for the film, as were "Grip," "Breathe" and "Shed You" (with Moses Sumney), all performed by Tessa Thompson. "Be Alright" by Thompson, Göransson and DJ Dahi plays when Donnie goes downstairs to ask a neighbor to turn down her music and meets Bianca. The album adds "Last Breath" by Future, "Check" by Meek Mill, "The Fire" by The Roots and John Legend, and "Lord Knows" by Meek Mill and Tory Lanez.

Creed II (2018). The soundtrack album, "Creed II: The Album," includes "The Mantra," "Do You Need Power? (Walk Out Music)" and "Kill 'em With Success."

Creed III (2023). "Anthem" by Big Sean, EST Gee and Dreamville plays as Adonis Creed walks out to the ring for the final fight. "Last Time That I Checc'd" by Nipsey Hussle and YG plays as Damian Anderson makes his walkout for the final match.

Our picks: the best songs in the Rocky and Creed films (opinion)

• "Gonna Fly Now" (Rocky, 1976): in my opinion, no other cue in the saga matches the way it turns a run up 72 steps into the whole identity of a franchise.
• "Eye of the Tiger" (Rocky III): it was written for the film and the instrumental in Apollo's old gym shows how much the hook carries even without vocals.
• "Living in America" (Rocky IV): perhaps the best character entrance in the saga, because the song makes Apollo's Las Vegas showmanship the point of the scene.
• "Burning Heart" (Rocky IV): it could be argued that this is the better Survivor song for the ring itself, since it was written for a film about a fight.
• "Going the Distance" (Creed): reusing Conti's cue in the twelfth round ties Adonis to the original story better than any new song could.
• "Be Alright" (Creed): it gives the Bianca meeting a mood of its own, and that matters in a saga built on fight scenes.
• "Anthem" (Creed III): a walkout song that fits the champion entering the ring for the final fight.

For how the films themselves compare, see Rocky movies ranked.