How Rocky Rebounded From the Worst Movie That Nearly Killed the Franchise

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The Rocky film series, spanning almost half a century, has seen both tremendous triumphs and challenging setbacks. Initially, it was a heartwarming tale about a struggling boxer from Philadelphia, born from working-class roots. Fast forward to today, it’s evolved into a cross-generational phenomenon, capturing the hearts of countless fans worldwide, and even spawning a trilogy centered around the son of Rocky Balboa’s most formidable opponent, Apollo Creed. However, the acclaimed boxing tale nearly faced cancellation following the disappointing reception – both critically and financially – of the film Rocky V, a movie so poorly received that Sylvester Stallone ranked it as his least favorite among the initial five Rocky films.

Following the monumental success of Ivan Drago leading in Rocky IV, Stallone revisited the series five years later with a less-than-impressive sequel that remains the lowest-grossing Rocky film to date. The movie centers on a nearly bankrupt Rocky Balboa, who takes on the task of training a volatile young boxer named Tommy Gunn. Unfortunately, the plotline involving this protege turning into an adversary didn’t captivate audiences as intended, with Gunn often overlooked when ranking opponents in the Rocky series. Despite these setbacks, it’s remarkable that this franchise has managed to endure and thrive today.

Why Rocky 5 Was A Mess

In Short, The Series Descended Into Over-The-Top Cheesiness

In the movie, the Italian Stallion comes back with a modest comeback, starting nearly immediately after the fight against Ivan Drago in Rocky IV; despite winning, Rocky sustained permanent brain damage that led to an early retirement. To add insult to injury, Rocky learns his dishonest accountant squandered his wealth, forcing him to return to his old neighborhood in Philadelphia. Struggling to regain stability, Rocky reopens Mighty Mick’s Gym and takes on the role of coach for aspiring Oklahoma boxer Tommy Gunn.

Conflict arises when Tommy feels disrespected as he’s constantly compared to Rocky, and things escalate when the aggressive boxer is met with jeers upon winning the heavyweight title due to switching managers and leaving Rocky behind. The situation reaches its peak in a chaotic street fight that was poorly organized, rather than a formal ring battle or title contest. Initially, Tommy seems to have the upper hand over Rocky, but after being inspired by memories of his deceased mentor Mickey (Burgess Meredith), Rocky manages to turn the tide and eventually emerges victorious.

Despite Rocky’s apparent victory, it seems more like an empty success, not truly deserved, given that the movie fails to reach the greatness of ‘Rocky IV’. Instead of a thrilling, climactic fight, the film ends with a rather unimpressive, overly-cheesy street brawl that falls far short of the emotional impact of the 1976 original.

How Rocky Managed To Turn The Franchise Around

The Series Looked To Capture The Original Film’s Heart

The film Rocky V was so poorly received that Sylvester Stallone stayed away from the boxing franchise for more than 16 years. He eventually returned to his role as Rocky Balboa in 2006’s Rocky Balboa, a film that many felt reinvigorated the series by infusing it with genuine emotion and high stakes. Interestingly, despite being intended as Stallone’s final film, he took on the role of an experienced guide once more in 2015’s Creed, a movie that passed the mantle to Adonis “Donny” Creed (Michael B. Jordan), the son of Rocky’s most formidable foe-turned-ally, Apollo Creed.

Undeniably, the “Creed” trilogy has revitalized the saga and given it a modern twist for a new audience, making it difficult to recall that the “Rocky” series was on the brink of extinction following the flop of “Rocky V”. In essence, the longevity of this span-of-decades franchise hinges on each film’s dedication to maintaining the sincerity and authenticity first established by its predecessors. It’s encouraging to note that the “Rocky” series has come a long way since the start of the ’90s.

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2025-06-03 16:37