Not wanting to stop there, I picked up the next two Rocky movies (V and Balboa) as well as the two Creed films. We just finished watching the second Creed today, and I have to say that I was impressed throughout. Stallone's performance in the first Creed movie was deeply moving. Yet what really stood out to me was that these eight movies told such a complete story; we get to see Rocky's life through his climb to fame, the difficulties he has there, his ability to find a sense of balance, and then his passing on his legacy.
Of the eight movies, my favorites were the first Rocky and the first Creed. Both of them have a great deal of heart in them and dig deeply into their characters' stories. The first Rocky stands out because it was the first, and it was done on such a small budget. The film, like Rocky, was an underdog that captured the hearts of its audience. The first Creed manages to tie into the legacy of the six films that preceded it, yet still tell its own, unique tale. Moreso, some of the cinematography is nothing short of amazing--especially some of the long-no-cut fight scenes.
Meanwhile, Rocky V sits at the bottom of the pile. It wasn't the story that bothered me as much as how cartoonish some of the other characters, especially the evil publicist, were portrayed. Surprising, I actually liked the movie more than I expected. As a piece of a larger story, it was certainly a low point, but I think that the later movies helped to redeem it.
I've heard that they plan to keep making Creed movies (once they can figure out how to get around the director's Black Panther schedule), but that Stallone will not be a part of them anymore. I'm not certain how I feel about that. Just over the course of this summer, Rocky has come to feel like a friend. I believe that the Creed movies can continue to be good, but they will certainly be missing something special without Rocky in them.