With Rocky IV taking the franchise to new commercial heights, the film represented, in some ways, the biggest victory yet for both writer/director/star Sylvester Stallone and his fictional counterpart. However, that success — which saw the scale of the franchise expand to international levels — might have set unfair expectations for the future.

Enter Rocky V. On one hand, the return of the original film’s director, John G. Avildsen, signaled a return to Rocky’s roots as an underdog, as the champ finds himself back in the neighborhood and searching for relevance. But audiences and critics at the time didn’t appreciate this seemingly more downbeat approach, perhaps sensing the magic of the series was missing.

Pete of Middle Class Film Class joins us to discuss what was once intended as the finale of the Rocky series, 1990’s Rocky V. We’ll discuss whether the film deserves its lackluster reputation, how it inadvertently sets up subsequent movies, and why the surprise addition of one cast member carries so much weight. So lace up those gloves and join our discussion.

If Rocky III marks the promise of how the franchise could grow beyond the championship belt, then the next film arguably shows its limitations. With star Sylvester Stallone again serving as writer and director, Rocky IV sees the iconic cinematic hero facing his most devastating blow yet, sending him all the way to Russia to represent his country on a quest for vengeance.

Ryan Luis Rodriguez of One Track Mind joins us to discuss 1985’s Rocky IV, a film that remains the biggest worldwide box office hit in the Rocky/Creed franchise. We’ll discuss why the film is the most dated installment of the series, how it underutilizes one of its most charismatic stars, and the 2021 release of Stallone’s Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago – The Ultimate Director’s Cut.

Although Rocky IV has more than its share of defenders, this is often the point where many film franchises start to falter. With an established storytelling formula and a generally intimate focus on a handful of main characters, how does Rocky IV manage to keep the title character in the cinematic ring? And where does it key up the 1990 flop that was Rocky V?

Rocky (and, by extension, Rocky II) tells one of the greatest underdog stories in cinema history. But with audiences clamoring for more of “The Italian Stallion,” how could writer/director/star Sylvester Stallone build upon Rocky Balboa’s story after he has achieved the ultimate goal of claiming the heavyweight championship? The answer lies in the characters themselves.

With 1982’s Rocky III, Stallone ups the personal stakes for the titular hero, while also continuing to follow how the relationships between the core characters evolve. Buoyed by appearances from professional wrestler Hulk Hogan and Mr. T as Rocky’s nemesis, Clubber Lang, as well as a hot soundtrack, the movie perhaps marks the series’ biggest success to date.

Writer Jeannette Miller joins us to discuss how Rocky III continues the series’ character-focused storytelling. We’ll discuss why it switches up the structure of its predecessors, how it mirrors Stallone’s own life and career, and which character relationship might be the series’ best. So start pumping Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” and get ready to enter the ring once again.