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.

Even decades after its release, 1976’s Rocky stands as the ultimate cinematic underdog story. But following its critical acclaim, box office performance, and awards wins, it’s only natural that everything involved — including star and screenwriter Sylvester Stallone — would explore what happened next in the lives of Rocky, Adrian, Paulie, Mickey, and of course, Apollo.

Darin Lundberg of NostalgiaCast and Back To Bluey joins us to talk about how 1979’s Rocky II expands on the original film. We’ll discuss whether the movie undercuts its predecessor with a Rocky and Apollo rematch, how the movie cements Stallone as the primary creative force of the franchise, and whether the film successfully justifies Rocky’s return to the sport.

Join us as we step back into the ring with Rocky and his crew for a sequel that dares to push boundaries. With Rocky II, Stallone sharpens the stakes to focus on the theme of redemption and hones in on the emotional journeys of both Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed. It’s a can’t-miss entry in a franchise that still has so much more ground left to cover.