When watching theRockyandCreedmovies in order, the nine films go together nicely as an extended franchise.
Where filmmaking is concerned, though, it is no surprise that the modernCreedmovies outshine those in theRockyseries.
The ability to shoot fight scenes has simply gotten easier in all films as technology and techniques have developed.
The first two movies and the sixth installment,Rocky Balboa, especially stand out as competently written stories.
Rocky is one of the most beloved sports drama franchises in American cinema.
However, the original films aren’t as perfect as many fans may remember.
WithCreed, however, each one feels like a thematic successor of what came before.
Gone are the more exaggerated elements that makeRocky IVfeel so inherently different fromRockyorRockyII,for example.
Overall,the emotional moments of theCreedfilms are depicted excellently and almost always work.
Moreover,rewatching theRockyandCreedmoviesmakes it clear that the former series has much more inconsistency regarding tone.
Apollo’s death inRocky IVcomes moments after his exaggerated entrance to the fight as a true patriot.
All of this proves how inconsistent theRockymovies are with tone, something theCreedtrilogy has never struggled with.
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All of the other major characters of the franchise only exist due to their connections to Rocky.
TheCreedmovies are much better at handling character relationships beyond Adonis.
Mason Dixon and Ricky Conlan are both played by real-world boxers, Antonio Tarver and Tony Bellew respectively.
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The same cannot be said of any of theCreedmovies.
The first film is arguably the weakest in this regard, with Ricky Conlan being the least developed.
Damian’s development inCreed IIIcontinues this trend, proving how much better the series does villains thanRocky.
This makes theCreedmovies also work better as legacy sequels, given the usage of theRockyscore by Bill Conti.
For this reason, Apollo Creed’s legacy is handled a lot better inCreed.
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Rocky tells the story of Rocky Balboa, an underdog boxer from Philadelphia who gets an unexpected shot at the world heavyweight title. The film explores Rocky’s personal and professional struggles, his romance with Adrian Pennino, and his journey toward self-respect and determination.
