Comingsoon.net is training hard to go toe-to-toe with the best Rocky training montages. Check out our picks in the gallery below!
It cannot be understated just how great the Rocky movies are. Yes, including Rocky V. If you’re still hating on Rocky V in 2019 you need to re-evaluate and come back. Anyway: all six Rocky movies are truly great. They tackle social and political issues with grace, and Sly never ceases to amaze (especially when he leans into the 80s cheese to maximum effect).
One aspect of that 80s cheese that permeates throughout the franchise is the art of the montage. Heck, one of these Rocky movies is essentially one long montage. (You know the one.) In honor of the excellence of these films (and their arrival on Netflix this month), let’s rank the five best Rocky montages.
rocky montages
-
Rocky III (1982)
The surprise alliance of Rocky and Creed makes for the very best Rocky montage, hands down. It’s so inspiring to see the two team up to help Rocky train for his fight against Mr. T’s Clubber Lang.
-
Rocky (1976)
The first Rocky training montage is really hard to beat, even if Rocky III's takes the top spot. Do you realize how influential this montage is? It’s practically been the blueprint for every montage since.
-
Rocky II (1979)
Opinions on Rocky II are pretty split, but it’s so great seeing that montage not of Rocky training, but of Rocky letting fame get to his head. From appearances on television to Rocky struggling to get through a commercial shoot, this Rocky II montage deserves notoriety for breaking from the norm.
-
Rocky IV (1985)
Released right in the middle of the 80s, it’s no surprise that Rocky IV totally nails the art of the montage by basically never not being a montage. From the moment he touches down in the Soviet Union, the montages just don’t stop. It rules.
-
Rocky Balboa (2006)
More or less a redo of Rocky V, Rocky Balboa is so incredibly emotional and just about as good as a Rocky finale could be (despite the fighter’s return in Creed and Creed II).Forget his age, Rocky Balboa’s montage proves the Italian Stallion’s still got it.
