Rocky the Knockout Collection - John G. Avildsen

Collection of four sports dramas starring Sylvester Stallone. In 'Rocky' (1976) club fighter Rocky Balboa (Stallone) has hit rock bottom. Having turned 30, his boxing career is virtually over and he now makes a living collecting payments for a loan shark. Things start to look up when he begins dating Adrian (Talia Shire), sister of his friend Paulie (Burt Young). However, when world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) decides to take on a 'nobody' in his title fight, Rocky finds himself chosen. Encouraged by his coach, Mickey (Burgess Meredith), he begins training for the big fight - much to Adrian's disapproval. In 'Rocky II' (1979) Rocky's life returns to normality following his near loss to world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed. Anxious to prove that Rocky's performance was a mere fluke, Creed offers him a big money rematch. Now unemployed and with a child on the way, Rocky has little option but to accept. In 'Rocky III' (1982), now world champ and having enjoyed ten wins in three years, Rocky has become over-confident and complacent. He pays the price when he is humiliated in the ring by Clubber Lang (Mr T), and this disaster is compounded when Rocky's trusted trainer Mickey dies. Determined to reclaim his reputation, Rocky unexpectedly turns to his old adversary Apollo Creed for help. Finally, in 'Rocky IV' (1985) Rocky heads to the Soviet Union following the death of his friend and former adversary Apollo Creed at the hands of Russian boxer Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren). As well as settling a personal grudge, the bout provides an opportunity for both fighters to prove the dominance of their respective countries as hostilities between the Soviet Union and America continue to intensify.