Rocky Balboa (2006)

Overview

"Rocky Balboa" is a 2006 American sports drama, the sixth installment in the Rocky franchise. Written, directed by, and starring Sylvester Stallone. The story takes place sixteen years after "Rocky V". An aging Rocky Balboa, now the owner of a small restaurant, still mourns the death of his wife Adrian and has a strained relationship with his son. When a computer simulation shows that Rocky in his prime could have defeated current champion Mason Dixon, Dixon's team proposes an exhibition match. Despite doubts from the boxing community, Rocky steps into the ring to prove to himself that he still has what it takes.

Franchise chronology

• "Rocky" (1976) — the first film, where Rocky Balboa, a poor boxer from Philadelphia, gets a shot at the world heavyweight title.
• "Rocky II" (1979) — Rocky faces Apollo Creed in a rematch.
• "Rocky III" (1982) — Rocky loses his title to Clubber Lang, then trains under Apollo to regain it.
• "Rocky IV" (1985) — Rocky fights Soviet boxer Ivan Drago to avenge the death of Apollo Creed.
• "Rocky V" (1990) — Rocky retires due to injuries, trains a young boxer, but faces financial troubles and betrayal.
• "Rocky Balboa" (2006) — sixteen years after the previous film, Rocky returns to the ring for an exhibition match against current champion Mason Dixon.
• "Creed" (2015) — a spin-off where Rocky trains Adonis Creed, Apollo's son.
• "Creed II" (2018) — Adonis Creed fights Viktor Drago, Ivan Drago's son, with Rocky's support.
• "Creed III" (2023) — Adonis Creed faces a childhood friend turned rival.