In this follow-up to the Oscar-winning original, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) is now married to the love of his life (Talia Shire), but is contemplating a risky return to the ring. Having gone the distance with heavyweight champ Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) in the first bout, Balboa sees a return match as a way out of poverty, though he may lose his sight. As if Stallone wasn't enough of a glutton for punishment, he takes on the directorial duties as well as writing and starring in this sequel. The big-fight finale is executed with skill, passion and glee, and it's good to see the rasping Burgess Meredith back in the trainer's chair, but this unsurprisingly fails to match the original.

After Rocky goes the distance with champ Apollo Creed, both try to put the fight behind them and move on. Rocky settles down with Adrian but can't put his life together outside the ring, while Creed seeks a rematch to restore his reputation. Soon enough, the "Master of Disaster" and the "Italian Stallion" are set on a collision course for a climactic battle that is brutal and unforgettable.