50 Best Sports Movies Ever

38. Rocky IV

Year: 1985
Sport: Boxing
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Dolph Lundgren
Director: Sylvester Stallone

For the better part of Rocky IV, you’re left wondering whether or not the franchise had gone off the rails. There were iconic scenes and heartbreaking moments, but there was also a fair mix of poor acting and questionable decision-making.

The final fight and, of course, that scene achieve ultimate redemption and help Rocky IV earn its spot as one of the Top 50 sports films of all-time.

Spoiler Alert: Rocky IV is centered around the death of fan favorite Apollo Creed. Rocky’s close friend is killed in an exhibition match against Drago, who hails from Russia in a movie that was made to reflect the rising tensions of The Cold War.

Rocky sets out to represent America against its Russian counterparts by avenging his friend’s death and defeating Drago in a boxing match of his own.

Rocky III laid the groundwork for heartbreaking deaths in the boxing franchise, but Crews’ demise was something unforeseen and overwhelming.

Drago is referred to as one of the great movie villains of all-time, and Rocky IV was the last example of a prime-year Rocky taking the ring. It was the ultimate tale of retribution, as Rocky deals with the guilt of not throwing in the towel soon enough.

If you see only two Rocky films, the first and the fourth are the routes to follow. That doesn’t necessarily make No. 4 the second-best, but it’s certainly the second most significant.

Next: 37. North Dallas Forty