50 Best Sports Movies Ever

31. Rocky III

Year: 1982
Sport: Boxing
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith, Mr. T
Director: Sylvester Stallone

Rocky is the most profitable, recognizable, and beloved boxing franchise in cinematic history. Many love Rocky II, but in this case, the final sequel to appear on this list is the third and, arguably, saddest film of the series.

Spoiler Alert: Rocky IV has the most shocking death to date, but it’s in Rocky III that Rocky Balboa loses the man who trained him: Mickey Goldmill.

Mickey’s death is the type of moment that no one saw coming and everyone still felt after finishing the movie. The man who drove Rocky to being the champion fighter he’d become was now gone, and no one knew how the beloved character would respond.

Coupled with the fact that Clubber Lang is the best villain of the entire Rocky franchise and it’s hard to call this film anything but a standout.

Did we mention that this is the first time that a Rocky film had included “Eye of the Tiger?” That has to matter.

Balboa’s tasked with overcoming a superior fighter to he, and he must do so without the man who gave him structure and guidance. This is the ultimate test for the character to whom sports fans have found a very easy time relating.

You can’t mess with a classic, and that’s exactly what Rocky III is—no matter how quirky it could become.

Next: 30. Tin Cup