Home / Arts and Entertainment / Rocky V: The Flop That Saved the Franchise?
Rocky V: The Flop That Saved the Franchise?
21 Aug
Summary
- Sylvester Stallone rated Rocky V a zero out of ten.
- Rocky V's poor reception spurred Stallone to create Rocky Balboa.
- Rocky V's failure indirectly led to the successful Creed films.
Sylvester Stallone has openly criticized "Rocky V," a film he once described as a "goose egg" and rated a zero out of ten. The 1990 installment is considered the franchise's lowest point, with a dismal 31% on Rotten Tomatoes.
"Rocky V" depicted a financially struggling Rocky Balboa, estranged from his son and forced into retirement due to bodily trauma. Unlike other entries, its climax was a gritty streetfight rather than a grand boxing match, a narrative choice Stallone felt underserved his character.
Despite its flaws, "Rocky V" inadvertently revitalized the franchise. Stallone cited the film's shortcomings as a primary motivation for developing "Rocky Balboa" in 2006, 16 years after "Rocky V." This decision ultimately led to his return as Rocky in the critically acclaimed "Creed" films, earning him an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor. The "Creed" series, particularly "Creed II," provided a more satisfying conclusion for the beloved character.
