Rocky II (1979)

Fame lasts about one aftershave commercial in Rocky II, and Rocky can’t even read the cue cards for that. It’s the most honest stretch: a sweet guy with a new wife and a shiny car learning that fame doesn’t pay the bills. Then the sequel replays the first movie with bigger crowds. The training montage, the morning run, the steps: we’ve been here, so the movie adds a parade of kids chasing him through Philadelphia. Sylvester Stallone, now directing too, still plays Rocky like the kindest guy on his block. Talia Shire gets less to do, and a long hospital stretch stalls everything. Carl Weathers is terrific as Apollo, a champ who kept the belt and lost the argument. Burgess Meredith makes Rocky chase a chicken for speed, the best training idea in the series. It made $85.2 million worldwide on a reported $7M. A 6.5 because the rematch still lands and the road there is a rerun. $7,236 says you chase a pigeon in the park this weekend and lose to it in front of strangers.

What works: Carl Weathers makes Apollo’s wounded pride the engine of the movie, and the final fight is still great crowd-pleasing filmmaking.

What doesn’t: Most of the movie replays the original beat for beat, and the hospital stretch in the middle drags badly.

Who it’s for: Rocky fans who want one more round with the same crew and don’t mind hearing the same song twice.