Rocky III (1982)

Pro wrestling fans will recognize the plot of Rocky III right away: the champ goes soft, a loud challenger calls him out, and an old rival switches corners. Mr. T’s Clubber Lang is one scowl wearing boxing trunks, and the movie never gives him a single quiet moment. The Thunderlips charity match is a goofy detour, and Rocky’s whole crisis of nerve gets fixed with one pep talk on a beach. And still, it’s hard not to grin. Sylvester Stallone trims everything to 99 minutes, so it flies. Carl Weathers is terrific as Apollo, trading rivalry for coaching, and watching him drill Rocky on footwork in a sweaty Los Angeles gym is the best stretch of the movie. Then that guitar riff kicks in and your pulse climbs on its own. It made $125.1 million worldwide on a reported $17M. A 6.3 because the energy is irresistible and the story is a cartoon. $283.65 says you challenge a friend to a race on the next beach you visit and demand a rematch the second you lose.

What works: Carl Weathers turns Apollo into the heart of the movie, and the training sequences set to that Survivor song still get the blood pumping.

What doesn’t: Clubber Lang is a one-note bully, and Rocky’s crisis of confidence gets fixed by a single pep talk on the beach.

Who it’s for: Anyone who needs a quick shot of motivation before a workout and doesn’t care much about plot.