10 Things Creed Does Better Than The Rocky Movies

THE Rocky movies are iconic for a reason, but there's no denying that the Belief the trilogy surpasses them in many ways. When watching the Rocky and Belief films in order, the nine films fit together perfectly as an extended franchise. Even the worst classified Rocky the films were later improved thanks to the explorations of Belief films and their characters, proving that the franchise has a sense of longevity that many didn't think possible after Rocky Vdisastrous launch.

How to wait for Creed 4While the potential story continues, it's natural to look at each film in retrospect. Rewatches of the six Rocky films and three Belief films bring to light their positive and negative points, from the best and the worst Rockyfrom opponents of the strengths and weaknesses of Michael B. Jordan's legacy streaks. While it's difficult to answer which franchise is better as a whole due to the sheer iconicity of Rockyrewatching the various films proves that the Belief movies do many things better than their Rocky predecessors by removing the nostalgia of the latter.

10

The Creed movies have better boxing matches than the Rocky series

Fight choreography got better with the development of cinema

Immediately, it becomes clear that the Belief movies have better boxing matches than Rocky series. This is true on both an emotional and cinematic level, with some of the struggles in Rocky - like the titular boxer against Tommy Gunn - falling incredibly. However, when it comes to cinema, it is no surprise that the modern world Belief films surpass those of Rocky series.

The ability to film fight scenes has simply become easier in all films as technology and techniques have developed. THE Rocky The films feature excellent boxing fights, but even the best have moments when you see that the punches don't hit the opponents. THE Belief series has the added dynamism and fluidity of modern cinema that the Rocky the films didn't, proving that the former has better fights than the latter, from Adonis' unique fight with Leo Sporino to his climactic fights with Ricky Conlan, Viktor Drago, and the anime-inspired showdown with Damian Anderson.

9

The Creed trilogy has a better script

Another element that has improved with age

It is certain that the Rocky the films - for the most part - are very well written. The first two films and the sixth installment, Rocky Balboathey especially stand out as competently written stories. However, even these films have cheesier and somewhat silly elements that are a product of their time, and that's not to mention the campy stories of Rocky III, Rocky IV, and Rocky V. Overall, the Belief the films flow better just as the films do, proving that Ryan Coogler's more modern version specifically overshadows the sometimes outdated elements of Rockyscripts.

8

The Creed trilogy tells a complete story, unlike the movie-like fashion of Rocky

Creed flows better as a complete story

An element of Belief films that stand on their own as something better than the Rocky films, but it also reinforces the point about screenwriting: how well they come together as a trilogy. Each installment in Belief is based on something from the past, whether it's Rocky's battle with cancer or Adonis trying to live up to his father's legacy. Although this is true for some Rocky films, like the first two for example, there's no denying that the campy, over-the-top elements of the later films made each one feel very different from the last.

With Beliefhowever, each feels like a thematic successor to what came before. Gone are the more exaggerated elements that make Rocky IV feel so inherently different from Rocky or Rocky II, for example. Instead, the Belief the films feel like a solid trilogy, with even moments from Adonis' childhood in the first film returning to explore his relationship with Damian in Creed III. THE Rocky the films had less of this interconnectivity as the series progressed, making some episodes feel worlds apart from others in terms of tone and story.

7

Creed's emotional moments are more difficult than in Rocky

Creed has a better understanding of emotional storytelling

The emotion of Rocky movies is difficult to quantify. The first two films are the most serious and have strong, emotionally charged stories that portray Rocky as the underdog. Rocky Balboa is similar, but the emotional strength - or lack thereof - of Rocky III, Rocky IVand the worst film in the franchise Rocky Vare slightly different. Despite including some moments such as the death of Mickey, the death of Apollo Creed and the separation of Rocky and his son, Robert, the exaggerated moments of the stories and the less well-written scripts make them often fail.

THE Belief Movies don't have this problem. General, the exciting moments of Belief the films are excellently portrayed and almost always work. Whether it's the scene where Rocky explains his decision not to undergo chemotherapy to treat his cancer or the moment in the final fight where Rocky tells Adonis that he is a Creed and that he loves him, several emotional moments are exceptionally effective. This continues in Creed II and Creed III as well, giving each installment a sense of emotional resonance that some of the Rocky there were no films.

6

The Creed films have a more serious and consistent tone than Rocky

Gone are Rocky's exaggerated and silly moments

As has been mentioned several times, the later Rocky the films suffered from having unserious or inconsistent tones. Cartoon villains like Clubber Lang, Thunderlips, and even the robotic Ivan Drago made Rocky III, Rocky IV, and Rocky V inherently silly in ways that the Belief trilogy never existed. Additionally, rewatch the Rocky and Belief movies makes it clear that the previous series has much more inconsistency in tone.

The stupidest movies Rocky in fact, the series includes some of the franchise's most serious moments, but the inconsistent tone makes them feel strangely out of place. Rocky III has the titular character fall into depression after Mickey's death, with this subplot arriving shortly after the inclusion of Hulk Hogan's insanely cartoonish Thunderlips. Apollo's death in Rocky IV comes moments after his over-the-top entry into the fight like a true patriot. All this proves how inconsistent the Rocky films have tone, something that Belief the trilogy never fought.

5

Creed has better character relationships than the Rocky movies

Creed has a better understanding of the characters and their friendships

One of the harsh realities of rewatching the Rocky films is that, other than Rocky, the characters have little to no purpose. All of the other main characters in the franchise only exist because of their connections to Rocky. Adrian, Paulie, Apollo, Mickey, Robert, and any other major characters in the franchise rarely have interpersonal relationships; instead, they exist solely as people Rocky can talk to.

THE Belief the films are much better at handling character relationships other than Adonis. Adonis' relationships with Rocky, Bianca, and Mary Anne are a focus, yes, but there are other relationship elements included in each film besides this one. Whether it's Rocky's relationship with Ivan Drago, Robert or the late Apollo, the friendship between Mary Anne and Bianca or the exploration of Ivan and Viktor Drago's father-son bond, the Belief the films focus much more on the characters and their relationships that have no connection to Adonis Creed.

4

Creed has much better written villains than Rocky

Creed's opponents vastly outnumber Rocky's

The next big force Belief the films have over their predecessors is the better development of the villains. The villains of Rocky are rarely portrayed with any nuance, except for Apollo Creed. Clubber Lang, Ivan Drago and Tommy Gunn are incredibly one-dimensional villains which are simply obstacles in Rocky's path. Even one of the best written Rocky films, Rock Balboa, it gives little to no time to develop the titular character's main opponent, Mason Dixon.

The same cannot be said of any of the Belief films. The first film is undoubtedly the weakest in this regard, with Ricky Conlan being the least developed. Even so, the film makes an effort to explore the reason for Ricky's fight, which is to avoid prison to support his family. Viktor Drago and Ivan Dragão in Belief II are much better than Drago's representation Rocky IVgiving them a reason to fight other than simply being an evil, robotic Russian. Damian's development in Creed III continues this trend, proving how much better the series does with villains than Rocky.

3

The Creed films have a more complete soundtrack and score

Creed has a more varied musical style

Despite one of the most emblematic aspects of Rocky cinema being its main musical theme, the Belief the series is more complete in this aspect. Whether it's Ludwig Görranson's exceptional musical scores or the varied soundtracks from local Philadelphia bands like The Roots or other rap artists, the films have a more consistently strong sound. This makes Belief films also work better as legacy sequels, given the use of Rocky score by Bill Conti.

2

Apollo Creed's legacy was handled better in Creed than in Rocky

Creed was focused on Creed

After the death of Apollo Creed in Rocky IVthe series somewhat hindered the focus on his legacy. Rocky IVThe plot of Apollo centered on Apollo's revenge, but it could be argued that this was overshadowed by Cold War propaganda that turned the film into US vs. Russia rather than Rocky vs. Apollo Creed's killer. Rocky V then switched to Rocky becoming a mentor and focused on Mickey's legacy as his former mentor, while Rocky Balboa went in another direction, focusing on Rocky's legacy after retiring.

For this reason, Apollo Creed's legacy is much better addressed in Belief. By focusing on Adonis, his relationship with Rocky, and living up to the legacy Apollo left behind, the character has probably never been better than he was. Belief despite being dead for a long time. While it may seem obvious to point this out in a series titled Beliefthe three films paid homage to Apollo Creed more than Rocky already done.

1

Creed's longevity is beyond what Rocky was

Creed is still as strong as ever

The final element that Belief do better with Rocky is justifying it as a franchise. In addition Rocky II, the Rocky the series struggled to justify each new installment, leading to diminishing critical approval as it progressed. At the time of Rocky Vthe franchise was practically dead. Beliefhowever, it brought it back with three equally impressive installments, with Creed 4 even potentially focusing on another character besides Adonis. THE Rocky the franchise's inability to do so led to its abrupt end until Beliefwith the longevity of the franchise being a way for the latter to improve the former.