In the years leading up to 1976, there grew an increasing need for a Hollywood champion. Sure, there had been champions aplenty at the box office and the Oscars, but there wasn’t yet a people’s champion to come out of Hollywood. Then comes a struggling actor that nobody knew, and he poured his heart into an original script that became a movie (and franchise) that would inspire millions. It’s the ultimate underdog story that has since become a cliche.

Rocky was released in theaters on December 5, 1976, and suddenly everyone had someone to cheer for. Though I was not alive upon its release, I feel confident saying that as a fan of the franchise, I imagine Rocky landed as well as it did because it made audiences believe in themselves. In a way, when you’re rooting for Rocky, you’re rooting for the best part of yourself, the dreamer and fighter who still hasn’t given up.

The franchise has endured and expanded its legacy for a new generation with 2015’s Creed and its upcoming sequel that harkens back to the events of Rocky IV. So with seven movies to consider, it’s time to look back and determine the absolute best moments and aspects of the franchise. Movies, montages, one-liners, fights, slo-mo, it’s all being evaluated to find the best of the best.

Best Film

ROCKY (1976)

When you talk to Rocky fans, their personal picks for the best film can vary, but there’s no denying where the franchise got its start. Rocky not only launched the series, it made Stallone a household name. It went on to win Best Picture at the Oscars. It cemented the formula for the perfect underdog story. Stallone’s script is focused on characters first, and every single character feels like a real person. The casting is perfect across the board, and the score became so synonymous with triumph, you still hear it in college football stadiums across the country. All of our respect to the genesis of Rocky.

Here’s a fun, Logan-style trailer for the original film.

Best Fight

APOLLO VS. ROCKY from ROCKY

Though I personally voted for the Drago fight, it’s hard to deny the fight that would lay the ground work for every one of its successors. Prior to this fight, audiences had no idea what to expect. They had really only seen Rocky in the ring once, and it was kind of a lame fight. We knew Apollo Creed was the heavyweight champion of the world, but just how fierce and skilled was he? Could Rocky even last one round? All these questions were on the table, and it was this fight that first taught us about Rocky’s unconquerable spirit. After 42 years, it still holds up incredibly well. Special shoutout to Ryan Coogler’s incredible one-take fight from Creed.

Best Song

“HEARTS ON FIRE” from ROCKY IV

This was a close one in our voting. Though “Gonna Fly Now” and “Eye of the Tiger” got some love, it was “Hearts on Fire” that came out on top with the most points. A surprise to some, no doubt, but when you pair it with that amazing training montage, it gets some serious bonus points.

Best Montage

RUSSIA TRAINING MONTAGE II from ROCKY IV

This one was almost a no-contest. Technically, Rocky IV has two training montages back-to-back with the first one being pretty great on its own. But once Rocky finally has Adrian in his corner again, and “Hearts on Fire” cues up, it gets sweaty, muscly, and ends with Rocky scaling an entire mountain only to yell “DRAGOOOOO” from its summit. The contrast between Rocky’s bare-bones regimen and Drago’s high-tech, drug-induced training just makes it all the better. We all felt like we could take on Ivan Drago after this one. Plus, Stallone’s beard is on point.

Best Opponent/Villain

IVAN DRAGO from ROCKY IV

Another one that wasn’t all that close. Rocky’s greatest threat came in the form of a Russian freight train named Ivan Drago. Though his wife and country seem to be pulling the strings, it’s his punch that kills Apollo and gives Rocky severe brain damage. No other opponent has felt so menacing in the ring.

“If he dies, he dies.”

Best Boxing Shorts

APOLLO CREED’S STARS & STRIPES

Was this one ever in debate? Shoutouts to Rockys black & yellows from Rocky II, and Adonis’s updated stars & stripes in Creed, but it’s his pops that gets all the glory here. Luckily, Rocky got to wear them himself in Rocky III & Rocky IV which further cemented their legacy.

Best Punch

“HE’S CUT! HE’S CUT” from ROCKY IV

There have been some stellar single punches throughout the franchise, and it’s hard to ignore Rocky’s uppercut to be the first to knock Apollo Creed down, but come on…it’s gotta be Rocky’s first real punch against Drago. Up until this point, Rocky was getting annihilated by Drago and it seemed like nothing would stop the mighty Russian. But, Rocky persisted, swung his arms and elbows to ward off Drago’s onslaught, which created the perfect opening to strike. The fight announcer’s infamous line, “He’s cut!” says it all, but it’s the look on Drago’s face and his wife standing up in disbelief that really convince you. The punches only get more brutal from there, but this was the turning of the tide.

Best Walk-Up

RICKY CONLAN, “DON’T WASTE MY TIME” from CREED

Apollo may put on the biggest shows with his walk-ups, but we’re looking to the excellent filmmaking behind Pretty Ricky Conlan’s walk-up in Ryan Coogler’s Creed. The franchise has a lot of cheesy slo-mo, but here it’s actually used to intimidating effect. As Krept & Konan’s “Don’t Waste My Time” begins, we see only darkness before we see the flames of a fire breather. Then Conlan’s hooded silhoutte, front and center, slowly starts to emerge from the fog and smoke. It’s awesome.

Best Tear-Jerker Moment

“YO ADRIAN, I DID IT!” from ROCKY II

I’m very pleased that this scene came out on top in the voting, cuz it gets me every time. After two movies and two grueling fights with Apollo Creed, Rocky finally comes out on top as champion. It’s a moment that he relishes and his tearful shoutout to Adrian back home carries so much weight because you know just how hard it was for him to be standing where he is. Chills & Tears.

Best Use of Slo-Mo

Slo-mo is a BIG part of the Rocky franchise; at times it’s been used to elevate the emotional impact of a scene. Other times, it’s been used in the cheesiest of moments. In our opinion, it’s the slo-mo that straddles both lines that is the best, and in this case, it’s the slo-mo run on the beach between Rocky and Creed. It’s got it all: that inspiring Bill Conti score, Rocky and Apollo training TOGETHER (a first and last for the franchise), a homoerotic celebration in the surf, thigh porn, and Stallone running his little heart out while Carl Weathers runs with an easy stride just so Rocky can finally win the race. Pure Rocky gold.

Best Speech

“EVERYBODY CAN CHANGE!” from Rocky IV

The speech that officially ended the Cold War. No more explanation needed.

Best One-Liner

“YO ADRIAN, I DID IT!” from ROCKY II

Here we have our first double winner! The best tear-jerker moment (see above) also carries perhaps the most iconic line of the franchise, complete with “Yo Adrian!”, which everyone quotes when doing their impersonation of Stallone. Despite this being the clear winner among our voting, we must respect other great one-liners, particularly from Drago and Clubber: “I must break you,” “Dead meat,” “Imma bust you up,” and “If he dies, he dies.” Oh, and the only good thing to come out of Rocky V, courtesy of the late Burgess Meredith: “Get up you son of a bitch! Cuz Mickey loves ya.”

Saddest Death

ADRIAN BALBOA from ROCKY BALBOA

Okay, okay, we get that this is a death that is never seen, so why did we vote it as the saddest? Cuz it’s Adrian, guys….Rocky’s one and only. Also, because it’s the one death that had the most lasting impact on Rocky and his daily life. He starts a restaurant and names it after her. He visits her grave to continue their talks, almost on a daily basis that continues in Creed. Though we don’t see her death, we see Rocky relive it emotionally in Creed when he’s faced with the same disease that took her years earlier, and it’s utterly heartbreaking. It damn near won him an Oscar, it was that good (I still think he should’ve won).

Best Moment of Unintentional Comedy

CLUBBER LANG from ROCKY III

Rocky III was really when the series took a 90 degree turn into Cheeseville. Was this a conscious choice on behalf of Stallone, or simply him trying to be cool in the 80s? I think it’s the latter which makes so many moments here unintentionally hilarious. Perhaps the pinnacle of unintentional comedy comes when Clubber Lang (Mr. T) is asked whether or not he has a prediction for his first fight with Balboa. I’m sure the line was supposed to be intimidating, and Mr. T tries his hardest, but just try not to laugh once you here it.

Cheesiest Moment

THIGH PORN from ROCKY III

Rocky III, IV, and V all relish in the cheese. The problem with V is that it’s moldy and disgusting; III and IV is where you’ll find the brie. We honestly could vote in the entirety of Rocky IV as the cheesiest moment of the franchise, but let’s go back to that beach run between Rocky and Apollo. The entire run itself is intercut with other training scenes, but they made sure to throw in these close-ups, and it’s just too much.

via GIPHY

So that’s it, our definitive list of the very best of the Rocky franchise. Will Creed II have some winners of its own? We’ll be happy to update the list should that be the case. In the meantime, let us know your favorites. Which movie do you prefer? Which fight? Training montage? We wanna hear it all.