Around the time of the theatrical release of actor Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut, Creed III (2023), the ninth film in the Rocky franchise, Amazon MGM Studios via Warner Bros. Pictures released a four-film 4K UHD collection of Rocky films that setup the Adonis Creed story (Rocky (1978) – Rocky IV (1985)) called The Knockout Collection. Given that these films feature Carl Weathers’s Apollo Creed, it made sense to package them together for folks looking to revisit them ahead of the latest Adonis Creed tale. That set came with a few issues and now that they’ve been fixed, Amazon MGM Studios via WB Home Entertainment offers the complete Rocky-centric films in a new six-film, seven-disc collection called Rocky: Ultimate Knockout Collection.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Rocky films, here’s a rundown of the entire series pre-Creed:
The first Rocky (written by actor Sylvester Stallone (The Expendables) and directed by John G. Avildsen (The Karate Kid I – III), introduces unknown boxer Rocky Balboa who is offered a title shot against reigning champion Apollo Creed (Weathers), a fight he ultimately loses critically but wins personally as he’s able to go the distance. In the first of several Rocky films directed by Stallone, 1982’s Rocky II addresses the aftermath of that confrontation, leading to another bout with Creed that’s more about their respective lives and honor than it is about seeing who takes home the belt. Rocky III (1982) centers Rocky dealing with the changes that come with being the champ and defending his title against challengers, specifically newcomer with mean streak Clubber Lang (Mr. T). Rocky is still the reigning champion in Rocky IV (1985) when a fighter from then-USSR, Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), arrives in America and ends up killing Apollo during their fight, leading to an unsanctioned showdown between Drago and Rocky. Picking up immediately after, Rocky V (1990) introduces setbacks both professional and personal as Rocky discovers that his fight with Drago has introduced a serious cranial injury that may make Rocky’s retirement permanent and that the family accountant has lost their money. Returned to their original neighborhood and back to running Mickey Goldmill’s (Burgess Meredith) gym, Rocky meets Tommy Gun (Tommy Morrison) who he ends up training until a promoter influences Tommy to turn on the former champ. In the final film, Rocky Balboa (2006), the boxer is now a restaurant owner in Philly telling stories about his glory days to excited guests and trying to repair his relationship with his estranged son, Robert (Milo Ventimiglia). When an ESPN on-air digital experiment implies that the current champ, Mason “The Line” Dixon (Antonio Tarver), would lose to in-his-prime Rocky, an exhibition match is sought to clear up the truth. Like so many other fights for Rocky, this isn’t about winning or losing, but whether or not he still has it in him to take a hit and keeping on fighting.
The Ultimate Knockout Collection being the latest collection of Rocky films is a bit of a mixed bag for physical media collectors, but it’s the one that fans of the series and those with 4K UHD as the preference for display will gravitate towards. The prior 4K UHD release had audio and video issues on a few of the discs that were noticeable for fans with a deep-well knowledge base for audio levels and visual cues. None were noticed in our review, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t present. However, WB Home Entertainment appears to have fixed those issues in the Ultimate edition, which should be welcome for those who either purchased but didn’t get replacement discs or those who held off on last year’s collection. For now, the main issue with the current collection is a known problem with the redemption of the digital code via Fandango not being recognized. If you purchase this, don’t be alarmed if the code doesn’t work at first.
Regarding the included bonus features themselves, where the Knockout set is five discs (four films + bonus features disc), the Ultimate set is seven (six films + bonus features disc). Just like with the Knockout set, the disc for Rocky IV includes the theatrical *and* Rocky vs. Drago: The Ultimate Director’s Cut edition, as well as the “Keep Punching” featurette. Unlike the Knockout set, Ultimate includes a disc for Rocky V and Balboa, with Balboa including both the theatrical and director’s cut edition, as well as some bonus features. The included special features disc offers the exact same content as the Knockout disc did. What’s interesting, however, is in checking the Blu-ray six-film Heavyweight Collection, there are fewer bonus features included with the 4K UHD disc of Balboa than on the Blu-ray. Only two of eight deleted/alternate scenes are included (an alternate ending and “Paulie’s Girlfriend Moves His Things”) and the “Boxing’s Bloopers” is missing, but they did add “Fight Makeup.” Will this be missed by those without the prior Blu-ray release? Not likely, but it’s good to know that some materials are missing from this particular collection. By comparison, the Rocky V disc has the same number of bonus materials: zero. Additionally, where the Knockout collection features a collage of Rocky across the first four films, the new collection is a single photo of young Rocky (compared to Balboa or later films) posing in his boxing gear, adorned with the heavyweight belt — apropos.
The audio/video presentation, to this reviewer, was strong before and, with the corrections made, is bound to make happy the die-hard fans. With that in mind, checking out the additional two features, the work on them should make series fans happy, too. These keep the cinematography style and look of their respective eras (heavier grains in Rocky V; more of a digital, free-hand look in Balboa) while making the colors sharper and details enhanced. I last watched V when it first hit home video and Balboa just after the documentary Sly (2023) released, and these 4K UHD discs are a marked improvement on both. Whether it’s the street fight finale of Rocky V or the exhibition match of Balboa, you’ll feel every punch, every reaction from the crowd, as if you’re right in it.
Keep in mind that the securing of the discs is in the same multi-disc front/back storage case. While this does help reduce what might be an unwieldy box of seven discs, does mean that the chances of a disc coming lose when jostled increases.
Where Knockout felt underwhelming, the Ultimate Heavyweight Collection feels like something longtime fans or those interested in going back to see how Adonis’s story connects with “Unc’s” can finally have all six in one spot and in formats that should give the best visual and auditory experience. It’s a bit of a bummer that some of the special features from past releases aren’t making it over, but it may be a bit of a space issue — more data for the film produces a better cinematic experience, less room for special features. One isn’t losing enough from the Blu-ray to really feel like they’re missing out. But it is good to know if you’re the sort who’s looking for a complete, comprehensive collection. Honestly, the next step would be a collection that includes the Creed films, but, for now, just having the original Rocky films in one place feels like a win even Mickey would approve of.
Rocky: Ultimate Knockout Collection Special Features:
Rocky
- Audio commentary with Avildsen, Winkler & Chartoff, Talia Shire and Burt Young
- Audio commentary with Sylvester Stallone
- Audio commentary with Lou Duva and boxing commentator Burt Sugar
Rocky IV
- Choose the theatrical or Rocky vs. Drago Ultimate Director’s Cut
Rocky V
- No special features
Rocky Balboa
- Sylvester Stallone Commentary
- Two (2) Deleted Scenes
- Skills vs. Will: The Making of Rocky Balboa
- Reality in the Ring: Filming Rocky’s Final Fight
- Virtual Champion: Creating the Computer Fight
- Fight Makeup
Rocky I-IV Collection Bonus Features Blu-ray:
- “8mm Home Movies of Rocky” with commentary from director John G. Avildsen and pre-production supervisor Lloyd Kaufman
- 3 Rounds with Lou Duva
- Steadicam: Then and Now with Garrett Brown
- Make-Up! The Art and Form with Michael Westmore
- Staccato: A Composer’s Notebook with Bill Conti
- The Ring of Truth
- A Tribute to Burgess Meredith
- Stallone Meets Rocky
- The Making of Rocky vs. Drago: Keep Punching
- Trailers
Available in a six-film 4K UHD Blu-ray collection and on digital July 16th, 2024.
Rocky V and Rocky Balboa available in a limited-edition solo-film 4K UHD steelbook July 16th, 2024.
For more information, head to the official MGM Studios Rocky webpage.
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Categories: Films To Watch, Home Release, Recommendation
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