in November 1975, Rocky Balboa is introduced as a small-time boxer and collector for Anthony Gazzo (Joe Spinell), a loan shark. The World Heavyweight Championship bout is scheduled for New Year's Day 1976, the year of the United States Bicentennial. When the opponent of undefeated heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) is injured, Creed comes up with the idea of fighting a local Philadelphia underdog and, because he likes Rocky's nickname, "The Italian Stallion," he selects the unknown fighter. He puts it in light by proclaiming "Apollo Creed meets 'The Italian Stallion.'

To prepare for the fight, Rocky trains with 1920s-era ex-bantamweight fighter Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith), while Rocky's good friend, Paulie (Burt Young), a meat-packing plant worker, lets him practice his punches on the carcasses hanging in the freezers. During training, Rocky dates Paulie's quiet sister, Adrian (Talia Shire). The night before the fight, Rocky confides in Adrian that he does not expect to beat Creed, and that all he wants is to go the distance with Creed (which no fighter has ever done), meaning that lasting 15 rounds (the typical scheduled length of championship fights at the time) against him would mean he "... wasn't just another bum from the neighborhood."

After their championship bout, Rocky and Apollo are taken by ambulance to Pennsylvania Hospital in Center City (a WCAU-TV Channel 10 news truck follows behind the ambulance truck), where they meet once again in the hospital lobby with a mob of reporters. Apollo Creed, who retained the championship on points, is furious at Rocky, the first man to go the distance with him, and starts clamoring for another chance to knock Rocky out. Rocky goes to Apollo's room that night and asks "Did you give me your best?" to which Apollo answers "Yeah". Rocky declines talk of a rematch and tells Apollo that he is quitting boxing. Rocky's decision to retire is strengthened when doctors tell him he needs surgery for a detached retina.

Following his hospital stay, Rocky proposes to Adrian in front of the tiger exhibit at the Philadelphia Zoo, and they later on get married. Rocky begins to enjoy the profits from his fight with Apollo. He buys his first brand new car which is a 1979 Pontiac Trans Am (even though it's still supposedly 1976), goes on a shopping spree (purchasing a black leather jacket with a tiger in the back, a fur coat for Adrian, and some watches, to name a few), and buys a two-story house. For money, Rocky opts to exploit his image as the "Italian Stallion" by appearing in commercials. His new career, however, is quickly derailed by his sub-par reading skills, which leads to a clash with the director of his first commercial.

Unable to find white-collar work due to his lack of education, and after being laid off (because of cutbacks) from the meat plant where Paulie previously worked, he gets a job as a boxing trainer at Mickey's gym. Adrian, now pregnant, returns to her old job at the pet store.

Rocky III begins with the ending of the 15th round of the rematch between Rocky and Apollo Creed, with Rocky Balboa becoming the new heavyweight champion of the world. This is followed by an opening montage of scenes that explain what happened in the time between Rocky II and Rocky III. In the five years since winning the heavyweight title from Apollo (1976-1981), Rocky has a string of 10 successful title defenses. As his winning streak grows, so does his fame, wealth and celebrity, and soon Rocky is seen everywhere, from magazine covers to TV show guest star appearances. Rocky is also heavily merchandised, sponsoring varied products and services. At the same time, a ferocious new boxer named James "Clubber" Lang (Mr. T) is climbing the ranks, rapidly becoming the number one contender for Rocky's title.

Motivated by patriotism and a desire to prove himself, Apollo is desperate to step back into the ring in an exhibition bout against Drago. Rocky has reservations, but comes round to supporting his friend by helping to train him for the fight. Apollo sets the match between himself and Drago in Las Vegas. With Rocky in his corner, Apollo flamboyantly makes an even bigger show than when he first fought Rocky - including fireworks and a patriotic theme. Starting the fight in his trademark manner, Drago manages to catch him off-guard quickly and batters Apollo with a series of devastating punches. Apollo is in dire straits as the first round is over and Rocky and his trainer Duke are pleading with him to stop the fight. Apollo refuses to do so, and tells Rocky not to stop the fight no matter what. Rocky attempts to throw in the towel, but despite Duke's begging Rocky honors Apollo's wish. It turns out to be a tragic decision, as Drago finally hits a devastating right hook that kills the former champion.
Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) faces up to Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) in Rocky IV

Devastated by the death of Apollo, Rocky comes to the decision he must avenge his death by agreeing to fight Drago in his home country.

Rocky returns home from the Soviet Union and is greeted by his son, Robert. At the following press conference, a crooked promoter named George Washington Duke (a parody of boxing promoter Don King) tries to goad Rocky into fighting the new #1 contender to his championship, Union Cane, in Tokyo. Duke sees this as a great opportunity with both Rocky's managers Mickey Goldmill and Apollo Creed dead. With Adrian insisting on her husband's retirement, Rocky decides, at least for the time being, not to take the fight with Cane.

Rocky, Adrian, and Adrian's brother Paulie return to their lavish Philadelphia home to find out that Paulie had signed 'power of attorney' over to Balboa's accountant, who had, in turn, squandered most of his money on real estate flipping. Now bankrupt, Rocky immediately decides to take the fight against Cane. However, years of fighting have taken their toll on him, especially the last one with Drago, and after a physical evaluation, it is determined that Rocky has suffered significant brain damage, and that he can no longer fight without further risking his health. Rocky is forced to vacate the championship and move back into his old Philadelphia neighborhood, where he and the family must try to start their lives over again.

Things start to look up for them when Rocky meets a hungry young fighter from Oklahoma named Tommy Gunn and takes him under his wing.

Present-day Philadelphia: Rocky, now retired from boxing for roughly 20 years, lives a quiet life as a widower, for his wife Adrian had died from cancer several years ago. He now runs a small but successful Italian restaurant named "Adrian's," where he regales his patrons with stories of his past. Unfortunately, he is also battling personal demons involving his grief over Adrian's death, the changing times, and his eroding relationship with his son Robert, who has since moved out to become a struggling corporate employee. Paulie, Rocky's brother-in-law and longtime friend, continues to support him whenever he can.

In contrast, the simulation inspires Rocky to take up boxing again — an intention that goes public when he successfully renews his license. Dixon's promoters thus pitch the idea of holding a charity exhibition bout at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas to bolster Dixon's falling popularity. With some hesitation, both men agree to the match, creating a media buzz that stabs at Rocky's has-been status and Dixon's credibility.

Robert makes an effort to discourage Rocky from fighting, blaming his own personal failings on his father's celebrity shadow. Rocky rebukes him with some profound advice; that to succeed in life, "it's not about how hard you hit; it's about how hard you get hit, and keep moving forward," and that blaming others won't help him. The next day, father and son meet at Adrian's grave and reconcile, which is when Robert announces he has quit his job to be at Rocky's side. Rocky sets straight to training, with Mason, elsewhere, doing the same.

Chris Gardner is a bright and talented, but marginally employed salesman. Struggling to make ends meet, Gardner finds himself and his five-year-old son evicted from their San Francisco apartment with nowhere to go. When Gardner lands an internship at a prestigious stock brokerage firm, he and his son endure many hardships, including living in shelters, in pursuit of his dream of a better life for the...

After years of disagreeing on what true happiness, success, and love really are, Dave (Morris Chestnut) and Clarice Johnson (Taraji P. Henson) have finally reached a breaking point in their marriage. When Clarice is severely injured (and crippled) in a car accident, the interference of her cackling mother Mary (Jenifer Lewis), the obvious truth that more than just her injuries need immediate attention is exposed. Their odds of making it worsen as Clarice begins to see a physical therapist, and Dave develops a friendship with Julie (Maeve Quinlan) and her friendly teenage son Bryson (Cannon Jay). The acceptance and comfort Dave finds in them stirs his longing for a family and a passionate partner. Sadly, Bryson unexpectedly dies in a swimming accident, Dave and Julie's relationship closens and Clarice pulls farther away; they must confront whether their vows are or are not easily broken. Later on, Dave visits Julie after she calls him, and he comforts her in her grief. They begin to kiss, but Dave realizes it is Clarice he truly wants. The couple reunites and Dave finds out that Clarice is pregnant.