Rocky IV

Following the devastating loss of his best bud Apollo Creed, Rocky (Sylvester Stallone, who also wrote & directed) must fight cold war super villain Ivan Drago (Fulbright scholar Dolph Lundgren making an impact in his first starring role) on Christmas Day to determine the fate of the free world. Merry Christmas, kid! Rocky IV goes (beyond) the distance with more patriotism than a lifetime of Fourth of Julys, a lovably wacky robot, and the most heart-pounding montages and mind-spasming freeze frames of the ‘80s. This Part IV out-Part 4s all other franchises’ Part 4s, distilling the series’ iconography to song-length blasts of unbridled ENTERTAINMENT.