▁the ▁first ▁and ▁third ▁films . ▁ ▁Films ▁ ▁Rock y ▁( 1 9 7 6 ) ▁ ▁Rock y ▁Bal boa ▁( S yl v ester ▁St all one ) ▁is ▁a ▁small - time ▁box er ▁who ▁seems ▁to ▁be ▁going ▁now here ▁in ▁life , ▁as ▁he ▁works ▁day - in ▁and ▁day - out ▁as ▁a ▁collect or ▁for ▁a ▁loan ▁sh ark ▁and ▁f ights ▁in ▁sle azy ▁clubs ▁for ▁low ▁pay ▁re wards , ▁for ▁which ▁Rock y ▁is ▁mock ed ▁and ▁told ▁that ▁he ' s ▁nothing ▁but ▁a ▁' bum ,' ▁especially ▁by ▁g ym ▁tra iner ▁Mic key ▁Gold mill ▁( B urg ess ▁Mer ed ith ). ▁At ▁the ▁same ▁time , ▁Rock y ▁successfully ▁courts ▁Ad rian ▁P enn ino ▁( T alia ▁Sh ire ), ▁a ▁pain fully ▁sh y ▁woman ▁with ▁an ▁alco hol ic ▁brother , ▁Paul ie ▁( B urt ▁Young ). ▁But ▁when ▁the ▁world ▁heavy weight ▁champion ▁box er ▁Apol lo ▁Cre ed ▁( Car l ▁We athers ) ▁cho oses ▁Rock y ▁at ▁random ▁as ▁his ▁oppon ent ▁in ▁a ▁title ▁fight , ▁Rock y ▁real izes ▁he ▁now ▁has ▁the ▁chance ▁to ▁prove ▁that ▁he ' s ▁not ▁worth less . ▁With ▁Ad rian ' s ▁support ▁and ▁Mic key ▁becoming ▁his ▁tra iner ▁and ▁manager , ▁Rock y ▁f ights ▁for ▁his ▁self - res pect . ▁ ▁Rock y ▁II ▁( 1 9 7 9 ) ▁ ▁So on ▁after ▁prov ing