With "Rocky" returning to theaters Friday via Fathom Entertainment, UPI follows the impact of each entry in the franchise over 50 years.

Sylvester Stallone (C) waits for a ring interview in "Rocky," returning to theaters Friday. Photo courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc./Fathom Entertainment UPI Sylvester Stallone, seen at the London premiere of "Rocky Balboa" in 2007, starred in eight of the nine films. File Photo by Rune Hellestad/UPI UPI Burt Young greets Sylvester Stallone at the 2006 premiere of "Rocky Balboa" in Philadelphia, Pa. File Photo by John Anderson/UPI UPI Sylvester Stallone, seen with the Rocky statue in Philadelphia, Pa. in 2006, created "Rocky." File Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/UPI UPI Talia Shire, seen with her brother Francis Ford Coppola at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles in September, played Adrian in five "Rocky" movies." File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI UPI

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Rocky, returning to theaters Friday for its 50th anniversary, was a monumental crowd pleaser. It was about the value of going the distance even if you don't win.

Its success mirrored the narrative. Sylvester Stallone wrote it as a vehicle for himself, as depicted in I Play Rocky.

The studio didn't want him but he held out. Rocky announced Stallone as a movie star and an actor of the sort that often got overshadowed by his larger-than-life action vehicles.

Rocky was vulnerable and romantic. The film won several Oscars, including Best Picture. None of its sequels did, but the franchise it launched has been integral in cinema and culture.

So enjoy the landmark original in a theater. When you come home, continue exploring the Rocky Saga to reap even more dramatic rewards and life lessons.

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'Rocky II' (1979)

The first sequel is the most interesting of all the Rocky movies. It asks an even bigger question: You went the distance. Now what?

Rocky isn't set for life and his generosity blows through the money even faster. He can't do endorsements because he struggles with cue cards and acting.

He can't work a desk job because he's too famous. What else could he do but fight a rematch?

Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) is having an even tougher time. He gave a local fighter a chance and still retained his title but now people are questioning him.

Both Rocky and Apollo basically get trolled into a rematch. Apollo takes the bait of fans questioning the decision in his favor, and Rocky gets sick of the guys at the gym mocking him.

The rematch goes in Rocky's favor but it's kind of tragic that neither man could move on, which is essentially the dilemma of any sequel. A Rocky II where Rocky works 9 to 5 wouldn't be a crowd pleaser.

Rocky II also has the best Bill Conti music. The "War" fight theme becomes as vital to the series as "Gonna Fly Now."

'Rocky III' (1982)

Mirroring Stallone's rising fame in the '80s, Rocky is now champion and a famous star. As such, he's gone a little soft.

When Clubber Lang (Mr. T) shows up, Rocky underestimates him. So Apollo trains him and deals with Rocky's fear of losing what he achieved.

It's one thing to be a bum on the street and prove you can go 15 rounds with the champ. When you're the champ, how do you deal with the precarious nature of retaining that? And even though Rocky III has a happy ending, nothing lasts forever.

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Or maybe it's just that this one introduced the song "Eye of the Tiger," an anthem for the decade.

'Rocky IV' (1985)

1985 was a big year for Stallone. Rambo went back to Vietnam to defeat the Viet Cong and rescue POWs, then Rocky won the Cold War.

This was the perfect introduction to the Rocky series for '80s kids. As an adult, it is absurd that Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) murdered a man in the ring, but it felt real that Russia was coming to get us.

Stallone's 2021 director's cut is not much of an improvement. Some added Apollo scenes are poignant, but there's no pretending this wasn't an '80s movie.

'Rocky V' (1990)

The most maligned Rocky, even by Stallone himself, still has valuable morals. Too injured to continue fighting, Rocky agrees to manage Tommy Gunn (Tommy Morrison).

Ultimately, a Don King-like promoter (Richard Gant) lures Tommy away. Rocky can't believe it because he taught Tommy everything.

Adrian (Talia Shire) lays it out: "He doesn't have your heart." You can teach someone how to fight but you can't make them have ethics.

Rocky neglects his son (Sage Stallone) while working with Tommy. Since that's Sly's actual son, it feels a bit like an apology for being so busy making movies. Even if entirely fictional, it's a poignant reminder not to take family for granted.

It was probably too soon to go back to drama after the bombastic Rocky IV but it could not go any more outrageous. This also has a great Elton John song.

'Rocky Balboa' (2006)

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This year is also the 20th anniversary of Rocky Balboa. 16 years after Rocky V, Stallone did bring back the drama and got the tone right.

Rocky somehow gets cleared to fight an exhibition, so guess his head healed after 16 years. He also makes a plea to the boxing commission to let him do what he's gotta do, which has been the way he always explained his need to fight.

Sometimes there isn't an elaborate explanation. Sometimes you've just got to do what you got to do.

More than going one last round, Rocky Balboa is about legacy, which was appropriate for Stallone in 2006 even though he has even more legacy now. It makes sense Rocky opened a restaurant in Philadelphia.

He loves telling stories about his old fights and he's clinging to memories of local hangouts that have been torn down. Adrian is also gone.

It's hard for Robert (now Milo Ventimiglia) to be the son of the famous Rocky Balboa but Rocky makes the good point that everyone has something to overcome. Life is going to hit you hard. "It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward."

'Creed' (2015)

Along with Cobra Kai, Creed is the gold standard for how you revisit a classic franchise for a new generation. Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) is the son of the late Apollo Creed from an affair.

After his experience with Tommy Gunn, Rocky is reluctant to manage another fighter, especially feeling responsible for Apollo's death in the ring against Drago. That Adonis proves to be an honorable protege is even more poignant because of Rocky V. Mentors still have to be judicious, but not everybody is a Tommy Gunn.

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Stallone was nominated for an acting Oscar for the second time for playing Rocky in Creed. He's able to explore Rocky's regrets while passing on wisdom to Adonis in Ryan Coogler's story.

'Creed II' (2018)

Creed II became Rocky IV Part II by introducing Drago's son, Viktor (Florian Munteanu). As the eighth Rocky, the second Creed and the second Rocky IV, it has the most sequels ever at work in a single film.

It seems like this was something Stallone had to get out of his system before Creed could move on. It is a bit on the nose, forcing Rocky to confront another Drago fight with an overconfident Creed.

Still, making Ivan Drago a legitimate dramatic character, no longer an '80s caricature, dealing with Rocky's guilt, Adonis's humbling and humanizing the Dragos after their epic defeat in 1985, Creed II is the best possible follow-up to a cultural juggernaut.

'Creed III' (2023)

This was the first Creed without Rocky. While it was time to let Adonis carry his own story, don't rule Rocky out for Creed IV. Adonis could face a new opponent so tough he needs to call his old trainer out of retirement to help him again.