After fifteen brutal rounds Apollo knocks Rocky to the canvas and Mickey’s screaming at him to stay down and avoid any more punishment. For a moment it looks like Rock’s going to take the good advice and do the sensible thing, but then with the help of the ropes he climbs unsteadily back to his feet. Apollo’s shoulders drop, he shakes his head and looks away for a second with an expression of total disbelief and no of course I’m not, my eyes are just a little sweaty today.

There you go. The whole film encapsulated in about a minute of screen time. You’re very welcome.

Not just my favourite moment of the series, but one of my favourite scenes from any film, ever.

(Although respect must be paid to Rocky running through the streets of Phliadelphia followed by a crowd of children (CAUTION! Somewhat spoileriffic link!) from the second movie, the awesome “I’m gonna bust you up!” / “Go for it” exchange at the start of Balboa-Lang II, and the frankly hilarious deathbed scene (CAUTION! Hugely spoileriffic link!) from the same film which sees Stallone uttering the immortal line “MUH? MUH? GuhwuhbuhnuhwuhwuhbuhhuhguhwhughunuhNNNNNNNNNNUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHH!!” Man. they don’t write ‘em like that any more).