Released in 1985 and written and directed by Sylvester Stallone, Rocky IV is the most politically charged and financially successful entry in the franchise, serving as a cinematic allegory for the Cold War. The story is ignited when Apollo Creed is brutally killed in an exhibition match by the stoic Soviet giant Ivan Drago, played by Dolph Lundgren, prompting Rocky to surrender his title and travel to the USSR for an unsanctioned revenge match on Christmas Day. Famous for its music-video editing style and iconic training montage that contrasts Drago's high-tech, science-fueled preparation with Rocky's rugged labor in the snowy Siberian wilderness, the film culminates in a plea for international peace with the famous declaration: "If I can change, and you can change, everybody can change!"
