"Your daddy died in the ring. You think that makes you a hero?" In this episode, we step back between the ropes for Creed II (2018), a sequel that hits just as hard emotionally as it does physically—where legacies collide, and the past comes back swinging.

Adonis Creed is now the heavyweight champion, but glory comes with a price. When Viktor Drago—son of the man who killed Apollo Creed—challenges him, it's more than just a title fight. It’s personal. It’s legacy. It’s unfinished business from a war that started decades ago.

We dive deep into the emotional and physical toll of Adonis’ journey, from the strain on his relationship with Bianca and the challenges of new fatherhood, to the weight of revenge and redemption. With Rocky still in his corner, but fighting battles of his own, Creed II becomes a story about family, forgiveness, and finding strength in vulnerability.

Join us as we explore whether vengeance is ever worth it, how the sins of the father haunt the sons, and why this sequel delivers far more than just another training montage. This is Creed at his crossroads—will he rise, or will the past drag him down?

The Hosts

Joe Walker is a Sports Coach and graduate of Loughborough University, with 16 years coaching experience and a degree in Sports Coaching. His first passion has always been movies and the stories that they tell.

James Marshall is a 2x National Championship winning athlete and graduate of Loughborough University. He has a background in a variety of sports including American Football, Athletics, and Swimming. He grew up with aspirations to pursue a life in Drama and Acting.

Contact Info

Instagram - @championsofcinema

TikTok - @champions.of.cine

Email - Championsofcinema@gmail.com

"You're born with a name, but you earn your legacy." In this episode, we lace up the gloves for Creed (2016), the powerful rebirth of the Rocky franchise that introduces a new fighter with a familiar name—and an even bigger shadow to step out from under.

Adonis Johnson, the son of boxing legend Apollo Creed, is fighting more than just opponents in the ring—he’s fighting for identity, for respect, and for a chance to forge his own path. With Rocky Balboa stepping into the role of mentor, this is a story about mentorship, legacy, and the hunger to prove yourself when no one else believes you can.

We break down Adonis’ journey from troubled beginnings to contender status, analyze his relationship with Rocky, and dive into the emotional weight of carrying a name that defined a generation of champions. This film doesn’t just revive a franchise—it redefines what it means to fight for something bigger than yourself.

Join us as we explore why Creed punches way above its weight, and how it manages to honor the past while delivering a fresh, emotionally charged new chapter.

The Hosts

Joe Walker is a Sports Coach and graduate of Loughborough University, with 16 years coaching experience and a degree in Sports Coaching. His first passion has always been movies and the stories that they tell.

James Marshall is a 2x National Championship winning athlete and graduate of Loughborough University. He has a background in a variety of sports including American Football, Athletics, and Swimming. He grew up with aspirations to pursue a life in Drama and Acting.

Contact Info

Instagram - @championsofcinema TikTok - @champions.of.cine Email - Championsofcinema@gmail.com

"this Podcast's gonna be the best podcast in the world. This podcast's gonna be something better than anything I ever knew." In this episode, we step back into the ring for Rocky Balboa (2006), where the Italian Stallion is now facing his biggest opponent yet: time.

After a decade of living with the ghosts of his past, Rocky returns to the ring, but this time it’s not about fame or glory—it’s about proving to himself that he’s still got what it takes. It’s a story of second chances, resilience, and the raw determination to never stop fighting, even when the odds are stacked against you.

We explore Rocky’s return to boxing as an aging champion, his relationship with his son, and the emotional weight of a legacy that he can’t shake. Along the way, we’ll break down his underdog comeback, analyze the heart of the story, and discuss why Rocky Balboa might just be the most underrated film in the franchise.

Join us as we examine what makes this film a true testament to the spirit of never giving up—and whether it’s a worthy capstone to the Rocky saga or a final bell that rings too soon.

The Hosts

Joe Walker is a Sports Coach and graduate of Loughborough University, with 16 years coaching experience and a degree in Sports Coaching. His first passion has always been movies and the stories that they tell.

James Marshall is a 2x National Championship winning athlete and graduate of Loughborough University. He has a background in a variety of sports including American Football, Athletics, and Swimming. He grew up with aspirations to pursue a life in Drama and Acting.

Contact Info

Instagram - @championsofcinema

Tiktok - @champions.of.cine

Email- Championsofcinema@gmail.com

Little by little we lose our friends, we lose everything. We keep losin' and losin' till we say you know, 'Oh what the hell am I making this podcast here for?

In this episode, we dive into the punch-drunk world of Rocky V, where the Italian Stallion hangs up his gloves, takes a swing at fatherhood, and somehow ends up managing a street-fighting prodigy.

It’s a tale of redemption, but with a whole lot of questionable life choices and one very weird scene involving a street brawl. We explore Rocky’s decision to trade in his flashy lifestyle for a life of “humble beginnings” (except for that whole "losing all his money" part), the mysterious powers of Pauly’s Christmas sweater, and of course, Tommy Gunn—because no Rocky film would be complete without an absurdly named villain.

Join us as we try to figure out why this film is a guilty pleasure and whether or not it deserves its place in the Rocky saga—or if it should’ve stayed in the locker room.

The Hosts

Joe Walker is a Sports Coach and graduate of Loughborough University, with 16 years coaching experience and a degree in Sports Coaching. His first passion has always been movies and the stories that they tell.

James Marshall is a 2x National Championship winning athlete and graduate of Loughborough University. He has a background in a variety of sports including American Football, Athletics and Swimming. He grew up with aspirations to pursue a life in Drama and Acting.

Contact Info

Instagram - @championsofcinema

Tiktok - @champions.of.cine

Email- Championsofcinema@gmail.com

We always have to be in the middle of the action 'cause we're the Podcasters. And without some challenge, without some damn war to fight then the Podcasters might as well be dead, Stallion. Now I'm asking you - as a friend - stand by my side this one last time. Revenge is a dish best served cold, real cold, Siberia cold and this time, with Rocky 4 Joe and James are going toe to toe with no easy way out and no short cut home. Can James side with the American and damn his Russian heritage or will he just become too damn communist for Joe to throw in the towel and save him?

Rocky 4 is as 80's as it gets. With music and cinematography that oozes shoulderpads and neon. This might be one of the greatest sports movies of all time and a very serious contender as a champion of cinema.

The Hosts

Joe Walker is a Sports Coach and graduate of Loughborough University, with 16 years coaching experience and a degree in Sports Coaching. His first passion has always been movies and the stories that they tell.

James Marshall is a 2x National Championship winning athlete and graduate of Loughborough University. He has a background in a variety of sports including American Football, Athletics and Swimming. He grew up with aspirations to pursue a life in Drama and Acting.

Contact Info

Instagram - @championsofcinema

Tiktok - @champions.of.cine

Email- Championsofcinema@gmail.com

Now, when we made podcasts, you had that eye of the tiger, man; the edge! And now you gotta get it back, and the way to get it back is to go back to the beginning. You know what I mean? When do you know that you have had an incredible success?! Well when you start being massively better looking, wearing suits every day and driving a Maserati of course! Sadly that means that Joe and James are currently the Rocky 1 of Podcasting and that Gazzo needs them to go out and break some thumbs to make their way.

Rocky 3 is the often overlooked movie in the original saga, but it has a lot to offer, from beach front shouting matches, to dancing in darkened gyms to even swimming in a boxing movie. but can it be a Champion of Cinema when the bell rings?

The Hosts

Joe Walker is a Sports Coach and graduate of Loughborough University, with 16 years coaching experience and a degree in Sports Coaching. His first passion has always been movies and the stories that they tell.

James Marshall is a 2x National Championship winning athlete and graduate of Loughborough University. He has a background in a variety of sports including American Football, Athletics and Swimming. He grew up with aspirations to pursue a life in Drama and Acting.

Contact Info

Instagram - @championsofcinema

Tiktok - @champions.of.cine

Email- Championsofcinema@gmail.com

Its's all wrong for us, baby. I saw you beat that podcast like I never saw no podcast get beat before, and the podcast kept coming after you. Now we don't need no podcast like that in our lives. How do you come back from a simple defeat to the world champ? You buy too much shit and then get in a financial situation where your only option is to fight again! But this might just be one of the biggest sequels in the history of cinema!

Joe and James get excited over a simple remake, minutes on from the original movie in it timeline, but 3 years and a whole lot more budget later. Is Rocky 2 a Champion?

The Hosts

Joe Walker is a Sports Coach and graduate of Loughborough University, with 16 years coaching experience and a degree in Sports Coaching. His first passion has always been movies and the stories that they tell.

James Marshall is a 2x National Championship winning athlete and graduate of Loughborough University. He has a background in a variety of sports including American Football, Athletics and Swimming. He grew up with aspirations to pursue a life in Drama and Acting.

Contact Info

Instagram - @championsofcinema

Tiktok - @champions.of.cine

Email- Championsofcinema@gmail.com

Yo listeners all we want to know is if we can go the distance? How does one man single-handedly define a film genre? Before Rocky its hard to say sports movies existed, because without Stallone and the titular Italian Stallion maybe sports movies wouldn't exist like they do today. Now with over £2bn in earnings and 9 movies in its universe, it has become THE sports movie franchise that serves as the measuring stick for all others.

Joe and James grapple with real coaching development this season, highs and lows of a full athlete experience from 30-70 years old. If you watch this series as a movie in its self about the life of its main character, maybe you can understand a lot of what the whole human experience is about?

The Hosts

Joe Walker is a Sports Coach and graduate of Loughborough University, with 16 years coaching experience and a degree in Sports Coaching. His first passion has always been movies and the stories that they tell.

James Marshall is a 2x National Championship winning athlete and graduate of Loughborough University. He has a background in a variety of sports including American Football, Athletics and Swimming. He grew up with aspirations to pursue a life in Drama and Acting.

Contact Info

Instagram - @championsofcinema

Tiktok - @champions.of.cine

Email- Championsofcinema@gmail.com