Courtesy of MGM
Creed III is the third film in the Creed franchise and the ninth film in the Rocky franchise, this time directed by Michael B. Jordan, as well as stars Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, and Jonathon Majors. In this film, Adonis Creed has stepped away from his successful boxing career to spend more time with his family and train younger boxers. When his childhood friend Damian returns to his life to get his shot at being a champion, Adonis needs to get back in the ring to set things right. Creed III is the first film Jordan is directing. Creed III is also the first film in the franchise not to have Sylvester Stallone return as Rocky Balboa.
Creed III was a film many people were anticipating this year. The Creed films were well-received and considered some of the best in the Rocky franchise. It was also a film that had a lot of questions. How good of a director would Michael B. Jordan be? What kind of antagonist would Jonathon Majors be? Will this film need Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa? It’s safe to say Creed III is a great movie.
Michael B. Jordan does a great job both playing Adonis and directing this film. He continues the tone that Ryan Coogler and Steven Caple Jr. have used in the previous Creed films. Michael B. Jordan has been open about the film having anime influence in the film, and it shows in the boxing fights. The final boxing fight is one of the best in the franchise and shows a lot of that anime influence. The film does a great job exploring certain parts of Adonis Creed’s past and is less predictable than Creed II was. While Creed II was very good, it felt predictable at times.
Jonathon Majors as Damian Anderson, the childhood friend of Adonis, was great. Majors was recently Kang in Ant-Man in the Wasp: Quantumania, but his performance here made me more excited for his future as Kang than in the actual Marvel he was recently in as Kang. Damian is one of the best antagonists in a Rocky or Creed film. Tessa Thompson returns as Bianca Taylor-Creed and once again does a great job in the role. Mila Davis-Kent, who plays Amara Creed, the daughter of Adonis and Bianca that is deaf, does a very good job as well. It’s nice to see Adonis spending time with his daughter.
As previously stated, this is the first film in the franchise to not have Rocky Balboa. It’s known that recently, Stallone has been feuding with producer Irwin Winkler over the rights to Rocky, but even before that, it was hinted that Stallone was unlikely to return in Creed III. For the most part, the film does not need the character. Adonis Creed is at a stage in his life where he is his own man. There is one scene where it would make sense to have Rocky in if things worked out between Stallone and Winkler.
Overall, Creed III is an amazing sequel that shows promise for Michael B. Jordan as a director. Jonathon Majors is excellent as Damian and one of the better antagonists in the Rocky and Creed films. The boxing scenes were great to watch. Adonis has shown that he can stand on his own and not rely on Rocky. The film ends in a way that leaves the door open for more films, but also delivers a satisfying conclusion if they no longer continue Adonis Creed’s story. If you are a fan of this franchise, I highly recommend you check it out.
Final Grade: A
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