Over the past 45 years, the Rocky franchise has cemented itself as one of the most beloved franchises in film. From its initial entry that took home Best Picture to when the Cold War ended at the hands of Rocky Balboa, the series has gone through its share of ups and downs, including the lowest of lows with Rocky V.
Despite that bump in the road in 1990, the franchise has reinvented itself to stay on the island of relevancy. Its most recent reinvention shifted its titular character from Rocky Balboa to Adonis Creed, the son of Rocky’s rival turned best friend, Apollo Creed. With Ryan Coogler’s 2015 Creed, the franchise introduced not just a new character but its best entry since the first film.
After two entries in the Creed series, the eventual question would come into play regarding whether this legacy sequel would stand toe to toe with Balboa once Sylvester Stallone stepped away from the series. That question was answered with a first-round KO in Creed III – a film rich with unique and original fight sequences that are sure to spellbind fans.
Creed III reenters the life of the world heavyweight champion, Adonis Creed, as he handles the end of a storied career and the reemergence of a familiar face from his troubled youth, Damian Anderson. Dame has been serving an 18-year prison sentence and, after showing up at Creed’s gym, opens up old scars that lead to a conflict of past and present as Creed battles his demons while continuing to be a fighter, businessman, son, and most importantly, father and family man.
Creed III’s impressive screenplay continues to take the franchise in exciting and fresh directions. Keenan Coogler and Zach Baylin’s script keep the series working at both a grounded character-driven level while continuing to blend the impressive fight set pieces that have drawn fans to theaters for 45+ years.
Coogler and Baylin’s story channels the best of Rocky III, where a grizzled vet handles the twilight of his career when the eye of the tiger is beginning to leave, while even taking the “Tommy Gunn” approach from Rocky V and elevating both tropes into an exciting and immersive deconstruction on how one choice and one moment can/will change the trajectory of many lives.
Along with its screenplay, the directorial debut of Michael B. Jordan stands out as one of the film’s most effective tools. Jordan electrifies in front and behind the camera as he can sprinkle unique ways to tell a story we are familiar with.
Jordan’s most impressive choice in his debut was to take the fight sequences we are all familiar with and add a new flare that homages anime from years past, along with a final fight sequence that will surely leave cinephiles talking. Most importantly, Jordan’s direction leaves little room for a Rocky cameo, as some anticipated. With Creed III, we are fully invested in Creed, his family, and Dame, which adds to the cinematic experience.
Every film in the series that succeeds has a foe that matches the charm and intensity of the film’s protagonist. Creed III is no different as Jonathan Majors continues his incredible 2023. Majors blends the ferocity of an up-and-coming challenger and the sympathy of someone who’s lost time and is trying to recapture past acclaim.
The supporting players of the series continue to be a highlight, as Tessa Thompson’s chemistry with Michael B. Jordan continues to be the heart of the series. At the same time, the new dynamic between Jordan, Thompson, and Mile Davis-Kent, who plays their daughter, left a constant smile on my face through all their interactions.
Is this the end of the Creed series? No, as Jordan opens a new gateway for a fresh and original direction to take the series. It’s a film that stands as one of the best directorial debuts in quite some time and one of the standout films of the early part of 2023.
