Story and tone

The Rocky series of films starring Sylvester Stallone has become a kind of unique achievement in the genre of sports dramas. There are no other boxing stories like it that successfully combine naivety, tension and pathos.

Therefore, it is also not surprising that Rocky created its own sub-series, Creed, starring Michael B. Jordan. Which also turned out to be successful enough to live to see at least the third part.

The life of boxer Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) has reached a bright spot. He has won his title and retired from the sport to focus on his family and training the next generation. But then his childhood friend Damian “Dam” Anderson (Jonathan Majors), who spent 18 years in prison, appears in Adonis’ life. As a child, people saw Damian as a future boxing star, and now he’s ready to do anything to fulfill those early hopes. Even to the dirtiest and most despicable acts.

The Rocky series never intended viewers to take it entirely seriously. Even though they tried to make the drama in each episode as down-to-earth and understandable as possible, the plots still had enough light naivety and even simple banality in a good way. «Creed III» has adopted all these features, and the perception of the story depends entirely on how well you are able to immerse yourself in the otherworldly world of cinema.

There is no room for self-irony in Creed III or any attempts to make the story softer and more accessible. The script always hits you in the forehead and repeatedly says what was obvious between the lines at the very beginning. Because of this, sometimes you can’t shake the impression that the audience is being taken for a fool.

But probably the main reason for this attitude is that Creed III is aimed at an audience that is completely inexperienced with cinema, for whom Marvel comics are a masterpiece of creativity. And this is not a bad thing, because cinema exists for everyone. Besides, there are plenty of pleasant moments in Creed III.

Visual imagination

At least, it is a rather stylish movie that manages to show the luxurious life of the Los Angeles elite, local sports realities, and the slums of “ordinary” people. The picture in Creed III is, in general, extremely enjoyable. Although it is clear that Jordan still lacks the ingenuity to truly demonstrate his directorial talents.

You can feel the tension in every hit, and in general, watching Creed III can be compared to a real boxing match. And what can you do without a flashy montage with the protagonist training to the arrangement of the same Rocky soundtrack?

However, there was also an element of cinematic magic here – or, to be more precise, animation. After all, Michael B. Jordan is very fond of anime and does not hide it at all. And in an interview, he admitted that his love for Japanese animation was reflected in the actor’s directorial debut.

This is best noticeable in the final fight, which turned out to be as stylized and fantastic as possible. On the other hand, there is a probability that it was Jordan’s passion for anime that influenced the overall naivety and contrivance of the story. After all, what works in animation is not always suitable for films with live actors.

The main conflict between Adonis and Damian is also successful. Again, without any supernatural discoveries, but it is based on the themes of guilt, running away from oneself and suppressing one’s desires. And even if they are told through the prism of boxing, the local truths will still surely be able to resonate with many people.

Pros

• A strong central conflict built on personal history and guilt.
• Intense and physically convincing boxing scenes.
• Stylish visuals that contrast wealth, sport, and everyday life.
• Emotional themes that resonate beyond the sports genre.
• A bold and distinctive final fight influenced by anime aesthetics.

Cons

• The script often overexplains obvious ideas.
• Lack of self-irony makes the story feel heavy-handed.
• The narrative can feel naive and overly straightforward.
• Michael B. Jordan’s direction lacks refinement in places.

Final verdict

Creed III remains faithful to the emotional foundations of the Rocky legacy while attempting to push the franchise in a more personal and stylized direction. Its strengths lie in raw emotion, physical intensity, and a compelling rivalry, even if the storytelling sometimes feels overly simplistic. Despite its flaws, the film delivers enough tension and sincerity to make the experience engaging, especially for viewers willing to accept its heightened drama and symbolic approach.