Skonflix Overview & Editorial Review
Having retired from a legendary boxing career, Adonis Creed is thriving alongside his wife Bianca and their daughter Amara while running the Delphi Boxing Academy. However, his peaceful life is upended by the sudden resurfacing of Damian "Dame" Anderson, a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy who recently finished serving an eighteen year prison sentence. Driven by resentment over his lost youth and eager to claim the glory he believes was stolen from him, Dame manipulates his way into a world title shot, adopting an unusually violent, reckless style in the ring. Forced to face the deep guilt and unspoken secrets of his past, Adonis comes out of retirement for an emotional, high stakes showdown against his former brother at Dodger Stadium to reclaim his legacy and protect his family.
Directed by Michael B. Jordan in his directorial debut, Creed III serves as the third installment in the Creed series and the ninth entry overall in the Rocky franchise. Written by Keenan Coogler and Zach Baylin from a story co written with Ryan Coogler, the production was backed by Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Chartoff Productions, Proximity Media, and Outlier Society. Notably marking the first entry in the franchise without Sylvester Stallone appearing on screen as Rocky Balboa, the project stood out technically as the first sports movie filmed using specialized IMAX cameras. Jordan drew visual inspiration from Japanese anime for the fight sequences, utilizing subjective point of view camera angles, motion control rigs, and stylized visual choices to heighten the psychological weight of each punch.
Creed III held its world premiere in Mexico City before opening in theaters worldwide in March 2023. Starring Michael B. Jordan alongside Jonathan Majors as Damian, Tessa Thompson as Bianca, Wood Harris, Phylicia Rashad, and newcomer Mila Davis Kent, the sports drama was both a massive box office hit and a critical triumph. Reviewers and audiences lauded Jordan's confident direction, the visceral choreography of the boxing matches, and the raw emotional chemistry between Jordan and Majors, solidifying the film as a standout success that expanded the franchise in a bold new direction.