At the start of Creed III, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) decided to retire from boxing at the pinnacle of his career as the world heavyweight champion. He’s now a mentor and promoter who lives happily ever after with his supportive wife, Bianca (Tessa Thompson), and their daughter, Amara (Mila Davis-Kent). However, there is no doubt in his mind that he will return to the ring. Alternatively, there would be no third film of this successful Rocky franchise spinoff. Damian “Diamond Dame” Anderson, an old friend of Creed’s, seems to be the impetus for his return (Jonathan Majors). Anderson was an ambitious young boxer before committing a crime that landed him in prison for two decades, a crime in which Creed was also somewhat involved.

Like the other Creed and Rocky stories, this film adds a personal dimension to the feud and pressure in the ring. The battle of the ages has begun. Creed is feeling guilty because of what happened to Anderson this time. That plot line is evident from the start but gradually revealed through flashback scenes throughout the film. When the entire story is disclosed, it has lost most of its relevance, and the emotional payoff for the character becomes less impactful. This was one of the screenwriters Keegan Coogler and Zach Baylin’s poor choices.

For those who don’t know, this was Jordan’s directorial debut. And I must say, it was a knockout.  He understands how and where to make the story captivating but is unconcerned about making it his own. Why mess up something that’s worked for decades in two film series? In the boxing scenes, he employs some aesthetic creations but mostly sticks with what’s worked in earlier installments. He retains the series’ visceral sensation for the boxing scenes. While the story of having got Creed and Anderson into the ring may be filled with easy narrative beats, the film shifts into a higher gear once they do. 

Jordan and cinematographer Kramer Morgenthau film the boxing scenes so that the audience gets a real sense of the arena and the athletes within it. Everything is captured in a stunning close-up: blood pouring and flowing in slow motion, teeth getting knocked out, and the boxer’s muscles flexing. But it’s not just about the punches; the fighters’ close-ups add dimension and mood to the fueled atmosphere.

Majors is responsible for a lot of the intensity in Creed III. With Creed III, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and his much-talked-about performance in Magazine Dreams, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January, he’s having a big 2023. He brings a fierce devotion to his performance here, soaring above the implausibility of his character’s backstory. Anderson has a bold personality, precisely what a boxing film needs in an antagonist. Majors succeeds in making Anderson the main attraction despite writing in broad strokes and using stock psychology. Anderson discloses his true colors to Creed in a scene about halfway through the movie. It’s a magnificent piece of stagecraft, with Majors strutting around and grandstanding. The scene is slightly cartoonish but entertaining, with hints of comic-book villainy. Majors takes the juncture and turns it into an iconic film moment for the audience. And Jordan hands it over entirely to Majors, demonstrating his generosity as a performer and a director. The scene perfectly captures their onscreen dynamic. Creed may be the titular character, but it’s challenging to look at anybody when Majors is back on screen.

Jordan also gets along well with Thompson. In the early scenes, they advertise the joyful presence of the Creeds, something that could’ve quickly become cloying. Thompson’s easygoing demeanor helps sell Creed’s tangled consciousness as he attempts to deal with guilt and loss. She is, however, stuck dealing with the least exciting aspects of the marriage subplot, and the script gives her character nothing more than caring wife clichés. It’s even more impressive that she can express much with only a few lines hinting at Bianca’s current situation. Wood Harris, who returns as Creed’s trainer, and Selenis Leyva, who plays a young boxer’s mother, contribute to the realistic feel of the gym scenes.

Score: 4 out of 5

Creed III encapsulates the spectacle and commemoration of boxing while providing an intriguing thrill ride for the audience. It doesn’t recreate the wheel, attributing much to its previous efforts in storytelling style and character development in the Rocky and Creed series. The film establishes Jordan as a serious filmmaker who, fingers crossed, will challenge himself with much more distinctive and unique material in his next movie.