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One need not be proficient in “ Rocky ” lore to appreciate “Creed,” but for those who have followed the exploits of Sylvester Stallone ’s Philadelphia boxer, Ryan Coogler ’s latest film pays unexpectedly rich emotional dividends. “Creed” is so reminiscent of the 1976 film that introduced us to Rocky Balboa that I sense newcomers will fall for “Creed”’s characters the way viewers fell for “Rocky”’s 40 years ago. Though 2006’s “Rocky Balboa” was a fitting final chapter for its titular hero, “Creed” finds more of his story to explore. In the process, the film reminds us that, employed by the right director, Sylvester Stallone can be a wonderful actor.

Coogler’s story, co-written with Aaron Covington , unabashedly mirrors the arc of the original “Rocky”. There’s the humble boxer, his mentor and the woman who becomes his significant other and rock of support. There is also the famous boxer who gives our hero the boxing match chance of a lifetime. Armed with these elements, “Creed” then tweaks them, playing on our expectations before occasionally surprising us. It may be easy to predict where the film takes us, but that doesn’t reduce the power and enormity of the emotional responses it gets from the audience. This is a crowd-pleaser that takes its time building its character-driven universe. There are as many quietly effective moments as there are stand-up-and-cheer moments, and they’re all handled with skill and dexterity on both sides of the camera.

Coogler’s direction leaves little doubt that “Creed” is writing a love letter to “Rocky” lore while also establishing an original narrative about its own creation, Adonis Creed ( Michael B. Jordan ). Coogler perfectly captures his intentions in an early conversation between Rocky and Donnie (as Adonis calls himself). Their talk is framed with Stallone and Jordan standing in front of a picture of Rocky and Adonis’ late father, Apollo Creed. Coogler fits his actors in the shot so that the background image serves as a flashback and a flash-forward; the screen contains Rocky’s past and Apollo’s future. Additionally, Stallone’s run-down physicality as the older version of Rocky stands in striking contrast to the boxer posing behind him, frozen in time. We’re moving forward, but the ghosts of the past are still coming with us.

“Creed” begins with Donnie’s past, where young, orphaned Adonis Johnson is visited in juvenile hall by Apollo Creed’s widow, Mary Anne (a fiercely maternal Phylicia Rashad ). Mary Anne adopts the young man, a product of an affair Apollo had before he was killed in the ring by Drago in “Rocky IV”. Though Mary Anne raises him as her own, Donnie’s resentment about being in the shadow of a famous man he never knew nor met grows as he ages. Yet he secretly engages in his father’s sport. “Creed” shows Donnie fighting in Mexico before returning to his office job in Los Angeles 12 hours later.

That Donnie has a white-collar job is interesting. It’s the opposite of Rocky’s blue-collar existence, and it reminded me of a line in the boxing documentary “ Champs ,” where an interview subject states that “ nobody rich ever took up boxing. ” Donnie has clearly benefited from the spoils of Apollo’s legacy, yet a childhood filled with scrapes with the law and constant fisticuffs leads him to quit his successful job for one where the odds for success are far more limited. Mary Anne points this out in an excellent speech where she details the more unsavory aspects of living with a boxer whose body took so much punishment that he could barely perform simple tasks like walking up stairs or cleaning himself. Donnie hears her, but the clarion call of the ring carries him off to Philly to seek out his Dad’s former rival and best friend, Rocky Balboa.

Donnie hopes that Rocky will train him, and sets out to convince the reluctant ex-boxer to do so. But Rocky is simply not interested in becoming a mentor to the up and coming boxer who affectionately calls him “Unc”. Rocky’s lack of interest remains even after Donnie reveals that he is Apollo Creed’s son. To bring new viewers up to speed, Rocky talks about the fight that cost Apollo his life, and how Rocky was in Apollo’s corner at the time. To return to the corner, even with a different boxer, is not on his list of things to do, partially out of guilt for Apollo, but mostly out of a general sense of exhaustion. “ I already had my time, ” he tells Donnie. Of course, Donnie wears him down and, despite some jealousy from a coach at Rocky’s late trainer Mickey’s old gym (who had hoped Rocky would train his son), Rocky takes on Donnie’s mentorship. This eventually leads to an offer to fight Liverpudlian boxing champ Pretty Ricky Conlan ( Tony Bellew ).

In parallel, Donnie also pitches woo to his downstairs neighbor Bianca ( Tessa Thompson ), a hearing-impaired singer and composer whose loud music keeps Donnie from getting the required sleep he needs for his training. Like Rocky’s beloved Adrian, Bianca is a fully fleshed out character whose agency is not undermined by her eventual devotion to our hero. Thompson, so good in “ Dear White People ”, is even better here, singing her own songs and verbally sparring with Jordan as quickly as the real-life boxers he faces throw punches at him. Coogler relishes his love story as much as his action sequences, basking in the glow of their romance. At one point, he employs an upside down shot of the duo, laying side by side and engaging in a quick kiss that’s chaste yet sweetly romantic. A later romantic scene is far more passionate, and feels well-earned thanks to the prior one.

“Creed” reminds us that, even at its most absurd, the “Rocky” series has always been about loss. Specifically, how these losses affect the characters and how they grow from them. This is expressed in Bianca’s desire to make as much music as possible before her hearing loss becomes total and permanent, but it’s also reflected in the character of Rocky himself. The genesis of this film stems from the most absurd of the Rocky movies, yet “Creed” stitches “Rocky IV” and all the other Rocky films into its narrative with surefooted grace. The method to this madness is explained in a haunting, beautiful speech delivered by Stallone, who points out the consequences of his losses, both personal and professional, how alone he is due to the deaths of everyone he has loved, and how he no longer has the will to fight. Beforehand, we see Rocky visiting the graves of Adrian and Paulie (on the latter’s tombstone, he places some booze), and the specter of Apollo’s death hangs over “Creed”. Rocky also tells Donnie that his son has little to do with him.

Rocky’s big speech comes after a scene where he gets some bad news (which I’ll not spoil). Watch how subtly Stallone plays his reaction—he turns the simple gesture of removing his hat into a powerful lament. Coogler loves the faces of his actors, to the point where he shoots one boxing match as an unbroken take focusing on his boxers’ punch-laden mugs. He also gets an achingly beautiful and subtle commentary out of brief shots of young, brown faces looking at and admiring Donnie as he trains. Like Rocky, Donnie may be a hero for all races, but these shots of young Black children add an extra dimension by showing us rare instances of African-American admiration of a hero onscreen.

“Creed” is at its most effective when Coogler’s camera stands by, patiently letting his actors connect with us. He favors shots where two actors occupy the screen, taking care to calibrate the space between them. As a result, we become intimately familiar with the lovely young visages of Jordan and Thompson, and the gloriously craggy face of Stallone, whose once equally youthful appearance has grown and aged like the faces of those of us who were present for his first turn as Rocky Balboa. Stallone brings us back to his first, Oscar-nominated turn as Rocky, and his intimate knowledge of his character shines through in every frame. He is really, really good here.

“Creed” gives us a new hero, and Jordan is excellent at portraying him. The star, who worked with Coogler on the superb “ Fruitvale Station ,” conveys the confusion that many young people have while forging and accepting their identities. The moment he owns up to his heritage is intertwined with the film’s rousing, climactic boxing match but does not depend on it as a means of Donnie’s acceptance. Coogler is masterful in these shots of sportsmanship, stirring the audience into a frenzy of excitement, and he knows exactly when to shamelessly plug in “Gonna Fly Now.” Donnie Creed also gets his own version of Rocky’s triumphant Philadelphia Museum stairs run scene, re-imagined here as a street jog surrounded by motorcycles. It’s absolutely breathtaking. Note where Coogler places Stallone in this sequence, as it is the most visual representation of what his film is doing with these characters.

Speaking of the Philadelphia Museum, “Creed” ends there with a scene guaranteed to wring a bucket of tears from fans of Rocky Balboa. I wouldn’t dream of spoiling the reasons why “Creed” ends here, nor will I say who’s in the scene. But I will tell you this: The last shot of this film is a true thing of beauty. This is one of the best films of 2015.

Odie Henderson

Odie "Odienator" Henderson has spent over 33 years working in Information Technology. He runs the blogs Big Media Vandalism and Tales of Odienary Madness. Read his answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

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Film credits.

Creed (2015)

Rated PG-13 for violence, language and some sensuality.

132 minutes

Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Creed

Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa

Graham McTavish as Tommy Holiday

Tessa Thompson as Bianca

Phylicia Rashād as Mary Anne Creed

Hans Marrero as Flores

Tony Bellew as 'Pretty' Ricky Conlan

Brian Anthony Wilson as James

Ritchie Coster as Pete Sporino

Jacob 'Stitch' Duran as Stitch

Malik Bazille as Amir

Wood Harris as Tony 'Little Duke' Burton

Gabe Rosado as Leo 'The Lion' Sporino

Ryan Coogler
Aaron Covington
Sylvester Stallone

Cinematographer

Maryse Alberti
Claudia Castello
Michael P. Shawver

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Creed Reviews

Just when you were thinking: How long can Rocky keep fighting, this detour that introduces a new character, the illegitimate son of Apollo Creed, Adonis Creed, and brings fresh blood to stain the ring. A good transition for this boxing saga.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 8, 2023

“Creed” has its clichés and its big mandatory crowd-pleasing moments, but even they are handled well by a confident filmmaker who is a true rising talent.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Aug 19, 2022

Ryan Coogler managed to bring everything that we expect from a Rocky movie but made it feel fresh and authentic. As far as boxing films go, Creed is a masterpiece on so many levels.

Full Review | Original Score: 9/10 | May 18, 2022

Though a smart and superbly shot film, the story structure follows a familiar and predictable trajectory for anyone acquainted with Stallone's original.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Apr 25, 2022

Stallone shines once again as the dearly loved Rocky Balboa and hands over the gloves to Michael B. Jordan's Adonis Creed.

Full Review | Oct 9, 2021

Nevermind all that stuff we maybe once said about forging your own path or being your own man - what really matters is you eventually take your father's name

Full Review | Jul 6, 2021

This exhilarating, blood-soaked Rocky spin-off is the first contender for film of the year.

Full Review | Jun 8, 2021

Proves the blend of boxing and underdogs is still a potent mix, made better by rich performances and Stallone's quietly affecting work.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Feb 3, 2021

Creed will make you stand up to cheer and leave you wishing for one more round.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jan 31, 2021

With all of the redundancies in plot and imagery, it might as well have been one long montage of scenes pulled from the previous six pictures.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/10 | Dec 4, 2020

Creed hits hardest thanks to a never-better Stallone. Some actors get better with age. Others fade into the distance, taken over by younger talents never to be found again...

Full Review | Nov 10, 2020

There's an incredible empowerment in Creed that speaks volumes to our current generation. With Stallone representing the past, he passes on the boxing and life metaphor torch to Michael B. Jordan which he seizes with open arms.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Jul 17, 2020

Although the narrative follows the basic pattern of the previous films, Coogler and Jordan infuse it with an identity all its own. There's a level of grit that hasn't been seen since the original.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Jul 14, 2020

The best "Rocky" movie since "Rocky," but it more than stands on it's own merits.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Jul 3, 2020

Being a sequel and spin-off, it rejuvenates the past glory of Rocky's world with a round of good performances from Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Jun 26, 2020

Rocky has always been about heart, and 40 years into the franchise, it would seem there's still plenty to spare.

Full Review | Apr 7, 2020

Cynics could easily latch on to the problems above and dismiss CREED as franchise smelling salts. To do so, however, would be to also dismiss the new talent Coogler and Jordan bring to the creaking joints of the ROCKY brand.

Full Review | Feb 13, 2020

We're lucky to have Creed. With most franchises, the seventh installment wouldn't even be in theaters, much less worth a damn.

Placing focus on the young Creed allows Jordan to breathe his youthful talents into the film. He successfully carries the weight of being the main focal point.

Full Review | Jan 8, 2020

Creed goes the distance and then some.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Dec 2, 2019

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Film Review: ‘Creed’

Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone deliver knockout performances in Ryan Coogler’s ‘Rocky’ spin-off, which lives up to the best of its predecessors while forging its own path.

By Andrew Barker

Andrew Barker

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'Creed' Review: Michael B. Jordan Stars in Ryan Coogler's Terrific 'Rocky' Spinoff

Defying conventional wisdom about diminishing returns, this holiday season will see the release of the seventh installment in an iconic 1970s film franchise that not only lives up to the best of its predecessors, but also respectfully forges its own path. (Hopefully the new “Star Wars” movie is good, too.) With his “Rocky” spinoff, “ Creed ,” writer-director Ryan Coogler confirms every bit of promise he displayed in his 2013 debut, “Fruitvale Station,” offering a smart, kinetic, exhilaratingly well-crafted piece of mainstream filmmaking, and providing actor Michael B. Jordan with yet another substantial stepping stone on his climb to stardom. Yet the biggest surprise may be Sylvester Stallone : Appearing in the first “Rocky” film that he didn’t also write — and the first in which he takes on a supporting role — the veteran channels all his obvious love for the character into his performance, digging deeper as an actor than he has in years. Despite some heavyweight competition over Thanksgiving weekend, “Creed” should still be a contender at the box office.

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Flash forward to the present day, and the twentysomething Adonis (Jordan) — Donnie to his friends — is still living with Mary Anne in the white-marble chez Creed, making abortive attempts to work an office job while heading to Tijuana for black-market weekend prize fights. A talented boxer with a weakness for writing checks that his gloves can’t yet cash, he decides to decamp for Philadelphia, against his surrogate mother’s wishes, to train with the man who knew his father’s skills best, professional nemesis-turned-friend Rocky Balboa (Stallone).

Still tending to his restaurant and making regular visits to his late wife Adrian’s grave, Rocky takes some convincing to get back in the game as a trainer, but he soon relents, and the two start to develop a touch-and-go familial bond. Adonis also meets antagonistic with his downstairs neighbor, a bohemian avant-garde R&B musician named Bianca (Tessa Thompson, very brash, very flinty, very Philly), and strikes up a romance.

At first Adonis tries to keep his parentage under wraps, but after an early victory the information leaks, and thanks to the publicity he’s offered an underdog shot at the title: British light-heavyweight champion “Pretty” Ricky Conlan (Anthony Bellew) is set to begin a potentially career-ending prison sentence in six months, and needs an opponent for his swan-song bout in Liverpool’s Goodison Park. Meanwhile, Rocky confronts a serious personal battle of his own, and his trainer-fighter relationship with Adonis is turned on its head in a number of genuinely touching ways.

“Creed” makes no bones about retreading a number of “Rocky’s” story beats, not to mention reaching back into the archives a few too many times for key locations, costume elements and music cues. But it’s the details that elevate this material: Adonis helping braid Bianca’s hair and the two collapsing in a post-bout ice-cream coma; the fact that Bianca sometimes wears a hearing aid (her progressive hearing loss isn’t treated as a symbolic plot point, but simply as a fact of the character’s life); Adonis’ hilarious — and immediately believable — physical manifestation of nervousness in his dressing room. Cut and spry, Jordan looks every inch a fighter, and the physicality of his performance is matched by some well-rounded internal gymnastics: Adonis bears a chip on one shoulder from his group-home past, and one on the other from his treatment as a sort of legacy admission into the boxing world, and Jordan manages to make his character’s fiery temper empathetic rather than alienating.

This being a “Rocky” movie, it goes without saying that the training montages are plentiful, and the climactic battle is a dialed-up, leave-it-all-on-the-canvas epic, featuring virtuosic editing and one bloodily beautiful extreme-slow-motion shot. Yet it’s earlier in the film that Coogler really ups the technical ante. Shot in what appears to be a single take, Adonis’ first major fight is staged with breathtaking precision, the camera circling in and out of the scrum almost close enough to become a participant itself, the two fighters hitting their marks perfectly, and separate sound channels piping in bursts of crowd noise and shouted trainer instructions from all sides, adding up to an immensely immersive experience. As a viewer, one starts the fight admiring the filmmaking technique, and ends it with shredded fingernails.

As wildly uneven as they became, the “Rocky” films have always been unusually attuned to the constancy of personality through extreme life changes. Even after becoming a rich, famous hometown legend (and later, after the loss of most of his family and fortune), Rocky has always been essentially the same person, for better or worse — a lovable lug with a steady undercurrent of self-doubt and loneliness. Coogler and co-writer Aaron Covington understand this about the character, and Stallone’s degree of confidence in his director shows through. Without straining for pathos, using his battered body as an asset but never as a prop, the actor finds continually surprising, understated notes of tenderness and regret. For all its flaws, 2006’s “Rocky Balboa” at least offered a dignified sending off for the Italian Stallion, and the risks of reprising the character yet again were surely considerable; Stallone deserves credit for taking a chance on the young director, and his trust has paid off in spades.

Reviewed at Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank, Calif., Nov. 12, 2015. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Running time: 133 MIN.

Production: A Warner Bros. release, presented with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, in association with New Line Cinema, of a Chartoff Winkler production. Produced by Irwin Winkler, Robert Chartoff, Charles Winkler, William Chartoff, David Winkler, Kevin King-Templeton, Sylvester Stallone. Executive producer, Nicolas Stern.
Crew: Directed by Ryan Coogler. Screenplay, Coogler, Aaron Covington; story, Coogler, based on characters created by Sylvester Stallone. Camera (Deluxe color), Maryse Alberti; editors, Michael P. Shawver, Claudia Castello; music, Ludwig Goransson; music supervisor, Gabe Hilfer; production designer, Hannah Beachler; art director, Jesse Rosenthal; set decorator, Amanda Carroll; costume designers, Emma Potter, Antoinette Messam; sound (Dolby Digital), Damian Canelos; supervising sound editor, Benjamin A. Burtt; sound designer, Steve Boeddeker; re-recording mixers, Boeddeker, Brandon Proctor; special effects coordinator, Patrick Edward White; visual effects supervisors, John P. Nugent, Alison O’Brien; visual effects producer, Alison O'Brien; visual effects, Sandbox FX, BigHug FX, East Side Effects; assistant director, Donald Sparks; casting, Francine Maisler, Kathleen Driscoll-Mohler.
With: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, Andre Ward, Anthony Bellew, Ritchie Coster, Jacob “Stitch” Duran, Ricardo “Padman” McGill, Gabriel Rosado, Alex Henderson.

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Creed Review

Michael b. jordan shows he has the eye of the tiger in this rocky spin-off..

Anyone who goes to Creed looking for the movie to deliver something new and different from what they have seen before is going to be sorely disappointed. Creed is a mirror of Rocky's story and we have all been watching that unfold on the big screen for decades. Coogler's film does nothing to break the mold. Rather, it shows that the mold exists for a reason. Jordan delivers a knockout performance, and Stallone does as well. In the end, we can all only hope that we'll get to see Adonis on screen for just as long as we've seen Rocky.

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‘creed’: film review.

Ryan Coogler ('Fruitvale Station') takes a stab at studio filmmaking with this 'Rocky' spinoff starring Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone.

By Todd McCarthy

Todd McCarthy

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Sylvester Stallone doesn’t get back in the ring in Creed , but he still comes away as a big winner in this far-fetched but likeable offshoot of the geriatric Rocky series, as he may be more appealing playing the aging Rocky Balboa than he’s been since the beginning of his 40-year career. Essentially taking on the role of Burgess Meredith’s old trainer Mickey character from the series’ early days, the veteran actor delightfully registers as a paisano from the old neighborhood, a man of the streets who’s lived his life, fought his battles and has no more scores to settle. From the points of view of director-co-writer Ryan Coogler and star Michael B. Jordan , this marks some major mainstreaming after their bracing 2013 breakthrough with Fruitvale Station ; dramatically, it’s the same old Rocky formula applied now to the hitherto unknown son of the late Apollo Creed. It worked before and, commercially, looks to work again.

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Creed Review

15 Jan 2016

The best punches are the ones you don’t see coming. Following the failure of the underrated Rocky Balboa , the Rocky series was on the canvas, the count nearing ten. Creed not only gets it — and Sly Stallone — back on its feet, but completely reinvigorates it.

The smelling salts have been delivered by Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan, the directing/acting duo who made their mark with the excellent Fruitvale Station . That their second act should be to revamp a franchise that started before they were even born is surprising, but welcome. And if, at times, Creed follows the tracks of the first Rocky a little too reverently, it’s no mere retread. There’s a different energy at play here.

A career of action dreck has often obscured the fact that Stallone can act, and here he gives perhaps his best performance.

Much of that stems from Coogler’s direction, flashy when it needs to be (along with cinematographer Maryse Alberti, he shoots one fight sequence in a single unbroken take), and impressively controlled, conjuring up a sense of time and place that feels as authentic and informed by Coogler’s experiences as Rocky was by Stallone’s. Race is addressed, of course, but it’s never the film’s overriding preoccupation: instead, the focus is on the problems that come living with a legacy, and trying to escape from a shadow that seems endless.

As the son of Apollo Creed, the effortlessly charismatic Jordan nails his father’s flamboyance, but also gives Donny a brittleness beneath the braggadocio . He’s a young man caught between the desire to turn away from that surname, and the need to know a father who died before he was born. That’s why he reaches out to Apollo’s old friend, Rocky Balboa, for guidance. There’s a reason why this film isn’t called Rocky VII , but fans of the Italian Stallion won’t feel shortchanged by Balboa’s second-banana role. From the moment Stallone shuffles on screen, weighed down by the baggage of six movies past including the loss of everyone he ever loved, he discovers notes he has never played as an actor.

It’s a generous turn as both actor and character, a literally supporting role. Rocky gathers a team to surround his new fighter and takes more delight in Donny’s achievements than he ever did in his own. As he’s slowly revitalised by Donny’s presence, Stallone recaptures Rocky’s nobility and sense of decency, allied to a raw pain that will prick tears from your eyes. A career of action dreck has often obscured the fact that Stallone can act, and here he gives perhaps his best performance. And that’s a punch nobody could have seen coming.

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CREED: An Alleviating Cinematic Achievement

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What a relief Creed is. With a current cinematic landscape dominated by remakes, reboots and sequels, the initial idea of Creed just sounded so unnecessary. A pseudo-combination of a Rocky reboot that is a sequel whilst also working as a remake just felt like something we really didn’t need.

Earlier this year, the commercial juggernaut Jurassic World came out and the same feeling arose. Whilst both franchises were birthed by cinematic classics that led into franchises that had diminishing returns, the way they attempt to insert themselves into the modern cinematic landscape show the difference between successfully delivering what the audience loves and merely pandering for the sake of latching onto nostalgia to make money.

Jurassic World was a complete misfire, a film which seemed ashamed of the films that became before it, using its unofficial mascot (the T-Rex) at the end as fan service so audiences will leave the theatre with a nostalgia-driven whimsical feeling inside, forgetting the incoherent, bloated empty mess that had preceded it. The film’s cynical approach to the previous three films made it seem disrespectful towards the iconic films that Spielberg had made back in the 90’s.

Creed is a film that respects the Rocky franchise, made by someone who seems to have a genuine love for the franchise and understands why people loved the very first film.

The One-Two Punch

Whilst this must’ve been a hard decision for Stallone , to hand over his most important and personal film franchise to a newer, younger director, the gamble has paid off well. Much like the previous film Rocky Balboa , Coogler strips away the excess sentimentality and superficiality that diminished the Rocky sequels and goes for an old-school approach.

Growing up in a wealthy household (propped up by his late father’s money) and getting a successful, but boring financial job, Donnie has grown up with a built-in fascination with the sport of boxing. One aspect that the film needed to flesh out more is exactly why Donnie has such a passion for boxing, outside for it being his father’s job.

Rocky, still a legend around Philadelphia, still runs Adrian’s Restaurant, but has become sadly alone again due to the death of Paulie between now and the events of Rocky Balboa . Still regularly visiting the gravestones of Adrian and Paulie, Rocky has accepted his life and ready to exit as he’s lost everything that’s been important to him – his friends and family. His son, Robert Balboa ( Milo Ventimiglia ) has moved to Canada, leaving Rocky alone in Philadelphia.

I’ll Forgive The Boxing Puns

The defining character trait of Rocky Balboa is that whilst accomplishing his dream of being a famous boxer, the great success achieved at the end of Rocky is not the boxing match, but the fact that Rocky is finally together with Adrian, the love of his life. Their relationship has defined the franchise, as Rocky is quite a loyal, loving character, whose life is twisted by success and the various characters around him. Creed luckily understands this arc of Rocky’s character, as Rocky is quite a lonely humble man now that he’s alone again. The introduction of Donnie Creed lights that passion inside Rocky again, not because he’s boxing again, but because he’s become a father figure to Donnie, able to be part of a family again.

Apart from Stallone , the full cast is consistently tremendous, with Michael B Jordan solidifying himself as a Hollywood leading man, showing the aggressiveness of Apollo Creed but combining it with the thoughtfulness of Rocky Balboa, a unique mix of the two icons in his life. Earlier this year, Jordan copped a lot of grief (alongside his co-stars) for the cinematic misfire Fantastic Four , but with this film, he crushes any wrong-doings Fantastic Four might’ve caused.

If more spinoffs and reboots were like Creed, I don’t think people would be as cynical about every old property that’s brought back to try and make more money. Whilst Coogler showed potential with his debut feature Fruitvale Station, he shows with Creed that he has the chops to have a great career in Hollywood. Between his rhythmic editing and interesting cinematography choices, the film never slows down or feels tired, using the old story beats from the original Rocky as foundations that he has modernized and built upon.

Is there any other successful Hollywood spin-off films that you can think of?

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Feel-good Black-led film continues Rocky saga; has violence.

Creed Movie Poster Image: Creed and Rocky in the ring

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Loyalty has its rewards, especially when it comes

Rocky may no longer be an unrelenting fighter in t

Directed and co-written by Black filmmaker Ryan Co

Pummeling action in the ring (body blows, face pun

One scene shows a couple presumably having sex; vi

Language includes one "f--k," plus "ass," "s--t,"

Labels/brands seen include Nike, Dell, Samsung. Th

One character leaves a bottle of liquor to salute

Positive Messages

Loyalty has its rewards, especially when it comes to friends who've become like family. And hard work and perseverance will pay off if they come from the right place and with the best intentions. Self-control is an additional theme, though even those who don't demonstrate it are still rewarded.

Positive Role Models

Rocky may no longer be an unrelenting fighter in the ring, but he's still the same generous, big-hearted, and humble guy that he was in the previous movies. Adonis has a chip on his shoulder about being Apollo's son and has demons to silence, but he's well-intentioned, kind, and determined to succeed -- and to work hard to get there.

Diverse Representations

Directed and co-written by Black filmmaker Ryan Coogler, the film features Black (Adonis) and White (Rocky) main characters. Supporting characters of color include Bianca (Tessa Thompson) and Adonis' adoptive mother, Mary Anne (Phylicia Rashad), along with several other Black minor characters (trainers and boxers, Philly residents, etc.). But non-Black depictions can fall into cliches: Early fights in Tijuana look lowbrow and gritty, using the type of yellow color filter that's been overused in Hollywood to convey Mexico as rundown, and there's a glimpse of East Asian tourists who snap photos by the Rocky statue. Women assume stereotypical roles as emotional anchors, sometimes to their own detriment (e.g., Adonis jeopardizes a high-profile gig for performer Bianca by starting a fight), though they do have their own backstories. Bianca has progressive hearing loss and wears a hearing aid -- the narrative is written respectfully.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

Pummeling action in the ring (body blows, face punches, sounds of cracking bones) can get quite bloody and is painful to watch. One character is shown as a young child dealing with stressful situations with his fists. Lots of trash talk between boxers. A character deals with cancer treatment (sad moments).

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

One scene shows a couple presumably having sex; viewers see some skin, the back strap of a bra, and kissing. A character briefly picks up a pornographic magazine (naked woman visible but nothing sensitive is shown).

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Language includes one "f--k," plus "ass," "s--t," "son of a bitch," the "N" word used by a Black character while fighting, "damn," "hell," "oh my God," and "Jesus" (as an exclamation).

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Labels/brands seen include Nike, Dell, Samsung. There's brief Hershey's and Tecate signage, and Breyers ice cream and Oreos sit on a table.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

One character leaves a bottle of liquor to salute a hard-drinking friend who passed away long ago.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Creed is the first movie in the Rocky saga to feature Michael B. Jordan as Apollo Creed's son, Adonis "Donnie" Johnson. With boxing at the story's center, you can expect plenty of scenes with often-brutal fights (body blows, face punches, blood everywhere), plus sad moments when a main character is diagnosed with cancer. The story is driven forward by a traditional hero's journey, which will likely appeal to teens. There's a romance that includes some kissing and groping (nothing graphic), and you can expect strong language (including "s--t," "oh my God," the "N" word used by a Black character during a fight, and one "f--k"). Directed by Ryan Coogler ( Black Panther ), the film has complex Black characters, though women play a secondary role as emotional supports to male leads. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Community Reviews

Parents say (12)
Kids say (34)

Based on 12 parent reviews

I cried Rocky tears...

Creed is a solid story in starting a new legacy and continuing an old one, what's the story.

Adonis "Donnie" Johnson ( Michael B. Jordan ) never knew his father, boxing legend Apollo CREED; Apollo died before Adonis was born (the boy was the product of an affair). After Donnie bounces around from one group home to another, Apollo's widow ( Phylicia Rashad ) takes him in, providing him with a loving family and the education to pursue what she hopes is a journey different from his father's, who died because of a difficult fight. But Adonis is Apollo's son through and through, and soon the young man, who's boxing under the radar in Mexico, feels called to the ring. He quits his investment banking job and moves to Philadelphia, where he hopes to make a name for himself outside of the Creed legacy and under the tutelage of Apollo's former foe and later friend, Rocky Balboa ( Sylvester Stallone ). But earning his stripes means facing not just other established fighters, but his own demons.

Is It Any Good?

This movie has elements that are terrific, no question, but it disappoints, too. Still, it's well worth seeing, if only to witness how Rocky 's cinematic and boxing legacy continues. First, the good stuff: Decades after the first Rocky hit the big screen, the pull of the franchise endures. When Stallone makes his first appearance, it's hard not to root for him. We've known this character for years, and there's something fundamentally appealing about him.

Adonis, meanwhile, is much more complicated -- though perhaps not as complicated as he deserves. We don't get to know him as deeply as we did Rocky, and therefore we aren't as invested in him as we should be. He comes alive when he's in the ring, as the star of a Rocky movie should (though nostalgia buffs might wish they'd hear more of the iconic theme song), thanks to fight choreography that taps into both the balletic and brutal elements of the punishing sport. But Adonis also needs to be compelling away from the ropes. A hero's journey deserves a hero who's mesmerizing; through no fault of the talented Jordan, Adonis still stands in the shadow of Rocky Balboa.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about how Creed fits into the Rocky legacy. What themes of the previous movies does it also address? How does it depart from its predecessors?

Does the movie glamorize the sport of boxing (and the violence inherent in it) or provide an even-handed view of it? How does this kind of violence compare to what you might see in an action movie? Which has more impact, and why?

Do you consider Rocky a role model? What do Rocky and Adonis bring to each other's lives?

How do the characters in Creed demonstrate perseverance and self-control ? Why are these important character strengths ?

Movie Details

In theaters : November 25, 2015
On DVD or streaming : March 1, 2016
Cast : Michael B. Jordan , Tessa Thompson , Sylvester Stallone
Director : Ryan Coogler
Inclusion Information : Black directors, Black actors, Female actors, Latino actors, Black writers
Studio : Warner Bros.
Genre : Drama
Topics : Sports and Martial Arts
Character Strengths : Perseverance , Self-control
Run time : 95 minutes
MPAA rating : PG-13
MPAA explanation : violence, language and some sensuality
Award : Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Winner
Last updated : June 20, 2024

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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Home » Movie Reviews » ‘Creed’ Movie Review: Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan Set a New Standard for Boxing Movies

‘Creed’ Movie Review: Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan Set a New Standard for Boxing Movies

Movie review: reboots aren’t new in hollywood, but good reboots are relatively difficult to come by. not only is the original “creed” a worthy reboot of the “rocky” franchise – it sets the standard moving forward for sports movies and franchise entertainment..

Creed Movie Review Rocky Balboa Michael B Jordan Ryan Coogler Sylvester Stallone Film Boxing Sports Movie

I’m not sure anyone expected “Creed” to translate so well to the big screen decades after the original “Rocky” movie hit audiences so hard. After all, the first movie is an all timer and messing with its legacy was a death note for any producer or filmmaker trying to stand up to the originality of the first few movies in the franchise. But a unique grouping of talented industry heads, led by Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan, as well as Sylvester Stallone’s continued contributions to the universe, not only made “Creed” a financial and critical success – it launched a new life for the franchise and ushered in a new standard for boxing films.

Conventional is the name of the game with the “ Rocky ” franchise – in all the best ways. Somehow, a story about a laughably unassuming boxer from Philadelphia has churned out a handful of remarkably fun and lighthearted sequels, as well as a spinoff trilogy soon to be completed with the release of “ Creed III. ” Each iteration adds just enough new material to warrant their own existence, and the centerpiece never fails to make you laugh, smile, and feel emotionally connected to at all times.

It would be careless of me to start anywhere besides the friendship that Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed’s son Adonis form through the duration of the original “Creed.” Adonis sports a healthy dose of both Apollo’s flashy and charismatic side, as well as the hunger that Rocky had to break into the professional boxing space. Michael B. Jordan delivers in a role that asks a lot from him (both physically and emotionally) and he absolutely uses the entire runway to his advantage. The movie ultimately becomes a self-reflexive one about Jordan’s simultaneous rise through the ranks in Hollywood.

Sylvester Stallone is obviously back to play the character that started it all. I was a tad bit worried to see whether Stallone’s age would make Rocky’s childlike approach to the world awkward or inauthentic, but those worries were quickly washed away when the movie establishes his longstanding respect and love for both his late wife Adrian and former friend Apollo.

Many of the sequels to the “Rocky” franchise came in with a runtime barely scratching over 90 minutes. By contrast, “ Creed ” is well over two hours – and the movie doesn’t use that runtime to pack in more boxing scenes. The movie relies heavily on emotional performances and riveting direction by esteemed auteur Ryan Coogler . At this point, Coogler has established himself in the industry as a figure that can accomplish any action feat and steadily handle a big blockbuster, but that wasn’t necessarily the case when “Creed” first released.

When “Creed” hit theaters in 2015, Coogler had only worked as a director on one other film, “ Fruitvale Station, ” and was relatively new to the industry. “Creed” was a big risk for everyone involved and very quickly you come to realize that the franchise was in good hands moving forward. The obvious moment that’ll take your breath away in “Creed” is the long take during the first boxing match for Adonis in which the camera follows the entire fight from inside the ring without cutting. It’s one of the more flashier scenes of the century, and it fits in neatly with the flashy and overwhelming tone of the movie.

“Creed” doesn’t necessarily feel like a completely new moviegoing experience. You’ve seen movies like “Creed” before – particularly in previous “Rocky” movies – but there’s just enough that’s new to make it stand out from the others. Tessa Thompson is terrific and her character continues to be one of the more unique and riveting ones the franchise has ever introduced. She gets an expanded role in “ Creed II, ” but it all starts with a few great moments in the first one.

I also came to love how unabashedly similar and reminiscent “Creed” is towards its predecessors. It borrows heavily from iconography that made the originals so special without feeling overly gawky or serviced towards those previous movies. It also doesn’t mess with the lore all that much, although I don’t necessarily call myself a gatekeeper to the “Rocky” fandom. Maybe some others have more complaints with plot points littered in “Creed.”

Overall, “Creed” is not only a fun and solid reintroduction to the “Rocky” universe, but it also tells a riveting story about identity. Adonis’ struggles to come to terms with his father’s past is genuine and deep rooted in pain. There’s enough meat on the bone in Adonis Creed’s introduction to the big screen, and the boxing sequences are just icing on the cake.

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Hot damn! We have a winner. Fruitvale Station director Ryan Coogler, 29, turbocharges the Rocky franchise in Creed. His focus: Adonis Johnson (a stellar Michael B. Jordan), the bastard son of late champ Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), the father he never knew. The kid needs Rocky ( Sylvester Stallone ) to train him. Just enough plot for Jordan to strut his impressive stuff, and for a never-better Stallone to play the aging boxer with more feeling than I’ve seen from him since the original. The first Rocky, in 1976, took the Oscar for Best Picture, beating out All the President’s Men, Network and Taxi Driver, a fact that makes cinema buffs nuts to this day. Point taken. But there’s no denying the crowdpleasing impact of the first Rocky as Stallone the underdog beat the odds by forcing the studios to let him star as the boxer he created. Even though Stallone’s six sequels could never match his first time out, Rocky is movie history.

Creed is the first of the Rocky films that Stallone didn’t write. You’d expect resentment. After all, who is this Coogler kid to tell Stallone how Rocky should behave? Here’s the thing: Coogler says he used to watch the Rocky films with his father, making his version a love letter to the series not a correction. You can feel Coogler’s affection for the material in every frame. Hell, the story Coogler cooked up with co-writer Aaron Covington is a virtual template of the first film. Adonis — Donny to his buds — came up out of foster homes, a chip firmly ensconced on his shoulder. It’s Apollo’s widow (Phylicia Rashad), forgiving her husband’s infidelity, who saves the boy from the system and takes him into her lush Los Angeles home. But Donny stays a troublemaker, taking fights in Mexico to work out the rage inside. From the minute Donny decides his dad’s old friend Rocky is the only guy who can train him, he’s off to Philadelphia, where Rocky runs a restaurant named Adrian’s, after his late wife, the script practically writes itself.

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The good news is that Coogler puts his own stamp on it. You can feel this fine indie talent stretching his wings in the mainstream. The first fight scene, gorgeously shot by the great Maryse Alberti, looks to be done in one long take and the effect is stunning. Even the romance Donny has with his own Adrian, R&B singer Bianca (a terrific Tessa Thompson), feels sexually frisky and freshly conceived.

Okay, Donny’s rush from nowhere to taking on the current champ, “Pretty” Ricky Conlan — played by real-life Brit boxer Tony “Bomber” Bellew — is the purest of fantasy. But who cares? Donny has Rocky in his corner. And Stallone grabs us from his first, “how you doin’?” The big fight, held at Liverpool’s Goodison Park, is as pow as you’d expect. The score by Ludwig Goransson has a righteous, right-now feel, only topped when Bill Conti’s iconic theme pops in at just the right moment. And it’s just plain shameless to see Rocky on those Philly steps one more time. But the beating heart of the movie comes when Donny and Rocky mix it up. So irresistible is Stallone’s blend of tough and tender that Oscar should give him points. You heard me. Yo, Academy!

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‘Creed’ Review: ‘Rocky’ Spinoff Is a Champ

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Rocky , a movie where the big fight at the end is almost an afterthought to the central love story and underdog tale about working class people hurting for a second shot at respect, spawned four sequels, and while they varied in quality, it wasn’t until 2006’s Rocky Balboa that star and series creator Sylvester Stallone brought the character back to his quiet roots and found a nice coda to the boxer’s tale.

The new film in the franchise, Creed , isn’t a continuation or a passing-of-the-torch film, but rather a spinoff in the best sense that manages to keep the Rocky character alive and bring him to new places while birthing a compelling new central figure. Ryan Coogler’s film, which stars Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Johnson, the illegitimate offspring of Rocky’s friend and rival Apollo Creed ( Carl Weathers ), takes a little while to find its footing as it works to hide its protagonist’s motives, but once the young Adonis and the old Rocky team up, the movie is magical. It has all of the heart of the original Rocky mixed with the goofy lightness of the better sequels.

creed-image-sylvester-stallone-michael-b-jordan

Creed begins with Adonis fighting in juvenile detention, but he’s eventually adopted by Apollo’s widow, Mary Anne ( Phylicia Rashad ), who raises him in the lap of luxury. However, he still hungers to fight. Unfortunately for Adonis, no one in L.A. respects him and he’s too cocky to get the training he needs to become a better fighter. He packs up for Philadelphia to get Rocky Balboa (Stallone) in his corner, and the two begin to enrich each other’s lives inside and outside the ring. Adonis also starts to fall for his beautiful neighbor Bianca ( Tessa Thompson ), a musician who’s slowly going deaf.

You know you have a strong film when the romantic subplot could stand on its own as a worthwhile movie. The original Rocky is a love story, but Creed doesn’t want to copy the Rocky-Adrian dynamic or anything else from the classic 1976 film. Adonis and Bianca have a unique relationship, their own give-and-take, and it’s compelling in its own way thanks to the excellent chemistry between Jordan and Thompson. Creed may not put romance first like Rocky , but it understands the importance of love and sacrifice, and yet those elements are different for Adonis.

The real central relationship in between Adonis and Rocky, and that beating heart makes Creed an absolute joy to watch. Coogler demands that we hold separate ideas in our head about Adonis’ motives: he’s a young man who wants to create a reputation based on his own achievements, and yet he also wants to be trained by the man who presents a direct connection to the father he never knew. It’s both a rejection and a longing for Apollo, and I love that Creed puts a conflicted protagonist front and center where he knows what he wants, but he’s not exactly sure if he’s going about it in the right way. There’s plenty of confidence and swagger in the ring, but around Bianca and Rocky, we can see Adonis put his guard down.

Rocky presents the other half of the story, and it’s wonderful to see him take on the role of trainer rather than fighter. Rocky has always been a deeply compassionate figure, and yet it makes sense that he didn’t go on to train others because he doesn’t see himself that way. We meet an incredibly lonely Rocky Balboa in this film—his son moved away, Adrian and Paulie are dead—and there’s a healing power in his relationship with Adonis. This isn’t a father-son story; it’s a friendship story, and it’s heartwarming without ever falling into mawkishness.

creed-michael-b-jordan-sylvester-stallone-4

Part of that comes from the excellent performances from Jordan and Stallone. Jordan continues to show he’s one of the best young talents working today, and rather than try to emulate Rocky or Apollo, he plays the role honestly. He digs into the Adonis’ ambivalence, and while the plot requires him to hide his true motive for fighting until the very end, it’s always bubbling near the surface. Jordan beautifully walks the line of having a chip on his shoulder with being immensely likable. We’re rooting for Adonis even if he doesn’t have the 1976 Rocky’s, “Aw, shucks, I just want to say ‘Hi’ to my girlfriend on TV,” attitude.

For Stallone, this is a career-best performance that’s up there with his original turn as the character. Rocky has to confront a new opponent this time around, and it’s far scarier than a juiced-up Russian or Mr. T. Stallone digs deep to find what’s new about Rocky while also holding on to what’s familiar. It’s a revitalization of the character that pulls Rocky out of the realm of parody and back in to reality, which is where he thrives. Movies like The Expendables make is easy to forget that when he wants, Stallone can deliver a powerful, deeply moving performance, and I hope Warner Bros. tries to get him in the game for Best Supporting Actor.

creed-michael-b-jordan-sylvester-stallone

The final star is Coogler, who shows that his previous film, Fruitvale Station , was far from a fluke. His direction is absolutely masterful, and he taps into the soul of the Rocky series but makes it entirely his own. Anyone can spinoff characters, but it takes real insight and skill to spinoff the spirit of a franchise, and Coogler does it magnificently. He understands that the fight isn’t the point, and the training is entertaining window dressing.

But when it does come time to get into the ring, Coogler is masterful. There are two major matches in the film, and the first is made to look like it’s done in one take. I’ve never seen anything like it in a boxing film, and it absolutely blew me away. If Hollywood hasn’t already come knocking at Coogler’s door to direct action movies, they’ll now try to knock it down. The second fight is a bit more traditional, but the use of editing is so masterful that it does the original Rocky proud.

creed-michael-b-jordan-sylvester-stallone-3

Creed never falls into the trap of trying to out-do Rocky . That’s not the opponent. Instead, it uses Rocky as a jumping off point for a fresh story with a compelling protagonist that still lets us check in and follow the Italian Stallion. This is everything we could have hoped for from a Rocky spinoff and more. It’s a story about legacy, race, purpose, trust, and friendship. To wit Apollo Creed, the deceased father who hovers at the outskirts of the film, “It’s a thinker, not a stinker.”

Sylvester Stallone
Phylicia Rashad

'Creed' Movie Review: One of the Best 'Rocky' Movies

Michael B. Jordan stars as Apollo Creed's son in this "Rocky" reboot.

 -- Another "Rocky" movie sounds about as appealing as, well, another "Rocky" movie. Here’s what does sound appealing: Ryan Coogler writing and directing another "Rocky" movie, this time starring Michael B. Jordan.

One of the most notorious Oscar snubs of recent years was the Academy overlooking Coogler and Jordan’s 2013 collaboration, "Fruitvale Station." Never mind being nominated -- I can argue they should’ve won, though dozens of other organizations showered Coogler and company with awards. In "Fruitvale Station," Coogler demonstrated his ability to turn a two-dimensional film into a realistic three-dimensional environment (no glasses needed, thank you), re-creating a tragic, real-life story, anchored by Jordan’s otherworldly, searing performance.

With "Creed," Coogler takes an existing mythology and lovingly turns it into something new and very real, while Jordan takes a character who could easily be seen as unsympathetic, and turns him into someone exceedingly relatable.

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Jordan plays Adonis Johnson, a kid with money and connections who still spent time in juvy, fighting -- a lot. That is, until Mary Anne Creed ( Phylicia Rashad ) comes along and offers Adonis a home. That’s because Adonis is the biological son of her late husband and his mistress, and Mary Anne is a freakin’ saint.

For those who don’t remember, Apollo Creed died fighting Ivan Drago in "Rocky IV." Twenty years later, though he’s landed what seems to be a nice job with a financial firm, Adonis has been spending time in Mexico, prizefighting. He’s undefeated and obsessed with boxing, and retreats to a room at night where he watches YouTube videos of his father fighting Rocky, which he projects on a wall. He knows every punch, and boxes along with the images.

Adonis quits his job and moves to Philly, hoping to find Rocky ( Sylvester Stallone ) and convince the legendary fighter to train him. He moves into an old, bare-bones studio apartment that happens to be above the apartment of an up-and-coming singer named Bianca (Tessa Thompson), whose soulful and nuanced performance enriches every moment she’s on screen.

On a practical, superficial level, Adonis has everything a person could want –- yet he needs something more. This young man wants to become a legitimate boxer, and through a stroke of luck will get a shot at the title. And his late father’s former nemesis-turned-friend is going to help him.

Creed isn’t complicated. It’s a simple story with just enough humanity sprinkled throughout to capture the hearts and minds of audiences who -- trust me when I say this -- will be cheering at the end of a movie that’s not nearly as predictable as you might think. You may love Stallone as Rambo, but Rambo’s the action star anti-hero. Rocky Balboa is Stallone’s heart and soul: the character that made him a star nearly 40 years ago, and still brings out his best.

Unlike the previous "Rocky" movies, however, Stallone wasn’t necessarily best suited to write this story. Instead, he chose Coogler, a filmmaker who’s still in touch with the struggle of becoming a professional filmmaker, and then some. That makes "Creed," the seventh "Rocky" movie, one of the best "Rocky" movies.

Four-and-a-half out of five stars .

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The former World Heavyweight Champion Rocky Balboa serves as a trainer and mentor to Adonis Johnson, the son of his late friend and former rival Apollo Creed.
Adonis Johnson is the son of the famous boxing champion Apollo Creed, who died in a boxing match in Rocky IV (1985) . Adonis wasn't born until after his father's death and wants to follow his fathers footsteps in boxing. He seeks a mentor who is the former heavyweight boxing champion and former friend of Apollo Creed, the retired Rocky Balboa. Rocky eventually agrees to mentor Adonis. With Rocky's help they hope to get a title job to face even deadlier opponents than his father. But whether he is a true fighter remains to be seen.... — Blake ordonez
Adonis Johnson lost his mother when he was young and would get into constant trouble and end up in foster care or juvenile detention. One day a woman goes to see him and tells him that her late husband is his father. And her husband's boxing great, Apollo Creed. She would take him in and educate him but he feels the need to be a boxer like his father. So he moves to Philadelphia and approaches Rocky Balboa and asks Rocky to train him. Rocky tries to talk him out of it but it's something he needs to do. Eventually Rocky offers to train him and when he beats a great boxer and his connection to Apollo is revealed, he is offered a chance to fight a world champion and all he needs to do is take the name Creed. — [email protected]
Adonis Johnson is the son of Apollo Creed, former heavyweight champion of the world and the man Rocky Balboa lost to in his first title fight. Apollo Creed died before Johnson was born, so he never knew his father. Johnson is also a fighter and is 15-0, though in unofficial fights in Mexico. Working in an office he decides to fight full time. He leaves Los Angeles and moves to Philadelphia, hoping to get Rocky Balboa as his trainer. Eventually they team up, and slowly Johnson's career starts to take shape. Meanwhile, the light heavyweight champion of the world, Englishman Ricky Conlan, is looking for someone to fight... — grantss
Even before he discovered he was the illegitimate son of former heavyweight champion Apollo Creed who died in the ring before he was born, Los Angeles residing Adonis Johnson - Donny under more familiar circumstances - was always naturally using his fists to deal with life's issues. And even after Apollo's widow, Mary Anne Creed, took Donny in to raise after he was shuttled from group home to group home following his own mother's passing, Mary Anne in the process giving him a privileged life to do with whatever his heart desires, Donny still decides he wants to box as a career in honor of the father he never knew. Up to him making this decision, Donny had been self-taught, fighting solely in what could only be considered street brawls in Mexico despite they taking place in boxing rings. Those that know of Donny's heritage see him as untouchable to train due to the way his father died. As such, he decides to proceed without using the Creed name so that he can make it on his own terms, with only those that need to know knowing. In also not using the Creed name, he will not sully his father's legacy if he doesn't succeed. He moves to Philadelphia in hopes of training under another former heavyweight champ, Rocky Balboa, who was his father's nemesis but who ended up being his friend in their ultimate respect for each other in the ring. Rocky, who does learn who Donny is as one of the people who needs to be in the know, initially declines Donny's request as having put the life of boxing behind him. However, Donny is able to wear Rocky down for Rocky eventually to agree to become his trainer. Rocky coming out of boxing retirement raises some questions as to why and the eventual discovery of Donny's Creed heritage. While the Creed-Balboa combination in name alone can open doors, both Donny and Rocky have to decide if using the Creed name is the right move specifically for Donny, especially with others who may have ulterior motives not in Donny's best interest. Regardless of what they decide to do, they will spiritually have others in their corner: Mary Anne, who despite not liking Donny's career path, still wants to see her adoptive son thrive and succeed in whatever he does; Donny's girlfriend, Bianca, who is nonetheless facing her own issues as an aspiring singer who has progressive hearing loss; and Apollo, who lives in both Donny himself and Rocky. Through it all, other real life issues taking place outside the ring may factor into what happens to Donny. — Huggo
In 1998, Adonis "Donnie" Johnson (Michael B. Jordan), the son of an extramarital lover of former heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), is serving time in a Los Angeles youth facility when Creed's widow, Mary Anne (Phylicia Rashad), pays him a visit and offers to take him in. Seventeen years later, Donnie walks away from his job at a securities firm to pursue his dream of becoming a professional boxer. Mary Anne vehemently opposes this, remembering how her husband was killed in the ring 30 years earlier against Ivan Drago. He tries to get a slot at Los Angeles' elite Delphi Boxing Academy, but is turned down after he is beaten by the gym's star boxer Danny "Stuntman" Wheeler (Andre Ward). Delphi trainer Tony "Little Duke" Evers (Wood Harris) is Tony Sr's son. Tony Sr was a father figure for Apollo and was Apollo's trainer/manager when Apollo became world heavyweight champion and then one of Rocky's trainers for his rematch against Clubber Lang (Rocky III). Undaunted, Donnie travels to Philadelphia in hopes of getting in touch with his father's old friend and rival, Rocky Balboa. Donnie tracks down Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) at Rocky's Italian restaurant, Adrian's, named in honor of his deceased wife, and asks Rocky to become his trainer. Rocky is reluctant to get back into boxing, having already made a one-off comeback at a very advanced age despite having suffered brain trauma during his career as a fighter. However, he eventually agrees. Donnie trains at the Front Street Gym, with several of Rocky's longtime friends as corner-men, and also finds a love interest in Bianca (Tessa Thompson), an up-and-coming singer and songwriter. Donnie, now known as "Hollywood Donnie," defeats a local fighter Leo "The Lion" Sporino (Gabriel Rosado). Leo is the son of Pete Sporino (Ritchie Coster), the trainer of Mickey's gym (where Rocky used to train). Pete has been begging Rocky for years to train Leo, & is angry that Rocky is now training this nobody from LA. Word gets out that he is Creed's illegitimate son. Rocky gets a call from the handlers of world light heavyweight champion "Pretty" Ricky Conlan (Tony Bellew), who is due to be forced into retirement by an impending prison term. Conlan was supposed to fight Wheeler for his last fight, but he broke Wheeler's jaw during a Pre match-up & now needs a new opponent. He offers to make Donnie his final challenger-provided that he change his name to Adonis "Hollywood Donnie" Creed. Donnie balks at first, wanting to forge his own legacy. However, he eventually agrees. While helping Donnie train, Rocky learns he has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He is unwilling to undergo chemotherapy, remembering that it was not enough to save Adrian when she had ovarian cancer. His diagnosis and the fact that his best friend and brother-in-law Paulie Pennino-Adrian's brother-has now passed away in addition to Adrian, Apollo and his old trainer Mickey Goldmill further force him to confront his own mortality. Seeing Rocky shaken, Donnie urges him to seek treatment. Donnie fights Conlan in Conlan's hometown of Liverpool, and many parallels emerge between the bout that ensues and Apollo and Rocky's first fight 40 years earlier. First, before going into the ring, Donnie receives a present from Mary Anne - new American flag trunks similar to the ones Apollo and later Rocky wore. Additionally, to the surprise of nearly everyone, Donnie goes the distance after giving Conlan all he can handle. Conlan wins on a split decision (just as Apollo retained his title by split decision against Rocky), but Donnie has won the respect of Conlan and the crowd. As Jim Lampley puts it while calling the fight for HBO, "Conlan won the fight, but Creed won the night." Conlan tells Donnie that he is the future of the light heavyweight division. The film ends with Donnie and a frail but improving Rocky climbing the "Rocky Steps" at the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

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Creed Parent Guide

Fans of this franchise likely won’t be disappointed by this latest addition to the rocky legacy..

Reprising the Rocky Bolboa character one more time, Sylvester Stallone plays the aging World Heavyweight Champion who now mentors Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan), the son of a former boxing competitor.

Release date November 25, 2015

Run Time: 124 minutes

Official Movie Site

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The guide to our grades, parent movie review by donna gustafson.

The old saying, “What goes around, comes around,” proves true for Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) when the retired heavy-weight champion is visited by a young man claiming to be the son of his former competitor and friend, Apollo Creed (a character introduced in the first Rocky movie).

Going by the name Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) to protect his privacy, this illegitimate child of the world-renowned pugilist has been in and out of group homes and juvenile detention centers. His prospects only brighten when the wife of his famous father, Mary Anne Creed (Phylicia Rashad) takes him in and attempts to raise him as her own. Yet the fight he inherits from his deceased Dad, plus the anger he still feels about his past, cause him to walk away from her kindness and a well-paying office job. Instead he tries to find himself in the boxing ring. With a desire to succeed in his father’s sport, he contacts the “Italian Stallion” hoping old ties will be enough to rope the aging man into being his trainer.

From start to finish, the film is full of well-choreographed fight sequences. Inevitably, these sequences also contain head and body blows that result in bloody injuries and knockouts. Along the way Johnson meets Bianca (Tessa Thompson), his beautiful neighbor who is pursuing her dreams as a singer (she performs some sensual music). Their budding romance is depicted with passionate kisses and a scene of implied sexual relations. As well, the script is punctuated by some mild and moderate profanities, including a sexual expletive, scatological slang and terms of deity.

That aside, fans of this franchise likely won’t be disappointed by this latest addition to the Rocky legacy. Although the plot is predictable, it is still pleasantly familiar. Perhaps the biggest surprise Creed offers is Stallone’s unexpectedly touching performance as a father figure. At first the experienced former athlete believes he is the one in a position to give. Then fate changes Rocky’s circumstances and places him in a vulnerable situation too. The inclusion of this storyline, which forces the man and boy to fight together, adds a deeper dimension to what could otherwise have been just another boxing tale. And that twist brings the this long-running series full circle.

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Donna Gustafson

Creed rating & content info.

Why is Creed rated PG-13? Creed is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for violence, language and some sensuality.

Violence: The movie includes frequent portrayals of boxing violence and resulting bloody injuries (some shown in great detail), cuts and swollen eyes. Some of the punches are thrown outside of sporting events. Mention is made of a possible jail sentence. Children in a juvenile detention facility get into fistfights—cuts and bruises are shown. Characters argue and verbally antagonize one another.

Sexual Content: Some sexual music lyrics are heard. A couple kisses passionately and begins to undress one another – sexual relations are implied. Other kissing and embracing are shown. Some female characters are scantily dressed. Vomiting is depicted. Bodily functions are mentioned crudely.

Language: A sexual expletive is used once in a non-sexual context. Scatological slang, mild and moderate profanity, and terms of deity are heard.

Alcohol / Drug Use: Characters drink at home and in social settings. Some smoking is shown. Drug use is shown in a medical setting.

Page last updated July 17, 2017

Creed Parents' Guide

All three of the main characters in this story (Rocky, Johnson and Bianca) have dreams and vulnerabilities. How are their situations different? How are they the same? How do these fears help them to assist one another?

Why doesn’t Johnson want to tell anybody who is Dad is? Why does he feel caught in his father’s shadow? What is it he really trying to prove in boxing ring?

At one point in the film, Rocky makes a poignant speech about how his family, friends and career are all behind him. How can someone who is aging still find things to look forward to? What new places does Rocky discover that need his energy? Might this storyline mirror real concerns for an ageing actor (or anyone else reaching retirement) who might be wondering about the feasibility of future work opportunities?

The most recent home video release of Creed movie is March 1, 2016. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: Creed Release Date: 1 March 2016 Creed releases to home video with the following bonus features: - Know the Past, Own the Future - Becoming Adonis - Deleted Scenes

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Creed movie review & film summary (2015)
In the process, the film reminds us that, employed by the right director, Sylvester Stallone can be a wonderful actor. Coogler's story, co-written with Aaron Covington, unabashedly mirrors the arc of the original "Rocky". There's the humble boxer, his mentor and the woman who becomes his significant other and rock of support.
Creed (2015)
Page 1 of 6, 11 total items. Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) never knew his famous father, boxing champion Apollo Creed, who died before Adonis was born. However, boxing is in his blood, so he ...
Creed (2015)
Creed: Directed by Ryan Coogler. With Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad. The former World Heavyweight Champion Rocky Balboa serves as a trainer and mentor to Adonis Johnson, the son of his late friend and former rival Apollo Creed.
Creed
Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 8, 2023. "Creed" has its clichés and its big mandatory crowd-pleasing moments, but even they are handled well by a confident filmmaker who is a true ...
'Creed' Review: Michael B. Jordan Stars in Ryan Coogler's Terrific
Film Review: 'Creed'. Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone deliver knockout performances in Ryan Coogler's 'Rocky' spin-off, which lives up to the best of its predecessors while ...
Creed Review
As a film, despite not having the name, Creed entirely trades on its parentage. It is full of clips of past Rocky movies, it is full of discussions about those movies and the dangers of boxing. It ...
'Creed': Film Review
Movies; Movie Reviews 'Creed': Film Review. Ryan Coogler ('Fruitvale Station') takes a stab at studio filmmaking with this 'Rocky' spinoff starring Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone.
Creed Review
14 Jan 2016. Original Title: Creed. The best punches are the ones you don't see coming. Following the failure of the underrated Rocky Balboa, the Rocky series was on the canvas, the count ...
'Creed' is a solid hit: Review
The latest chapter, "Creed," opens November 25. Now, the focus is on Apollo's son Adonis (Michael B. Jordan), who seeks out Rocky to help him with his own boxing career. Early reviews have been ...
Creed (2015)
Creed (2015) - Movies, TV, Celebs, and more... With his "Rocky" spinoff, Creed, writer-director Ryan Coogler confirms every bit of promise he displayed in his 2013 debut, "Fruitvale Station," offering a smart, kinetic, exhilaratingly well-crafted piece of mainstream filmmaking, and providing actor Michael B. Jordan with yet another substantial stepping stone on his climb to stardom.
CREED: An Alleviating Cinematic Achievement
Creed is a film that respects the Rocky franchise, made by someone who seems to have a genuine love for the franchise and understands why people loved the very first film.. The One-Two Punch. Coming off the success of independent hit Fruitvale Station, director Ryan Coogler has taken the reigns of directing Creed, taking over directing duties from John G Avildsen (the first Rocky and Rocky V ...
Creed Movie Review
One character leaves a bottle of liquor to salute. Parents need to know that Creed is the first movie in the Rocky saga to feature Michael B. Jordan as Apollo Creed's son, Adonis "Donnie" Johnson. With boxing at the story's center, you can expect plenty of scenes with often-brutal fights (body blows, face punches, blood everywhere), plus sad ...
'Creed' Movie Review: Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan Set a New
Creed Movie Review: "Creed" is not only a fun and solid reintroduction to the "Rocky" universe, but it also tells a riveting story about identity. 'Creed' Movie Review: Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan Set a New Standard for Boxing Movies | Cinephile Corner
Creed (2015)
9/10. With grit, style and substance, Creed goes the distance as an exceptional crowd pleaser. LloydBayer 25 November 2015. History has a strange way of repeating itself. 40 years ago, Rocky Balboa became a household name and turned an unwanted actor into one of the greatest success stories in Hollywood.
Creed
Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there's no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed's legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa. Once in the City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks down Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) and ...
Review: In 'Creed,' Rocky's Back, as a Mentor, Not a Fighter
Directed by Ryan Coogler. Drama, Sport. PG-13. 2h 13m. By A.O. Scott. Nov. 24, 2015. At a recent screening of " Creed ," as the familiar fanfare of Bill Conti's beloved " Rocky " score ...
'Creed' Movie Review
The score by Ludwig Goransson has a righteous, right-now feel, only topped when Bill Conti's iconic theme pops in at just the right moment. And it's just plain shameless to see Rocky on those ...
Creed (film)
Creed is a 2015 American sports drama film directed by Ryan Coogler, who co-wrote the screenplay with Aaron Covington.It is the first spin-off of and is the seventh installment in the Rocky film series.It stars Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, Tony Bellew, and Graham McTavish.In the film, amateur boxer Adonis Creed (Jordan) is trained and mentored by ...
Creed Movie Review: Rocky Spinoff Is a Knockout
The new film in the franchise, Creed, isn't a continuation or a passing-of-the-torch film, but rather a spinoff in the best sense that manages to keep the Rocky character alive and bring him to ...
'Creed' Movie Review: One of the Best 'Rocky' Movies
Creed isn't complicated. It's a simple story with just enough humanity sprinkled throughout to capture the hearts and minds of audiences who -- trust me when I say this -- will be cheering at ...
Creed movie review
Trained by THE Rocky Balboa, the child of Apollo Creed looks to make his mark on the world as a boxer....and we now have the best installment we've seen in t...
Creed (2015)
Synopsis. In 1998, Adonis "Donnie" Johnson (Michael B. Jordan), the son of an extramarital lover of former heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), is serving time in a Los Angeles youth facility when Creed's widow, Mary Anne (Phylicia Rashad), pays him a visit and offers to take him in. Seventeen years later, Donnie walks away from ...
Creed Movie Review for Parents
Creed Rating & Content Info . Why is Creed rated PG-13? Creed is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for violence, language and some sensuality.. Violence: The movie includes frequent portrayals of boxing violence and resulting bloody injuries (some shown in great detail), cuts and swollen eyes. Some of the punches are thrown outside of sporting events. Mention is made of a possible jail sentence.

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Reviewed at Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank, Calif., Nov. 12, 2015. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Running time: 133 MIN.

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