3 Reasons Why Creed 3 is SO GOOD!

I have said it before, the Rocky franchise is among one of my favourites in cinematic history. The true underdog story of Rocky Balboa is captivating, relatable and endearing. In 2015, writer/director Ryan Coogler rebooted the franchise with the story focussing on Apollo Creed’s son, ‘Adonis Creed, played by Michael B. Jordan. The first two films focused on Adonis’s rise to prominence becoming the heavyweight champion of the world, being mentored by none other than Rocky Balboa, with Sylvester Stallone returning as the iconic character. After a five-year hiatus, the franchise returned in 2023 with its biggest result yet, grossing nearly $300 million worldwide, which is a massive result for a sports movie. The film this time around, however, did not feature Rocky, due to some behind-the-scenes circumstances between a producer and Stallone. I won’t go into the feud here, but basically, the two don’t get along, so Stallone backed out of the project. Creed 3 picksup 5 years after the events of the second film, as Adonis’s childhood friend Damien Anderson (played by Jonathan Majors) who has just been released from prison. Adonis helps Damien get a start at his gym, after Donny feels guilty for Dame’s incarceration. Things escalate and as Dame rises to fame, Donny knows he needs to take him down, coming out of retirement to challenge him for the title. This is. To celebrate the film's release on DVD, Blu-Ray and 4K UHD, I will be breaking down three reasons why the film is so damn good. So, without further ado let's get stuck into it!

Dame v Donny – the characters and the performances –

The Creed films have all been superbly acted. Michel B. Jordan has become one of Hollywood's most sought-after young talents. He has asserted himself as an A-Lister. His work as Donny throughout these films is fantastic. He starts off as a genuinely unlikeable character in the first film. He’s smug, arrogant and has a genuine disregard for those around him but as he rises to prominence, he begins to gain a sense of humanity, by surrounding himself with those he cares about. He develops feelings and an eventual relationship with Tessa Thompson's character Bianca and Rocky (played superbly by Sylvester Stallone). In Creed 3, he is in a very different place. He and Bianca have a son, he is running the gym and is no longer boxing, it isn’t until Dame shows up that a spanner is thrown in the works and Donny starts to question his past, feeling guilty of where he is now. Dame is played excellently by Jonathan Majors, who brings a real sympathy to the character. We can’t help but feel sorry for where he is in life, because of decisions he made in his past when he was just a kid. Actions have consequences and here we see the result of those actions. I hope if we get further instalments in the Creed series, that Jonathan Majors will return in some capacity.

Let’s get ready to RUMBLEEEE – the fight choreography and fighting sequences –

One of the highlights of all of the Rocky films and even more so with the Creed films, has been the excellent fight choreography and fighting sequences. Creed had a memorable one-take shot that put the audience in the ring along with Adonnis. Creed 2 gave us a throwback fight, with Donny redeeming himself against Ivan Drago’s son, Viktor in a memorable final fight between the two that concludes the film and Creed 3 gives us an anime inspired fighting sequence between Dame and Donny. The fighting in this sequence is very surreal and unlike any other sequence in the Creed and Rocky franchises. We have a change in location, with the visual of the crowd fading away, and the ring being lit by flashing police car lights, with this being thematically resonant for both characters, as this moment did in fact alter their lives. The fight is very personal to both and really does amp up the tension in the films final act. We really don’t know who is going to win and that’s why it works so well. The physicality of both actors as well, sells the fighting between the two of them as both Jordan and Majors are in incredible shape. It’s a great sequence and ranks among the best of the franchise.

It's not only about power – the power of the plot –

As mentioned, the chequered past of Dame and Donny is a real selling point of the film. Donny has fought formidable opponents but none like Dame. He had a personal connection to Viktor through his lineage and the legacy of his father Apollo Creed, but he still didn’t know Viktor. He knows Dame and knows the role he played in Dame’s incarceration. The way these characters interact throughout the film is quite emotional. We see the pain in Dame’s eyes of what he has experienced, and we also see the regret in Donny’s for the role he played in getting Dame locked up.  The story does a great job of exploring these characters and how an interaction like this might happen after two people with such a history re-unite. It's brilliantly pieced together and told in a way that feels true to the franchise.

Creed III is fantastic. It balances the tone of a typical sports movie, with the drama of a character study. This is something the Rocky and now Creed franchise has always been able to do. The performances are all fantastic, Michael b. Jordan’s direction is very impressive, especially for a first-time filmmaker and the story is emotional and carries a lot of weight for these characters. I thoroughly enjoyed it and if this is where Donny’s story ends, I am more than happy with how it concluded here. Creed III is available to pre-order from Sanity on DVD and Blu-Ray. Secure your copy below. 

Buy Creed 3 on DVD, Blu-ray or 4K UHD Here

Christopher Pattison wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here