REVIEW: Creed III (2023)

Movie Reviews

Creed III is a movie, and simply that. It’s not a bad movie or a good one. It is not thought-provoking or profound, and it isn’t unique in any way. It merely exists. Compared to many other films in theaters, Creed III is not a bad choice for an entertainment experience if someone has a couple of hours to kill. It is a stereotypical sports movie in all its predictable ways. All of the film’s major plot beats can be found paralleled in previous Rocky films and many other sports stories. It’s very difficult to have an in-depth analysis of such a film. The best thing Creed III has going for it is being far superior to its most recent predecessor, Creed II, which was incredibly subpar.

One thing that must be mentioned in analyzing Creed III is the massive Sylvester Stallone-sized hole in it. Not only is the meta-drama surrounding his absence distracting, but narratively, it creates a void. The man who trained Creed and became like family to him is suddenly gone without mention? As such, this film is better experienced as if it’s the beginning of a new franchise unconnected to any other films, even the previous two Creeds. Only then can such a glaring omission resolve itself. Luckily, the film does not go out of its way to mock Rocky or the previous movies, which is surprising in the modern day, especially considering the behind-the-scenes drama. Creed III does not attempt to honor or respect its past, nor does it insult it.

In tandem with the restraint shown by the creators in refraining from mocking the franchise’s past comes the surprising choice to avoid wokeness entirely. Creed III is riddled with opportunities for Michael B. Jordan to virtue signal to the world about how holier-than-thou he is. From a deaf daughter to his childhood best friend getting arrested and falsely imprisoned, a modern-day political narrative could have easily been crafted around much of this film. However, Jordan refuses to take advantage of these opportunities, simply crafting a story and making as good a movie as he can. That, if nothing else, comes out in the film’s favor.

It’s highly debatable whether or not this film is as good as the original Creed. Many aspects come out in Creed III’s favor, but the argument is still valid. However, this film still does not live up to the most average Rocky movies. Only by ignoring all of the Rocky predecessors can Creed III stand on its own in a positive light. 

Unlike the previous two films, Creed III has a standout and immaculate musical score. Particularly, the composition of the final fight’s soundtrack stands out with pulsating intensity.

The performances in Creed III vary substantially from above average to nonexistent. Tessa Thompson is still incapable of a facial expression or a performance escaping the monotone. However, Michael B. Jordan gives one of the best performances of his career, giving this role his all. One scene, in particular, with Tessa Thompson where he explains the motivations of and conflict with Jonathan Majors’ Damien stands out from the rest of the film because of his stellar acting. This sudden blossoming of his performance is likely because Creed III is also his directorial debut, so he had to go for broke to make his first film the best possible.

Jonathan Majors’ Damien has been the central aspect of discussion surrounding Creed III for some time now. Majors’ portrayal of Damien is interesting, and he is, without a doubt, the best antagonist in the Creed films. Even still, his performance isn’t overly interesting. Additionally, some logical inconsistencies riddle his story, specifically with the film’s justification for his sudden rise to stardom. With such gaping holes in his story and without a truly exceptional performance, this newly introduced character falls into exclusively average territory.

For any audience member that has become invested in this franchise, Creed III may not be a good film to go out of your way to see, as it’s barely connected to the broader universe. However, if you are interested in a simple and almost classical sports film without delusions of grandeur, Creed III is not a waste of time. It may even be moderately enjoyable.