Far more than just a sequel, this film, directed by Ryan Coogler, accomplished the near-impossible: it successfully revitalized the beloved Rocky franchise for a new generation while preserving the heart and underdog spirit of the original films. It was a critical and commercial knockout that established a new cinematic legacy focused on identity, mentorship, and the burden of inheritance.
The New Underdog: Plot and Stars
Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan in Creed (2015)
Creed introduced audiences to Adonis “Donnie” Johnson (Michael B. Jordan), the illegitimate son of the late, legendary boxer Apollo Creed. Donnie rejects a wealthy life to pursue his boxing passion, traveling to Philadelphia to seek out his father’s old rival and friend, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), to become his trainer. The film’s core conflict centers on Donnie’s struggle to forge his own identity outside his father’s formidable shadow, a narrative modernized by the stunning performance of Tessa Thompson as his love interest, Bianca Taylor, a talented musician dealing with progressive hearing loss.
A Critical and Commercial Knockout
Creed was met with universal critical acclaim, earning a phenomenal 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, a score that is even better than the original 1976 Rocky. The film was lauded for its fresh, gritty aesthetic, its complex exploration of contemporary masculinity, and a famous single-take boxing match sequence. It was also a commercial success, earning over $173 million worldwide on a modest $37 million budget. The film cemented director Ryan Coogler and star Michael B. Jordan as major Hollywood forces.
The Successor to Rocky: Impact and Legacy
The film fundamentally reshaped the Rocky franchise by shifting the focus from Rocky’s career struggles to Apollo Creed’s legacy and the theme of fatherhood. Sylvester Stallone’s return was hailed as his most mature and sensitive performance in years, moving him from an action hero caricature to a vulnerable mentor battling cancer and loneliness. Stallone earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The film successfully passed the torch, establishing Adonis as the central figure.
Continuing the Legacy: The Sequels
The success of the first film launched a thriving sequel trilogy:
- Creed II (2018): Directed by Steven Caple Jr., this installment brought back the ultimate enemy, pitting Adonis against Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu), the son of Ivan Drago—the boxer who killed Apollo Creed decades earlier. The film explored themes of inherited destiny and revenge, grossing over $214 million worldwide.
IMDb
- Creed III (2023): Michael B. Jordan made his directorial debut with the third installment, which broke from franchise tradition by excluding Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa from the cast. The film introduced a new, intensely personal villain, Damian “Diamond Dame” Anderson (Jonathan Majors), Adonis’s childhood friend turned rival, and became the highest-grossing film of the trilogy, making over $276 million globally.
IMDb
The Creed series successfully transformed a nostalgic franchise into a modern, relevant sports saga that now stands firmly on its own.
