Producers Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, and Ryan Coogler are back with their 3rd installment of the Rocky spin off movie series, Creed III and both critics and audiences are loving it!
Still dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) is thriving in his career and family life. When Damian, a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy (Jonathan Majors) resurfaces after serving time in prison, he’s eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face-off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damian — a fighter who has nothing to lose.
The film recently premiered and already has a critics score of 87% fresh from all critics and 92% fresh from top critics with an audience score of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. Here’s what top critics are saying:
Richard Roeper from Chicago Sun-Times said, “What makes Creed III a consistently engrossing watch is the gritty and violent back story, and the present-day tension between two former best friends whose lives were forever changed by a single confrontation that went sideways and who now have been reunited after nearly 20 years, with one man on top of the world and the other about two degrees from reaching the boiling point as he simmers with rage and resentment. It makes for one of the more grounded and authentic out-of-the-ring storylines in the Rocky/Creed library.”
Peter Travers from ABC News said, “Michael B. Jordan, a genuine star in a world of wannabes, returns in fighting form to the role of boxing champ Adonis “Donnie” Creed in “Creed III.” Sequels are nothing new these days. But Jordan uses this one to make his debut as a director. And, no surprise, he’s a winner.”
Johnny Oleksinski from New York Post had this to say, “Although there is nary a mention of Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa in this one, the indomitable spirit, grit and heart that made the 1976 original a surprise hit is still alive — 47 years later.”
Richard Brody from New Yorker said, “Jordan, as director, delivers a captivating blend of explosive energy and melodramatic intensity; he sharpens the stark lines of conflict with keen attention to performance… and a controlled, storm-like feeling of moods building to crises.”
Kyle Smith from Wall Street Journal said, “We probably didn’t need a third Creed film, but in his directorial debut, the franchise’s star Michael B. Jordan proves more than capable of hitting the right beats and telling a straightforward story without getting distracted by cinematic gimmicks.”
Brian Lowry from CNN.com agrees, “Bulking up the back story slows the pacing, in a movie that finally delivers the goods but whose broader ambitions under director/star Michael B. Jordan get boxed in by its ring-shaped formula.”
Christy Lemire from RogerEbert.com said, “Jordan has long since proven himself as an actor of terrific charisma, versatility, and humanity; with “Creed III,” he shows he’s just as captivating on the other side of the lens.”
Michael Phillips from Chicago Tribune said it’s, “Better than Creed II — and Jonathan Majors keeps the champ on his toes.”
Richard Lawson from Vanity Fair also enjoyed the film and said, “Creed III is about the boys at heart, their triumphs and struggles as they play a slightly safer version of war. But Jordan and screenwriters Keenan Coogler and Zach Baylin haven’t made pro-aggro art. Creed III walks a tricky line; it sees the brute efficacy of solving a dispute through regulated violence, and yet it’s not exactly bloodthirsty. That evenhandedness is perhaps the most remarkable thing about the film. One might expect that, three films (or, nine films) in, things would be reduced to the catchiest tropes: rock-’em-sock-’em arena bouts that exaggerate the carnage so that jaded audiences may feel something. Instead, Jordan keeps the film clear of head and light on its feet. As Creed III glides and grunts to its close, the series feels anything but spent.”
Manohla Dargis from New York Times said, “Come for the boxing, yes — but bring plenty of hankies, too.”
Ann Hornaday from Washington Post said, “Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors face off in a boxing story told with style, taste and respect for the audience.”
Brian Truitt from USA Today said, “No Rocky, no problem.”
The electric and satisfying Creed III proves Sylvester Stallone’s long-running boxing movie franchise is in good hands with Michael B. Jordan, both in front of and behind the camera. In addition to reprising his role as Adonis Creed, Jordan packs his directorial debut with the usual Rocky melodrama and bombastic ring entrances while freshening the series with stylish, anime-influenced fights and a new spotlight on deaf representation.”
Lindsey Bahr from Associated Press raved, “A promising debut for [Michael B. Jordan], who shows here that he’ll never let his own star ego get in the way of a film: Majors steals the show, and Jordan is there to capture it.”
Mick LaSalle from San Francisco Chronicle said, “As of this moment, today, Jonathan Majors is a movie star.
What’s extraordinary about what he does here is that he seems always to be playing several emotions at once: When he’s diffident, he’s also menacing. When he’s genuinely thankful, he’s also resentful. When he’s threatening, he’s also hurting. And when he’s bluffing, he’s also sincere.”
Stephanie Zacharek from TIME Magazine said, “As both actor and director, Jordan pulls off some fancy footwork in Creed III. He has a knack for melodrama, with all its heightened emotional textures, but he’s careful to keep it from going soggy—he buffs it down til it glows.
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Creed III is based on Characters by Sylvester Stallone, written by Keenan Coogler and Zach Baylin, Directed by Michael B. Jordan, stars Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Wood Harris, Florian Munteanu, and Phylicia Rashad, and is currently in theaters.
See the official trailer here:
