Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) is heading into retirement and focusing on being a gym owner and manager. That is until childhood friend Damien “Dame” Anderson (Jonathan Majors) reappears after eighteen years in prison bringing with him some baggage that Creed has yet to unpack. 

The third Creed feature is the first not to feature Sylvester Stallone and is proof that Creed has well and truly taken on the Rocky franchise mantle. It is also the directorial debut of Michael B. Jordan and evidence that he understands exactly what is expected of a Rocky/Creed movie whilst also aware that he needs to add in additional imaginative creative hooks to keep things interesting. 

The film covers everything you would expect but does it in an accomplished manner and adds interesting facets for greater depth. We witness three fights with varying levels of threat and some superb visual flair to heighten the drama. There is family drama that takes in Bianca’s (Tessa Thompson) own losses in regard to not being able to perform live anymore and their young deaf daughter Amara’s (Mila Davis-Kent) relationship with her fathers attitude to boxing and violence. And there is a tragic loss in the extended family that gives characters reason to reflect. But most importantly there is a fantastic relationship between protagonist and antagonist that makes you believe these characters have a real depth of feeling between them that has created a true grudge. 

Jordan and Majors are both startlingly good as these troubled fighters. And whilst they both look the part as absolutely ripped athletes it is the quieter moments of conversation between the two that is arguably the most fascinating to watch. Majors, who was recently so good as Kang in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is an absolute revelation here. It is a joy to watch his street fighting brawler of a fighter and listen to his character lay out his thoughts and feelings. 

If I had any reservations at all and this is grasping at straws it is that the final encounter is over perhaps a little quicker than I would expect. But as I said earlier it has such a wonderful visual flair it is hard to really be that disappointed. 

For me this is a fantastic watch for anyone who is a fan of the genre.