On March 3, 2023, Creed III was released in theaters throughout the United States. Micheal B. Jordan directed/spearheaded the third phase of the Creed saga following heavy anticipation, portraying the protagonist Adonis Creed, son of heavyweight champion Apollo Creed. Creed III is the latest film in the “Rocky” franchise, the ninth picture of the boxing saga, adding to the pressure Jordan felt in directing the project. There was lots of speculation regarding the legitimacy of the Creed films, as they are a fairly new franchise with the release of Creed I in 2015. However, Micheal B. Jordan intends to solidify himself as a prominent actor/director in this action-packed trilogy. 

Creed III is a testament to Micheal B. Jordan’s dedication on both sides of the camera, similar to the role Sylvester Stallone played in the Rocky franchise. Stallone directed in four of the five “Rocky” movies, inspiring Jordan to take the lead in bringing Creed lore to completion. As a director, one of Jordan’s major goals was to dive deep into Adonis’s upbringing and portray the trials and tribulations the character faced growing up in an impoverished and dangerous Los Angeles county. Additionally, Jordan slowly builds up suspense with frequent flashbacks to Adonis’s childhood and troubled past. A drawn-out buildup, one of Adonis’s most challenging opponents, allows room for emotional depth which portrays Jordan’s skills as a multi-talented actor.

Creed III is a prime example of the cliché where the past haunts the protagonist. In this film, the audience learns of a childhood incident where Adonis and his friend Damian get involved with the police. Adonis escapes while his friend is arrested and incarcerated for 18 years. After being released, Damian hunts down Adonis and demands payback in the form of a shot at the heavyweight title; Damian was an extremely talented, yet dirty fighter growing up.  With a luxurious life in The Hollywood Hills, Adonis appears to have lost his hunger and drive to fight, a weakness that Damian discovers and exploits.

In the action-packed trilogy, Adonis Creed must regain his thirst to conquer that had been lost in his sheltered, wealthy life in the Hollywood Hills to defeat an opponent; someone who will stop at nothing to strip Adonis of his title to and become the greatest heavyweight to have ever lived. Altogether, this film skillfully integrates a deep, emotionally driven plot with the traditional action-filled sequences from the “Rocky” saga.