Creed hits all the best notes of the original Rocky, while also being able to step out from its shadow to deliver a nearly perfect film.

From start to finish, this movie had me invested. It was a brilliant choice to make Apollo Creed’s son the lead of the new franchise. On the surface, Adonis Creed should have it all in terms of wealth and security. But due to him being a bastard child, his life was a struggle, giving him the same hunger that Rocky had in the original, which I thought was done really well.

The chemistry between all of our characters is spectacular throughout. There is a deep sense of care that Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) and Adonis (Michael B. Jordan) have for each other. Rocky and Adonis develop a close father-son relationship as Rocky attempts to fill the void left by his estranged relationship with his son, and Adonis sees Rocky as the father figure he's never had. This connection creates some fantastic dramatic story beats that had me on the verge of tears. Bianca (Tessa Thompson) is a fantastic addition to the cast and creates that motherly figure for our two leads. These three take on the roles of Rocky, Adrian, and Mickie from the original while also having their own unique presence. My one complaint is that the opponent, "Pretty" Ricky Conlan, is pretty underdeveloped, but the main focus is really on the dynamic between Rocky and Adonis, so this wasn’t a huge drawback for me.

The fight choreography is insane in this film; it is without a doubt the best of the series. There is a boxing matchup in the middle of the film that is one take with some incredible angles; it completely immersed me. The ending is really well done, with a super long buildup that had me genuinely nervous for Adonis.

The score is fantastic. There are still similar notes from the original Rocky that are subtly present throughout the film. But they are mixed together with contemporary rap beats and rhythms that give the film a modern feel. It is a great homage to the past while also being true to the culture of our lead character.

Overall, this film surpasses Rocky in almost every way and goes down as the best in the series. I am utterly blown away with how much I enjoyed this.

Score: 98% |
Verdict: Masterpiece