Creed

Name: Creed
Genre: Drama, Sport
Released: November 25, 2015
Duration: 133 min
Rating: 82
Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Phylicia Rashad, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson

2015

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 42 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 774 Ratings

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 774 Ratings

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Creed

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. | Release Date: November 25, 2015 | PG-13

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Phylicia Rashad, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson

Summary: Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa. Once in the City of Brotherly Love,Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa. Once in the City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks down Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) and asks him to be his trainer. Despite his insistence that he is out of the fight game for good, Rocky sees in Adonis the strength and determination he had known in Apollo—the fierce rival who became his closest friend. Agreeing to take him on, Rocky trains the young fighter, even as the former champ is battling an opponent more deadly than any he faced in the ring. With Rocky in his corner, it isn’t long before Adonis gets his own shot at the title…but can he develop not only the drive but also the heart of a true fighter, in time to get into the ring? [Warner Bros.]… Expand

Director: Ryan Coogler

Genre(s): Drama, Sport

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 133 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Richard Brody

Jan 11, 2016

Ingeniously, Coogler has transformed “Rocky”—the modern cinematic myth that, perhaps more than any other, endures as a modern capitalist Horatio Alger story of personal determination and sheer will—into a vision of community and opportunity, connections and social capital, family and money. Read full review

100

Mick LaSalle

Nov 24, 2015

Rocky might not be the brightest guy, but he knows things. He has his limitations, but he is, in his own way, extraordinary, and when we look at his/Stallone’s face, we can have no doubt that Rocky has gone through life and learned things. He has been awake all these years, and growing. With no exaggeration, this is a beautiful and moving thing to see. Read full review

Chris Nashawaty

Nov 18, 2015

In the end it’s a movie about legacy, and it more than preserves the Rocky franchise’s. It reminds you why it was great in the first place. Read full review

Michael Phillips

Nov 19, 2015

Half the film, written by Coogler and Aaron Covington, revels in cliches, skillfully. The other half sidesteps them and concentrates on scenes and relationships that breathe easily and draw us in the hard way: not by narrative fiat or bald calculation, but through well-written and shrewdly acted encounters. Read full review

David Edelstein

Nov 26, 2015

Movies don’t always have to be “how things are.” When they’re as warm and rousing as Creed, they can be “how we want to make things.” Read full review

Marc Savlov

Nov 26, 2015

Creed isn’t a complete TKO, but it goes all 12 rounds with vitality and flourish. Read full review

Amy Nicholson

Nov 24, 2015

Creed wants all of the Rocky drama but invests in none of the smarts. Read full review

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User Reviews

bronxbomber777

Nov 26, 2015

i have been a long time rocky fan and this movie was a outstanding movie a 10 hands down. Creed is a fantastic film on its own, but it is an amazing tribute to the legendary sports film that came before it in Rocky (and, in some ways, its sequels). Michael B Jordan is fantastic, thei have been a long time rocky fan and this movie was a outstanding movie a 10 hands down. Creed is a fantastic film on its own, but it is an amazing tribute to the legendary sports film that came before it in Rocky (and, in some ways, its sequels). Michael B Jordan is fantastic, the fighting/training scenes are intense, and,as a whole, the film is extremely well-shot. Overall, this is a superb film that both fans of the Rocky franchise and newcomers can appreciate.… Expand

20 of 27 users found this helpful207

Diptanshu

Jun 26, 2020

The sweetest most beautiful reboot or legacy to the greatest franchise literally the movie is A Masterpiece!the music was phenomenal the rap songs here and then and Bianca's music too was great,the story was brilliant,the screenplay was great,the acting was iconic Michel B Jordan wasThe sweetest most beautiful reboot or legacy to the greatest franchise literally the movie is A Masterpiece!the music was phenomenal the rap songs here and then and Bianca's music too was great,the story was brilliant,the screenplay was great,the acting was iconic Michel B Jordan was brilliant he's passion of boxing and that intensity was on the top amazingly performed,the new characters were great Bianca was sweet and the one and only Rocky himself he's beyond great literally his entry was satisfying and awesome thing,the plot at 1st half was full of nostalgia train the old things and prequels relations the Paul's death,the Rocky's jr's settled and all that small details and the vibe of original movie was brilliantly showcased,the 2nd half was little emotional and great ended with smile and satisfying note,the small life lessons of life from Rocky was brilliant and great,the starting intro to Donnie and the step mom was amazing the follow up to present the starting fight and job for Donnie and then his pursuit of passion of boxing leaving mother and finding new trainer or Rocky its amazing,the 1st interaction of both was brilliantly amazing then the whole training thing and settlement for Donnie and his first meet with Bianca and there love life it was sweet and great,the moment Rocky's trains him from then on it was incredible ride the public leak of his identity of being Creed's son and all it was twisting and little sad for Donnie then the 2nd half's heart-breaking incident of Rocky and him being in Cancer it was literally the emotional and heart-breaking thing the later conversation of him and Donnie at locker room was insanely strong and sad then the whole thing between trio of Rocky,Bianca and Donnie it was emotional and Hard then the things changing the hospital training and continuing the track for Donnie it was inspirational and amazing the Last act was literally great,the fight at end was nail-bitingly intense and great ended with respect for both and heart-touching speech of Donnie it was satisfying end then the closing shot of nostalgia the steps scene with Rocky and Donnie it was the sweetest and beautiful scene its incredibly amazing.the whole movie was inspirational,emotional,satisfying and a ride to nostalgia with entertaining and awesome fights it's the great movie,A Masterpiece!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

cadover

Nov 27, 2015

Shockingly great. The Rocky franchise turned on its head and given a completely new life, in the form of Apollo Creed's son. Beautiful story-telling and utilizes all the elements that made the original Rocky magic. Minus half a point for Michael B Jordan, who lacks the depth andShockingly great. The Rocky franchise turned on its head and given a completely new life, in the form of Apollo Creed's son. Beautiful story-telling and utilizes all the elements that made the original Rocky magic. Minus half a point for Michael B Jordan, who lacks the depth and vulnerability of Stallone, but has a made a giant leap from Fruitvale Station. The other half point deduction is the paper thin motivation the young Creed has to become the worlds greatest champion. Neither of these points gets in the way of enjoying the movie, and Stallone is a joy to watch, as always.
All in all, about as good as Rocky II, which is saying a lot.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

MD5774

Jan 4, 2016

Creed is easily one of the best movies of 2015.The story flows and it's heading the Rocky series in a good direction . Stallone may have pulled off his best performance to date , and Micheal B Jordan performance is not far behind.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Compi24

Nov 28, 2015

In a fashion similar to this year's "Mad Max: Fury Road," this film acts as an emphatic rebuttal towards those wary of sequel/reboot/remake fatigue in Hollywood. The film ingeniously revitalizes a seemingly finished franchise, repurposing the familiar faces into a story that speaks not onlyIn a fashion similar to this year's "Mad Max: Fury Road," this film acts as an emphatic rebuttal towards those wary of sequel/reboot/remake fatigue in Hollywood. The film ingeniously revitalizes a seemingly finished franchise, repurposing the familiar faces into a story that speaks not only to "Rocky" fans, but to the average filmgoer as well. "Creed" is a masterfully conceived, well-shot piece of filmmaking… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

Domgwy

Dec 20, 2017

I can’t say I’ve ever thought of myself as a Rocky fan. The series has suffered from over familiarity and almost too much cultural impact. In all likelihood my generation of movie goers are more familiar with the endless parodies of Rocky than the films themselves.

So its safe to sayI can’t say I’ve ever thought of myself as a Rocky fan. The series has suffered from over familiarity and almost too much cultural impact. In all likelihood my generation of movie goers are more familiar with the endless parodies of Rocky than the films themselves.

So its safe to say reinventing the series is no easy task. With Creed however, director Ryan Coogler and star Michael B. Jordan build on the Rocky legacy while creating their own distinct and entirely modern boxing drama.

The story centres around Jordan’s Adonis Creed, son of former world heavy weight champion Apollo Creed. Apollo (played by Carl Weathers in the first four Rocky films) died in the ring after fighting Ivan Draggo, leaving behind not only his wife and their children, but also an illegitimate son in Adonis.

Adonis (or Donny) grows up wanting nothing more than to emulate the father he never knew as a fighter. After quitting his job and moving to Philadelphia, Donny tracks down Apollo’s former rival come-friend Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) to mentor him as both a boxer and a man.

As a sports film Creed very much plays on familiar troupes, as Adonis rises through the world of boxing all the while trying to get out from his father’s shadow.

However, it’s in the scenes between Stallone and Jordan where Creed really shines. The younger actor has been consistently great in almost everything he’s touched so far and his performance here is no exception. In certain moments the actor’s restraint as he holds back tears, anger and pride, is simply phenomenal.

Sylvester Stallone’s performance in Creed is by far his best in decades. In certain scenes his portrayal of the character he created back in 1976 is simply heart-breaking. In my opinion the actor’s Oscar nomination and Golden Globe win are certainly well deserved, wether he’ll win the Academy Award on the night however, is another matter.

Coogler has a great understanding of what audiences’ first engaged with in the original Rocky film from ‘76. As well as a compelling sports story the film was as much about Rocky’s relationships with those around him and the city of Philadelphia as it was about two men hitting each other. The director brilliantly recaptures this feeling in Creed allowing Donny’s relationship with ‘the-girl-next-door’ type Bianca (Tessa Thompson) to develop in much the same way that Rocky and Adrian came together in the original.

Although Creed’s greatest strength is as a drama, the boxing scenes are perfectly handled and give a real sense of being in the ring with the fighters. Despite being vastly different films, Creed shares certain techniques with The Revenant — namely the use of long unbroken shots. Donny’s first professional fight is shot in this style as the camera switches from one fighters’ perspective to the other in a fantastic display of fight choreography and film making.

If there’s is one major flaw in the film is that the focus on Donny and Bianca’s relationship can often pull you away from the Rocky-Donny storyline at its centre. Having said this, if there is to be an ongoing series the foundation must be this central relationship and in this sense, we may be glad of the amount of screen time given to Bianca further down the line.

To my mind any great sports film transcends the sport itself to become something more. Creed can certainly count itself amongst such contemporaries as Rush and Warrior in achieving this goal. Ultimately the film is about a lost boy finding a father and a lonely widower finding a son.

I for one can’t wait to see where this new series goes as it continues to step out from the Rocky series’ shadow to create its own cinematic legacy.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Shakes505

Jan 15, 2016

I was looking forward to this but omg what where they thinking! Very boring seen it all before none of the characters are done well I couldn't wait for this trash to end...

3 of 13 users found this helpful310

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43	#43 Best Movie of 2015
26	#26 Most Discussed Movie of 2015
18	#18 Most Shared Movie of 2015