Action-Packed Sports Sequel With Cancelled Marvel Star Stuns On Prime Video
By now, audiences everywhere are acutely aware of the Creed film trilogy, which expertly continues the Rocky franchise in one of the greatest legacy continuations in cinema history. The first outing, which released in 2015, maintains the highest Rotten Tomatoes critic score of any installment in either franchise, marking the beginning of an incredible adventure. Those interested in checking out the most recent installment, 2023’s Creed 3, can find the film streaming on Amazon Prime Video today.
The Creed Franchise
I personally have fond memories of going to the theater with a few friends to check out the original Creed with high hopes and low expectations. Once the credits rolled, we were absolutely thrilled, though for some reason the second installment, which released back in 2018, sort of just came and went without making much of a splash on the pop culture zeitgeist. For a few years, it seemed that the franchise had reached its peak, right up until Adonis Creed actor Michael B. Jordan recruited Jonathan Majors to star in Creed 3.
For those who don’t know, the plot of Creed 3 picks up three years after the previous installment, with Adonis having retired at the top of his game to spend more time focussing on his wife and 6-year-old daughter. One day, while serving as a trainer for his protege Felix “El Guerrero” Chavez, Adonis is shocked to learn that his childhood friend “Diamond” Dame Anderson has been released from prison. Dame had been incarcerated for most of Adonis’ life, after a brutal fight with a local thug in their youth.
Needless to say, Dame is extremely jealous of Adonis’ success, and demands that his former friend let him into the ring to compete at a professional level. While training, however, Dame proves that he does not fit within the world of professional boxing, as his aggressive jailhouse style is too rough for the standardized rules. As the narrative of Creed 3 continues building to a hard-hitting and emotional climax, Dame and Adonis must go head-to-head in a fight that is highly personal, unloading years of unspoken resentment upon each other in the ring.
Michael B. Jordan Vs. Jonathan Majors
Any way you slice it, Creed 3 showcases truly exceptional performances from Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors in the leading roles. In fact, before Majors’ personal controversies, which saw him canned from appearing in any further Marvel films as Kang the Conqueror, Jordan and Majors had been touting themselves as the second coming of Pacino and Dinero. Unfortunately, these scandals broke shortly after the release of Creed 3, which casts an uncomfortable shadow over the entire production in hindsight.
Critics And Audiences Agree
REVIEW SCORE
If you’re able to separate the art from the artist, then Creed 3 still holds up as well today as it did upon release. Still, it’s hard to ignore certain parallels between the violent and aggressive nature of Dame Anderson and the allegations of domestic violence which followed the actor shortly thereafter. Clearly, the controversy wasn’t strong enough to sink Creed 3 entirely, as critics and audiences alike have still reviewed the project with exceptional praise.
Today, the outing touts the third-highest Rotten Tomatoes score of any film in the Rocky/Creed franchise, at 88 percent certified fresh. Those interested in checking Creed 3 out today can stream the film on Amazon Prime Video.
Login with Google