When we left Adonis (Michael B. Jordan) won a championship, married his love Bianca and was now a father. In Creed III he’s now a season veteran and successful. He’s no longer the new guy now he’s the guy at the top. There’s a new adversary, Damien “Dame” Anderson (Jonathan Majors). Anderson is a connection to his past, the past he’s worked aimlessly to escape. There are also other challenges like navigating from being a professional athlete to businessman/husband and father to deaf child. Other difficulties include transitioning from professional athlete to businessman.

We adore our hero, but we thoroughly enjoy him even more because of the difficulties he faces and the need for him to be tested, which is why this franchise has been so successful. Creed III adheres to that formula.

Michael B. Jordan steps not only in front of the camera but behind it. In his directorial debut he delivers a dynamic chapter to this exciting franchise. Much of this feeling is drawn from Adonis and Dame's relationship in the script by Keenan Coogler and Zach Baylin (based on a story they co-wrote with Creed and Black Panther director Ryan Coogler). Their tense history is hinted at and established in a prologue set in 2002, which shows a younger Creed gripping the gloves for boxing prodigy Dame at the time. By the time Dame returns, Adonis is living the retired life of fame and fortune he always imagined for himself as a boxer. Even though every exchange is fraught with stress, the bond of brotherhood between them remains strong.

Dame's pain is genuine, and Majors gives a dramatic and captivating performance in a character that allows him plenty of chances to show emotion. In spite of his intimidating bulk, he most impresses in his more understated but no less passionate moments. Adonis versus Adonis, though, is perhaps more interesting than Adonis versus Dame. He has always been his own worst enemy, but Dame's reminders of a history he's been trying to forget force Jordan to face his past head-on, exposing layers of his character that have never been explored before. Survivor's remorse is a real issue in the Black community. The question of why I made it and my friend didn’t is real. The other is do I owe those who I left behind my success. Those are the other issues explored in Creed III. 

Creed III also takes a closer look into the relationship between Bianca and Adonis. Bianca portrayed by the amazing Tessa Thompson is also transitioning. Jordan also gives Tessa Thompson's Bianca more to do, allowing the actor to explore the nuances of Bianca's post-fame existence. Adonis and Bianca are both new to the concept of a fully developed adult relationship, but it is Bianca who encourages Adonis to confront his past through her or counseling. 

This is especially important for a Black man's emotional well-being at home. Even though he is still very much a man, here is the marital partnership in action. A willingness to open up and confess difficulty or suffering.

We also get to meet Amara (Mila Davis-Kent), the Creeds' deaf daughter. She provides a nice, sweet but not syrupy family dynamic. In the same way that Creed investigated the legacy that Apollo left for Adonis, Creed III questions the potential legacies that Apollo's daughter Amara is acquiring from him, particularly in terms of his propensity for violence. An intriguing concept, albeit one that wasn't quite realized to its full potential, in a film with violence at its core.

It’s also important to note how the actors fused American Sign language into the film. It was done with intention and care helping the audience see that their lives aren’t that much different than hearing families.. 

The highlight of any of the Creed/Rocky films are the fights. Creed III didn’t disappoint in that aspect. In the last bout, which involves epic slo-mo, Dragon Ball Z–esque blows, and some amazingly stylized graphics, Jordan's direction is good. The boxing sequences clearly draw on his love of anime. Both actors were in amazing shape and it showed in the slow motion and up close shots.

Creed was an introduction of a new hero, Creed II was the hero becoming a champion and Creed III is the hero standing firm in his legacy.

Creed III is currently playing in theaters everywhere.