Adonis has been thriving in both his career and family life, but when a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy resurfaces, the face-off is more than just a fight.

Still dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed is thriving in his career and family life. When Damian, a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy resurfaces after serving time in prison, he's eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face-off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damian -- a fighter who has nothing to lose.

The Creed trilogy was born out of one of the most famous movie franchises of the 1970's; Rocky. But with Sylvester Stallone missing from this third installment, Creed III feels like it has lost its grip on its touchstone to the past while also not having really fleshed out its future.

While the boxing sequences are thunderous and furious, beautifully and seamlessly stitched together in a way that makes you feel as if you're in the ring yourself, there is a real lack of high stakes in the film. Sure, Creed puts his title on the line but at no time does it really feel like he is going to lose it. If anything you are kinda rooting for Damian, the 'baddie' in all of this. 

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This isn't to say that Creed III doesn't have its moments. There are times in the boxing sequences where you can feel every punch thrown and hit taken. Themes of loyalty, friendship, and second chances aren't merely glanced over in a glib manner but in depth which helps to develop the main characters of the film. 

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To have Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors, who portrayed the two best villains in the MCU, going toe to toe is worth the price of the ticket alone. Both are a force of nature, with Majors giving another sublime performance. 

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While it doesn't quite have the high stakes of previous installments, Creed III has thunderous and furious boxing sequences punctuated by another standout performance from Jonathan Majors. 

★★★