Fans of this franchise likely won’t be disappointed by this latest addition to the Rocky legacy.
OverallB
Reprising the Rocky Bolboa character one more time, Sylvester Stallone plays the aging World Heavyweight Champion who now mentors Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan), the son of a former boxing competitor.
Release date November 25, 2015
Why is Creed rated PG-13? The MPAA rated Creed PG-13 for violence, language and some sensuality.
Run Time: 124 minutes
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Parent Movie Review
by Donna Gustafson
The old saying, “What goes around, comes around,” proves true for Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) when the retired heavy-weight champion is visited by a young man claiming to be the son of his former competitor and friend, Apollo Creed (a character introduced in the first Rocky movie).
Going by the name Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) to protect his privacy, this illegitimate child of the world-renowned pugilist has been in and out of group homes and juvenile detention centers. His prospects only brighten when the wife of his famous father, Mary Anne Creed (Phylicia Rashad) takes him in and attempts to raise him as her own. Yet the fight he inherits from his deceased Dad, plus the anger he still feels about his past, cause him to walk away from her kindness and a well-paying office job. Instead he tries to find himself in the boxing ring. With a desire to succeed in his father’s sport, he contacts the “Italian Stallion” hoping old ties will be enough to rope the aging man into being his trainer.
Of course Rocky eventually accepts the challenge (or it wouldn’t be much of a movie), and Johnson is matched up with some opponents intended to improve his skills and knock some sense into his troubled mind. But when his secret identity is unexpectedly revealed, the novice is suddenly given an opportunity to compete at the professional level against a disgraced champion (Tony Bellew) anxious to get one more chance to defend his name.
From start to finish, the film is full of well-choreographed fight sequences. Inevitably, these sequences also contain head and body blows that result in bloody injuries and knockouts. Along the way Johnson meets Bianca (Tessa Thompson), his beautiful neighbor who is pursuing her dreams as a singer (she performs some sensual music). Their budding romance is depicted with passionate kisses and a scene of implied sexual relations. As well, the script is punctuated by some mild and moderate profanities, including a sexual expletive, scatological slang and terms of deity.
That aside, fans of this franchise likely won’t be disappointed by this latest addition to the Rocky legacy. Although the plot is predictable, it is still pleasantly familiar. Perhaps the biggest surprise Creed offers is Stallone’s unexpectedly touching performance as a father figure. At first the experienced former athlete believes he is the one in a position to give. Then fate changes Rocky’s circ*mstances and places him in a vulnerable situation too. The inclusion of this storyline, which forces the man and boy to fight together, adds a deeper dimension to what could otherwise have been just another boxing tale. And that twist brings the this long-running series full circle.
Directed by Ryan Coogler.Starring Sylvester Stallone, Michael B. Jordan, Wood Harris.Running time: 124 minutes.Theatrical release November 25, 2015.Updated July 17, 2017
About author
Donna Gustafson
Donna Gustafson has been involved with her husband Rod's work since thebeginning. Handling many of the behind-the-scenes tasks, she also createspreview pages for up-coming movies, acts as managing editor and occasionally writes reviews.
Creed
Rating & Content Info
Why is Creed rated PG-13? Creed is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for violence, language and some sensuality.
Violence:The movie includes frequent portrayals of boxing violence and resulting bloody injuries (some shown in great detail), cuts and swollen eyes. Some of the punches are thrown outside of sporting events. Mention is made of a possible jail sentence. Children in a juvenile detention facility get into fistfights—cuts and bruises are shown. Characters argue and verbally antagonize one another.
Sexual Content: Some sexual music lyrics are heard. A couple kisses passionately and begins to undress one another – sexual relations are implied. Other kissing and embracing are shown. Some female characters are scantily dressed. Vomiting is depicted. Bodily functions are mentioned crudely.
Language:A sexual expletive is used once in a non-sexual context. Scatological slang, mild and moderate profanity, and terms of deity are heard.
Alcohol / Drug Use: Characters drink at home and in social settings. Some smoking is shown. Drug use is shown in a medical setting.
Page last updated July 17, 2017
Creed Parents' Guide
All three of the main characters in this story (Rocky, Johnson and Bianca) have dreams and vulnerabilities. How are their situations different? How are they the same? How do these fears help them to assist one another?
Why doesn’t Johnson want to tell anybody who is Dad is? Why does he feel caught in his father’s shadow? What is it he really trying to prove in boxing ring?
At one point in the film, Rocky makes a poignant speech about how his family, friends and career are all behind him. How can someone who is aging still find things to look forward to? What new places does Rocky discover that need his energy? Might this storyline mirror real concerns for an ageing actor (or anyone else reaching retirement) who might be wondering about the feasibility of future work opportunities?
Home Video
The most recent home video release of Creed movie is March 1, 2016. Here are some details…
Home Video Notes: Creed
Release Date: 1 March 2016
Creed releases to home video with the following bonus features:
- Know the Past, Own the Future
- Becoming Adonis
- Deleted Scenes
Related home video titles:
Sylvester Stallone plays this same character in a lengthy movie franchise. We have reviewed Rocky and Rocky Balboa.
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