Letterboxd — Your life in film

Stallone’s fingerprints are definitely more over this than the wholesale Coogler experience of the first. The Dragos are more interesting than they have any right to be, the fights don’t take a drastic dip in quality and Michael B is still a godly superstar, but I’m glad this is the last Creed film that’s tethered to Rocky (as much as I love my favourite nice bloke). There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing a fella go out into Mother Earth and train like a madman!

Not bad at all.

Nepo babies win this round. Every single time I watch this I wanna go run down my street and scream. Coogler needs to get back to this.

I love it when Rocky gives speeches and you bet he will give speeches more than ever before! This would probably be more effective if the superior legacy sequel didn’t come after but my boy is still punching good and being the nicest guy in the history of humankind. The Paulie and Rocky interactions in this are somehow the best in the series. (It helps that Rocky somehow still loves him despite Paulie literally bankrupting him, what a guy!)

Yo this is kinda like Revenge of the Sith!

Rocky ascends to the apex mountain of great blokes by using his inherent niceness to end a decades-long war—this is the work of a true #AmericanPatriot! I love how this series evolved from containing serious, low-key class-conscious drama to being a live-action cartoon series where Rocky goes to the woods to train and grows a sick beard in the process.

Rocky and Creed are my favourite enemies to lovers—these two alpha males have definitely given each other a peck. I somehow could’ve taken even more slo-mo shots of my boys running on the beach. Not nearly as realism-focused and grounded as your first two but I don’t care when you have MONTAGES of guys being dudes. Clubber Lang is one of the all-time great haters.

Suitably grimy at points when the jungle action kicks in but needs to be at least 10% sillier, have 20% more Mike Colter and and look 30% less like it’s shot on an iPhone or GoPro. Still, Gerry B continues to be as reliable as can be with material like this. I’m (not) patiently waiting on Den of Thieves 2.

I [REDACTED] MY [REDACTED] ON ACCIDENT || STORYTIME *NOT CLICKBAIT*

King Sly sat down at his typewriter, basking in his success after the first film with his Oscar next to him, and said my mission is to make Rocky more literate. We love a man who actively tries to improve his literacy and creative writing capabilities! He’s really just your classic empathetic wife guy—this is why Rocky is the GOAT. Even if it’s a bit rote, those final 20 minutes are invigorating.

Rocky is the ultimate man because despite his rise in the public ranks he’s just a regular fella who wants to date a cute, shy girl—I get the hustle, brother!

For a sci-fi joint shot by Roger Deakins where Cillian Murphy in a black leather trench coat tries to hunt down newfound based communist Justin Timberlake, it’s mystifyingly dull and boring!