--- title: "Creed II" year: 2018 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/creed-ii" fi1m_score: 64 critics_score: 66 critics_reviews: 25 published: "2026-09-19T15:51:45.974436+00:00" updated: "2026-09-19T15:51:46.215112+00:00" region: "US" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Creed II (2018) Directed by Steven Caple Jr. · 2h 10m · MPA PG-13 · Drama, Action **Fi1m score: 64** · Critics 66 from 25 reviews *In a sentence:* Rocky IV run again, with better acting and the Russians given the only story worth telling > Steven Caple Jr.’s sequel is well acted, cleanly shot in the ring and entirely without surprise. Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone carry it; Dolph Lundgren, saying almost nothing, walks off with it. Worth an evening if you know what you are buying. ## Synopsis Philadelphia, a few years on from the first film. Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan), son of the late Apollo Creed, beats Danny ‘Stuntman’ Wheeler (Andre Ward) for the world heavyweight title with Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) in his corner, then proposes to Bianca (Tessa Thompson), a singer whose hearing is failing. Into this walks Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu), a huge, silent Ukrainian-based fighter, with the promoter Buddy Marcelle (Russell Hornsby) and a challenge. Viktor’s father is Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), the Russian who killed Apollo in the ring in 1985 and has lived in disgrace since. Rocky refuses to train Adonis for the fight. His mother, Mary Anne Creed (Phylicia Rashad), tells him not to take it. He takes it, and he and Bianca leave for Los Angeles. ## Review Steven Caple Jr. takes over from Ryan Coogler, who directed [*Creed*](https://film.one/film/creed) (2015), and inherits a champion, a mentor and a franchise that has always known exactly what it is. His job here is to run [*Rocky IV*](https://film.one/film/rocky-iv) (1985) again a generation down: the son of the man who killed Apollo Creed in the ring comes for Apollo’s son. *Creed II* does that job. It is decent, it is honest about its formula, and for 130 minutes it never once does a thing we did not see coming from the poster. The actors are the reason to stay. Jordan plays Adonis as a man whose temper arrives a half-second before his thinking, and the best scenes are the ones where somebody, usually Rocky or Bianca, waits for the thinking to catch up. Tessa Thompson gives Bianca a career and a body of her own rather than a chair at ringside, and her scenes with Jordan in a Los Angeles kitchen are the warmest writing in the film. Stallone, who shares the screenplay credit with Juel Taylor, plays Rocky slower and quieter than before, a man who has buried enough people to know how it goes. He is affecting without asking to be. Then there are the Dragos. Lundgren’s Ivan has perhaps forty lines and needs none of them; the film shows him in a cold flat and an emptier gym, pushing his son through the streets and the weights and the memory of one lost night in 1985. Florian Munteanu plays Viktor as a boy who has never been asked what he wants, only what he can lift. We found we felt more for these two than for the Creeds, and we are not certain the film means us to. When Brigitte Nielsen turns up as Ludmilla for a single dinner, the meal turns cold on the table, and it is the one moment we sat forward. In the ring, Caple and his cinematographer Kramer Morgenthau are on firm ground. The camera stands where a cornerman would, then goes inside the gloves for a punch or two, so a hook arrives at the lens and the sound cuts out with it. The bouts are legible, which is rarer than it sounds; you can always tell who is winning and why. Ludwig Göransson brings back the trumpets you expect and adds a low electronic pulse under the Drago scenes, so the two camps sound like different films. The three editors, Dana E. Glauberman, Paul Harb and Saira Haider, cut the desert training montage so briskly that it is the best two minutes here. Between the fights, the script has nothing to do but wait for the next one. Sascha Penn and Cheo Hodari Coker’s story sends Adonis back to the exact question he settled in the first film, whether he fights for himself or for a father he never met, and he spends an hour answering it again. Russell Hornsby’s promoter sneers on cue. Wood Harris’s Little Duke has one speech and delivers it well. Phylicia Rashad gets a single good scene of maternal fury and is then sent to sit by the phone. Somewhere past the hour we realised we were watching a list being ticked off, and we were bored, and then annoyed at being bored by people this good. Franco-Giacomo Carbone’s production design draws the line clearly: warm brick and worn leather for Philadelphia, glass and white walls for Los Angeles, concrete and steel for the Dragos’ side of the world. Lizz Wolf dresses Adonis in champion’s clothes that never sit right on him, which is a neater comment on his state of mind than most of the dialogue. Against the first *Creed*, this is the plainer film. Coogler’s fights moved with the fighters and his Philadelphia felt like a character; Caple keeps things steady and tidy and rarely curious. Against *Rocky IV*, it is the cartoon taken seriously, and taken seriously it turns out to have one real idea, that the losers had children too, and the film gives it to the supporting cast. See it for Jordan, for Stallone’s quiet, and for the Dragos, who deserve a film of their own. It carries a 12A and runs 130 minutes, about twenty of which are new. *Fi1m score 64, published 19 September 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics like Creed II, though few love it. The reviews lean positive, and the praise clusters almost entirely on the cast. Michael B. Jordan is singled out again and again for a performance that carries the film through its more familiar stretches, and Sylvester Stallone is judged an affecting anchor. The father-son material on both sides of the ring is the story element most often called the strongest, and several reviews say the fight scenes, with their point-of-view shots and sharp sound, improve on the first film. Almost everyone agrees it is a lesser film than Ryan Coogler’s Creed. The word that recurs is formulaic: a Rocky IV rematch retold with more sentiment and less surprise. The spread is wide. The Evening Standard thinks it nearly matches its predecessor; The Hollywood Reporter calls it slack and unexciting throughout, and The New Yorker says it indulges the Rocky mythology the first film had questioned. Only two reviews are outright negative. ### Reviews we read (25) - **Evening Standard**, Matthew Norman (80/100, inferred): Creed II is almost a match for its predecessor and in one respect superior, delivering a hugely entertaining film with fight scenes far better than the first Creed. The viscerally graphic POV shots and crisp sound in the bouts stand out for praise, as does Stallone's wonderful performance. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/creed-ii-review-eight-films-on-the-rocky-franchise-is-still-a-knockout-a4004441.html) - **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (80/100, inferred): The critic finds Creed II a solid, entertaining sequel that maintains the spirit of its predecessor without feeling like a rehash. Strong performances from Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone, along with heartfelt father-son dynamics and well-handled fight scenes, are singled out for praise. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/nov/16/creed-ii-review-rocky-sylvester-stallone-michael-b-jordan) - **Time Out**, Joshua Rothkopf (4/5): The sequel lands some solid punches on its conventionally satisfying route to vengeance. Michael B. Jordan's performance and the Drago father-son tensions are singled out positively. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/creed-2) - **The AV Club**, Jesse Hassenger (B): Creed II can't match the impact of its predecessor but lands some powerful blows. Jordan and Thompson remain a potent combination of strength and vulnerability. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/creed-ii-can-t-match-the-impact-of-its-predecessor-but-1830476510) - **IndieWire**, Eric Kohn (75/100, inferred): The critic calls it a solid sequel with Michael B. Jordan ruling another satisfying Rocky update. Sylvester Stallone proves an effective and affecting anchor. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/creed-ii-review-michael-b-jordan-1202021269/) - **Los Angeles Times**, Justin Chang (70/100, inferred): The review praises Michael B. Jordan’s sensational performance and the film’s warm, specific characters as it follows Adonis Creed’s latest challenges. It singles out the emotional depth in family dynamics and the sturdy execution of familiar boxing tropes. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-creed-ii-review-20181116-story.html) - **The New York Times**, A.O. Scott (Critic’s Pick): The review affirms the strength of the revived Rocky franchise and Michael B. Jordan’s star power in the role of Adonis Creed. It highlights how the film blends old and new elements in a poignant boxing story centered on family and legacy. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/20/movies/creed-ii-review.html) - **The Times**, Kevin Maher (★★★★☆): The review calls Creed II surprisingly good and at times thrilling as the eighth entry in the franchise. It highlights Michael B. Jordan’s nuanced performance and Steven Caple Jr.’s effective training montage as standout elements. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/article/creed-ii-review-rmtst7rnt) - **Vulture**, Bilge Ebiri (70/100, inferred): Creed II is more of a Rocky sequel but still lands some solid punches and works better in that mode than as a Creed follow-up. It is broadly predictable yet toys with emotional allegiances effectively. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2018/11/creed-ii-review.html) - **Little White Lies**, Kambole Campbell (4/3/2): The critic finds it an overly sentimental rehash of Rocky IV that fails to match the first film's balance. The Drago father-son dynamic stands out as the most interesting element. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/creed-ii) - **Screen Daily** (60/100, inferred): Contradictory impulses dominate this emotional yet formulaic sequel that feels boxed in by conventionality while accomplishing its modest goals. Michael B. Jordan brings poignancy to the central character. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/creed-ii-review/5134561.article) - **Slant Magazine** (60/100, inferred): Creed II is absent of both the topically political atmosphere of Rocky IV and the bravura action of Ryan Coogler's Creed. It sticks to a strict blueprint of narrative beats but excels in portraying the first dynastic black family in a major studio franchise. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/creed-ii/) - **The Telegraph** (3/5): Creed II is described as a sturdy but less impressive follow-up that struggles to match the first film. The critic praises the touching domestic scenes and Michael B. Jordan’s committed performance in both ring and personal storylines. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/creed-ii-review-michael-b-jordan-comes-swinging-tough-touching/) - **Empire**, Ian Freer (55/100, inferred): Creed II is a lesser effort than its predecessor, with programmatic plotting and on-the-nose writing that feels like a regressive step. The chemistry of the stars and impressive fight sequences with effective POV shots provide some pleasure amid the generic take on familiar tropes. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/creed-ii-review/) - **The New Yorker**, Richard Brody (40/100, inferred): The review notes that while the first Creed reconsidered Rocky mythology, this sequel shamelessly indulges it through familiar father-son conflicts and sentimental reunions. It criticizes the film for leaning into formulaic emotional and athletic struggles. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/creed-ii) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Todd McCarthy (30/100, inferred): The critic finds Creed II a pale shadow of its predecessor, slack and unexciting in nearly every way. They single out the conventional boxing matches and listless domestic scenes for complaint. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/creed-ii-review-1161754/) - **Den of Geek**, Amon Warmann (4/5): The sequel is a hugely satisfying follow-up that doesn't quite match the heights of the first film but excels through its richly drawn characters and strong performances. It singles out Michael B. Jordan's emotionally powerful portrayal of Adonis for particular praise. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/creed-ii-review-a-strong-follow-up-that-packs-a-punch/) - **Consequence** (B-): Creed II delivers strong emotional drama and character work around fatherhood and legacy despite a predictable plot. It succeeds as a franchise chapter thanks to performances, particularly from Jordan and Stallone, even if it lacks the stylistic flair of the first film. [Read](https://consequence.net/2018/11/film-review-creed-ii/) - **Deadline**, Pete Hammond (70/100, inferred): The review notes that the film follows the familiar Rocky formula with heart, making it a natural sequel premise, though it feels pat and formulaic compared to the first Creed. It praises the performances of Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone, along with the personal subplot involving Bianca. [Read](https://deadline.com/video/creed-ii-review-michael-b-jordan-sylvester-stallone-return/) - **/Film**, Josh Spiegel (7/10): The critic finds Creed II a capable but familiar follow-up that recycles Rocky franchise tropes and leans into fan service more than its predecessor, though it remains a solid boxing drama thanks to strong performances. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/562485/creed-ii-review/) - **NME**, Olly Richards (4): This is a fun, enjoyable sequel that retains much of what made the original great despite lacking its director and some of its edge. It highlights Michael B. Jordan's charismatic, all-in performance as the key strength carrying the film forward. [Read](https://www.nme.com/reviews/creed-ii-film-review-2414410) - **The Wrap**, Robert Abele (70/100, inferred): The critic finds “Creed II” an agreeably paint-by-numbers sequel that lacks surprise but still has some fight left in the franchise model. He singles out Michael B. Jordan’s dimensional performance and the realistic fight scenes for praise, while noting the predictable emotional beats. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/creed-ii-film-review-michael-b-jordan-sylvester-stallone/) - **Polygon**, Karen Han (60/100, inferred): Michael B. Jordan elevates the material, but the sequel stumbles with a heavy-handed script and scattered focus that fails to match the first film's strengths. It excels in montages and some family themes but lacks coherent emotional depth outside the ring. [Read](https://www.polygon.com/2018/11/16/18098571/creed-2-review-michael-b-jordan/) - **The Skinny**, Benjamin Rabinovich (★★★): Creed II is a winner that tries to build positively on the original but can't match its emotional nuance or impact. It singles out Michael B. Jordan's sensitive performance as the heart of the film while complaining that it feels more formulaic overall. [Read](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/creed-ii) - **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (C): The film is a lazy, obvious sequel that resets Adonis Creed's character growth from the first movie in favor of predictable revenge plotting. Caple directs strong boxing sequences, but the story between fights feels bland and derivative of Rocky sequels. [Read](https://collider.com/creed-2-review/) ## Details - **Director:** Steven Caple Jr. - **Director:** Steven Caple Jr. - **Screenplay:** Sylvester Stallone, Juel Taylor - **Story:** Cheo Hodari Coker, Sascha Penn - **Cinematography:** Kramer Morgenthau - **Editor:** Dana E. Glauberman, Saira Haider, Paul Harb - **Music:** Ludwig Göransson - **Production design:** Franco-Giacomo Carbone - **Costume design:** Lizz Wolf - **Producer:** Sylvester Stallone, William Chartoff, Ian Sharples - **Cast:** Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Johnson; Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa; Tessa Thompson as Bianca; Wood Harris as Tony 'Little Duke' Evers; Russell Hornsby as Buddy Marcelle; Phylicia Rashad as Mary Anne Creed; Dolph Lundgren as Ivan Drago; Florian Munteanu as Viktor Drago - **Runtime:** 2h 10m - **Certificate (MPA):** PG-13 - **Release (the US):** 21 November 2018 - **Genres:** Drama, Action - **Budget:** $50 million - **Box office:** $214 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPNVNqn4T9I ## Where to watch in the US - Hulu: streaming, hd - Pluto TV: free - Amazon Prime Video: add-on - Disney+: add-on, hd - Apple TV: add-on, uhd - The Roku Channel: add-on, hd - Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, uhd - Apple TV: rent $3.99, hd - Apple TV: buy $14.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $14.99, hd *Checked 2026-09-19.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IT, JP, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *Rocky IV* (1985), Fi1m 52: The original bout, robots and all; this film is its long, sober footnote — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/rocky-iv.md) - *Raging Bull* (1980), Fi1m 91: Boxing as self-punishment, shot in black and white by a man who never flinched — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/raging-bull.md) - *Fat City* (1972): John Huston’s small, sad film about fighters who were never going to be champions - *Girlfight* (2000): A Brooklyn teenager takes up the gloves; tough, unsentimental and quietly furious - *Warrior* (2011), Fi1m 80: Two estranged brothers, one cage, and a father-son story that earns its final bell — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/warrior.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/creed-ii