--- title: "Creed II: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/creed-ii/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/creed-ii" critics_score: 66 critics_reviews: 25 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): what the critics said Critics' score 66 from 25 reviews: 15 positive, 8 mixed, 2 negative. 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. ## Evening Standard — Matthew Norman Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 30 November 2018. 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 the review](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 Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 16 November 2018. 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 the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/nov/16/creed-ii-review-rocky-sylvester-stallone-michael-b-jordan) ## Time Out — Joshua Rothkopf Rating 4/5. 23 November 2018. 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 the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/creed-2) ## The AV Club — Jesse Hassenger Rating B. 16 November 2018. 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 the review](https://www.avclub.com/creed-ii-can-t-match-the-impact-of-its-predecessor-but-1830476510) ## IndieWire — Eric Kohn Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 16 November 2018. 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 the review](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/creed-ii-review-michael-b-jordan-1202021269/) ## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 16 November 2018. 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 the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-creed-ii-review-20181116-story.html) ## The New York Times — A.O. Scott Rating Critic’s Pick. 20 November 2018. 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 the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/20/movies/creed-ii-review.html) ## The Times — Kevin Maher Rating ★★★★☆. 30 November 2018. 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 the review](https://www.thetimes.com/article/creed-ii-review-rmtst7rnt) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 19 November 2018. 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 the review](https://www.vulture.com/2018/11/creed-ii-review.html) ## Little White Lies — Kambole Campbell Rating 4/3/2. 27 November 2018. 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 the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/creed-ii) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 16 November 2018. 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 the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/creed-ii-review/5134561.article) ## Slant Magazine Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 16 November 2018. 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 the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/creed-ii/) ## The Telegraph Rating 3/5. 29 November 2018. 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 the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/creed-ii-review-michael-b-jordan-comes-swinging-tough-touching/) ## Empire — Ian Freer Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 16 November 2018. 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 the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/creed-ii-review/) ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 21 November 2018. 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 the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/creed-ii) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 16 November 2018. 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 the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/creed-ii-review-1161754/) ## Den of Geek — Amon Warmann Rating 4/5. 27 November 2018. 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 the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/creed-ii-review-a-strong-follow-up-that-packs-a-punch/) ## Consequence Rating B-. 20 November 2018. 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 the review](https://consequence.net/2018/11/film-review-creed-ii/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 20 November 2018. 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 the review](https://deadline.com/video/creed-ii-review-michael-b-jordan-sylvester-stallone-return/) ## /Film — Josh Spiegel Rating 7/10. 20 November 2018. 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 the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/562485/creed-ii-review/) ## NME — Olly Richards Rating 4. 29 November 2018. 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 the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/creed-ii-film-review-2414410) ## The Wrap — Robert Abele Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 20 November 2018. 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 the review](https://www.thewrap.com/creed-ii-film-review-michael-b-jordan-sylvester-stallone/) ## Polygon — Karen Han Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 16 November 2018. 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 the review](https://www.polygon.com/2018/11/16/18098571/creed-2-review-michael-b-jordan/) ## The Skinny — Benjamin Rabinovich Rating ★★★. 29 November 2018. 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 the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/creed-ii) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating C. 20 November 2018. 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 the review](https://collider.com/creed-2-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/creed-ii.md