Creed

Nine years after Rocky Balboa, the franchise changed its lead. Ryan Coogler had made only one feature, Fruitvale Station, with Michael B. Jordan. He wrote the script with Aaron Covington and won over Sylvester Stallone: it is the first film in the series that Stallone did not write. Rocky becomes a trainer, and the son of his old rival Apollo Creed takes centre ring.

Professional boxers in the ring

Coogler cast real fighters. Tony Bellew, then a British contender, plays champion Ricky Conlan. Andre Ward, Olympic champion at Athens 2004, plays Danny Wheeler. Philadelphia boxer Gabriel Rosado is Leo Sporino, and cutman Jacob "Stitch" Duran plays himself. Filming began on 19 January 2015 at Goodison Park, Everton's ground in Liverpool, during a Premier League match, and the final fight is set there. Bellew fought there for real in May 2016, for a world title.

A fight in a single shot

Adonis's first professional bout, against Sporino, is filmed as one unbroken take. It took thirteen attempts, and the eleventh is in the film. The Steadicam operator took boxing lessons to move between the two fighters. Boxers will recognise Jordan's work: guard, footwork, body shots and fatigue you can see.

A big success

Made for $35 million, Creed grossed around $174 million worldwide and holds a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Stallone won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor and earned an Oscar nomination, as he had for the original Rocky in 1977. Two sequels followed, Creed II (2018) and Creed III (2023).