Creed II (2018)
Creed II continues the emotional and physical journey of Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan), now a rising boxing champion trying to step out of his father’s shadow. The film opens with Adonis capturing the world heavyweight title, finally achieving what he has fought for since the beginning. His life is looking bright—he proposes to his girlfriend Bianca (Tessa Thompson), who is also advancing in her music career, and the two begin planning their future together.
However, Adonis’s victory attracts the attention of a formidable challenger: Viktor Drago, the son of Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), the man who killed Adonis’s father, Apollo Creed, in the ring decades earlier. Ivan, disgraced and exiled from the boxing world after losing to Rocky Balboa in Rocky IV, has spent years training his son in harsh conditions, driven by bitterness and the desire to restore the Drago legacy.
A boxing promoter manipulates the situation to provoke a high-profile, emotionally charged match between Adonis and Viktor. Despite Rocky’s refusal to support the fight—believing Adonis is not mentally ready and warning him that revenge is a dangerous motivator—Adonis accepts the challenge. He enters the ring full of anger, not strategy, and is brutally beaten by Viktor. Although Viktor is disqualified for illegal blows, Adonis is left physically injured, emotionally broken, and unsure of who he is without his title or confidence.
During this low point, Bianca gives birth to their daughter, Amara, who is diagnosed with hearing impairment. The responsibilities of fatherhood and the fear of repeating his father’s mistakes force Adonis to reflect on the man he wants to become. Rocky, burdened by unresolved guilt over Apollo’s death, reconnects with Adonis and agrees to train him once more. They retreat to a remote desert gym, where Adonis undergoes punishing, soul-searching training designed to rebuild him from the inside out.
The championship rematch takes place in Russia, where Adonis faces Viktor again—this time with clarity, discipline, and heart. The fight is brutal and exhausting; Viktor is powerful, but Adonis refuses to give up. Eventually, Viktor’s spirit begins to break under the weight of his father’s expectations. In a poignant turn, Ivan, seeing Viktor suffer just to satisfy his own pride, throws in the towel—ending the match and quietly redeeming himself as a father.
The film concludes with Adonis embracing the legacy of both his father Apollo and mentor Rocky. He visits Apollo’s grave with Bianca and Amara, acknowledging the past while confidently stepping into his own future.
