Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Creed III is a solid, well-crafted sports drama that takes the franchise in a more personal, psychologically complex direction. Michael B. Jordan's directorial debut shows confidence, and the story has real emotional stakes beyond 'will he win the fight.'

The good: Strong family values, authentic deaf representation, themes worth discussing, and performances that land. The 89% critic/95% audience split on RT tells you it's both quality filmmaking and crowd-pleasing entertainment.

The watch-outs: This is PG-13 earning its rating. The boxing violence is graphic, the emotional themes are heavy (childhood trauma, incarceration, abandonment), and it's not a light watch. If your 13-year-old is sensitive to violence or intense emotion, wait a year or two.

Bottom line: If you've got a teen who's into sports movies or the Creed/Rocky universe, this is a strong pick with actual substance. Just know you're signing up for intensity—both physical and emotional. It's not background viewing; it demands engagement. And honestly? That's what makes it worth watching.

Age Fit

Best for ages 13+ who can handle intense sports violence and complex themes about trauma and revenge. Teens into boxing, sports dramas, or the Rocky/Creed franchise will be most engaged—younger kids will find it too intense and emotionally heavy.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

72

Strong themes of family, redemption, and confronting past trauma. Shows a father balancing career and family life, dealing with a deaf daughter with care and respect. The emotional core is healthy, though the boxing violence and revenge subplot add some complexity. Models working through conflict and personal growth, but the intensity of the rivalry and fight sequences bring down the wholesomeness somewhat.

Imaginative

58

Follows a fairly standard sports drama formula—childhood friend returns, old wounds resurface, climactic fight resolves tensions. Michael B. Jordan's directorial debut brings some visual flair to fight sequences, but the narrative doesn't break new ground in the boxing genre. It's competent and well-executed but not particularly original or thought-provoking beyond the familiar Rocky/Creed template.

Safe

65

PG-13 territory with intense boxing violence that's expected in the genre—blood, bruising, hard hits. No gore, nudity, or sexual content. Some strong language likely present. The violence is contextual (sports) rather than gratuitous, but parents should expect graphic fight sequences. Common Sense Media's age 13 recommendation aligns with the intensity level. No major surprise trauma, though themes of incarceration and childhood abandonment require some maturity.

Enriching

74

Explores meaningful themes: confronting your past, the cost of success, forgiveness, and how childhood trauma shapes adult relationships. The deaf daughter representation adds authentic inclusion. Shows the discipline and sacrifice required in athletics, plus the importance of family over glory. Strong performances (89% RT critics, 95% audience) suggest it delivers emotional depth alongside entertainment. Solid discussion fodder about loyalty, ambition, and redemption.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Excellent representation of a deaf character (Adonis's daughter) woven naturally into the story without making it a 'special episode'
Strong themes about confronting your past, loyalty, and choosing family over ego—actual substance beneath the punches
High audience scores (95% RT) suggest it delivers the emotional goods and entertainment value
Shows a Black father actively parenting and prioritizing his family, which is still too rare in mainstream cinema
The boxing sequences are reportedly visceral and well-choreographed—if your teen is into sports films, this delivers

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What to Watch For

The boxing violence is intense—expect blood, swelling, brutal hits. It's sports violence, but it's graphic
Themes of childhood trauma, abandonment, and incarceration run throughout; requires emotional maturity to process
Some strong language likely peppered throughout (PG-13 level)
The revenge/rivalry subplot gets dark—this isn't a feel-good underdog story, it's about two damaged men working through pain via violence

Conversation Starters

"Damian felt abandoned when Adonis didn't visit him in prison. Do you think Adonis owed him that, or was he protecting himself?"
"How do you think Adonis balances being a good dad with his boxing career? What would you do differently?"
"The movie shows how childhood trauma follows both guys into adulthood. What are healthier ways they could have dealt with their past?"
"What did you think about how the movie showed Adonis's deaf daughter? Did it feel realistic or more like a movie version?"
"If someone from your past showed up wanting something from you, how would you handle it?"

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