Creed III (4K UHD Review)

Estimated reading time: 16 minutes

As its title suggests, Creed III is the third entry in this spinoff from the Rocky Balboa universe. Star Michael B. Jordan takes over the reins as director this time out for a story that finds the champ, Adonis Creed (Jordan), now enjoying his success, his family life, and life in retirement.

Running a successful training facility for up and coming boxers and betting on a new hotshot boxer to unify the title as he once did, Creed is riding high, until someone from his past, former childhood friend Damian Anderson (Jonathan Majors), shows up, newly released after years in prison, looking to get back into boxing and to become the champion. Damian’s arrival forces Adonis Creed to contend with demons from his own past, and to re-enter the ring against his old friend to prove himself.

This story could have been pulled right out of one of the numerous Rocky films, only it comes across as less believable, especially the final act that seems too tidy. Michael B. Jordan, whose direction is unsuccessful at keeping the kinetic energy flowing in the film, seems too young to be playing the aged champ reluctant to get back into the ring. The pacing of the film, with its many lulls, puzzling sidesteps, and misplaced flashback sequences, makes it even more difficult to get through. The unfortunate use of flashback sequences during the climactic fight sequence robs it of what is supposed to be the usually intense, energetic part of the film. There is no suspense, no edge-the-seat energy.

Although Majors does good work as the antagonist looking to get what he feels he deserves against a comfortable Creed, it is not enough to save this franchise from feeling like it is punch drunk and ready to throw in the towel.

The Video

Creed III was shot on various cameras including the Arriflex 35 IIC, RED Komodo, Red V-Raptor IMAX, and Sony CineAlta Venice IMAX in IMAX, Redcode RAW (6K, 8K), Super 35 (some shots), and X-OCN ST(6K). A 4K digital intermediate is utilized and the film is color coded with Dolby Vision HDR.

The various sources are blended well although there are different color palettes at play in this film. There is the more desaturated and darker look, with deep, obsidian blacks, the cooler interior shots of the home and warmer flashback sequences. Each palette is clean and crisp. The fight sequences are filled with sharp detail – the cut of each fighter’s muscles is clearly defined, the individual beads of sweat can be seen, and texture in the faces and flesh well defined. Blood looks vermillion and visceral. I like this transfer a lot. It has no problems with the encodement at all, and the Dolby Vision does lend some specular highlight ‘pop’ to sweat, spotlights, and lamplight, though it is not a very bright overall image. The film appears on 4K Ultra HD in a 2.39:1 HEVC 2160p (4K UHD) Dolby Vision encodement.

The Audio

Creed III on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray has a lossless English Dolby Atmos audio mix. This is not the most exciting Atmos track you will come across, but it is well balanced and ten times better than the Atmos on the week’s companion release from Warner, Shazam! Fury of the Gods. Here we get a decent amount of dynamic range that manages the dialogue properly and the more boisterous fight sequences, a good amount of extended low frequencies for a hefty undergirding to punches and bass in the hip hop songs. The mix does tend to have long spells of stagnation and inactivity in the surrounds and overheads, which can make it sound just a bit boring.

The Supplements

There is not much included with this release, but all bonus features are on the Blu-ray and consist of a couple of brief EPK-style featurettes and three short, deleted scenes. There is no audio commentary.

• Digital Code
• Blu-ray with Feature Film in HD and All Bonus Features
• Michael B. Jordan: In the Ring/Behind the Camera (1080p; 00:10:04)
• Donnie and Dame: There’s No Enemy Like the Past (1080p; 00:09:20)
• Deleted Scenes (1080p; 00:04:23):
  • Sc. 29 Dame Steals Candy for Boy
  • Sc. 40 Amara School Hallway
  • Sc. 103 Duke Talks to Adonis in Church

The Final Assessment

Creed III runs out of steam for the third round but puts up a good fight on Blu-ray. This will not be the very top in reference material, but there are no serious flaws with the transfer.

Creed III is out on 4K Ultra HD Combo May 23, 2023, from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

• Rating Certificate: PG-13 (for intense sports action, violence and some strong language.)
• Studios & Distributors: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) | Chartoff-Winkler Productions | Glickmania | Outlier Society | Proximity Media | Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
• Director: Michael B. Jordan
• Written By: Keenan Coogler | Zach Baylin | Ryan Coogler
• Run Time: 116 Mins.
• Street Date: 23 May 2023
• Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
• Video Format: HEVC 2160p (4K UHD)
• HDR Format: Dolby Vision (HDR10 Compatible)
• Primary Audio: English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Compatible)
• Secondary Audio: English DD 5.1 | English Descriptive Audio (US) | English Descriptive Audio (UK) | French DD 5.1 | German DD 5.1 | German Descriptive Audio | Italian Dolby Atmos | Italian DD 5.1 | Spanish DD 5.1
• Subtitles: English SDH | French | German SDH | Italian SDH | Spanish