You probably remember the hype. It was everywhere. People were scrolling through TikTok and Instagram, seeing Michael B. Jordan looking absolutely shredded in those early training montages. But honestly, the path to the big screen wasn't exactly a straight line. If you are wondering when did Creed 3 come out, the short answer is March 3, 2023.
It premiered in the United States.
But that specific date matters more than you might think. It wasn't just another Friday at the movies. It marked a massive shift in how we look at the Rocky universe—mostly because, for the first time in nearly fifty years, Sylvester Stallone wasn't in the ring or even in the corner.
The Long Road to the Ring
The movie didn't just drop out of thin air. Originally, the studio had their eyes on a late 2022 release. They wanted that Thanksgiving window. Why? Because boxing movies and holidays usually go together like peanut butter and jelly. It’s that "family struggle" vibe that prints money during the Oscars season.
But things got complicated.
Michael B. Jordan wasn't just starring this time; he was directing. That's a huge lift. Directing a massive tentpole film while also being the guy who has to get hit in the face (or at least pretend to) takes an incredible amount of post-production time. MGM eventually pushed the date back from November 23, 2022, to that final March 2023 slot.
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It worked.
The film ended up grossing over $100 million domestically in its first few days. People weren't just curious about when did Creed 3 come out; they were hungry for it. They wanted to see if the franchise could survive without Balboa. Turns out, it could.
Why the March Date Was a Gamble
March is usually a "transition" month for Hollywood. You’re coming off the high of the December blockbusters and the prestige of the Academy Awards, but you aren't quite into the summer "superhero" season yet. By dropping Creed III on March 3rd, the studio was basically betting that Adonis Creed was a big enough draw to carry a weekend by himself.
He was.
The film smashed franchise records. It pulled in $58.7 million in its opening weekend alone. Compare that to the first Creed, which did about $29 million in its opening weekend back in 2015. The growth is wild. It shows that the audience wasn't just there for the Rocky nostalgia anymore. They were there for Donnie. They were there for Dame.
The Jonathan Majors Factor
You can't talk about the release without talking about Jonathan Majors. Before the personal legal troubles that would later dominate his headlines, Majors was the "It" guy of 2023. He had just appeared as Kang in the MCU, and then, just weeks later, he was playing Damian "Dame" Anderson.
The chemistry between Jordan and Majors was electric. It felt real. Probably because they actually spent months training together to make the fights look less like "movie boxing" and more like the brutal, technical sport it actually is.
Behind the Lens: Michael B. Jordan’s Vision
When the movie finally arrived, critics noticed something weird. The fights didn't look like Rocky fights. They looked like... anime?
Jordan is a massive fan of Hajime no Ippo and Dragon Ball Z. He’s talked about this in dozens of interviews. When you watch the final showdown at Dodger Stadium, the way the sound cuts out and the crowd vanishes—that’s pure anime influence. He wanted to show the "internal" world of the fighters.
It was a risk.
Traditionalists might have hated it. But the younger crowd? They loved it. It made the movie feel fresh. It didn't feel like a 50-year-old franchise dragging its feet; it felt like something new.
What Was Missing?
The elephant in the room was Stallone. Fans kept checking the casting lists right up until when did Creed 3 come out, hoping for a cameo. It never happened. Stallone was vocal about his disagreements with producer Irwin Winkler over the rights to the characters.
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It was messy.
It’s actually kinda sad if you think about it. The guy who built the house couldn't even walk through the front door. But creatively, it forced the movie to grow up. Adonis couldn't run to "Unc" every time things got hard. He had to handle his own past, his own guilt, and his own family.
The Impact on Boxing Culture
Real-world boxing stars like Canelo Alvarez made appearances. This helped the movie feel grounded in the actual sport. Usually, boxing movies feel like a caricature. They have guys taking 500 punches to the head and staying standing. Creed III tried to be a bit more tactical, focusing on the "check hook" and the "cross-counter."
The movie also heavily featured the Deaf community.
Adonis’s daughter, Amara (played by Mila Davis-Kent), is Deaf. The film uses American Sign Language (ASL) throughout, and not just as a gimmick. It’s part of the family’s DNA. This was a massive step for representation in a major action flick. It wasn't "about" being Deaf; it was just a part of their lives.
Comparing the Releases
If you're looking at the timeline of the whole saga, here’s how the releases stacked up:
- Creed (Nov 25, 2015) - The introduction.
- Creed II (Nov 21, 2018) - The "Drago" sequel.
- Creed III (March 3, 2023) - The solo debut.
Notice the pattern? The first two were Thanksgiving movies. The third one broke the mold. It stepped out of the shadow of the holidays, just like Adonis stepped out of the shadow of Rocky.
Where Can You Watch It Now?
If you missed the theatrical window, you aren't out of luck. After its run in the cinemas, the movie transitioned to Prime Video and MGM+. Since Amazon bought MGM, it’s basically the "home" for all things Creed. You can also find it on 4K Blu-ray, which is honestly the best way to see the cinematography. The IMAX-shot sequences look incredible on a high-end TV.
Is There a Creed 4?
The success of the March release basically guaranteed more. Michael B. Jordan has already confirmed that Creed IV is in the works. There are even talks about a "Creed-verse" with spin-offs. Maybe a Drago movie? Maybe a series about Amara?
The fans showed up, and the money followed.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you are planning a rewatch or diving in for the first time, keep these things in mind to get the most out of the experience:
- Watch for the Anime Nods: Look at the "double punch" moments. They are direct homages to classic fight choreography found in Japanese animation.
- Pay Attention to the Colors: Notice how Dame (Majors) is often associated with darker, more aggressive tones, while Adonis is framed in "champion" golds and whites.
- Context Matters: Watch Creed II right before. It helps you understand why Adonis is so protective of his legacy and why the arrival of a "ghost" from his past (Dame) is so threatening.
- Check the Sound Design: If you have a good sound system, listen to the punches. They used real contact sounds mixed with cinematic "thuds" to create a more visceral feeling.
The movie proved that a franchise can survive a total overhaul. It proved that Michael B. Jordan is as good behind the camera as he is in front of it. And most importantly, it gave the Creed name its own identity. It’s no longer just a "Rocky spin-off." It’s its own beast.
If you're catching up, start with the 2015 original and work your way through. The evolution of the character—and the actor—is one of the best arcs in modern cinema. March 3rd was just the day the world finally saw Adonis stand entirely on his own two feet.