Creed III

Even if the franchise has lost some of its punching power, Creed III shows that while its origins will always be linked to the Rocky pedigree, it’s more than a cinematic nepo baby.

Although it adheres to predictable formula, this crowd-pleasing installment provides a logical continuation from a narrative standpoint — both inside and outside the boxing ring — while taking the title character in a new direction.

It also enables star and first-time director Michael B. Jordan to assume more creative control of the series, like Sylvester Stallone (who’s absent on screen for the first time) did behind the camera with the Rocky movies.

We’ve seen Adonis Creed go from a young prodigy under Rocky’s tutelage to a heavyweight champion following in his late father’s footsteps. Now he’s facing transition again, recently retired from fighting while pursuing a career as a gym owner and industry mogul.

He’s also facing challenges in his personal life, as Adonis and his wife (Tessa Thompson) are raising a hearing-impaired daughter (Mila Davis-Kent) who might want her own shot at a title someday.

Meanwhile, Adonis is mentoring a top prospect (Jose Benavidez) when his life is upended by a visit from childhood friend Damian Anderson (Jonathan Majors), recently released after a lengthy prison stint with an itch to start boxing in his 30s.

Their uneasy re-connection forces Adonis to confront their shared past. Is Damian’s hot-tempered hostility over Adonis’ fame and fortune justified? Settling their grudge in the ring seems like the only outcome. Cue the blue-collar training montages and the inevitable high-profile final showdown.

Jordan gives the fight sequences a visceral intensity, even if some of his stylistic flourishes feel overwrought. Fortunately, Majors (Devotion) makes a worthy adversary with a nicely modulated performance that balances Damian’s physicality with his deep-rooted vulnerability.

We feel the extent of their bond as well as the lingering guilt and jealousy that threatens to tear them apart. Yet at times, it seems they’re both fighting a screenplay that suffers from contrivances and clunky dialogue.

The film is best with the gloves off, when it digs beneath the testosterone-fueled rage and aggression to explore masculinity with some nuance as Adonis navigates both fatherhood and brotherhood, along with shifting loyalties among those close to him.

As always, he’s battling for more than just a belt. And although Creed III isn’t a knockout, it lands enough punches.

Rated PG-13, 116 minutes.