Tuesday, ITV4, 9:00pm
In Creed (2015), director Ryan Coogler reinvigorates the boxing genre by spinning off the iconic Rocky franchise with a fresh, modern perspective. The film follows Adonis Johnson (played by Michael B. Jordan), the illegitimate son of Apollo Creed, as he attempts to step out from his father’s shadow and establish his own legacy in the ring. Sylvester Stallone returns as an aging Rocky Balboa, coaxed out of retirement to train the young fighter, delivering a performance that’s as soulful as it is nostalgic. Creed is less about the triumph of fists and more about the battle for identity and belonging. It’s a raw and emotional story, as much about heart as it is about muscle.
The soundtrack is a masterpiece, blending Ludwig Göransson’s original score with contemporary hip-hop to embody the film’s spirit of legacy-meets-modernity. Göransson, a frequent collaborator with Coogler, crafts an evocative score that tips its hat to Rocky’s classic Bill Conti themes while introducing fresh, driving motifs for Adonis. The standout is the training montage music—a genre staple that Göransson reinvents with electrifying beats and orchestral flourishes. Adding to the energy are tracks by artists like Future and Meek Mill, whose "Lord Knows" perfectly captures the grit and ambition of Adonis’s climb to glory. It’s a soundtrack that pounds as hard as the film’s punches, yet knows when to quiet down for emotional resonance.
For collectors, the Creed soundtrack is a delightful conundrum: vinyl purists will salivate over limited-edition releases featuring gorgeous cover art and colored pressings. For digital streamers, it’s all about curated playlists that highlight the interplay between Göransson’s score and the punchy hip-hop tracks. The album didn’t win major awards, but it certainly put Göransson on Hollywood’s radar—paving the way for his Black Panther triumph a few years later. Much like its protagonist, Creed doesn’t just inherit a legacy; it builds one worth celebrating.
- Paul Allen