It’s remarkable how Creed manages to honor all of the previous Rocky movies while also charting a course forward for the series. Following years of Rocky installments, and with more recent ones suggesting that the franchise had seen its peak, Creed arrived as a surprising success. It's a legacy sequel similar to Top Gun: Maverick. Everything about the film—the acting, visuals, production design, fight sequences, and music—was exceptional. However, what truly stood out was the screenplay; the choices made in developing the narrative were superb. The shift to focus on Adonis Creed instead of Rocky’s son, along with Rocky's own struggle against illness demonstrating his enduring determination even when facing a different kind of challenge, indicates an invigorating new phase for the Rocky movies. Creed establishes a high bar for legacy sequels and is also an accessible entry point for those unfamiliar with the earlier films.

Source on TMDB