The latest installment in the "Creed" franchise, "Creed III," has exceeded expectations at the domestic box office in its opening weekend, earning an estimated $58 million in ticket sales. The film, directed by Michael B. Jordan, marks his directorial debut and is the first in the series to not feature Sylvester Stallone. Instead, Jordan's character Adonis faces off against a childhood friend played by Jonathan Majors. Despite Stallone's absence, the film has received positive reviews and an A- CinemaScore from audiences.
Exit polls show that the audience was largely male and diverse, with 36% of viewers identifying as Black, 28% as Latino, 23% as white, and 13% as Asian or other. The film has also been praised for its underdog story and themes of overcoming obstacles and hardship, which director Jordan attributes to the franchise's roots in the "Rocky" series.
In interviews, Jordan has also discussed his new perspective on privacy and keeping personal matters out of the public eye after a highly publicized breakup with Lori Harvey. Returning franchise co-star Tessa Thompson has praised Jordan's collaborative approach to directing, while Majors is enjoying the experience of promoting two high-profile movie releases.
Looking to the future of the franchise, Jordan says that "Creed" will continue as long as audiences want it to, with the "Creed-verse" having a lot of potential for expansion. "Creed III" is the most expensive film in the series, with a reported production budget of $75 million compared to $35 million and $50 million for the previous two films. Its success at the box office suggests that the franchise still has plenty of punch left in it.