Plot Summary

Life has become a constant struggle for balance for young boxer Adonis Creed. As he prepares for the next major fight of his career, Adonis finds himself torn between the relentless demands of professional training and the personal responsibilities that come with fame, family, and legacy.

Before long, he is forced to confront an opponent whose past is deeply tied to his own family history. Alongside his mentor Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), Adonis must face not only a formidable rival in the ring, but also the emotional weight of inherited trauma, unfinished business, and shared legacy.

Once again portrayed by Michael B. Jordan, Adonis Creed stands at the center of a conflict that transcends championship belts. The return of Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), the iconic antagonist of the Rocky universe, brings with it a chilling reminder of history, as his undefeated son Viktor Drago (Florian “Big Nasty” Munteanu) challenges Adonis before the eyes of the world.

As the bout is promoted as a modern-day “Creed vs. Drago” showdown, the fear that history may repeat itself weighs heavily on Rocky. For Adonis, defeating Drago is about far more than victory—it is about identity, redemption, and confronting the shadow of a father who died in the ring before he was born.

Outside the ring, Adonis has built a life he once only dreamed of. His relationship with Bianca (Tessa Thompson), a rising singer-songwriter, has matured into a promise of family and stability. Meanwhile, Mary Anne Creed (Phylicia Rashad), who never wished for him to follow his father’s dangerous path, comes to accept that the same passion and talent that made Apollo Creed a legend lives on in her adopted son.

Despite his success, Adonis wrestles with doubt—questioning whether he truly deserves the title, whether he has reached his full potential, and whether he can ever step out from beneath the weight of his father’s legacy. The arrival of Viktor Drago forces him to confront these fears head-on, turning the upcoming fight into a deeply personal reckoning.

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Steven Caple Jr., Creed II expands the emotional and thematic scope of the franchise, exploring fame, inheritance, and the meaning of family. In the end, both Rocky and Adonis come to the same realization: nothing is worth fighting for more than the people you love.