Creed
Adonis Johnson is the son of the famous boxing champion Apollo Creed, who died in a boxing match in Rocky IV (1985). Adonis wasn't born until after his father's death and wants to follow his fathers footsteps in boxing. He seeks a mentor who is the former heavyweight boxing champion and former friend of Apollo Creed, the retired Rocky Balboa. Rocky eventually agrees to mentor Adonis. With Rocky's help they hope to get a title job to face even deadlier opponents than his father. But whether he is a true fighter remains to be seen....
Despite a mid-range budget of $37.0M, Creed became a financial success, earning $173.6M worldwide—a 369% return.
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 45 wins & 66 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Creed (2015) exemplifies carefully calibrated narrative design, characteristic of Ryan Coogler's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 13 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.2, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Young Adonis fights in a youth facility, establishing his combative nature and troubled background, fatherless and searching for identity.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 17 minutes when Adonis quits his prestigious job to pursue boxing full-time, despite Mary Anne's objections. The safe life is no longer sustainable - he must answer the call of his father's legacy.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 34 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Rocky agrees to train Adonis after seeing his raw talent and relentless spirit. Adonis makes the active choice to commit fully to becoming a fighter under Rocky's guidance., moving from reaction to action.
At 67 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Adonis's identity as Apollo Creed's son is publicly revealed by promoters seeking to exploit the legacy. His worst fear realized - he's no longer his own man but "Hollywood Donnie," defined entirely by his father's shadow., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 100 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Adonis learns Rocky has cancer and won't fight for his life. The mentor who saved him is giving up. Adonis explodes in anger and despair - if Rocky won't fight, what's the point of anything?., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 106 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Adonis returns to Rocky with new understanding: they fight together. Rocky agrees to treatment. Adonis synthesizes his father's legacy with his own identity - he is a Creed, and he chooses to fight as one., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Creed's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Creed against these established plot points, we can identify how Ryan Coogler utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Creed within the action genre.
Ryan Coogler's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Ryan Coogler films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.7, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Creed takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Ryan Coogler filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Ryan Coogler analyses, see Fruitvale Station, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Black Panther.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Young Adonis fights in a youth facility, establishing his combative nature and troubled background, fatherless and searching for identity.
Theme
Mary Anne tells Adonis "You got your father's temper" and warns about his legacy - establishing the central question of whether he can forge his own identity or be defined by Apollo Creed's shadow.
Worldbuilding
Adonis lives a double life: successful finance job by day, underground fighter in Tijuana by night. He has everything materially but feels empty, haunted by the father he never knew.
Disruption
Adonis quits his prestigious job to pursue boxing full-time, despite Mary Anne's objections. The safe life is no longer sustainable - he must answer the call of his father's legacy.
Resistance
Adonis travels to Philadelphia to convince Rocky Balboa to train him. Rocky initially refuses, resistant to returning to boxing. Adonis persists, training alone at Front Street Gym, proving his determination.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Rocky agrees to train Adonis after seeing his raw talent and relentless spirit. Adonis makes the active choice to commit fully to becoming a fighter under Rocky's guidance.
Mirror World
Adonis meets Bianca, an aspiring musician dealing with progressive hearing loss. She represents living authentically and pursuing your passion despite obstacles - the thematic mirror to Adonis's journey.
Premise
Adonis trains intensely with Rocky, wins his first professional fights, and develops his relationship with Bianca. The promise of becoming a champion fighter unfolds - training montages, victories, romance, and mentorship.
Midpoint
Adonis's identity as Apollo Creed's son is publicly revealed by promoters seeking to exploit the legacy. His worst fear realized - he's no longer his own man but "Hollywood Donnie," defined entirely by his father's shadow.
Opposition
The pressure intensifies: Rocky is diagnosed with cancer and refuses treatment; Adonis must fight "Pretty" Ricky Conlan, the light heavyweight champion; his relationship with Bianca strains under the spotlight; he confronts whether he's worthy of the Creed name.
Collapse
Adonis learns Rocky has cancer and won't fight for his life. The mentor who saved him is giving up. Adonis explodes in anger and despair - if Rocky won't fight, what's the point of anything?
Crisis
Adonis confronts his deepest fear in the mirror, visiting Apollo's grave for the first time. He sits in darkness, processing the loss, the legacy, and what it means to truly honor his father - not by escaping the name, but by earning it.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Adonis returns to Rocky with new understanding: they fight together. Rocky agrees to treatment. Adonis synthesizes his father's legacy with his own identity - he is a Creed, and he chooses to fight as one.
Synthesis
The championship fight with Conlan. Adonis fights with everything - his father's legacy, Rocky's teaching, his own heart. He loses by split decision but wins respect, proves his worth, and earns the Creed name on his own terms.
Transformation
Adonis walks with Bianca and Rocky, at peace. He's no longer running from or chasing his father's ghost - he is Adonis Creed, his own man, surrounded by family he's chosen and earned.