Production Budget Analysis

What was the production budget for Creed III?

Directed by Michael B. Jordan, with Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors leading the cast, Creed III was produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer with a confirmed budget of $75,000,000, placing it in the mid-budget category for drama films as part of the Creed Collection.

With a $75,000,000 budget, Creed III sits in the mid-range of studio releases. Marketing costs for a wide release at this level typically add $30–60 million, putting the break-even point near $187,500,000.

Budget Comparison — Similar Productions

• Practical Magic (1998): Budget $75,000,000 | Gross $46,733,235 → ROI: -38% • The Hunger Games (2012): Budget $75,000,000 | Gross $694,000,000 → ROI: 825% • Robots (2005): Budget $75,000,000 | Gross $262,511,490 → ROI: 250% • Sing (2016): Budget $75,000,000 | Gross $634,151,679 → ROI: 746% • Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018): Budget $75,000,000 | Gross $395,607,854 → ROI: 427%

Key Budget Allocation Categories

▸ Above-the-Line Talent Drama films live or die on the strength of their performances. Securing award-caliber actors and experienced directors represents the single largest budget line item, often consuming 30–40% of the total production budget.

▸ Location Filming & Period Production Design Authentic locations — whether contemporary or historical — require scouting, permits, travel, lodging, and often significant dressing to match the story's time period. Period dramas add the cost of era-accurate props, vehicles, and set decoration.

▸ Post-Production, Color Grading & Score The editorial process for dramas is typically longer than genre films, with careful attention to pacing and tone. Color grading, a nuanced musical score, and detailed sound mixing are critical to achieving the emotional resonance that defines the genre.

Key Production Personnel

CAST: Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Phylicia Rashād, Mila Davis-Kent Key roles: Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Creed; Tessa Thompson as Bianca Creed; Jonathan Majors as Damian 'Dame' Anderson; Phylicia Rashād as Mary-Anne Creed

DIRECTOR: Michael B. Jordan CINEMATOGRAPHY: Kramer Morgenthau MUSIC: Joseph Shirley EDITING: Tyler Nelson PRODUCTION: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Chartoff-Winkler Productions, Proximity Media, Outlier Society FILMED IN: United States of America

Box Office Performance

Creed III earned $156,248,615 domestically and $119,051,385 internationally, for a worldwide total of $275,300,000. Revenue was split 57% domestic / 43% international.

Break-Even Analysis

Using the industry-standard 2.5x multiplier (P&A + exhibitor shares of 40–50% + distribution fees), Creed III needed approximately $187,500,000 to break even. The film surpassed this threshold by $87,800,000.

Return on Investment (ROI)

Revenue: $275,300,000 Budget: $75,000,000 Net: $200,300,000 ROI: 267.1%

Profitability Assessment

VERDICT: Profitable

Creed III delivered a solid return, earning $275,300,000 worldwide on a $75,000,000 budget (267% ROI). Combined with ancillary revenue, the film was a financial positive for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

INDUSTRY IMPACT

Franchise: Creed III is part of the Creed Collection.

The outsized success of Creed III likely influenced studio greenlight decisions for similar drama projects.

PRODUCTION NOTES

▸ Pre-Production

In February 2020, Zach Baylin was announced as screenwriter, with Jordan confirmed to reprise his role as Adonis Creed. In October 2020, it was reported that Jordan would reprise his role of Adonis Creed and make his directorial debut in Creed III. Producers had expressed interest in having Jordan serve as director, with Irwin Winkler stating that he had personally offered the position to the actor. In April 2021, Stallone announced he was not cast in the film. By June 2021, Jonathan Majors entered talks to portray Adonis's new adversary. In November 2021, it was officially confirmed that Majors was cast. In April 2022, it was announced that Wood Harris and Florian Munteanu would reprise their roles from previous Creed films, and Selenis Leyva, Thaddeus J. Mixson, Spence Moore II, and Mila Davis-Kent joined the cast. In September 2022, Mexican boxer Canelo Álvarez was cast in as a cameo.

Stallone expressed distaste for the darker direction the filmmakers wanted to take the film in, stating: "That's a regretful situation because I know what it could have been. It was taken in a direction that is quite different than I would've taken it. It's a different philosophy — Irwin Winkler's and Michael B. Jordan's. I wish them well, but I'm much more of a sentimentalist. I like my heroes getting beat up, but I just don't want them going into that dark space. I just feel people have enough darkness." Jordan meanwhile wanted to explore Adonis' early life & backstory. Stallone refused to see the released film due to the involvement of producer Irwin Winkler, whom Stallone has called a "parasite" for "picking clean the bones" of characters he (Stallone) created. Winkler purchased the rights for the Rocky character from Stallone in 1976.

▸ Filming & Locations

Principal photography began in late January 2022, and Jordan was seen on the set in Atlanta, Georgia. Kramer Morgenthau returned as the cinematographer for the film, after having done so for Creed II. The film was partially shot on IMAX-certified Sony CineAlta Venice cameras and the Panavision anamorphic format, making this the first film in the series, and the first sports film in history, to do so. Filming later ended on April 6, 2022.

Jordan said the fight choreography was heavy influenced by anime series such as Megalobox, Naruto Shippuden, Hajime No Ippo, and Dragon Ball Z.

[Filming] Principal photography began in late January 2022, and Jordan was seen on the set in Atlanta, Georgia. Kramer Morgenthau returned as the cinematographer for the film, after having done so for Creed II. The film was partially shot on IMAX-certified Sony CineAlta Venice cameras and the Panavision anamorphic format, making this the first film in the series, and the first sports film in history, to do so. Filming later ended on April 6, 2022.

Jordan said the fight choreography was heavy influenced by anime series such as Megalobox, Naruto Shippuden, Hajime No Ippo, and Dragon Ball Z.

▸ Post-Production

In May 2022, the final writing credits were officiated. Ryan Coogler (director and co-writer of Creed, executive producer on Creed II, and producer on Creed III) received story credit with Keenan Coogler and Baylin, and the latter two received screenplay credit. Tyler Nelson and Jessica Baclesse served as co-editors.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Summary: 2 wins & 26 nominations total

Additional Recognition: At the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards, Creed III was nominated for Best Performance in a Movie (Jordan). It received a nomination for Best Viral Campaign for a Feature Film at the 2023 Golden Trailer Awards. The film and Jordan was respectively nominated for Best Picture and Best Actor at the 6th Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Film Awards. At the Black Reel Awards of 2024 the film received four nominations: Outstanding Director and Outstanding Lead Performance to Jordan, Outstanding Supporting Performance to Majors and Outstanding Soundtrack.

CRITICAL RECEPTION

Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A–" on an A+ to F scale, while those polled by PostTrak gave it a 92% positive score, with 80% saying they would definitely recommend it. Chicago Sun-Times Richard Roeper gave the film three out of four stars, writing "What makes Creed III a consistently engrossing watch is the gritty and violent back story, and the present-day tension between two former best friends whose lives were forever changed by a single confrontation that went sideways and who now have been reunited after nearly 20 years, with one man on top of the world and the other about two degrees from reaching the boiling point as he simmers with rage and resentment."