2015 was a year of cinematic rebirth for major franchises. With Fury Road and The Force Awakens, the Mad Max and Star Wars films were reborn for a new generation to appreciate, with timeless installments delivered to the joy of filmgoers. With that said, having now finally seen it - the strongest rebirth this past year may’ve belonged to Creed.

Technically the seventh installment of the Rocky franchise, Creed focuses on the story of Adonis “Donnie" Johnson (Michael B. Jordan), the bastard son of legendary Rocky Balboa nemesis and friend Apollo Creed. Johnson was born shortly after Creed’s death in the ring, and after going between foster homes and juvie, is adopted in Los Angeles by Creed’s wife, Mary Anne (Phylicia Rashād).

Johnson gets to grow up with the benefits of his father’s legacy - but it’s that very same legacy which he cannot shake. So he dedicates himself to the sport of boxing, moving to Philadelphia. It’s here he decides to approach his father’s greatest opponent, Rocky Balboa (a returning Sylvester Stallone) to train him.

Creed is a movie about shadows. Johnson is looking to fight his way out of his father’s shadow, while Balboa - now in the Mickey role - is lost in the shadow of his legacy, with his wife Adrian and best friend Paulie now passed. It’s the setup for the fight of their respective lives, both literally and figuratively.

The movie that follows is incredibly enthralling. I’ve never been into boxing, and the majority of my exposure to the Rocky franchise has been one of cable television edits, but I absolutely fell in love with this movie. You feel every bump, bruise, loss, victory, sadness and celebration.

Part of why this movie works so well is the incredible casting. Michael B. Jordan has been an actor-on-the-rise for years now, and his hype comes to fruition here, as a hothead who wants to be the best he can be, and cement his own legacy. But the true triumph is in Stallone’s performance, a late-career defining role. While the Expendables franchise may have allowed him a chance to celebrate his action hero past, Creed gives Stallone a chance to be vulnerable and alive. All the word of awards is worthwhile, as this late-in-life Balboa is an incredible piece of work, and one to hang a career on. Additional credit goes to Tessa Thompson, who plays Donnie’s love interest, Bianca, a singer-songwriter that has a ticking clock of her own to worry about.

Creed also serves as the coming out party for co-writer/director Ryan Coogler. Re-teaming with the star of his debut, Fruitville Station, Coogler brings a deft hand of direction to the film. Each fight is masterfully shot and edited, and you can feel the crowd, feel the electricity, and feel every shot. It’s incredibly electric to watch. The brilliant direction is matched by a powerful score from Ludwig GÁ¶ransson. It’s not easy to follow in the iconic footsteps of Bill Conti, but GÁ¶ransson delivers a score that harkens back to the franchise’s best moments, while adding a modern edge. This is a soundtrack you’ll be revisiting, for sure.

The experience of watching Creed is one that is hard to truly describe. Incredibly enthralling, it’s a roller coaster of emotion, but you - like the films leads - feel the fight and drive to succeed along with them. This must’ve been what the original Rocky felt like 1976, and 40 years later, Creed delivers as - hands down - one of the best films of 2015. I cannot recommend it enough.

Creed is in theaters now, and is available for VOD pre-order on Amazon and iTunes.