'Creed': Stream it over Thanksgiving weekend

OK, you've got the in-laws in town and they've already seen all the sights of the city. Or you're still in a turkey coma, and you just don't feel like moving. What do you do? Watch one of the best movies about Philadelphia ever made.

Creed, the next phase of the Rocky franchise, has hit both Hulu and Amazon just in time for the holiday weekend, and it's an excellent excuse not to leave your couch, as well as paying tribute to the original Italian Stallion. Rocky turned 40 last week, and Sylvester Stallone hasn't been as good playing his most famous character since the original (hence, the Academy Award nod).

Starring Michael B. Jordan, who was robbed of an Oscar nomination, Creed is about Adonis, the son of Rocky's former foe-turned-bestie Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). Adonis leaves behind his life as a suit to train with Rocky in Philly. Along the way, he meets free-spirited, fiery Bianca (Tessa Thompson) and, of course, learns something about himself.

Director Ryan Coogler took the Rocky franchise in a completely different direction with Creed, showing how Philadelphia has evolved since Rocky ran up the Philadelphia Museum of Art's steps in 1976. The city is vibrant and diverse, not the underdog it once was.

But as much as Creed departs from the original Rocky, it's core message is still the same: Work hard, believe in yourself, don't give up. And that's a lovely sentiment for any holiday.

-Molly Eichel
Where to stream it: Hulu, Amazon

If you like this, stream these: Hulu has the entire Rocky franchise if you want to make a marathon of it, but you've seen those already, right? Instead, check out Fruitvale Station, Coogler's first film (also starring Jordan), about the death of Oscar Grant, who was shot by a San Francisco transit cop in 2009.