Black Adam (film)

Black Adam (film)
Name	Black Adam
Director	Jaume Collet-Serra
Producer	Beau Flynn, Hiram Garcia, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia
Writer	Adam Sztykiel, Rory Haines, Sohrab Noshirvani
Starring	Dwayne Johnson, Aldis Hodge, Noah Centineo, Sarah Shahi, Marwan Kenzari, Quintessa Swindell, Bodhi Sabongui, Pierce Brosnan
Music	Lorne Balfe
Cinematography	Lawrence Sher
Editing	John Lee, Mike Sale
Studio	New Line Cinema, DC Studios, Seven Bucks Productions, FlynnPictureCo.
Distributor	Warner Bros. Pictures
Runtime	125 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$195–230 million
Gross	$393.3 million

Black Adam (film). The film is a superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name, serving as a spin-off from ''Shazam!'' and the eleventh installment in the DC Extended Universe. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and starring Dwayne Johnson in the title role, the narrative explores the antihero's origins in the fictional nation of Kahndaq and his conflict with the superhero team known as the Justice Society of America. Produced by New Line Cinema, DC Studios, and Seven Bucks Productions, the project was a long-gestating passion project for Johnson, who was attached to the role for over a decade before its eventual release.

Plot

In the ancient nation of Kahndaq, a slave named Teth-Adam is granted the powers of the wizard Shazam to overthrow the tyrannical king Ahk-Ton. In the present day, archaeologist Adrianna Tomaz and her brother Karim seek the Crown of Sabbac to liberate Kahndaq from the criminal organization Intergang. She inadvertently awakens Teth-Adam, who has been imprisoned for 5,000 years, and his brutal methods of dispensing justice attract the attention of Amanda Waller of A.R.G.U.S.. Waller dispatches the Justice Society of America, led by Carter Hall aka Hawkman and including Kent Nelson aka Doctor Fate, Albert Rothstein aka Atom Smasher, and Maxine Hunkel aka Cyclone, to capture him. The conflict escalates as Intergang's leader, Ismail Gregor, obtains the Crown and transforms into the demonic Sabbac, forcing Adam and the JSA into an uneasy alliance to save Kahndaq.

Cast

* Dwayne Johnson as Teth-Adam / Black Adam * Aldis Hodge as Carter Hall / Hawkman * Noah Centineo as Albert Rothstein / Atom Smasher * Sarah Shahi as Adrianna Tomaz * Marwan Kenzari as Ismail Gregor / Sabbac * Quintessa Swindell as Maxine Hunkel / Cyclone * Bodhi Sabongui as Amon Tomaz * Pierce Brosnan as Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate * Viola Davis appears as Amanda Waller, reprising her role from previous DC Extended Universe films.

Production

Development began in the early 2000s, with Dwayne Johnson first discussing the role publicly in 2007. The project underwent numerous rewrites and shifts in creative direction, initially conceived as a villain in ''Shazam!'' before evolving into a standalone feature. Jaume Collet-Serra was hired to direct in 2021, with a screenplay by Adam Sztykiel, Rory Haines, and Sohrab Noshirvani. Principal photography took place primarily in Atlanta, Georgia, and also in Los Angeles, utilizing facilities like Tyler Perry Studios. The production faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with extensive visual effects work completed by companies including Wētā FX, Scanline VFX, and DNEG.

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Teatro de la Ciudad in Mexico City on October 3, 2022. It was theatrically released in the United States by Warner Bros. Pictures on October 21, 2022, in standard, IMAX, and 4DX formats. The release was part of a broader strategy by Warner Bros. Discovery to revitalize the DC Extended Universe, though it faced competition from other major releases like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. It was released for digital purchase in November 2022 and began streaming on HBO Max in December 2022.

Reception

The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Dwayne Johnson's performance and the action sequences but criticized the screenplay and pacing. It holds a 38% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 41 on Metacritic. Commercially, it grossed $393 million worldwide against a production budget estimated between $195–230 million, a performance considered underwhelming given its high costs and marketing campaign. The film's performance was cited as a factor in the subsequent restructuring of DC Studios under James Gunn and Peter Safran.

Future

A mid-credits scene featured the return of Henry Cavill as Superman, setting up a potential confrontation, though subsequent changes in leadership at DC Studios led to a reboot of the shared universe. Dwayne Johnson has stated his intention to continue portraying the character in some capacity, and the film's characters, particularly the Justice Society of America, are considered for future projects within the new DC Universe slate. The film's legacy is tied to the transitional period of the DC Extended Universe preceding the launch of new franchises like ''Superman''.

Category:2022 films Category:American superhero films Category:DC Extended Universe films