Black Adam (2022)
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An ancient superhuman is released from his magic imprisonment to confront a criminal organization and a looming supernatural threat.
The story
In the present day, the nation of Kahndaq is oppressed by the criminal organization Intergang. When a group of archaeologists attempts to locate a powerful relic known as the Crown of Sabbac, they inadvertently trigger a ritual that awakens the ancient superhuman warrior Teth-Adam from his long slumber. As the government identifies him as a threat, the Justice Society of America is called in to contain him. Teth-Adam must navigate his role as a powerful being while facing the immediate threat of the criminal syndicate and the consequences of his awakening.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 2600 BC, the tyrannical king Ahk-Ton enslaved the people of Kahndaq to forge the Crown of Sabbac. A young slave boy became the champion of Kahndaq, and after killing Ahk-Ton, he was eventually betrayed and imprisoned. In the present day, archaeologists seeking the crown awaken Teth-Adam. After he defeats Intergang forces, the Justice Society of America intervenes to stop his rampage. The plot thickens when Ishmael, the last descendant of Ahk-Ton, reveals himself as the leader of Intergang and attempts to use the crown to become Sabbac. After a series of conflicts involving the Justice Society and the kidnapping of Adrianna's son, Teth-Adam is forced to confront his past. He learns that the champion of Kahndaq was actually his son, Hurut. Following a battle where the Justice Society is nearly overwhelmed by the legions of hell summoned by Sabbac, Teth-Adam arrives to defeat the villain. He ultimately decides to become a protector of Kahndaq, taking the name Black Adam. The film ends with a mid-credits scene featuring a cameo by Superman.
- First release year
- 2022
- Runtime (minutes)
- 125
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Jaume Collet-Serra
- Writers
- Adam Sztykiel · screenplay; Rory Haines · screenplay; Sohrab Noshirvani · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Dwayne Johnson · Teth-Adam / Black Adam; Aldis Hodge · Carter Hall / Hawkman; Noah Centineo · Albert "Al" Rothstein / Atom Smasher; Sarah Shahi · Adrianna Tomaz; Marwan Kenzari · Ishmael Gregor / Sabbac; Quintessa Swindell · Maxine Hunkel / Cyclone; Pierce Brosnan · Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate
- Genres
- superhero; action; adventure; drama; fantasy; science fiction
- Themes
- legacy; vengeance; power
- Tone and mood
- dark; action-packed
- Setting
- Kahndaq and Antarctica in the present day, with flashbacks to 2600 BC.
- Premise and plot tags
- superhero; origin story; anti-hero
- Source material / true-story basis
- DC Comics
- Reception
- The film received mixed to negative reviews from critics, with some praising the action and performance while others criticized the plot and pacing. It was also noted as a box-office bomb by some outlets, though others suggested it could be profitable through ancillary revenue.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 39% · scale: percentage · review count: 307; Metacritic · score: 41 · scale: 100 · review count: 52; CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 4 · scale: 5
- Production trivia
- The film was originally intended to have an R rating but was edited down for a PG-13 rating.; Dwayne Johnson's character was previously seen in a brief cameo in Shazam! (2019).; The film's budget increased from $190 million to $260 million due to reshoots.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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