Dwayne Johnson has conquered the wrestling ring, the box office, and even the high seas as a certain pirate, but his attempt to reshape the DC universe didn't quite hit the mark. His 2022 superhero epic, Black Adam, is now set to leave Netflix on November 1, giving fans a final chance to witness the Rock's foray into the world of capes and powers.
Johnson, who has transitioned from WWE superstar to one of Hollywood's most bankable action heroes, has a résumé that spans from The Fast and the Furious franchise to family-friendly fare like Jumanji and the live-action Moana. But Black Adam was his passion project, a film he championed for years, hoping to introduce a new antihero to the DC Extended Universe. The movie was marketed with the bold promise to “change the hierarchy of the DC universe,” but it ultimately fell short of that lofty goal.
The film tells the origin story of Teth-Adam, a ancient Kahndaqi who is granted the powers of the gods. After using those powers for vengeance, he is imprisoned and becomes the formidable Black Adam. When he is freed after nearly 5,000 years, his brutal, rage-fueled form of justice clashes with the modern-day heroes of the Justice Society, including Hawkman, Dr. Fate, Atom Smasher, and Cyclone. The cast includes Pierce Brosnan as Dr. Fate, Aldis Hodge as Hawkman, Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher, and Quintessa Swindell as Cyclone, with a cameo from Henry Cavill as Superman that was meant to be a game-changer but didn't move the needle.
Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, Black Adam was a visual spectacle, but it suffered from a derivative script, repetitive CGI-heavy action, and a forgettable villain in Sabbac. Critics and audiences alike found it outdated compared to the more innovative superhero films of the era. Despite earning over $393 million worldwide, the film reportedly lost Warner Bros. millions when factoring in its ballooned production budget, making it a financial disappointment.
Now, as the film prepares to exit Netflix, it's worth noting that the streaming landscape has seen other superhero and fantasy titles make waves. For instance, Tomb Raider (2018) has been outperforming Street Fighter on Netflix, and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Season 2 debuted to massive numbers. But Black Adam remains a curious case study in what happens when a star's passion doesn't align with audience expectations.
For those who haven't seen it, Black Adam offers relentless pacing, a high kill count, and the live-action debut of the Justice Society. Pierce Brosnan's portrayal of Dr. Fate is often cited as a highlight, bringing a touch of gravitas to the proceedings. It's a film that has its moments, even if it doesn't reach the heights of other DCEU entries.
As the clock ticks down to November 1, fans of Dwayne Johnson or the DC universe might want to give Black Adam one last watch. It's a piece of superhero history that, for better or worse, didn't change the hierarchy but did leave a mark. And for those looking for more fantasy adventures, check out our list of the best fantasy films of the 2020s.
Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for more updates on streaming departures and arrivals.
