Over 1 Million Viewers in Germany: One of the Biggest & Most Expensive Blockbusters of 2022 Now on Netflix

In 2022, one of the most expensive films produced, with a budget exceeding $200 million, was released to much anticipation but ultimately fell short at the box office. The film in question, "Black Adam," managed to gross only $393 million globally, marking it as a significant disappointment despite its blockbuster status. Now, it has found its way to Netflix, allowing new audiences to experience it.

Dwayne Johnson, who spent 15 years advocating for his role as the DC antihero, faced a disappointing reception when "Black Adam" debuted in theaters in October 2022. The film received a lukewarm response from critics, earning a mere 1.5 out of 5 stars from FILMSTARTS, which described it as having a “clumsy plot, chaotic direction, one-dimensional characters, and dull jokes,” labeling it the lowest point in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).

Despite the film's hefty production costs, it struggled to attract audiences, amassing only $393.5 million in ticket sales worldwide. However, in Germany, it did manage to draw over a million viewers to theaters.

For those who missed out or wish to revisit the film, "Black Adam" is now available for streaming on Netflix. Additionally, viewers can find the DC blockbuster on HBO Max and Amazon Prime Video.

Plot Summary of "Black Adam"

The story of "Black Adam" unfolds with a prologue set 5,000 years ago, in which the fictional nation of Kahndaq was the first civilization on Earth. It fell into turmoil under the rule of the power-hungry King Ahk-Ton (portrayed by Marwan Kenzari), who enslaved his people to mine for the valuable element Eternium and to forge the powerful Crown of Sabbac. Ultimately, he was defeated by Kahndaq's champion.

In the present day, Kahndaq is under the control of the ruthless Intergang, while scientist Adrianna Tomaz (played by Sarah Shahi) seeks the fabled crown. In an ancient tomb, she inadvertently releases Teth-Adam, also known as Black Adam (Dwayne Johnson), from his imprisonment, prompting the Justice Society of America (JSA) to intervene.

The JSA members include the winged Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), the sorcerer Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan), the wind-controlling Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), and the Ant-Man-like Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo), who travel to Kahndaq to address the emerging threat.

A return of Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam seems unlikely, not only due to the film's disappointing box office performance but also because a new DC Universe (DCU) has begun, starting with films like "Superman" and "Supergirl", along with series such as "Creature Commandos" and "Peacemaker." The upcoming release of "Lanterns" on August 17 further marks the evolution of the DC franchise.

DThis is an updated re-release of an article previously published on FILMSTARTS.