# Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
**Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom** is a 2023 American superhero film directed by [James Wan](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-wan) and the sequel to the 2018 film *Aquaman*, produced by [Warner Bros. Pictures](https://www.edgepedia.org/warner-bros-pictures) as the final release of the [DC Extended Universe](https://www.edgepedia.org/dc-extended-universe) (DCEU) before that franchise was replaced by the rebooted DC Universe.[1](https://www.dc.com/movies/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-2023) • [2](https://www.tomsguide.com/how-to/how-to-watch-dc-movies-in-order) Jason Momoa returns as Arthur Curry, the King of Atlantis, who must ally with his imprisoned half-brother Orm (Patrick Wilson) against Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), who wields the mythic Black Trident and an ancient malevolent force.[1](https://www.dc.com/movies/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-2023)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | Internationally beginning December 20, 2023 (9 markets); North America December 22, 2023[3](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt9663764/) |
| Director and writers | Directed by James Wan; screenplay by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, from a story by Wan, Johnson-McGoldrick, Jason Momoa, and Thomas Pa'a Sibbett[1](https://www.dc.com/movies/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-2023) |
| Running time and rating | 2 hours 4 minutes; rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi violence, action, and some language[3](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt9663764/) • [4](https://apnews.com/article/28e3cae57ba9ffefa70fbfc909c3d7f1) |
| Production budget | $205,000,000 per The Numbers; the Associated Press estimated around $200 million excluding marketing[5](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Aquaman-and-the-Lost-Kingdom-%282023%29) • [6](https://apnews.com/article/b11c243a659b1b7ad826d5a8298c5855) |
| Box office | $124,481,226 domestic, $315,700,000 international, $440,181,226 worldwide; opening weekend $27,686,211[3](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt9663764/) |
| Critical reception | 33% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer (212 reviews) with a 79% audience Popcornmeter; Metascore 42 on Metacritic[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/aquaman_and_the_lost_kingdom) • [8](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom/) |
| Franchise position | The last film of the DC Extended Universe, ahead of the DCU Chapter One reboot under James Gunn and Peter Safran[2](https://www.tomsguide.com/how-to/how-to-watch-dc-movies-in-order) |
## Spoilers
### Premise
The story picks up after the events of the 2018 film. [Black Manta](https://www.edgepedia.org/black-manta), still driven to avenge his father's death, obtains a powerful trident not seen for thousands of years; the artifact bonds him with a mysterious entity that has its own agenda and speaks to him through it.[1](https://www.dc.com/movies/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-2023) • [9](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-release-date-news) To stop him, Arthur Curry turns to his imprisoned half-brother Orm, the former King of Atlantis and his former nemesis, and the two must set aside their rivalry to protect their kingdom, Aquaman's family, and the world.[1](https://www.dc.com/movies/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-2023)
Arthur is now balancing his duties as King of Atlantis with life as a new father, while Mera ([Amber Heard](https://www.edgepedia.org/amber-heard)) is Atlantis' Queen and mother of the heir to the throne. The film is set in the fictional underwater cities of Atlantis and Necrus, along with real-world locations including Sicily, Italy; London; [Antarctica](https://www.edgepedia.org/antarctica); and the Sahara Desert.[1](https://www.dc.com/movies/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-2023) • [9](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-release-date-news) The Associated Press review noted that the story layers in environmental messaging about global warming, including toxic algae, greenhouse gases, and rising acidity levels.[4](https://apnews.com/article/28e3cae57ba9ffefa70fbfc909c3d7f1)
## Cast and crew
[Jason Momoa](https://www.edgepedia.org/jason-momoa) plays Arthur Curry/Aquaman, Patrick Wilson plays Orm, Amber Heard plays Mera, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II plays Black Manta, and [Nicole Kidman](https://www.edgepedia.org/nicole-kidman) plays Atlanna. [Dolph Lundgren](https://www.edgepedia.org/dolph-lundgren) returns as King Nereus and Randall Park as Dr. Stephen Shin.[1](https://www.dc.com/movies/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-2023) The wider cast includes Temuera Morrison as Tom Curry, Martin Short as Kingfish, Pilou Asbæk as Kordax, Indya Moore as Karshon, and Vincent Regan as Atlan.[8](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom/)
Behind the camera, Wan retained much of his team from the first film: director of photography Don Burgess, production designer Bill Brzeski, editor Kirk Morri, and composer Rupert Gregson-Williams, with Nick Davis as visual effects supervisor and Richard Sale as costume designer.[1](https://www.dc.com/movies/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-2023) The film is based on the DC character Aquaman, created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, but not on any specific comic-book storyline.[9](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-release-date-news)
## Production
Filming began in June 2021 in London and at Warner Bros.' Leavesden studios, with production also in Hawaii, and the film wrapped in December 2021.[10](https://www.screenglobalproduction.com/news/2021/12/17/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-wraps-filming-in-hawaii) The production then went through an unusually long post-release cycle: the sequel hit rewrites, three rounds of reshoots, executive shuffling, postponements, and actor controversies before its December 2023 release.[11](https://www.awn.com/news/third-round-reshoots-wrap-aquaman-and-lost-kingdom)
The underwater scenes were filmed with a setup designed to capture performances and then craft digital actors, where necessary, to place in underwater scenes, an approach Warner Bros. described in the film's official production notes.[12](https://beforesandafters.com/2024/01/03/how-the-underwater-scenes-in-aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-were-filmed/)
## Release and box office
The film opened in nine international markets on December 20, 2023, and in North America on December 22, 2023, distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.[3](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt9663764/) It led the box office on the weekend before Christmas, with an opening weekend of $27.7 million domestic and a global debut heading toward $120 million including an estimated $80 million international through Monday.[6](https://apnews.com/article/b11c243a659b1b7ad826d5a8298c5855)
The sequel earned $440,181,226 worldwide, of which $124,481,226 (28.3%) came from the domestic market and $315,700,000 internationally, with China the largest single market at $65,100,000.[3](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt9663764/) Against a production budget of $205 million, worldwide gross was 2.1 times the budget.[5](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Aquaman-and-the-Lost-Kingdom-%282023%29) The result was a steep drop from the 2018 original, which grossed $1,148,861,807 worldwide on a $160 million budget and had taken in $215.4 million domestically over a comparable early period, more than double the sequel's total.[13](https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/franchise/Aquaman) • [14](https://apnews.com/article/92fef0f3e8ce0b900b64bfdb8c7ffea8) The film later became available on digital and disc, and streams on Max.[15](https://www.dc.com/aquaman)
## Reception
Critical response was mixed to negative. On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a 33% Tomatometer from 212 reviews, with the critics consensus reading that "Jason Momoa remains a capable and committed leading man, but even DC diehards may feel that *Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom* sticks to familiar waters"; the audience Popcornmeter stood at 79%.[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/aquaman_and_the_lost_kingdom) Metacritic recorded a Metascore of 42, labeled "Mixed or Average," based on 43 critic reviews.[8](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom/)
Reviewers divided over the same qualities. The Associated Press called it an overstuffed tale in the mold of *Thor: Love and Thunder* and *Fast X*, but credited Momoa's charisma and the climate-change messaging.[4](https://apnews.com/article/28e3cae57ba9ffefa70fbfc909c3d7f1) GameSpot rated it 8/10, praising Wan's direction and the Momoa-Wilson pairing while calling it "pretty empty-headed."[16](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-review-a-better-ending-than-the-dceu-deserves/1900-6418165/) The Independent's review called it "a brainless finale to DC's universe" and a damning indictment on the franchise's legacy.[17](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/aquaman-2-review-amber-heard-b2466741.html) Screen Daily highlighted the "biting back-and-forth" between Momoa and Wilson as a consistent amusement once the two leads reunited.[18](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-review/5188994.article)
## Place in the DC franchise
The 2018 *Aquaman* was the highest-grossing DC film of all time, and *The Lost Kingdom* was positioned as its sequel within the DC Extended Universe.[1](https://www.dc.com/movies/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-2023) By the time it reached theaters, the franchise's direction had already changed: Warner Bros. had installed [James Gunn](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-gunn) and [Peter Safran](https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-safran) as heads of the new [DC Studios](https://www.edgepedia.org/dc-studios), with a rebooted and newly unified DC Universe planned, and *The Lost Kingdom* was released as the DCEU's final film.[2](https://www.tomsguide.com/how-to/how-to-watch-dc-movies-in-order) • [19](https://apnews.com/article/320e0295e6fd450d00c80dfacebf54b6) The Associated Press observed that the new DC Studios leadership planned nearly a dozen film and TV projects over the following decade with none featuring Aquaman front and center, making the film likely the final installment of the King of Atlantis' storyline for a time.[4](https://apnews.com/article/28e3cae57ba9ffefa70fbfc909c3d7f1) James Gunn later indicated that Arthur Curry might exist in the new DCU but not as a famous superhero going by the name Aquaman.[20](https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/does-aquaman-exist-in-dcu-james-gunn-offers-thoughts)
## References
1. [Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023), DC.com](https://www.dc.com/movies/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-2023)
2. [How to watch DC movies in order, Tom's Guide](https://www.tomsguide.com/how-to/how-to-watch-dc-movies-in-order)
3. [Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt9663764/)
4. [Movie Review: If this is goodbye, 'Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom' keeps its trident high, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/28e3cae57ba9ffefa70fbfc909c3d7f1)
5. [Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023), The Numbers](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Aquaman-and-the-Lost-Kingdom-%282023%29)
6. [On the weekend before Christmas, 'Aquaman' sequel drifts to first, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/b11c243a659b1b7ad826d5a8298c5855)
7. [Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/aquaman_and_the_lost_kingdom)
8. [Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom/)
9. [Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom: Everything to Know, Netflix Tudum](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-release-date-news)
10. [Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom wraps filming in Hawaii, Screen Global Production](https://www.screenglobalproduction.com/news/2021/12/17/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-wraps-filming-in-hawaii)
11. [Third Round of Reshoots Wrap for 'Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom', Animation World Network](https://www.awn.com/news/third-round-reshoots-wrap-aquaman-and-lost-kingdom)
12. [How the underwater scenes in 'Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom' were filmed, Befores & Afters](https://beforesandafters.com/2024/01/03/how-the-underwater-scenes-in-aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-were-filmed/)
13. [Aquaman Franchise Box Office History, The Numbers](https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/franchise/Aquaman)
14. ['Wonka' ends the year No. 1 at the box office, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/92fef0f3e8ce0b900b64bfdb8c7ffea8)
15. [DC.com Official Aquaman Hub](https://www.dc.com/aquaman)
16. [Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Review, GameSpot](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-review-a-better-ending-than-the-dceu-deserves/1900-6418165/)
17. [Aquaman 2 review, The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/aquaman-2-review-amber-heard-b2466741.html)
18. ['Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom' Review, Screen Daily](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-review/5188994.article)
19. [Gunn's new DC slate features Superman, Supergirl and Batman, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/320e0295e6fd450d00c80dfacebf54b6)
20. [Does Aquaman Exist In The DCU? James Gunn Offers His Thoughts, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/does-aquaman-exist-in-dcu-james-gunn-offers-thoughts)
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*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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