# Black Adam (film)
**Black Adam** is a 2022 American superhero film directed by [Jaume Collet-Serra](https://www.edgepedia.org/jaume-collet-serra) and starring [Dwayne Johnson](https://www.edgepedia.org/dwayne-johnson) as Teth-Adam, an ancient champion of the fictional nation of Kahndaq who awakens after nearly 5,000 years of imprisonment and clashes with the Justice Society, a team of modern-day heroes. Produced by [New Line Cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-line-cinema) as a Seven Bucks/Flynn Co. production and distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, it was released internationally on October 19, 2022 and in North America on October 21, 2022.[1](https://www.dc.com/movies/black-adam-2022) It was the first DCEU-set film since 2021's *The Suicide Squad* and the eleventh film in the DC Extended Universe.[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-10-20/black-adam-justice-society-dc-comics-explained) • [3](https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/three-years-after-black-adam-dwayne-johnson-reflects-short-dceu-stint-feels-dcu)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | October 19, 2022 (international theaters and IMAX); October 21, 2022 (North America)[1](https://www.dc.com/movies/black-adam-2022) |
| Director and writers | Jaume Collet-Serra; screenplay by Adam Sztykiel and Rory Haines & Sohrab Noshirvani[1](https://www.dc.com/movies/black-adam-2022) |
| Lead cast | Dwayne Johnson (Teth-Adam/Black Adam), Aldis Hodge (Hawkman), Pierce Brosnan (Dr. Fate), Noah Centineo (Atom Smasher), Quintessa Swindell (Cyclone), Sarah Shahi (Adrianna)[1](https://www.dc.com/movies/black-adam-2022) |
| Runtime and rating | 125 minutes, rated PG-13[4](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/black-adam/) |
| Budget | Reported at $190–260 million[5](https://movie.guru/black-adam-movie-review) |
| Box office | $393.5 million worldwide, $168.2 million domestic, $67 million opening weekend[5](https://movie.guru/black-adam-movie-review) |
| Reception | Rotten Tomatoes 39% (307 reviews), Metacritic 41/100, CinemaScore B+, IMDb 6.1/10[5](https://movie.guru/black-adam-movie-review) |
| Franchise outcome | No sequel; the character's DCEU stint ended with one film as the franchise gave way to the new DCU[3](https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/three-years-after-black-adam-dwayne-johnson-reflects-short-dceu-stint-feels-dcu) |
## Spoilers
### Premise and characters
In ancient Kahndaq, the mortal slave Teth-Adam was bestowed the almighty powers of the gods. After using these powers for vengeance, he was imprisoned, becoming [Black Adam](https://www.edgepedia.org/black-adam). Nearly 5,000 years later he is freed from his tomb and unleashes a form of justice born out of rage, which is challenged by the Justice Society: Hawkman, Dr. Fate, Atom Smasher, and [Cyclone](https://www.edgepedia.org/cyclone-dc-comics).[1](https://www.dc.com/movies/black-adam-2022) The film establishes Black Adam as a former slave, an element introduced when the character was reimagined for DC's New 52.[6](https://www.dc.com/blog/2022/10/21/rounding-up-the-easter-eggs-in-black-adam)
The Justice Society members are drawn from DC's oldest superhero team. Hawkman (Carter Hall) wears a suit of gravity-defying Nth metal and fights to protect global stability; [Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson)](https://www.edgepedia.org/doctor-fate-kent-nelson) is a founding Justice Society member who wields magic, conjures illusions, and sees the future through the ancient alien golden Helmet of Fate; Cyclone (Maxine Hunkel), 19, gained the ability to control wind with her mind after nanotechnology experimentation; and Atom Smasher (Al Rothstein), 20, can transform his molecular structure to grow to towering heights.[7](https://www.dc.com/blackadam) The supporting cast includes [Sarah Shahi](https://www.edgepedia.org/sarah-shahi) as Adrianna, Marwan Kenzari, Mo Amer, and Bodhi Sabongui.[1](https://www.dc.com/movies/black-adam-2022) In the comics, the character first appeared in *Marvel Family* #1 in 1945 and was created by Bill Parker and C.C. Beck, who receive character-creation credit in the film.[8](https://www.dc.com/characters/black-adam) • [1](https://www.dc.com/movies/black-adam-2022)
## Production and long development
The film's development was unusually long. Johnson was eyed to play Black Adam in a *Shazam!* movie in the pre-DCEU days, and development of the project dates back at least to 2007.[3](https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/three-years-after-black-adam-dwayne-johnson-reflects-short-dceu-stint-feels-dcu) • [9](https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/black-adam-producer-hiram-garcia-interview-superman-cameo-shazam-crossovers) He became officially attached to the role in October 2014.[3](https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/three-years-after-black-adam-dwayne-johnson-reflects-short-dceu-stint-feels-dcu) The original script combined the origin stories of Shazam and Black Adam; Johnson said the two characters were holding each other back, and once they were split, *Shazam!* moved ahead quickly while Black Adam continued in development.[10](https://www.dtmovies.com/dwayne-johnson-black-adam-hes-not-shazam-interview/) By January 2017 it was decided the character would star in his own movie.[3](https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/three-years-after-black-adam-dwayne-johnson-reflects-short-dceu-stint-feels-dcu)
**Director and crew.** By 2019 the production team had found its director in Jaume Collet-Serra, who was working with Johnson, Hiram Garcia, and Seven Bucks on Disney's *Jungle Cruise*.[11](https://www.thewrap.com/dwayne-johnson-black-adam-movie-history-shazam-dc/) In October 2019 Johnson announced that production would begin the following July, writing, "This project has been with me for over 10yrs. Production begins this July."[12](https://www.thewrap.com/dwayne-johnson-black-adam-production/) The creative team included cinematographer Lawrence Sher, production designer Tom Meyer, editors Mike Sale and John Lee, costume designers Kurt and Bart, Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Bill Westenhofer, and composer Lorne Balfe.[1](https://www.dc.com/movies/black-adam-2022) Producers were [Beau Flynn](https://www.edgepedia.org/beau-flynn), Dwayne Johnson, Hiram Garcia, and [Dany Garcia](https://www.edgepedia.org/dany-garcia).[1](https://www.dc.com/movies/black-adam-2022)
## Release and box office
The film opened in theaters and IMAX internationally on October 19, 2022 and in North America on October 21, 2022.[1](https://www.dc.com/movies/black-adam-2022) Thursday-night previews earned $7.6 million, and the film posted the first $50 million-plus opening weekend the box office had seen in three months, at $67 million domestically.[13](https://www.axios.com/2022/10/21/black-adam-box-office-hopes) • [5](https://movie.guru/black-adam-movie-review) It was Johnson's best opening weekend as a lead actor.[14](https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/weekend-box-office-results-black-adam-is-dwayne-johnsons-best-opening-ever/)
Sustaining that performance proved difficult. Ticket sales dropped 56% in the fourth weekend to $8 million as *Black Panther: Wakanda Forever* drew audiences.[15](https://www.thewrap.com/black-adam-box-office-doomed/) The film finished with $393.5 million worldwide and $168.2 million domestic against a reported production budget of $190–260 million; one rule-of-thumb estimate puts its theatrical loss at about $140.8 million.[5](https://movie.guru/black-adam-movie-review) In the United Kingdom it still comfortably passed £20 million, which one commentator noted qualifies as a hit despite lukewarm reviews.[16](https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/marvel-black-adam-cinema-uk-box-office-b2228597.html)
## Reception
Critics were largely negative. The film holds a Metascore of 41 out of 100 based on 52 critic reviews, against a user score of 6.8 from 923 ratings on Metacritic.[4](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/black-adam/) On Rotten Tomatoes it stands at 39% from 307 reviews, while the audience Popcornmeter sits at 87% from more than 5,000 verified ratings, and [CinemaScore](https://www.edgepedia.org/cinemascore) audiences gave it a B+.[5](https://movie.guru/black-adam-movie-review) The critic-audience split was visible at release, when reviewers used words like "humdrum," "clumsy," and "brainless" while fans gave the film a far more generous rating.[13](https://www.axios.com/2022/10/21/black-adam-box-office-hopes) Not all reviews were negative: Matt Zoller Seitz of RogerEbert.com called it "one of the best DC superhero films to date," praising Johnson's lead performance.[4](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/black-adam/) A roundup of reviews at release quoted critics calling the film "unremarkable," "super messy," and "baffling."[17](https://www.thewrap.com/black-adam-critics-unremarkable-super-messy/)
## Place in the DC franchise
Johnson spent years promoting the idea that Black Adam and Superman would one day battle, a matchup teased in the film's end-credits scene, in which [Henry Cavill](https://www.edgepedia.org/henry-cavill)'s Superman appeared.[3](https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/three-years-after-black-adam-dwayne-johnson-reflects-short-dceu-stint-feels-dcu) The film's commercial and critical disappointment called a sequel into question. By December 2022, around the time it was revealed that Cavill would not continue as Superman, James Gunn, who had recently become [DC Studios](https://www.edgepedia.org/dc-studios) co-CEO alongside [Peter Safran](https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-safran), said *Black Adam 2* was not in his immediate plans; the following month Gunn and Safran announced the opening slate for a new DCU continuity.[3](https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/three-years-after-black-adam-dwayne-johnson-reflects-short-dceu-stint-feels-dcu) Johnson's time as the character ended after one film, though he later said he enjoyed making it and holds no bitterness, telling *The Hollywood Reporter* in 2025, "I loved making Black Adam. We had a great time... Wish that universe well. And on to others."[3](https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/three-years-after-black-adam-dwayne-johnson-reflects-short-dceu-stint-feels-dcu)
The film reached streaming shortly after its theatrical run: it debuted on [HBO Max](https://www.edgepedia.org/hbo-max) on December 16, 2022.[18](https://www.dc.com/blog/2022/12/16/how-black-adam-subverts-the-superhero-origin-story) Producer Dany Garcia defended the film's legacy, saying at an Axios event that the team "kicked open some doors" for [DC Comics](https://www.edgepedia.org/dc-comics) films and "added some value" to the franchise.[19](https://www.axios.com/2022/10/26/black-adam-producer-dany-garcia-dc-comics)
## References
1. [Black Adam (2022), DC.com](https://www.dc.com/movies/black-adam-2022)
2. [Black Adam movie: DC hero and Justice Society, explained, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-10-20/black-adam-justice-society-dc-comics-explained)
3. [Three Years After Black Adam, Dwayne Johnson Reflects On His Short DCEU Stint, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/three-years-after-black-adam-dwayne-johnson-reflects-short-dceu-stint-feels-dcu)
4. [Black Adam Reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/black-adam/)
5. [Black Adam (2022), movie.guru](https://movie.guru/black-adam-movie-review)
6. [Rounding up the Easter Eggs in Black Adam, DC.com](https://www.dc.com/blog/2022/10/21/rounding-up-the-easter-eggs-in-black-adam)
7. [Black Adam Official Movie Hub, DC.com](https://www.dc.com/blackadam)
8. [Black Adam Official DC Character, DC.com](https://www.dc.com/characters/black-adam)
9. [Black Adam producer teases future DC crossovers, Inverse](https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/black-adam-producer-hiram-garcia-interview-superman-cameo-shazam-crossovers)
10. [Dwayne Johnson: "Black Adam, he's not Shazam!" (interview), DT Movies](https://www.dtmovies.com/dwayne-johnson-black-adam-hes-not-shazam-interview/)
11. [The History of Dwayne Johnson's Black Adam, TheWrap](https://www.thewrap.com/dwayne-johnson-black-adam-movie-history-shazam-dc/)
12. [Dwayne Johnson Reveals Production Start Date for 'Black Adam', TheWrap](https://www.thewrap.com/dwayne-johnson-black-adam-production/)
13. [All eyes on "Black Adam" at the box office, Axios](https://www.axios.com/2022/10/21/black-adam-box-office-hopes)
14. [Weekend Box Office Results: Black Adam Is Dwayne Johnson's Best Opening Ever, Rotten Tomatoes](https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/weekend-box-office-results-black-adam-is-dwayne-johnsons-best-opening-ever/)
15. ['Black Adam' Proves Dwayne Johnson's Strengths and Weaknesses as a Box Office Draw, TheWrap](https://www.thewrap.com/black-adam-box-office-doomed/)
16. [Don't turn your nose up at comic-book films, The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/marvel-black-adam-cinema-uk-box-office-b2228597.html)
17. ['Black Adam' Review Roundup, TheWrap](https://www.thewrap.com/black-adam-critics-unremarkable-super-messy/)
18. [How Black Adam Subverts the Superhero Origin Story, DC.com](https://www.dc.com/blog/2022/12/16/how-black-adam-subverts-the-superhero-origin-story)
19. ["Black Adam" producer: We "kicked open some doors" for DC Comics films, Axios](https://www.axios.com/2022/10/26/black-adam-producer-dany-garcia-dc-comics)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Franchise and series entries as standalone works › Superhero and comic-franchise film entries › Comic films of the 2020s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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