The Rotten Tomatoes score for the new sequel Aquaman and the Last Kingdom has been revealed.
Opening in theaters on Dec. 22, the Aquaman sequel has faced great difficulties heading up to its release, from the controversy associated with one of its stars to the production suffering several delays. Early reviews are now pouring in for the sequel just ahead of its theatrical premiere, painting a picture of how the movie turned out. The result isn’t great, as it’s opened with a debut score of 36% rotten as of this writing. While there are some reviewers who had a great time with what will probably be the final installment of the DCEU, they’re in the minority at this point, as most others feel that the dying cinematic universe is going out with a whimper, walking away unimpressed with the sequel.
Jason Momoa Shares His True Thoughts on Possibly Never Playing Aquaman Again
Jason Momoa gets honest about his potential future as Aquaman after Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
“It’s just disappointing that Momoa’s final time as King of the Seas didn’t make a bigger splash,” Punch Drunk Critics reviewer Travis Hopson said. Zach Pope of Zach Pope Reviews also noted, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is visual noise. Beautiful and incredible action can’t help a surface level story with no substance. The film feels hurt in the editing and writing. I wanted more…” Critic David Ehrlich of IndieWire also suggested, “The Lost Kingdom becomes more and more formulaic as it digs into its mythos, as if the movie were caught between being its own thing and being nothing at all.”
Some Critics Aren’t Quite So Harsh
Meanwhile, the film is getting some praise from other critics. “This neon-colored addition to the DC superhero world fills the need for stories that are uncomplicated and packed with action instead of backstory,” John Lui of The Straits Times said about the film, satisfied with the clear and uncomplicated plot. Jenna Anderson of ComicBook.com added of Momoa’s Aquaman, “A pleasant, largely-entertaining time with a character whose big-screen portrayal was one of the DCEU’s rare successes. Thanks to its free-wheeling attitude and committed ensemble cast, it closes a cinematic chapter in a silly, but satisfying-enough way.”
Aquaman 2’s First Clip Reveals Arthur and Orm’s Prison Break
The first clip from Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom reunites Orm with his half-brother, the eponymous King of the Seven Seas.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Closes Out the DCEU
There are no plans for the DCEU to continue beyond this film. That might have changed if the movie was getting a better reception, as Jason Momoa has suggested that he might get the chance to play Aquaman again if “people love” Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The early reviews are not a promising sign that the film will be received well with filmgoers, though the audience score can sometimes be drastically different from the Tomatometer rating, so not all hope is lost just yet.
“If the audience loves (the new movie), then there’s a possibility. But right now, I’m like, ‘It’s not looking too good,’” Momoa admitted in an Entertainment Tonight interview. He added that he does not “necessarily want it to be the end… (but) I don’t think it’s really, like, a choice.”
James Wan directed Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. It was written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, who collaborated on the story with Wan, Momoa, and Thomas Pa’a Sibbett. The film stars Momoa, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Randall Park, Dolph Lundgren, Temuera Morrison, and Nicole Kidman.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom officially premieres in theaters on Dec. 22, 2023.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes