Early reviews of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom leaned negative, with critics often faulting its familiar plot, crowded storytelling and uneven tone. The response was not unanimous: Jason Momoa and Patrick Wilson’s chemistry, James Wan’s visual imagination and the film’s lighter moments earned praise from some reviewers. The result, critics suggested, is a sequel with appealing flashes but few surprises.
What are critics saying about Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom?
The first reviews generally saw a less successful follow-up to Aquaman, but they disagreed about whether the sequel’s spectacle and silliness made it entertaining. Rotten Tomatoes’ December 21, 2023 roundup reported that most reviews were negative while noting that even harsh responses found something to like. Its 33% Tomatometer was the score displayed when that article was published, not a current rating. Rotten Tomatoes’ first-reviews roundup collects the early reactions.
Metacritic offered a similarly mixed-to-negative picture in a separate snapshot: its critic page showed a 42 Metascore from 43 reviews when accessed, comprising 8 positive (19%), 24 mixed (56%) and 11 negative (26%). Those figures describe that page at the time of access, not a permanent or consensus-free verdict. Metacritic’s critic reviews provides the corresponding listing.
A familiar, crowded story
Plot and structure were frequent points of criticism. Reviewers in the Rotten Tomatoes roundup objected to familiar developments, exposition and a story trying to combine too many modes. Lovia Gyarkye of The Hollywood Reporter summarized one concern: “There are few surprises in this story…” Molly Freeman of Screen Rant put the issue this way: “The problem is that the film wants to be too many things.”
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The central pairing is a bright spot
Momoa’s impulsive Arthur and Wilson’s more rule-bound Orm give the film a relationship for critics to enjoy amid the plot’s complications. The Los Angeles Times described their dynamic as a buddy-cop-style pairing, and the Rotten Tomatoes roundup likewise singled out the actors’ chemistry as a recurring strength. The Los Angeles Times review discusses the pairing.
Spectacle, humor and tonal balance divide opinion
Some critics admired the underwater imagery, action and moments when Wan’s horror sensibility shapes the spectacle. Others found the computer-generated imagery busy or chaotic. The same split applied to the humor: some reviewers found the movie’s silliness diverting, while others thought the jokes and shifts in tone did not hold together. Matt Zoller Seitz of RogerEbert.com captured the qualified enthusiasm in the roundup: “This is a fun movie, but not anywhere near a great one.”
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The film also includes a climate-crisis element. The Los Angeles Times noted its presence, while TheWrap criticized how the story handles it; those are reviewers’ assessments, not an uncontested reading of the film. TheWrap’s review addresses the film’s approach.
What happens in the film?
Arthur Curry is balancing life as King of Atlantis with new fatherhood when Black Manta returns, armed with the mythic Black Trident. To face the threat, Arthur turns to his imprisoned brother Orm, forming an unlikely alliance. The official synopsis and production credits are on DC’s film page.
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James Wan directed the film. David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick wrote the screenplay, based on a story by Wan, Johnson-McGoldrick, Jason Momoa and Thomas Pa’a Sibbett. The principal cast includes Momoa, Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Nicole Kidman, Dolph Lundgren and Randall Park.
Is it worth watching?
The reviews point to a straightforward choice: watch for the Momoa–Wilson dynamic, colorful underwater action and a knowingly silly superhero adventure; temper expectations if you want a surprising, tightly focused story or consistent tonal control. The critical divide is less about whether the film has any pleasures than whether those pleasures outweigh its familiar plotting and crowded approach.
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Is it a fitting end to the DCEU?
At its North American theatrical release on December 22, 2023, the film was framed in coverage as closing the DCEU as it had been known. That is release-era context, not a claim about every later DC continuity or franchise development. Critics’ concerns about the sequel’s crowded story and lack of surprises also made it a less emphatic send-off for viewers hoping for a decisive franchise culmination.
How does it compare with the first Aquaman?
The early roundup characterized the sequel as less successful than the original. The distinction in the sampled reactions is not that the follow-up lacks the same ingredients—spectacle, humor and an outsized hero—but that familiar plotting and the effort to juggle multiple tones left some reviewers less impressed. The actors’ central pairing remained one of the elements critics most often welcomed.
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Can you watch it on 4K Blu-ray?
Yes. DC says the film is available on disc, and Warner Bros. Japan lists 4K UHD and Blu-ray editions, including a combined 4K UHD/Blu-ray set. The Japanese listing confirms those formats in that market; it does not establish regional availability or which edition is right for every buyer. Check local retailers for current stock and edition details. Warner Bros. Japan’s home-entertainment listing has the format information. For a retailer search, use “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom 4K UHD Blu-ray.”
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