Black Adam has just earned leading man Dwayne Johnson a new box office record, becoming his biggest opening in a lead role.
The DC movie, a spinoff to 2019's Shazam!, has grossed $67 million in the US and $140 million worldwide in its opening weekend (via Deadline).
The film sees Johnson in the titular role, that of vengeful antihero Teth-Adam / Black Adam, resurrected after archaeologist and freedom fighter Adrianna Tomaz (Sex/Life's Sarah Shahi) reads an incantation to awaken him.
Related: How Black Adam changes the direction of the Worlds of DC
Free from his captivity, the protagonist helps Adrianna fight back against Kahndaq's occupiers, the Intergang. Meanwhile, the Justice Society of America (JSA) head to Kahndaq to hunt Black Adam down and capture him.
The film has clearly captivated audiences with what producer Beau Flynn has called the "DJ effect". According to Flynn, the latest DC outing "starts like a comic book movie and then expands to families".
A formula that seems to work, as Black Adam currently has a 90% audience score on movie review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Meanwhile, critics haven't been as sold on the film, which has earned a meagre 39% score from reviews.
Related: Black Adam cast address their characters' DC futures
Alongside Shahi's Adrianna and Johnson's Black Adam, who first appeared in a cameo role in Shazam!, the film also introduces the members of the JSA: Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Dr Fate (Pierce Brosnan), Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo) and Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell).
In Digital Spy's three-star review, Black Adam is hailed as a fun throwback that is "definitely setting up a more combined future universe". Particularly, Johnson and the JSA cast's performances have been praised, with Johnson infusing the role with charisma and deadpan comic timing.
Black Adam is out now in cinemas.
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Reporter, Digital Spy
Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).
