“The actors look bored, the villain is bland”: Jason Momoa’s Aquaman 2 Branded as a Disappointing End to Zack Snyder’s DCEU

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has failed to satisfy the critics' expectations.

"The actors look bored, the villain is bland": Jason Momoa's Aquaman 2 Branded as a Disappointing End to Zack Snyder's DCEU

SUMMARY

  • Aquaman 2 appears to have fallen short of its anticipated impact, and critics are not happy with the film at all.
  • It is one of the worst DCEU has ever made, spoiled by reused plot elements and choppy editing.
  • This really marks an inglorious conclusion for the DCEU, leaving Warner Bros. hoping to bank on James Gunn's 2025 projects for a much-needed revival.
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Despite high hopes for a triumphant conclusion, Jason Momoa’s Aquaman 2 appears to have fallen short of its anticipated impact. Regrettably, the film marks an underwhelming conclusion to an era within the DCEU, highlighting the necessity for a substantial renewal into DCU. Critics universally agree that the movie, while eagerly anticipated, ultimately failed to meet the expectations set across the board.

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Aquaman 2
Aquaman 2

Also Read: Jason Momoa’s Aquaman 2 Box Office Figures Are So Abysmal Even The Flash Looks Like A Blockbuster

Aquaman 2 Missed an Opportunity to Make a Splash!

As the curtain falls on the DC Extended Universe with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, it marks the conclusion of a lengthy journey of more than a decade. However, this final installment failed to captivate audiences, spoiled by reused plot elements and choppy editing. The Jason Momoa film absolutely fell short of delivering the anticipated impact, lacking the gripping intensity that viewers had eagerly awaited.

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A still from Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
A still from Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

At present, the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes score sits at 36%, a considerable drop from the original’s 65%. This places it below most of the DCEU films and places it be the third worst.

Projections suggest a debut of around $40 million, notably lower than the original’s $67 million. While not as startling as other failures, this really marks an inglorious conclusion for the DCEU, leaving Warner Bros. hoping to bank on James Gunn’s 2025 projects for a much-needed revival.

Also Read: Aquaman 2 Receives Godlike Rating in China, May Break Amber Heard Curse on Word of Mouth Alone

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What Critics Have to Say About the Jason Momoa Film?

The critics are not shying away from expressing their thoughts about  Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, calling it as they see it. A Hollywood Handle critic said,

#AquamanAndTheLostKingdom is a disappointing finale to the DCEU. The movie is full of clichés and wasted potential. The actors look bored, the villain is bland, and the plot is nonsensical.”

However, this wasn’t the only one, others have also voiced their opinion regarding the movie. Johnny Oleksinski from The New York Post said,

“You can tell from every second of the sequel just how disinterested DC Studios is in this film and in the future of this character. It must’ve been a real chore for them to finish the choppy follow-up to the popular 2018 original.”

Jason Momoa as Aquaman in the DCEU
Jason Momoa as Aquaman in the DCEU

J. Don Birnam from  Above the Line stated,

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“Not one part of this movie — the effects, the storyline, the emotional core — works. Everything is recycled from other superhero movies. It’s time to give the genre an at-sea burial.” 

Whereas Julian Roman of Movieweb said,

“Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ spectacularly misfires as the final smoking embers of the Snyderverse’s last hurrah. It is a wacky nail in the coffin of a DC superhero vision that has been clearly abandoned by corporate masters.

Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian claimed,

“The Aquaman franchise is just flatlining, floating through the dreary depths like the kind of discarded plastic bag which is going to choke the last remaining vaquita porpoise.” 

Overall, critics remain thoroughly unimpressed with the film. What could have been an epic conclusion to the Snyderverse now stands as a memorable disappointment that fans will find difficult to erase from their minds.

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Written by Sampurna Banerjee

Articles Published: 805

Sampurna Banerjee, an ardent enthusiast of pop culture and movies, pours her passion into her role as a writer for FandomWire. With a penchant for Marvel, DC, and sitcoms, she has contributed over 400 articles, staying up-to-date to the entertainment industry's latest buzz. Moreover, she's penned over 300 articles for Animated Times and shared her work across several Instagram pages. Currently she is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Calcutta University.