---
title: "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom"
year: 2023
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom"
fi1m_id: "aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom"
imdb_id: "tt9663764"
tmdb_id: 572802
wikidata_id: "Q91226161"
fi1m_score: 45
critics_score: 42
critics_reviews: 22
published: "2026-09-10"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:03.808872+00:00"
region: "SA"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)

Directed by James Wan · 2h 04m · Action, Adventure, Fantasy

## Identity

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom
- **IMDb ID:** tt9663764
- **TMDB ID:** 572802
- **Wikidata ID:** Q91226161
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9663764/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/572802, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q91226161

**Fi1m score: 45** · Critics 42 from 22 reviews

*In a sentence:* Patrick Wilson eats a cockroach for his brother and the computer eats everything else

> Momoa and Wilson bicker their way across a jungle like a decent buddy comedy, and the film keeps interrupting them with its plot. Everything around them is loud, soft-edged and hard to follow, and it ends on a shrug.

## Synopsis

Arthur (Jason Momoa) is King of Atlantis and, more recently, a father, and neither job sits easily on him. He divides his time between a council that overrules him and a lighthouse where his father Tom (Temuera Morrison) helps with the baby. Beneath the ocean, Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), still bent on revenge, is searching the seabed with the scientist Dr Shin (Randall Park) for Atlantean technology. He finds a black trident that speaks to him and leads him towards a lost kingdom, its king Kordax (Pilou Asbæk) and a fuel that heats the planet as it burns. Arthur breaks his brother Orm (Patrick Wilson) out of prison to help track him down. Amber Heard is Mera; Nicole Kidman is Atlanna.

## Review

James Wan’s second *Aquaman* opens with Arthur (Jason Momoa) telling us in voiceover that he is now King of Atlantis and a father, and that he prefers the second job. He divides his week between a council chamber where he is politely ignored and a lighthouse where his father Tom (Temuera Morrison) does the night feeds. Meanwhile Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is combing the seabed with Dr Shin (Randall Park) for Atlantean salvage, and finds a black trident that talks to him. It introduces him to a lost kingdom, its king Kordax (Pilou Asbæk) and a fuel that warms the planet as it burns. Arthur, needing help, breaks his brother Orm (Patrick Wilson) out of a desert prison. That is the first act, and it is the last stretch of the film in which we always knew what was happening.

It is not the wreck the harshest reviews describe, and it is not much of a film either. What it has is the brothers. Momoa plays Arthur as a man who gave up on dignity some time ago, and Wilson, who spent the first film sneering, plays Orm as a fastidious prince appalled by everything above the waterline. The middle hour, in which the two of them cross a jungle island, argue about who betrayed whom and eat things they should not, is the only part of the picture that seems to have been written with actors in mind. David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick’s script gives them half a dozen decent exchanges, and Kirk M. Morri, who elsewhere cuts as though paid by the shot, lets these scenes breathe.

We laughed properly at Wilson’s face when Arthur hands him a cockroach and calls it a land shrimp. About a minute later we realised we had not laughed at anything else for forty minutes, and the reason is not hard to find. Everything that is not two men talking has been handed to a computer, and the computer is having a bad day.

Don Burgess shoots Atlantis through so much digital water that faces go soft and the edges of things go furry, and there are underwater brawls in which we could not tell which of three identical armoured figures was ours. Nicole Kidman rides a motorised shark, and the film seems to think that is enough. Bill Brzeski’s production design has ideas, a rusted kingdom on the seabed and an island where the plants bite, and none of them is held still long enough to be looked at. Richard Sale’s one clear success is Manta’s helmet, a black dome with two red eyes, which reads cleanly in every shot.

Abdul-Mateen II is asked to be furious for two hours and does it, but the script gives him the same grievance he had last time and then lets a possessed trident do his thinking. Park’s reluctant scientist is the nearest thing to a human being on Manta’s side and is given almost nothing to do about it. Amber Heard’s Mera is in the film less than her billing suggests, and Dolph Lundgren’s Nereus gets a throne and a frown. The planet-warming plot arrives with a montage of news bulletins and is set aside whenever there is something to punch. Rupert Gregson-Williams’s score runs at one volume from the first frame to the last.

Wan made the first *Aquaman* in 2018 with an obvious pleasure in colour and a willingness to let a strange image sit on screen. He also made *The Conjuring* and *Furious 7*, so he knows how to hold a shot and how to stage a chase. Here he is hurrying. Set pieces begin before we know where anyone is standing and end before we know what has been won.

The second half heads for the kingdom of the title and takes turns we will not describe, though anyone who has seen three of these will guess the shape. At 124 minutes it is shorter than most of its rivals and still feels padded. Most critics have landed a little below us, and we understand why; we have added a few points for the brothers. Watch it with the lights off and the brightness up. That is not a joke about the film. It is a practical note about the water.

*Fi1m score 45, published 10 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics find Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom a tired end to the DC Extended Universe, and the reviews lean firmly negative: thirteen of twenty-two are unfavourable, and only four call it a good time. What praise there is clusters almost entirely on one thing, the bickering between Jason Momoa’s Arthur and Patrick Wilson’s Orm, which even the harsher reviews tend to single out as the film’s one working part. James Wan’s energetic direction and the busy underwater design draw a second, smaller round of approval.

The reservations gather around the plot, which many find muddled and recycled, and around the computer-generated imagery, which several describe as fuzzy, garish or plainly unfinished. The spread is wide. The AV Club, Paste and /Film rate it as brisk popcorn fun, while The Guardian and The Telegraph judge it close to worthless. The middle ground is thinly populated; critics either forgive it or they do not.

## Straight answers

**Is Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom worth watching?**

*Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom* is not worth watching for most people, and we scored it 45. Jason Momoa and Patrick Wilson bickering across a jungle island make for a decent buddy comedy, but everything around them is loud, soft-edged and hard to follow. Only those who enjoyed the first film, or the two leads, need bother.

**How long is Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and what is it rated?**

*Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom* runs 2h 04m. It is an action and adventure film.

**Where can I watch Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom in Saudi Arabia?**

*Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom* is not on any streaming or rental service in Saudi Arabia at the moment. It is available in 53 other countries; change your country at the top of the page to see where. Availability is checked daily.

**How violent or frightening is Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and is it suitable for children?**

*Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom* is a 12A, with fantasy violence in the form of underwater brawls and a furious, armoured villain, but nothing the review found frightening or adult. Younger children may find Black Manta's red-eyed helmet and the biting plants alarming; most from about ten upwards will manage it. The noise is more of a problem than the content.

**How does Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom compare to Midnight Run?**

*Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom* borrows the shape of [*Midnight Run*](https://film.one/film/midnight-run), two men who cannot stand each other crossing hostile ground, and the older film does it far better. Martin Brest gives Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin room to quarrel, where James Wan keeps interrupting Momoa and Wilson with plot and digital water. Anyone who enjoys the brothers here should go to the earlier film for the real thing.

**What should I watch after Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom?**

After *Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom*, try [*Aquaman*](https://film.one/film/aquaman) (2018, Fi1m 72): The first one; same brothers, brighter water, and Wan still enjoying himself. Then [*Midnight Run*](https://film.one/film/midnight-run) (1988, Fi1m 88): Two men who cannot stand each other cross a continent; the template, done properly; and [*Thor: Ragnarok*](https://film.one/film/thor-ragnarok) (2017, Fi1m 74): A superhero sequel that decided to be a comedy and had the nerve to commit.

### Reviews we read (23)

- **The AV Club**, Matthew Jackson (B): The critic calls it a kinetic and entertaining popcorn movie that swings for the fences with fun, thanks to strong buddy chemistry between Momoa and Wilson and Wan’s energetic direction. They note the scattershot plotting as a drawback but emphasize its overall charm and spectacle. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-review-1851116790)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Michael Ordoña (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the sequel an improvement over the original due to its lighter buddy-cop tone and focus on family, while noting the franchise’s uncertain future. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-12-22/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-review-jason-momoa-patrick-wilson-amber-heard)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Matt Zoller Seitz (65/100, inferred): The critic calls it a fun but not great movie, praising Jason Momoa’s self-aware performance and his chemistry with Patrick Wilson as the best reasons to watch. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-movie-review-2023)
- **Screen Daily** (50/100, inferred): The critic describes the sequel as breezy and unpretentious with fun buddy-movie elements and exuberant design, but ultimately underwhelming and familiar, feeling like an afterthought in the shifting DC landscape. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-review/5188994.article)
- **Total Film** (50/100, inferred): The review notes the DCEU's last outing should have tried to make more of a splash, implying it falls short as a finale. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-review/)
- **Variety**, Owen Gleiberman (45/100, inferred): The critic finds the film grandly scaled yet rote and glumly standard, with less wonder than the first and action that feels flat despite 3D. [Read](https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-review-jason-momoa-patrick-wilson-amber-heard-1235848235/)
- **Empire**, James Dyer (40/100, inferred): The critic finds this a disappointing DCEU send-off that ignores broader mythology and loses the first film's charm in a muddled eco-fable/revenge plot. They single out the fun frenemy banter between Momoa and Wilson for praise amid the weary CGI and leaden dialogue. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom/)
- **Radio Times**, Jeremy Aspinall (2/5): The critic finds the sequel a serviceable but unremarkable slice of comic-book nonsense, with the bromance between Aquaman and his brother Orm providing some light relief amid familiar superhero tropes and effects. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/scifi/aquaman-lost-kingdom-review/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Lovia Gyarkye (35/100, inferred): The critic finds the sequel frustratingly committed to formula with few surprises or inspired moments in the screenplay and a lack of real stakes or risks. They single out the predictable storytelling about family and geopolitics that feels done better elsewhere. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-jason-momoa-james-wan-1235767228/)
- **The i Paper**, Christina Newland (30/100, inferred): The critic concludes it's no wonder audiences are sick of superheroes, as this confusing sequel drowns in baffling plotlines and derivative storytelling. They single out the stodgy CGI and convoluted intra-tribe politics for complaint, while noting Momoa's charisma. [Read](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-review-sick-superheroes-2816960)
- **Time Out**, Dan Jolin (30/100, inferred): The critic sees the final DCEU film as both fishy and foul, complaining of garish CGI, clunky dialogue and an enthusiastic but misguided bang that ends the franchise on the wrong note despite some octopus-related fun. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-2023)
- **Little White Lies**, David Jenkins (1/1/2): The critic calls the film aggressively unmemorable and a fumbled collage of fuzzy CGI, criticizing the unlikeable hero and rote blockbuster approach that fails to deliver any meaningful engagement. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (10/100, inferred): The critic calls the film a terrible sequel that flatlines with tired tropes, a forgettable plot and a cast going through the motions. He singles out the blandly self-admiring performance by Jason Momoa and the dreary underwater setting for complaint. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/dec/21/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-review-jason-momoa-terrible-sequel-pollutes-the-dcu-ocean)
- **The Telegraph**, Robbie Collin (10/100, inferred): The critic deems it the most numbingly moronic film of 2023, with brain cells dying during ugly CGI battles and poorly rendered underwater scenes. He singles out the messy computer-generated action and visual failures for complaint. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-review/)
- **The Times**, Kevin Maher (★★☆☆☆): The critic finds the sequel deeply uninspired and symptomatic of everything stale in comic-book movies, though notes a few minor positives like Nicole Kidman on a motorised shark. He singles out the overuse of CGI and diminishing returns from Momoa’s performance for complaint. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/article/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-film-review-jason-momoa-730x033m2)
- **Paste**, Jesse Hassenger (7.1/10): Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom ends the DCEU on its own chaotic terms with plenty of colorful spectacle but little connective tissue to a larger universe. Wan’s energetic direction and visual flair provide the main pleasures despite a disjointed production feel. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/james-wan/aquaman-and-the-last-kingdom-review)
- **/Film**, Rafael Motamayor (7/10): The critic finds it a fun but flawed adventure that excels in its family-focused road trip elements and world-building but is bogged down by a weak opening and environmental messaging. Praises the Arthur-Orm dynamic and fantastical locations. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/1475671/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-review/)
- **Collider**, Ross Bonaime (5/10): The film embraces the silliness of the original Aquaman while highlighting both the strengths and weaknesses of the DCEU as a whole. The buddy comedy dynamic between Momoa and Wilson stands out as a highlight amid uneven execution. [Read](https://collider.com/aquaman-2-review/)
- **Den of Geek**, David Crow (2/5): The critic calls the film soulless and inept, a pathetic epitaph for the DCEU that feels like a studio obligation rather than a real movie. He praises the chemistry between Momoa and Wilson as well as James Wan's visual style. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/aquaman-2-buries-dceu-at-sea/)
- **Digital Spy**, Ian Sandwell (40/100, inferred): The critic describes the sequel as a fittingly messy and choppy end to the DCEU, with a rushed plot and wasted talent despite some strong performances and visuals. He notes the tonal inconsistency and lack of substance in the action and story. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a46185629/aquaman-2-review-lost-kingdom/)
- **Deadline**, Valerie Complex (35/100, inferred): The sequel veers into cartoonish territory with faulty CGI, particularly an ill-fitting Aquaman suit, and inconsistent character portrayal. It lacks narrative direction and fails to make audiences care about the franchise's future. [Read](https://deadline.com/2023/12/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-review-james-wan-struggles-anchor-cartoonish-sequel-1235678398/)
- **Polygon**, Matt Patches (30/100, inferred): The sequel flounders with repetitive lowbrow humor and spectacle that lacks tempo or impact, feeling like a step down from the first film. Climate themes and action sequences fail to cohere into a satisfying whole. [Read](https://www.polygon.com/reviews/24010892/aquaman-lost-kingdom-review/)
- **The Wrap**, William Bibbani (25/100, inferred): The film is a hacked-up mess with choppy editing, a tediously recycled plot, visual noise, laughable dialogue, and a story that makes little sense. It ends the DCEU on a low note that barely clears the low bar set by other recent entries in the universe. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/aquaman-2-review-jason-momoa/)

## Details

- **Director:** James Wan
- **Director:** James Wan
- **Screenplay:** David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick
- **Story:** James Wan, David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, Jason Momoa, Thomas Pa'a Sibbett
- **Cinematography:** Don Burgess
- **Editor:** Kirk M. Morri
- **Music:** Rupert Gregson-Williams
- **Production design:** Bill Brzeski
- **Costume design:** Richard Sale
- **Producer:** James Wan, Rob Cowan, Peter Safran
- **Cast:** Jason Momoa as Arthur; Patrick Wilson as Orm; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta; Randall Park as Dr. Shin; Amber Heard as Mera; Nicole Kidman as Atlanna; Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus; Temuera Morrison as Tom
- **Runtime:** 2h 04m
- **First release (South Korea):** 19 December 2023
- **Genres:** Action, Adventure, Fantasy
- **Budget:** $205 million
- **Box office:** $440 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cSkHPW-MPE

## Where to watch in Saudi Arabia

Not streaming, renting or buying in Saudi Arabia at the last check.

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie 2024: Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *Aquaman* (2018), Fi1m 72: The first one; same brothers, brighter water, and Wan still enjoying himself. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/aquaman.md)
- *Midnight Run* (1988), Fi1m 88: Two men who cannot stand each other cross a continent; the template, done properly. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/midnight-run.md)
- *Thor: Ragnarok* (2017), Fi1m 74: A superhero sequel that decided to be a comedy and had the nerve to commit. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/thor-ragnarok.md)
- *The Abyss* (1989), Fi1m 71: Cameron goes to the bottom of the sea with real water and real fear. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-abyss.md)
- *Ponyo* (2008): Miyazaki’s ocean, hand-drawn: a fish becomes a girl and the sea follows her home.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom