--- title: "Black Adam: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/black-adam/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/black-adam" critics_score: 46 critics_reviews: 28 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." --- # Black Adam (2022): what the critics said Critics' score 46 from 28 reviews: 3 positive, 9 mixed, 16 negative. Most critics find Black Adam overstuffed and derivative, with thin characters and crowded plotting limiting the pleasures of its superhero action. Praise clusters around the supporting cast, particularly Pierce Brosnan and Aldis Hodge, whose performances bring humour and personality to the Justice Society. Even several negative reviews find stretches of energetic combat, though Dwayne Johnson divides opinion: some see a commanding antihero, others a gloomy lead deprived of his usual appeal. The spread is wide, but negative verdicts dominate, with repeated complaints about muddled storytelling, underdeveloped ideas and franchise obligations. The action also divides critics, earning praise for its force and complaints about weightless effects and unclear choreography. The Evening Standard offers a notably warmer assessment, finding wit, style and a welcome challenge to American superhero dominance. Slant Magazine values the questioning of superhero morality, while finding the finale conventional and emotionally unconvincing. ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Rating 4/5. 20 October 2022. O’Sullivan finds the film bold, stylish, involving and witty, despite an uneven script and hokey visuals. She particularly praises Pierce Brosnan’s expertly droll performance and the film’s challenge to the usual dominance of American superhero stories. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/black-adam-review-the-rock-dwayne-johnson-piers-brosnan-b1033602.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 18 October 2022. Walsh finds the film entertaining despite Dwayne Johnson’s charisma-free performance and its familiar, hastily assembled superhero-story parts. She praises Jaume Collet-Serra’s visual style and ability to keep the film lively. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-10-18/review-black-adam-dwayne-johnson-dc-extended-universe) ## Empire — Helen O'Hara Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 18 October 2022. The review finds the film messy but generally entertaining, with a welcome change of tone in Johnson’s ruthless superhero. It praises the frightening potential of superpowers and singles out Pierce Brosnan as a standout, while faulting the film’s weightless action and uneasy mix of edge and family-friendly charm. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/black-adam/) ## Radio Times — Jeremy Aspinall Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 20 October 2022. The review says the film is not a DC game-changer, but makes its central character a serious player. Its only stated point of praise is that it establishes the character effectively. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/black-adam-review/) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 18 October 2022. The accessible page identifies this as a review but does not reveal the critic’s verdict. Its standfirst describes Dwayne Johnson as a conflicted superhero, without enough text to identify what the critic praises or criticizes. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/black-adam-review/5175474.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 20 October 2022. The page content is unavailable, so the critic’s verdict cannot be determined. No specific praise or complaint can be verified. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/20/movies/black-adam-review.html) ## Slant Magazine — Jake Cole Rating 2.5/4. 18 October 2022. The critic finds the film’s willingness to question superhero morality compelling, despite a conventional and emotionally unconvincing finale. He praises the coherent, macabrely grounded action and Dwayne Johnson’s genuinely menacing performance. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/black-adam-review-dwayne-johnson-jaume-collet-serra/) ## Total Film — Kevin Harley Rating 3/5. 18 October 2022. Harley finds the film entertainingly fast and fierce but messy and undisciplined. He praises Johnson’s presence while faulting the crowded plotting and relentless noise. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/black-adam-DC-review/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — John DeFore Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 18 October 2022. The critic finds the film entertaining but merely fine, with politically muddled undertones. He praises Dwayne Johnson’s magnetic antihero while faulting the movie for not fully processing the issues it raises. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/black-adam-dwayne-johnson-pierce-brosnan-dc-jaume-collet-serra-1235241643/) ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich Rating D+. 18 October 2022. Ehrlich pans the film as a risk-averse, derivative superhero spectacle that fails to give its premise or characters depth. He singles out Dwayne Johnson’s charisma as a strength, while criticizing the film for sanding down the character’s complexity. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/black-adam-movie-review-1234773729/) ## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen Rating 2/5. The review finds this DC origin story dull and says the Rock’s superheroics fall flat. It singles out Dwayne Johnson as a gloomy headline act. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/black-adam-2022) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 18 October 2022. Debruge finds the film’s origins-and-teaser approach promising but ultimately pointless and intellectually juvenile. He singles out Doctor Fate’s visual effects and the emotional dimension of Teth Adam’s backstory as bright spots. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2022/film/reviews/black-adam-review-dwayne-johnson-1235406718/) ## The AV Club — Phil Pirrello Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 19 October 2022. The critic finds the film an overstuffed, emotionally thin action spectacle that wastes its considerable talents. They praise Pierce Brosnan and Aldis Hodge for bringing personality and humor to the Justice Society. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/black-adam-review-dwayne-johnson-pierce-brosnan-1849674142) ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 27 October 2022. Brody finds the film dull and overburdened by franchise machinery, with little reason to seek it out. He singles out Dwayne Johnson’s appealing screen presence as its main virtue, while criticizing the role as rote and empty. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/black-adam-reviewed-dwayne-johnson-emerges-from-a-tomb-and-finds-nothing) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2022. Ebiri finds the film entertaining in stretches but ultimately rubbish, with its emotional ambitions undermined by a flat central performance. He praises the action scenes for their exuberant, splattery energy. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/black-adam-movie-review-the-rocks-dc-debut-is-rubbish.html) ## The Guardian — Wendy Ide Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 23 October 2022. Ide judges the film a superhero dud, finding it loud and baffling. She singles out the lack of humor as what leaves Dwayne Johnson’s performance stony-faced and without his usual appeal. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/oct/23/black-adam-review-the-rock-in-a-hard-place-in-superhero-dud-dc-marvel-dwayne-johnson) ## Digital Spy — Ian Sandwell Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 18 October 2022. Sandwell finds the film an entertaining, action-packed start for Dwayne Johnson in the DC universe, though its familiar problems hold it back. He praises the Justice Society cast’s engaging performances and stylish action, while criticizing thin character development and weightless CGI. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a41624567/black-adam-review-dwayne-johnson/) ## Consequence — Liz Shannon Miller Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 18 October 2022. The review finds familiar superhero conventions but says the film makes some fresh choices and has a stronger theme than most. It especially praises the Justice Society’s chemistry, singling out Aldis Hodge’s leadership grit and Noah Centineo’s goofy charm. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2022/10/black-adam-review-dwayne-johnson/) ## Den of Geek — Don Kaye Rating 2.5/5. 20 October 2022. The critic finds the film forgettable and directionless, with thin storytelling and underdeveloped characters. He praises Pierce Brosnan and Aldis Hodge, whose performances sparkle, along with a few enjoyable moments of action. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/black-adam-review-not-even-dwayne-johnson-save-dc/) ## /Film — Jeff Ewing Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 24 October 2022. The critic finds the film full of promising elements but says it falls short as a standalone story. He praises the combat and several performances, while faulting the rushed pacing and contrived plot choices. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1067825/black-adam-spoiler-review-a-promising-film-with-odd-choices/) ## Deadline — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 18 October 2022. McCarthy finds the film an overstuffed spectacle whose weak story and underdeveloped characters keep it from taking off. He praises Dwayne Johnson’s commanding presence and the impressive visual effects. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2022/10/black-adam-review-dwayne-johnson-dc-movie-1235148461/) ## Film Stories — Lauren Miles Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2022. Miles finds the film ambitious but overstuffed, structurally baffling, and ultimately disappointing. She praises the early action for its graphic, carnage-filled energy, but criticizes the repetitive battles and underdeveloped characters. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/black-adam-review-the-dc-universe-gets-an-anti-hero/) ## Paste — Abby Olcese Rating 3.0/10. 20 October 2022. The review finds the film a clanging, incoherent dud that reinforces the DCEU’s worst habits. It criticizes the action sequences as choppy and overstuffed, with flashy effects substituting for clear choreography. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/dc-movies/black-adam-review) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). The headline presents the film as a negative, tedious slog. It singles out its reliance on superhero clichés as a complaint. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/black-adam-is-a-drab-slog-through-superhero-cliches-review-20221018/) ## The Ringer — Daniel Chin Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 24 October 2022. Chin argues that Black Adam is a messy, overstuffed film that fails to deliver the fresh start promised for DC. He singles out the Justice Society as the movie’s most interesting element, while criticizing its recycled visual style and muddled world-building. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2022/10/24/dc/black-adam-dc-dceu-warner-bros-snyderverse) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 18 October 2022. The critic finds the film muddled, overstuffed, and anti-entertaining. They particularly fault its gloomy, artificial visuals and rapid editing, which drain excitement from the many fight scenes. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/black-adam-movie-review-dwayne-johnson/) ## Eye for Film — Andrew Robertson Fi1m's normalised score 15/100 (inferred from the text). 24 October 2022. The critic finds the film disappointing and derivative, saying it falls short even of low expectations. They particularly criticize its borrowing from other films and comic-book properties, which leaves the story muddled and the characters underdeveloped. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/black-adam-2022-film-review-by-andrew-robertson) ## NME Fi1m's normalised score 15/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds the film a monotonous, over-explained dud that is sunk by its central character. They praise the soundtrack and say the adventure gains pace once its many characters are established. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/black-adam-review-dwayne-the-rock-johnson-3331124) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/black-adam.md