‘Black Adam’: The Worst Movie of the Decade?

'Black Adam'the number one movie in the country

Black Adam 2022

The Rock's 15-year passion project, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra. Sean calls it a totem of everything wrong with the last decade of the business; Charles had a blast. A hero too powerful to have a real threat, 88% action, slow-mo cribbed from the Snyder films, and 'Paint It Black' over an Egyptian battle. Aldis Hodge's Hawkman spends two hours arguing due process; Pierce Brosnan's Dr. Fate is a sincere Doctor Strange; Sarah Shahi's archaeologist summons him; Noah Centineo's CGI-inflated kid eats chicken wings. Superman turns up mid-credits.

Doing the Rock Johnson20-plus years of a box-office career

The Scorpion King 2002

The Hollywood transition Sean had high hopes for: the successor to Schwarzenegger and Stallone.

The Rundown 2003

One of his best: a stripped-down buddy-cop comedy, a knockoff of a '90s Richard Donner movie.

Walking Tall 2004

A smaller, more human-looking Rock taking boards over the head.

Southland Tales 2006

One of three genuinely interesting movies he's made: not the lead, from a real filmmaker.

The Other Guys 2010

A rare turn as the butt of the joke; both hosts wish he'd do more of this.

Pain & Gain 2013

Another interesting one where he's not the star, from a real director.

San Andreas 2015

An original, non-IP disaster movie.

Central Intelligence 2016

Chemistry with Kevin Hart, which Rob is allergic to.

Moana 2016

Arguably his most successful recent work: pure voice, no fights to cherry-pick.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle 2017

His number one domestic grosser.

Skyscraper 2018

An original script whose explicit goal is still franchisable IP.

Hobbs & Shaw 2019

Should have been a layup; doesn't work. Sean's premiere had a 35-minute electrical outage that Dwayne vamped through, charmingly.

Jumanji: The Next Level 2019

Third on his domestic list.

Jungle Cruise 2021

Collet-Serra's other recent Rock movie. Also didn't work.

Red Notice 2021

An original script with Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot, roundly mocked.

Red One 2023

Breaking news mid-episode: an Amazon 'franchisable piece of IP' whose merchandising tentacles broke Charles's spirit.

Fast Five 2011

Number six domestically. Two of his top five are Fast movies.

Fast & Furious 6 2013

Number five on the list.

Furious 7 2015

His number two domestic grosser.

The Mummy Returns 2001

Where it started, further down the box-office list.

Get Smart 2008

Also on the top-ten box-office rundown.

G.I. Joe: Retaliation 2013

Not bad. Sean would take it over Black Adam. From Jon M. Chu, with a decent cast.

Also mentioned raised along the way

Superhero comparisons Thor: Love and ThunderShazam!Top Gun: MaverickVenom: Let There Be CarnageSuicide SquadThe Suicide SquadDeadpoolJustice LeagueJokerBlack PantherGuardians of the GalaxyThe Dark KnightDoctor Strange

Collet-Serra's earlier films House of WaxOrphanUnknownNon-StopRun All NightThe Shallows

Filmmakers name-checked Crazy Rich AsiansAtomic BlondeJohn WickThe Big ShortThe TerminatorConan the BarbarianJack ReacherMission: ImpossibleZero EffectOrange CountyWalk Hard: The Dewey Cox StoryThe TV SetOne Piece Film: RedThree Colors: Red

Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads

TV The Falcon and the Winter SoldierOne Piece

Games FIFA World Cup Launch Edition

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