# Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

> 2023 superhero film by James Wan

**Wikidata**: [Q91226161](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q91226161)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaman_and_the_Lost_Kingdom)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom

## Summary
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is a 2023 superhero film directed by James Wan, serving as the sequel to the 2018 film Aquaman. It is the final installment in the DC Extended Universe and features Jason Momoa reprising his role as Arthur Curry/Aquaman.

## Key Facts
- **Release Date**: December 21, 2023 (United States)
- **Director**: James Wan
- **Lead Actor**: Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry/Aquaman
- **Genre**: Superhero, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction
- **Production Companies**: DC Studios, Atomic Monster, The Safran Company, Warner Bros. Pictures
- **Film Series**: Part of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU)
- **Preceded By**: Aquaman (2018)
- **IMDb ID**: tt9663764
- **Rotten Tomatoes ID**: aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-2023
- **Metacritic ID**: aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-2023
- **Runtime**: 124 minutes
- **Budget**: $215 million
- **Box Office**: $439.9 million worldwide
- **Language**: English
- **Country of Origin**: United States

## FAQs
**What is the plot of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom?**
The film follows Aquaman as he must forge an unlikely alliance with an old enemy to protect Atlantis and the surface world from a devastating ancient power. Black Manta seeks revenge using the Black Trident's power while Aquaman faces new challenges to his rule.

**Who are the main cast members?**
Jason Momoa stars as Aquaman, with Patrick Wilson as Orm, Amber Heard as Mera, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta, Nicole Kidman as Atlanna, and Temuera Morrison as Tom Curry. Randall Park, Dolph Lundgren, and Vincent Regan also appear in supporting roles.

**How does this film connect to the DC Extended Universe?**
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is the final film in the DC Extended Universe, concluding the interconnected storyline that began with Man of Steel (2013). It directly follows events from the first Aquaman film and references other DCEU movies.

**What are the critical reception and audience scores?**
The film received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for visual effects and action sequences but criticism for the screenplay. It holds a 34% critics score and 42% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, with a Metacritic score of 45/100.

**Is this film part of a larger franchise?**
Yes, it is the second film in the Aquaman franchise and part of the larger DC Extended Universe, which includes films like Wonder Woman, Shazam!, and The Suicide Squad, though it serves as the conclusion to that shared universe.

## Why It Matters
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom matters as the concluding chapter of the DC Extended Universe, a cinematic experiment that ran for a decade and attempted to create a shared superhero universe to rival Marvel's MCU. The film represents the culmination of Warner Bros.' approach to DC characters and serves as a transition point for the franchise's future under new leadership at DC Studios. Its performance and reception influenced decisions about how superhero films would be produced and distributed going forward, particularly regarding theatrical versus streaming releases. The movie also matters for its representation of underwater fantasy worlds and its technical achievements in creating believable aquatic environments, pushing the boundaries of visual effects technology in cinema.

## Notable For
- **Final DCEU Film**: Serves as the concluding installment of the DC Extended Universe franchise
- **Visual Effects Achievement**: Features groundbreaking underwater cinematography and CGI environments
- **Box Office Performance**: Grossed $439.9 million worldwide despite mixed reviews
- **Franchise Conclusion**: Marks the end of Warner Bros.' first attempt at a shared superhero universe
- **Director Continuity**: James Wan returns to direct, maintaining creative consistency from the first film
- **Character Development**: Further explores Aquaman's journey from outsider to king
- **Technical Innovation**: Advanced underwater motion capture and filming techniques
- **Cultural Impact**: Continued representation of Polynesian culture through Jason Momoa's casting

## Body

### Production and Development
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom entered development following the massive success of the first Aquaman film, which grossed over $1.1 billion worldwide in 2018. Principal photography began in June 2021 and concluded in January 2022, with filming taking place primarily in the United Kingdom and Hawaii. The production budget was approximately $215 million, making it one of the most expensive films of 2023. Director James Wan returned to helm the sequel, working from a screenplay he co-wrote with David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick.

### Cast and Characters
Jason Momoa returns as the titular character Arthur Curry/Aquaman, having first portrayed the role in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Justice League (2017). Patrick Wilson reprises his role as Orm, Aquaman's half-brother and former antagonist, now an uneasy ally. Amber Heard returns as Mera, Queen of Atlantis and mother to Arthur's son. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II's Black Manta serves as the primary antagonist, seeking vengeance for his father's death in the first film. Nicole Kidman and Temuera Morrison return as Atlanna and Tom Curry respectively, while Randall Park, Dolph Lundgren, and Vincent Regan join the cast in new roles.

### Plot and Story Elements
The film's narrative centers on Aquaman's dual responsibilities as both King of Atlantis and father to his infant son. Black Manta, armed with the powerful Black Trident, emerges as a greater threat than before, forcing Aquaman to seek help from his imprisoned brother Orm. The story explores themes of family, responsibility, and the delicate balance between the surface world and Atlantis. The "Lost Kingdom" referenced in the title is revealed to be an ancient, powerful civilization that poses a threat to both worlds.

### Technical Achievements
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom pushed the boundaries of underwater filmmaking technology. The production utilized advanced motion capture systems specifically designed for underwater use, allowing actors to perform in massive water tanks while their movements were translated into CGI characters. The visual effects team at Industrial Light & Magic created over 2,300 visual effects shots, featuring photorealistic underwater environments, creatures, and action sequences. The film's color grading and lighting techniques were specifically developed to create the unique visual aesthetic of an underwater world while maintaining clarity and visual interest.

### Release and Distribution
The film had its world premiere in London on December 19, 2023, followed by its theatrical release in the United States on December 22, 2023. It was distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, marking one of the final DCEU films to receive exclusive theatrical distribution before Warner Bros. shifted to hybrid release models. The marketing campaign emphasized the film's status as the conclusion to the DCEU while highlighting its standalone adventure elements.

### Critical Reception and Analysis
Upon release, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom received mixed reviews from critics. While many praised the film's visual spectacle, action sequences, and Jason Momoa's charismatic performance, others criticized the screenplay for being convoluted and the pacing for being uneven. The film holds a 34% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 334 reviews, with an average rating of 4.8/10. Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 45 out of 100 based on 56 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews."

### Box Office Performance
The film grossed $439.9 million worldwide against its $215 million production budget. While this represented a significant commercial success, it fell short of the first Aquaman's $1.1 billion haul. The film's performance was affected by several factors, including its release during a competitive holiday season and the conclusion of the DCEU franchise, which may have impacted audience interest. Despite these challenges, it remained profitable for Warner Bros. and demonstrated continued audience interest in the Aquaman character.

### Place in the DC Extended Universe
As the final installment of the DCEU, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom serves as a capstone to Warner Bros.' first attempt at creating a shared superhero universe. The film makes references to previous DCEU entries while establishing a sense of closure for the franchise's overarching narrative. Its conclusion paved the way for James Gunn and Peter Safran's new DC Universe, which would reboot the franchise with a new continuity beginning with Superman: Legacy in 2025.

### Cultural and Industry Impact
The film's release coincided with significant changes in the entertainment industry, including the ongoing shift toward streaming services and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on theatrical exhibition. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom represented one of the last major franchise films to receive a traditional theatrical-only release before studios increasingly adopted hybrid distribution models. The movie also continued the trend of increased representation in superhero films, with Jason Momoa's Polynesian heritage being an integral part of the character's identity and the film's cultural elements.

### Related Entities and Collaborations
The production involved collaboration between multiple companies, including DC Studios (the creative division overseeing DC properties), Atomic Monster (James Wan's production company), The Safran Company (Peter Safran's production company), and Warner Bros. Pictures (distribution). The film also featured partnerships with various technology companies for its visual effects work, including Industrial Light & Magic, Weta Digital, and Scanline VFX. These collaborations represented the complex ecosystem of modern blockbuster filmmaking, involving creative, technical, and distribution partnerships across multiple organizations.

## References

1. [Source](https://kino.dk/film/aquaman-and-lost-kingdom)
2. AlloCiné
3. The Movie Database
4. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9663764/releaseinfo/)
5. [Source](https://www.procinema.ch/fr/statistics/filmdb/1013317.html)
6. Terjesztésre kerülő filmalkotások és artfilmek nyilvántartása
7. [Kino.dk](https://kino.dk/film/aquaman-and-lost-kingdom)
8. [Bulletin No: 2803. Motion Picture Association. 2023](https://www.filmratings.com/Content/Downloads/cara_rating_bulletin.pdf)
9. [Source](https://www.spio-fsk.de/asp/fskkarte.asp?pvid=11656163)
10. [Film Censorship Board](https://lsf.go.id/collection/13/)
11. [Source](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmde2mta0)
12. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom/)
13. [Source](https://www.eirin.jp/list/index.php?s_year=2023&s_month=12&e_year=2023&e_month=12&pageID=3)
14. [Source](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/160860)
15. film distribution certificate
16. [Source](https://sede.mcu.gob.es/CatalogoICAA/info/179623/1/34/209.pdf)
17. [Source](http://cncinema.abt.ro/filme)
18. [海王2：失落的王国 - 知乎](https://www.zhihu.com/topic/21255082/hot)
19. [Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (Film) - TV Tropes](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/AquamanAndTheLostKingdom)
20. [Source](https://www.ifco.ie/en/ifco/pages/D9DB9FC3005AA10F)
21. FilmVandaag.nl
22. [21 Cineplex](https://21cineplex.com/)
23. [21 Cineplex](https://m.21cineplex.com/)