History YMMV / BlackAdam2022

* ItsTheSameNowItSucks:
** "Black Adam kills his enemies" is a major part of the film's plot and premise; the JSA are opposed to Adam's actions because he's killing Intergang, and everyone alternates between considering Adam's willingness to kill either concerning or worth applauding. The thing is, this is hardly unique in the DCEU; in fact, the Justice League, who are meant to be the moral centre of the DC Universe, are all depicted as killing their enemies, sometimes even more brutally than some of Adam's kills. This has been something that has long been a sticking point to viewers, as it ''is'' a huge deviation from the norm, but the result is it makes Adam's anti-heroic qualities far less remarkable or concerning than the film treats them as. Black Adam's willingness to use lethal force and fascistic actions has long been part of his character in the comics (he is, after all, traditionally a super''villain''), but since the more heroic non-killing heroes have been depicted as killers themselves here, it makes Adam far less special in this universe.
** Another major criticism levied against the film was its bizarre amount of MoodWhiplash and numerous moments of humor--[[{{Narm}} unintentional]] or otherwise--in what was advertised as a far more serious film. This was especially off-putting to viewers who had lost interest in the ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'' for its overabundance of comedy undercutting more serious moments, coming into ''Black Adam'' under the expectation that it would take itself more seriously than its rival, only to be met with more of the same jarring shifts in tone.

** At one point in the movie Dr. Fate looks into the future and sees nothing. Ever since the DCEU was announced to be due for a reboot called the "DCU", with a virtually clean slate and only a few actors planned to return in the same roles, and then for an alternate continuity at that (like Viola Davis as Amanda Waller), it seems Dr. Fate was right, the DCEU as it was at the time had no future.

** [[spoiler:Superman's cameo, with Henry Cavill appearing for the first time since ''Film/JusticeLeague2017'' and ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague'']], after all the rampant speculation that [[spoiler:Cavill had since exited the role and/or that his Superman was going to be cut from the DCEU. Before this, Superman had appeared in ''Film/Shazam2019'' and ''Series/Peacemaker2022'' [[FakeShemp without showing Cavill's face]], and it has been announced that the upcoming ''Film/TheFlash2023'' was going to introduce Supergirl. However this was all made moot when the DCEU itself was slated for a reboot starting with a new Superman movie without Cavill.]][[note]]When ''Black Adam'' came out, Cavill himself said on social media that his Superman cameo would be but a "very small taste of things to come" going forward. Unfortunately this would end up being the last time he ever appeared as Superman in person (not counting archive footage in ''Film/TheFlash2023''), as a result of Creator/JamesGunn taking over and opting for a reboot instead of continuing with what currently existed.[[/note]]

** [[spoiler:Superman's cameo, with Henry Cavill appearing for the first time since ''Film/JusticeLeague2017'' and ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague'']], after all the rampant speculation that [[spoiler:Cavill had since exited the role and/or that his Superman was going to be cut from the DCEU. Superman had appeared in a few intermediate works like ''Film/Shazam2019'' and ''Series/Peacemaker2022'' [[FakeShemp without showing Cavill's face]], fueling these rumors. However this was all made moot when the DCEU itself was slated for a reboot.]][[note]]When ''Black Adam'' came out, Cavill himself said on social media that his Superman cameo would be but a "very small taste of things to come" going forward. Unfortunately this would end up being the last time he ever appeared as Superman in person (not counting archive footage in ''Film/TheFlash2023''), as a result of Creator/JamesGunn taking over and opting for a reboot instead of continuing with what currently existed.[[/note]]

** [[spoiler:Superman's cameo, with Henry Cavill appearing in front of the camera for the first time since ''Film/JusticeLeague2017'' [=/=] ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague'']], which brought an end to speculation that [[spoiler:Cavill's Superman was going to be cut from the DCEU, as Superman had appeared in a few intermediate works like ''Film/Shazam2019'' and ''Series/Peacemaker2022'' [[FakeShemp without showing Cavill's face]] -- until the DCEU itself was slated for a reboot.]][[note]]Cavill himself said on social media that his Superman cameo would be but a "very small taste of things to come" going forward. Unfortunately this would end up being the last time he ever appeared as Superman in person (not counting archive footage in ''Film/TheFlash2023''), as a result of Creator/JamesGunn taking over and opting for a reboot instead of continuing with what currently existed.[[/note]]

** At one point in the movie Dr. Fate looks into the future and sees nothing. As part of the new direction of the DCEU, not only is [[spoiler:Creator/HenryCavill out as Superman in favor of a younger version of the character]], effectively ending The Rock's original plans for where to take Black Adam, but Patty Jenkins's script for ''Wonder Woman 3'' was tossed out, leading to Jenkins and eventually Gal Gadot herself exiting the franchise. Then ''Film/TheFlash2023'' was released and (again as part of the new direction of the DCEU) instead of [[spoiler: Creator/MichaelKeaton's Batman and Creator/SashaCalle's Supergirl joining Barry on the new Earth like they were supposed to, they are KilledOffForReal and [[RetGone erased from existence]] and Creator/GeorgeClooney replaced Creator/BenAffleck as Batman instead]]. It seems Dr. Fate was right, the DCEU as it was at the time has no future.

** [[spoiler:Superman's cameo, with Henry Cavill appearing in front of the camera for the first time since ''Film/JusticeLeague2017'' [=/=] ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague'']], which brought an end to speculation that [[spoiler:Cavill's Superman was going to be cut from the DCEU, as Superman had appeared in a few intermediate works like ''Film/Shazam2019'' and ''Series/Peacemaker2022'' without showing Cavill's face -- until the DCEU itself was slated for a reboot.]][[note]]Cavill himself said on social media that his Superman cameo would be but a "very small taste of things to come" going forward. Unfortunately this would end up being the last time he ever appeared as Superman in person (not counting archive footage in ''Film/TheFlash2023''), as a result of Creator/JamesGunn taking over and opting for a reboot instead of continuing with what currently existed.[[/note]]

** [[spoiler:Superman's cameo]], which brought an end to speculation that [[spoiler:Henry Cavill's Superman was going to be cut from the DCEU -- until the DCEU itself was slated for a reboot.]][[note]]Cavill himself said on social media that his Superman cameo would be but a "very small taste of things to come" going forward. Unfortunately this would end up being the last time he ever appeared as Superman, as a result of Creator/JamesGunn taking over and opting for a reboot instead of continuing with what currently existed.[[/note]]

* [[spoiler:Superman's cameo]], which brought an end to speculation that [[spoiler:Henry Cavill's Superman was going to be cut from the DCEU -- until the DCEU itself was slated for a reboot.]][[note]]Cavill himself said on social media that his Superman cameo would be but a "very small taste of things to come" going forward. Unfortunately this would end up being the last time he ever appeared as Superman, as a result of Creator/JamesGunn taking over and opting for a reboot instead of continuing with what currently existed.[[/note]]

** A reason why the [[spoiler:Superman cameo]] ended up being so popular was because it brought an end to speculation that [[spoiler:Henry Cavill's Superman]] was going to be cut from the franchise. To the contrary, [[spoiler:Cavill himself]] said on social media that [[spoiler:his Superman cameo]] would be but a "very small taste of things to come" going forward.[[note]]Unfortunately, this would end up being the last time he ever appeared as Superman, as a result of Creator/JamesGunn taking over and opting for a reboot instead of continuing with what currently existed.[[/note]]

** The insatiably cruel [[EvilOverlord Ahk-Ton]] himself ruled Kahndaq in ancient times with an iron fist while creating the Crown of Sabbac for ultimate power over the world. Having [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil enslaved]] numerous natives of Kahndaq to build his empire and mine for the material Eternium, he regularly threatens and sacrifices the lives of dissenters, including executing the slaves as a "reward" for their work. When [[Characters/DCEUBlackAdam Teth-Adam]]'s son Hurut becomes the champion for "Shazam", after Ahk-Ton tries to [[PublicExecution publicly execute]] him, and uses his powers to fight against him as Kahndaq's protector, Ahk-Ton [[YouKilledMyFather has his mother Shiruta murdered]], and Adam himself is gravely wounded in the process. When Adam is saved by Hurut transferring his powers to him, Hurut himself ends up being killed by Ahk-Ton's forces instead.

** One of the biggest criticisms of this movie is how the character of Black Adam is virtually nothing like his comic book counterpart. While both versions kill their enemies, the comics version was a villain and remained a questionable AntiHero.[[note]]He did reform in recent comics however. [[/note]] This version has no past as a villain or a tyrant, only uses lethal-force on the bad guys, and despite the [[CoversAlwaysLie poster showing him taking the throne]], he only sits on it for a few seconds, before deciding it feels "wrong" and destroys it. His AdaptationalHeroism makes it even harder to justify any potential fight with Superman.

** Atom Smasher's costume has inspired many joking comparisons to Film/{{Deadpool}}, particularly in their masks. There are also those who fear the two will be compared to each other once Atom Smasher starts joking in the film.

* ShockingMoments: [[spoiler:Superman, as played by Henry Cavill after years of sitting out DCEU appearances, making a cameo at the end of the film.]] The moment caught opening weekend crowds by surprise as videos of cheers erupting from the audience of individual screenings made their way online.