Superhero sequel has comic-book violence, creepy monsters.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
some
Lots of largely bloodless comic book-style action violence. Humans are beaten, and there are attacks by creepy monsters, including skeletal zombies, clawed/tentacled sea creatures, and giant grasshoppers. Fights with fists, tridents, and laser blasters. Bodies and heads are often slammed on hard objects. Explosions. Torture. Characters get "fried" and look burned but are OK shortly after. Kidnapping. Characters are in peril, including a baby separated from his parents. Death by suicide is chosen over capture.
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Language includes: "ass," "a--hole," "butthole," "crap," "d--kbag," "hell," "s--t," "shut up," "suck," one "goddamn," and one "what the fuuuuuu--" (it's unfinished). Some insulting language from Aquaman, such as calling a cephalopod sidekick "dumb" and "stupid" and calling his brother who was being starved in a prison "skinny jeans."
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Guinness beer is positively featured. Off-screen merchandising tie-ins.
Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
a little
Aquaman is known to like to drink, and he's shown drinking beer. On a fact-finding mission, Aquaman visits a sketchy bar/dive, but he makes it clear that the business conducted there isn't acceptable.
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Arthur/Aquaman demonstrates courage and integrity. His confidence borders on arrogance, and yet he doesn't take himself too seriously and shows humility when it comes to asking for help. Both Arthur and his brother Orm have plenty to be bitter about, but they put their differences aside to focus on a common goal and use teamwork to succeed. Arthur is secure in his identity and loves being a dad. His wife, Mera, doesn't have much of a storyline of her own, but she's a true partner, saving him from harm politically and physically. Characters admit when they're in the wrong and seek redemption.
Positive Messages
some
We must work together to stop and survive climate change. Also themes of family, forgiveness, and redemption, plus courage, humility, and integrity.
Diverse Representations
some
Director James Wan is Australian of Chinese and Malaysian descent. Lead actor Jason Momoa is multiracial with Native Hawaiian heritage, and his Aquaman is among the few superheroes of color leading their own film series. Supporting characters of color include Black Manta (played by Black American actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), Dr. Shin (Korean American actor Randall Park), Stingray (Portugese-Chinese actor Jani Zhao), Karshon (Afro-Latina actor Indya Moore, who's also transgender and non-binary), and Tom Curry (multiracial New Zealander Temuera Morrison, who has Māori heritage). Arther's wife Mera and mother Atlanna are brave warriors, but are mostly seen taking care of the men. Note that Nicole Kidman is only 12 years older than Momoa but plays his mother. Amber Heard, who plays Mera, is openly bisexual.
Parents need to know that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is the sequel to 2018's Aquamanand the 15th installment in the DC Extended Universe. Jason Momoa reprises his role as the title character, who's now king of Atlantis. Arthur finds his regal role boring (remember, kids, even high-profile jobs have downsides!), but new evil threats bent on destruction pop up soon enough. So expect lots of comic book-style peril and violence (explosions, kidnapping, peril, characters getting "fried"), plus skeletal zombies and other unsettling monsters with claws and tentacles. There are fights with fists, tridents, and laser blasters, and bodies and heads are often slammed on hard objects. A baby is separated from his parents, and someone chooses death by suicide over capture. Language isn't extreme but includes "s--t," "butthole," "d--kbag," one use of "goddamn," and an unfinished "what the fuuu--" -- and Aquaman definitely likes to drink beer. He also demonstrates integrity and humility: He's a hero who can let bygones be bygones, no matter how grave, and realize when he's in over his head and ask for help. His wife, Mera (Amber Heard), also a fearless warrior, rescues him a couple of times, and he's happy to have her assistance. Themes also include teamwork and courage, and there's diversity both behind and in front of the camera (the director is Australian of Chinese and Malaysian descent, and there are several actors of color in the ensemble. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
The movie is pretty great.
That being said... the opening scene, where the pirates raid the ship is deeply troubling. The violence and threat of violence is just too real...
The other scene I was uncomfortable with is when the brothers go to the underground dark world of pirates (or some such) to talk to the mafia head guy... the guy is flanked and fawned over by three women. Because harems and servitude are still a thing. It is these subtle messages of misogyny that bother me...
No masterpiece but the best of this year's four DC movies; sci-fi violence
I couldn't agree more with most of what the main review says, it's popcorn entertainment but by just being entertaining it surpasses the other DC movies this year, as well as Marvel's that aren't GOTG 3 or Spider-Verse. I'm glad I saw the film in 3D, the visuals are a big highlight. They don't waste time with this one (something I felt like the first one did) which is a double-edged sword, there's nary a dull moment but it also lacks a bit of depth. Know all of this coming into it and it'll be enjoyable.
Content:
Sci-fi violence: People beat each other up and fight creatures such as skeleton warriors, giant squids, and huge bugs. Fists, tridents, bladed weapons, and lasers are used. Bodies and heads are slammed on hard surfaces. Characters get shot and hurt with lasers but recover. The stump of a monster who has lost a claw in battle is briefly shown, but he doesn't express pain and has previously mentioned that his severed limbs grow back within a year.
Spoilers!
Black Manta falls into an abyss.
Language: Some. "Ass," "a--hole," "butthole," "crap," "d---bag," "hell," "s--t," "suck," "piss," 'screw," "hell," "God," "damn," and an unfinished use of "what the fu-".
What's the Story?
IN AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM, Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is back and out for revenge. When a research mission turns up a Black Trident, Manta unleashes an ancient, evil force to destroy Atlantis and annihilate the Atlantean people. Arthur (Jason Momoa), now King of Atlantis, wisely realizes that if there's any hope of saving Atlantis and Earth, he must ask for help from an old rival.
With this sequel, Aquaman secures his spot as the superhero whose movies may not be "good," but they are "good fun." And, with a hero like Momoa -- who's all in and loving it -- it's hard not be charmed. This action fantasy is best described as "dumb fun"; you can't help but enjoy yourself, even if you feel brain cells dripping out of your ear.
The original Aquaman was a Cain and Abel tale, and Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom turns that brotherly hate into wary love -- in fact, it's so reminiscent of two of Marvel's famous battling bros that Arthur jibes his brother (Patrick Wilson) by calling him Loki. As a whole, it feels like director James Wan is trying to give DC fans their own Guardians of the Galaxy -- but unfortunately, it's not nearly as funny. The CGI, at times, is also embarrassingly bad, but that also helps remind viewers that this is all a bright, colorful fantasy. And as light and silly as most of it is, the movie is also aiming to make a statement about climate change. It's not too "learny," but it submerges viewers in enough terminology -- like "greenhouse gases" -- to lay the groundwork. Lower your expectations, and just keep swimming.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the importance of forgiveness and redemption. What role do those concepts play in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom? When have you been given a second chance, and do you feel you made up for the mistake?
How does Aquaman differ from other superheroes? How does he demonstrate integrity, courage, teamwork, and even humility? Why are these important character strengths? Do you consider him a role model?
Imagine other actors in the title role: Who else could play Arthur? How does an actor have a point of view or style, even when inhabiting different characters?
MPAA explanation:
sci-fi violence and some language
Last updated:
June 28, 2024
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By Tara McNamara
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