Black Adam – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Black Adam

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2022

42%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Dwayne Johnson plays a 5,000-year-old antihero who solves problems by punching them—hard. It's loud, it's violent, and it's forgettable.

6.2/10

39%

6.8

→

Black Adam

movie

PG-13, 2022

42%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Dwayne Johnson plays a 5,000-year-old antihero who solves problems by punching them—hard. It's loud, it's violent, and it's forgettable.

6.2

39%

6.8

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6.2/10

39%

6.8

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Screenwise Verdict

Black Adam is the superhero movie equivalent of empty calories—lots of noise and flash, but you forget it the moment the credits roll. The Rock brings his usual charm, but he's trapped in a script that can't decide if it wants to be a gritty antihero story or a standard DC blockbuster.

The biggest concern for families is that Black Adam isn't your friendly neighborhood hero—he's a 5,000-year-old being who thinks killing bad guys is totally fine. That's a meaningful departure from the 'no killing' rule most superheroes follow, and it makes the violence feel more consequential and darker.

With a 6.8 TMDB rating and no awards buzz, this landed with a thud critically. It's not offensively bad, just aggressively mediocre. If your teen is a die-hard DC fan or loves The Rock, sure, it'll fill an afternoon. But there are way better superhero films that offer actual substance alongside the spectacle.

Age Fit

Best for 12+ who can handle intense action violence and understand antihero complexity. The Rock's star power might attract younger kids, but the darker tone and lethal combat make this a tough sell for the under-10 crowd.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Black Adam is an antihero who operates through violence and vengeance rather than cooperation or kindness. The film features extensive combat, destruction, and a protagonist whose moral compass is explicitly about 'his unique form of justice' rather than modeling prosocial behavior. Pacing is action-heavy and chaotic throughout the 125-minute runtime.

Imaginative

The film draws on Egyptian mythology and DC Comics lore, blending ancient powers with modern settings. However, it's largely a formulaic superhero origin story without particularly fresh ideas—the 'ancient powerful being awakens in modern world' is well-trodden territory. Visual effects provide spectacle but don't invite creative engagement or exploration beyond passive viewing.

Safe

As a superhero action film, Black Adam contains significant violence, combat sequences, and likely some frightening imagery. Without an official MPAA rating in the data, but knowing the DC Extended Universe typically targets PG-13, there's moderate action violence throughout. The protagonist's willingness to kill enemies (unlike traditional heroes) means more intense combat consequences. No content ratings provided makes confidence lower, but genre conventions suggest this isn't appropriate for young children.

Enriching

The film touches on themes of justice, power, and moral ambiguity through an antihero lens, which could spark discussions about right and wrong. However, with a TMDB rating of 6.8 and no critical acclaim noted, it appears to prioritize spectacle over substance. Limited character development and a focus on action sequences over meaningful storytelling reduce its enrichment value. Entertainment value exists for superhero fans but doesn't offer deep insights or skill-building.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Introduces kids to a less traditional superhero who operates in moral gray areas, which can spark good conversations about justice vs. vengeance
Egyptian mythology elements provide some cultural/historical hooks beyond typical superhero fare
Fast-paced action keeps attention for kids who love spectacle and CGI battles
Dwayne Johnson's charisma makes even a mediocre script somewhat watchable

⚠

What to Watch For

Significantly more violent than typical Marvel fare—Black Adam kills his enemies rather than capturing them
The protagonist is explicitly NOT a role model; he's vengeful and operates outside moral norms
At 125 minutes, it's a long sit for a film that's pretty paint-by-numbers
Likely intense action sequences that could frighten younger viewers

Conversation Starters

"Black Adam thinks he's doing the right thing by killing bad guys. How is that different from what Superman or Spider-Man would do?"
"If you had superpowers for 5,000 years, do you think you'd see the world differently than regular people?"
"The movie shows that sometimes heroes and villains aren't that different. Can you think of a time when someone doing something 'bad' might have good reasons?"
"What do you think 'justice' means? Is it the same thing as 'revenge'?"

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