12 Best Movies To Watch After ‘Black Adam,’ Ranked by IMDb Score
‘Black Adam’ might’ve been somewhat of a box office flop, but it was supposed to be a movie that shifts the power dynamic of the DCEU. With Dwayne Johnson’s buff physique, Black Adam’s awesome powers, and that cool cameo in the end (that eventually led to nowhere), there’s no shortage of entertainment in this story.
Suppose you wanted to check out something similar – be it another antihero/superhero film, another Dwayne Johnson-led flick, or some other form of desert-based fictional world. In that case, we’ve created the ultimate list of the 12 best movies to watch after ‘Black Adam’ and ranked it solely by their IMDb score. Have fun watching these!
12. ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ (2023)
IMDb score: 6.0/10
What it’s about: Billy Batson is back again, now with a whole group of friends that have the power of Shazam! They are learning how to be both teenagers and superheroes, but they are forced to learn quickly when three ancient gods arrive with fury to get back the magic that has been stolen from them centuries ago.
Why it’s like ‘Black Adam’: This is the sequel to the first ‘Shazam!’ film that is, in my humble opinion, ten times better than this one. It’s kind of a classic superhero save-the-world type of film with crude humor that just missed the spot. Still, it’s a fun movie to watch, and all the superheroes in the film share the same powers as Black Adam, so it’s definitely worth a watch.
11. ‘Jungle Cruise’ (2021)
IMDb score: 6.6/10
What it’s about: Dr. Lily Houghton wishes to change the world, so she embarks on a jungle journey along the Amazon River to find something that has long been considered mythical. The jungle fights them on their perilous journey, along with a curse that has been there for centuries. Will they find what they were looking for? Based on the Disneyland theme ride, Jungle Cruise.
Why it’s like ‘Black Adam’: Dwayne Johnson is back as his old, buff, badass self, with a good sense of humor, and being the hero of the story. Now, when I say ‘old self’ – I mean REALLY old. Kind of like Black Adam, who was trapped for thousands of years. I’m trying not to spoil anything, but there are many connections between these two films that you should check out to find.
10. ‘The Flash’ (2023)
IMDb score: 6.7/10
What it’s about: Barry Allen realizes that if he runs fast enough, he can actually change the past. He tries doing so to save his mother from dying – and his father from prison – but inadvertently messes up the entire multiverse, meeting an alternative version of himself in the process. No matter what he does, though, things only seem to get worse, so he asks Bruce Wayne for help…
Why it’s like ‘Black Adam’: ‘Black Adam’ and ‘The Flash’ exist in the same DC Extended Universe – or existed, at least, before Barry messed things up in ‘The Flash.’ In both films, you’ll get guys that seemingly don’t fit the world they’re living in, and they’re willing to do something about it. The difference is their methodology…
9. ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ (2022)
IMDb score: 6.7/10
What it’s about: King T’Challa passed away, and now it’s on someone else to take his place as the Black Panther. The problem is the vibranium-induced Heart-Shaped Herb is nowhere to be found, so Shuri tries creating it artificially. Meanwhile, a huge threat looms as an old foe from the deep ocean resurfaces to attack Wakanda – and the world.
Who will become the Panther? Who are the Talokans, and what does their leader, Namor, want? Find out in the film.
Why it’s like ‘Black Adam’: I don’t think a 6.7/10 rating does ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ justice. I believe it was a solid film that deserved a bit more recognition. Kind of like ‘Black Adam’ – it wasn’t a masterpiece in any way, but it was at least entertaining and had a diverse cultural backbone that I genuinely enjoyed.
8. ‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’ (2017)
IMDb score: 6.9/10
What it’s about: Four teenagers get stuck in detention when they find an old video game set. Suddenly, it magically sucks them into ‘Jumanji’ – the world within the game. The only way for them to come out and return to the real world is to find a way to finish the game before losing all of their lives…
Why it’s like ‘Black Adam’: I was thinking about putting both Dwayne Johnson-led ‘Jumanji’ films on the list, but I just found this first one to be way more entertaining. The humor is right on the spot, the Rock is his classic bulky entertaining self, and the story takes you on a dangerous adventure with elements of fiction and ‘metahuman’ – much like ‘Black Adam.’
7. ‘Shazam!’ (2019)
IMDb score: 7.0/10
What it’s about: Billy Batson is a foster kid who’s not that popular in school, and all he wants to do is find his mother. However, a wizard sees him as being pure of heart, so he bestows upon him the might of Shazam! Billy has to figure out how to be an immature teenager and a grown, powerful superhero quickly as a huge threat arrives to destroy the world as we know it…
Why it’s like ‘Black Adam’: This might be the most similar film to ‘Black Adam’ on this list, and yet a polar opposite at the same time. Shazam and Black Adam essentially have identical powers. The only difference is that Shazam is a pure-hearted superhero, whereas Black Adam went rogue and became more of a villain/antihero.
It’s cool to see that discrepancy taking place in each movie and see how characters with essentially the same powers can be diametrically different simply because of the way they act and the way they use their powers.
6. ‘Man of Steel’ (2013)
IMDb score: 7.1/10
What it’s about: Clark Kent’s real name is Kal-El, and he was sent to Earth after his native planet, Krypton, was destroyed. Being on Earth and around a yellow sun gave Clark Kent unfathomable superpowers, and he became the hero everyone knows as Superman. However, he wasn’t the only survivor of Krypton’s downfall.
Now, other not-so-kind Kryptonians are ready to invade Earth, and the Man of Steel is the one and only line of defense…
Why it’s like ‘Black Adam’: The Man of Steel actually made a cameo appearance in the post-credits scene of ‘Black Adam.’ The Rock’s introduction to the DCEU was supposed to cause a major power shift in the franchise, and the two insanely powerful super/antiheroes were supposed to be pitted against each other in the future.
We’ll never get to see that fight actually take place, but you can still watch both movies separately and then just decide who you think would win between Supes and Adam yourself.
5. ‘Wonder Woman’ (2017)
IMDb score: 7.4/10
What it’s about: Princess Diana comes from Themiscyra, an ancient hidden magical island where the Amazonian warriors are trained. When she learns that war (WWII) has engulfed the world, she decides to embark on a journey to help stop that war using her incredible powers. Her destiny was to protect people – and so she became Wonder Woman.
Why it’s like ‘Black Adam’: Wonder Woman is definitely another DCEU character that could give Black Adam a run for his money. People seem to forget how powerful Diana is, and this film certainly will give you a reminder. Both Black Adam and Wonder Woman fight for what they believe in – although you’ll see an evident discrepancy in morals and values here…
4. ‘Moana’ (2016)
IMDb score: 7.6/10
What it’s about: A curse has engulfed Moana’s island in Ancient Polynesia, and resources for her people get more and more sparse. Bravely, Moana embarks on an adventure to find Maui – an ancient demigod – who can help her break the curse and save her people. The problem is the ocean is not a safe place, and Maui is not the person Moana thought he would be…
Why it’s like ‘Black Adam’: I know, this is completely different from anything else on this list, but it’s actually kind of a similar role for Dwayne Johnson. In both films, he’s basically a demigod with insane powers, he’s thousands of years old, and he has a very high opinion of himself. The difference is, ‘Moana’ is an awesome film, whereas ‘Black Adam’ is kind of average.
3. ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ (2021)
IMDb score: 7.9/10
What it’s about: A huge threat arrives and seeks to destroy not just Earth but the universe as we know it. Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, scrambles to form a team of metahumans and heroes to defend the planet from Darkseid and his minions, forming what is now known as the Justice League.
Why it’s like ‘Black Adam’: I don’t care what anyone says, ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ is by far the best thing that came out of the DCEU. There’s no Black Adam or Shazam in the film, but there is another hero with similar power levels who went rogue – Superman. It’s one of the coolest things to watch after ‘Black Adam’ to see that power dynamic in the DCEU before his arrival.
2. ‘Dune’ (2021)
IMDb score: 8.0/10
What it’s about: In a fictional world, Paul Atreides is a brilliant young man who has a purpose and destiny to fulfill that he cannot even understand. He has to travel to one of the most savage, dangerous planets in the universe to save his family and the future of his kin. However, the planet hosts a vastly valuable resource that malevolent parties want to exploit… If you can conquer your fear, you may survive…
Why it’s like ‘Black Adam’: ‘Dune’ is not a superhero movie, but it is a fictional tale packed with action, opposing moral viewpoints, and a whole lot of desert sand – just like ‘Black Adam.’ ‘Dune’ was one of my favorite movies in 2021, and I can’t wait for the sequel, set to come out in 2024. There’s also a 1984 version of ‘Dune’ that I highly recommend, as well.
1. ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)
IMDb score: 8.1/10
What it’s about: We’re in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, and only the strongest survive the perilous environment, fighting for every little piece of resources they may get. A tyrannical ruler oversees it all, but two people are on their way to destroy his tyranny.
Max lost his family and is a man of pure action, whereas Furiosa is a woman of pure action, not afraid to do whatever it takes to survive and be free. Will they succeed in their daunting task?
Why it’s like ‘Black Adam’: Finally, ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ is set in a fictional, post-apocalyptic desert of a world and tells the story of a tyrant being overthrown by a group of misfits. While the plot certainly isn’t similar to ‘Black Adam,’ the atmosphere and desert ambiance certainly give off similar vibes. Not that it needs to be said, but ‘Mad Max’ is a way better movie overall.
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