The superhero genre can be a strange lady at times. On one hand, there are blockbuster efforts that prove themselves more than worthy of the hype and, as such, enjoy stellar success at the box office and on streaming services. But then there are movies like Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, a film that was roundly viewed as a disappointing entry into the DCEU for DC Studios, and a step in the wrong direction from the original Aquaman, but that sentiment is not translating over to Netflix.
The sequel landed on the streaming giant on Nov. 17 with what turned out to be the impact of a meteor, and to say it’s off to the races would be a major understatement. Less than two weeks later, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is off to a red-hot start on Netflix, dominating viewership in the No. 1 spot, and above several heavy-hitters — including the viral sensation Frankenstein from Guillermo Del Toro.
- Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
- Jingle Bell Heist
- Dog
- KPop Demon Hunters
- In Your Dreams
- Ambulance
- Champagne Problems
- The Island
- Frankenstein
- The Sandlot
This is a huge win for Snyderverse, that’s for sure, a faction of Zack Snyder’s most feverish fans who continue to hold out hope that DC Studios will decide to push out James Gunn and his DCU reboot to re-install Snyder’s DCEU. The odds of that occuring is less likely than being struck by lighting while holding the winning lottery ticket, but there’s at least a slim hope that Netflix’s bid to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery could open a window for an alternate route back for the Snyderverse … although there’s no guarantee Aquaman, starring Jason Momoa, would return in its previous form.
Gunn’s Lobo vs. Snyder’s Aquaman
Momoa is a bit tied up at the moment, after all. For those that are unaware, the former Aquaman actor has signed on to portray the character Lobo in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, something that undoubtedly turns the knife in the back of the Snyderverse. That means, at least for now and the foreseeable future, considering Ally Milcock’s Supergirl is set to make her standalone debut in June 2026.
All fans of Zack Snyder’s projects for the DCEU can do nowadays is head over to the streamers for some rewatches, and for as many people voiced their displeasure with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, there are clearly many more who disagree with them as the latter pushes King Arthur to the Netflix throne. As the saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
- Release Date
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December 21, 2018
- Runtime
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143 Minutes
- Director
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James Wan
- Writers
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David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, Will Beall, Geoff Johns, James Wan, Paul Norris, Mort Weisinger
- Producers
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Peter Safran, Rob Cowan