A Jason Momoa Surprise Hit Is Blowing Up On Streaming
Jason Momoa is taking the streaming prize!
This article is more than 2 years old
Jason Momoa started to become a household name after he portrayed the fearsome Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones, but his name truly became universal after he burst onto the big screen with DC’s Aquaman in 2018. Now it seems like fans are wanting to return to his oceanic adventure, with the movie currently sitting at #6 on HBO Max. With the rate the movie is going, it might continue to climb higher through the weekend.
While the movie certainly isn’t new to the streaming platform, it could be climbing the charts in anticipation of Jason Momoa’s next Aquaman adventure, with the sequel just around the corner in 2022. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is set to hit theatres in December, so fans should have plenty of time to catch up before then.
If you haven’t seen Jason Momoa’s Aquaman, you’re definitely missing out on one of the best films in the DC Cinematic Universe. Before now, many non-comic book fans still thought of Aquaman as “the guy who talks to fish.” Jason Momoa’s version of the character, however, definitely changed audiences’ minds. His take on Aquaman, aka Arthur Curry, makes the hero a force to be reckoned with. He first appeared briefly in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and then was properly introduced in Justice League. But his solo movie allowed us to go deeper into the world of Atlantis and learn much more about the character.
Aquaman is an origin story of sorts, with Arthur Curry learning as a child that he’s half-human and half-Atlantean. Not only that, but he’s also the heir to the throne of Atlantis. The movie sees Arthur coming to terms with his heritage and responsibilities, while also trying to prevent a war with the surface, orchestrated by his half-brother Orm. In addition to Jason Momoa, the film also stars Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, Willem Dafoe, Nicole Kidman, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Temuera Morrison, and more. James Wan directed and the screenplay was penned by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Will Beall.
Being a well-known superhero movie that starred the magnetic and beloved Jason Momoa, this movie had no trouble at the box office. The worldwide gross was just over $1.148 billion, making it the highest-grossing film in the DC Extended Universe and the highest-grossing film based on a DC character. Not bad for a guy who just supposedly talks to fish. Although it was pretty much inevitable, this kind of performance meant that a sequel was all but assured, and here we are with one coming out just in time for the holidays. Presumably, the sequel will make plenty of money as well and we’ll have a full-on trilogy before long.
As for critical and audience reception, the movie didn’t necessarily break any records. On Rotten Tomatoes, you can see the critic score is currently sitting at 65% and the audience score was a bit warmer with a 73%. While these numbers aren’t incredibly impressive by any means, they’re pretty good considering the sheer number of people who went to check the movie out. Overall, the consensus is that Jason Momoa is perfect for the role and that the movie is a ton of fun when it’s not taking itself too seriously. In short, it’s a breezy blockbuster that most would enjoy, especially if you’re a fan of superhero movies.
As mentioned, the movie probably wouldn’t work quite as well without Jason Momoa. He’s long been one of the best parts of the DC Cinematic Universe, bringing an easy and roguish charm to the role. The upcoming sequel will surely be leaning on that charm as well. As of now, plot details for the sequel are being kept pretty close to the vest. We do know a lot of the major players that made the first movie work will be returning. James Wan returns to direct and all of the cast is set to return as well. Presumably, the plot is going to involve a lost kingdom of some sort, based on the title alone.
If you want to see what all the Aquaman-related fuss is about for yourself, you can stream the movie now on HBO Max. You should also be able to see Jason Momoa in Dune when that movie returns to the streaming platform.
