The DC Extended Universe's latest venture, Black Adam, brings the classic supervillain to the big screen with Dwayne Johnson essaying the titular role. However, Black Adam is much more than just a villain. As the movie explores his 5,000-year-old backstory, it reveals how he has also been a loyal protector of his family as well as his native kingdom of Kahndaq.
Going by such themes of the morally gray character and the powers that he derives from Egyptianian gods offers a wide variety of streaming options in the superhero and fantasy genres for viewers that go beyond the expected DCEU recommendations.
Black Panther (2018)
Stream On Disney+
A part of the Phase Three of the MCU, Black Panther doubles as a promising superhero origin story and a cultural phenomenon. Not only does it delve into the personal ambitions and battles of Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa, but it also explores his responsibilities towards the country of Wakanda of which he serves as a crown prince.
As important as Black Panther is his estranged brother Killmonger, the villain who seems to make a fair point despite his militant ideals of justice. The clash of morals as well as the fate of the Wakandan people are some themes that would definitely connect with Black Adam's audiences.
Jungle Cruise (2021)
Stream On Disney+
Based on the Disney amusement park ride of the same name, Jungle Cruise details the adventures of a boat captain, a scientist, and her brother as they set out to find the mythical Tree of Life while also battling German competitors.
The film has all the makings of a typical adventure film and is definitely way less dark than Black Adam. Still, being Dwayne Johnson and director Jaume Collett-Serra's first collaboration before they reunited for Black Adam, it just goes on to show the creative versatility and box-office genius of the creative duo. And for that reason alone, Black Adam can have a fun time watching this adventure comedy.
The Mummy (1999)
Stream On TNT
A 1999 cult favorite starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, The Mummy is a typical action adventure flick with all the fun tropes from yesteryear exploration movies. The plot is set in colonial-era Egypt with an archeologist and an ex-con fighting all odds to prevent an ancient Egyptian priest's curse.
Much like the mummy of the antagonistic priest, Black Adam's Teth-Adam was punished and captured in a tomb for quite a long time. While Teth-Adam doesn't possess any curses, he has enough powers bestowed from the Egyptian gods to wreak havoc all over the world. While both narratives are quite different, the adrenaline-fueled pace and the Egyptian connection make them both good companion watches.
Samaritan (2022)
Stream On Prime Video
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The heroic Samaritan and the villainous Nemesis are sworn enemies until Samaritan gains the upper hand and then retires, putting a pause on his superheroing. Years later, a 13-year-old embarks on an adventure to find the real Samaritan to fight the rising crime in his neighborhood.
A tribute to the superhero genre without any DC or Marvel affiliations, Samaritan works well as a standalone genre flick. Even though the characters of Samaritan and Nemesis are established early on, the remainder of the movie explores their personalities that go way beyond the binary of good and evil, something that is comparable to Black Adam's character. Even though Johnson's character goes on a destructive rampage, viewers would still be confused on whether he's a plain villain or whether his actions do carry some justification.
X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
Stream On Disney+
Once a powerful god in the Egyptian civilization, Apocalypse wakes up to a new world which he feels needs a reset. As he himself was the world's first mutant, the mighty being resorts to the help of a team of mutants to execute his plan of becoming an overlord only to be stopped by the Professor Xavier's own team of mutant superheroes.
Throwing in a mix of comic book action and Egyptian mythology was a new step for the X-Men movies and just like Black Adam, X-Men: Apocalypse shows how these two realms can blend for blockbuster entertainment.
Megamind (2010)
Stream On Netflix
A blue alien with a big head, Megamind has always been the outcast of his city. But he embraces this alienation as a supervillain with a taste for destruction and chaos.
While it plays out as a parody of superheroes and villains, Megamind proves that some villains are just victims of their circumstances. Even though he does have a Superhero-like origin story, a troubled childhood makes him stray away to the evil path. Black Adam might be entirely different in tone, but a similar case in point can be made for its lead character who had to resort to such actions after the trauma he went through.
Gods Of Egypt (2016)
Stream On Sling TV
Egyptian mythology is a host to a variety of gods spread across the heaven and the underworld and in these multiple worlds, the action of Gods of Egypt takes place. Centering around the war god Set bringing about a reign of a darkness in Egypt, the film chronicles the efforts of a mortal thief and other gods who team up for a fantasy adventure.
Enough to satisfy the curiousity of those fascinated with Egyptian mythology movies, the movie offers enough footage to major deities, ranging from Horus to Hathor to Thoth. As Black Adam himself derives his powers from six Egyptian gods, Gods of Egypt would make for an interesting follow-up watch.
Necessary Evil: Super-Villains of DC Comics (2013)
Stream On HBO Max
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From Sinestro to Darkseid, several filmmakers and comic book writers offer their perspectives on some of DC Comics' most iconic antagonists in this documentary. The interviewees include Guillermo del Toro, Jim Lee, Zack Snyder, Brian Azzarello and many others with reputed villain actor Christopher Lee serving as the narrator.
Given the ever-expansive comic book legacy that he inherits, it might take some time to catch up with all of Black Adams' comics. But for the time being, Necessary Evil can be a quick watch to jog a comic book geek's memory on DC's concepts of villainy along with some memorable examples.
The Scorpion King (2002)
Stream On Peacock Premium
Featuring Dwayne Johnson's first lead role (back when he was credited as The Rock), The Scorpion King follows the swords-and-sandals approach to narrate a classic revenge story of the desert. Johnson's protagonist rises a desert warrior who turns into a one-man army against the enemy forces conquering his homeland, eventually fighting for the title of the Scorpion King.
One of the lowest-rated and critically-panned films at the start of Johnson's career, The Scorpion King is no cinematic masterpiece. But the way it highlights the themes of revenge and protecting one's homeland, it would ring a bell for Black Adam fans. Further, it makes for a good-enough guilty pleasure to relive the Hollywood star's early days.
Justice Society: World War II (2021)
Stream On HBO Max
The Justice Society of America (JSA), much like its comic-book successor Justice League, has had multiple reiterations throughout history. In the case of this standalone direct-to-DVD movie, the Justice Society aids the Allied forces in the World War II. Leading the team is Wonder Woman who is supported by The Flash, Hawkman, Black Canary, and Steve Trevor.
As Black Adam not only marks the cinematic debut of its titular character but also the Justice Society of America, viewers will be more interested in finding out the organization's history and alternate versions. Justice Society: World War II will be a good place to start in that sense.