Buzz
1. Black Adam (2022)
Black Adam is a supervillain superhero movie produced by New Line Cinema, DC Films, Seven Bucks Productions, and FlynnPictureCo. starring Dwayne Johnson, Sarah Shahi, Pierce Brosnan, Noah Centineo, Aldis Hodge, Joseph Gatt, Natalie Burn, Quintessa Swindell, among others. This is set to be a blockbuster film promising to explode cinemas in 2022.
The film tells the backstory of Black Adam - the anti-hero endowed with supreme powers from the gods, possessing superpowers that even the greatest superheroes dare not challenge. It also delves into ancient Egypt's oppressive slavery and brings much pain to Black Adam. For DC comic fans, the character Black Adam is well-known as the perennial archenemy of Shazam. Black Adam will be an emotionally charged story of an anti-hero with a legendary life, carrying deep-seated resentments, and being ruthless for the sake of his own sense of justice.
This is the first film on the big screen exploring the story of this DC superhero, under the creative direction of director Jaume Collet-Serra (director of Jungle Cruise). Nearly 5,000 years after being imprisoned with supreme power from the ancient gods, Black Adam will be released from his grim tomb, bringing the modern world a completely new perception of justice.
2. Jungle Cruise (2021)
Jungle Cruise (2021) - a fantasy adventure film produced by Walt Disney, inspired by a theme park ride of the same name at the 'House of Mouse' entertainment park. The cast includes Dwayne Johnson, Jack Whitehall, Emily Blunt, Jesse Plemons, and others.
The intriguing aspect of Jungle Cruise lies in taking viewers along with the main characters on an adventure through the Amazon region to discover its mysteries. The film captivates the audience by combining the best elements of movies like Indiana Jones, Jumanji, Tarzan, and The Jungle Book, revealing the wonders and mysteries of the wild nature. Curiosity is a natural human instinct, and filmmakers have found a way to leverage this to make a movie with a simple, sometimes convoluted storyline become vivid and highly captivating to the audience... This is partly reflected in the poster's nostalgic colors, reminiscent of Steven Spielberg's classic works.
The Jungle Cruise screenwriters blend various elements of humor, action, and horror to create freshness. While navigating on the boat, the group of friends, led by Lily, encounters numerous dangers reminiscent of the journey of Tang Monk in Journey to the West. They face peril in the jungle, get captured by natives, and confront the aristocrat Joachim (Jesse Plemons) - who is also hunting the mystical tree. As the expedition delves deeper into the Amazon, the truths related to the legend gradually unfold.
IMDb Rating: 6.6
Metacritic Score: 50
Tomatometer Score: 62%
3. Red Notice (2021)
Red Notice (2021) was written, directed, and produced by Rawson Marshall - the director who previously collaborated with Dwayne Johnson in Central Intelligence (2016) and Skyscraper (2018). Therefore, Red Notice (2021) marks the third film of this talented director-actor duo.
Red Notice (2021) features a star-studded cast including Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot, Ritu Arya, Chris Diamantopoulos,... It falls under the action-comedy genre, with Dwayne Johnson portraying FBI agent John Hartley, who receives a red notice issued by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol). John Hartley reluctantly teams up with a renowned art thief (Ryan Reynolds) to apprehend a notorious criminal (Gal Gadot) who is on the run. However, after several unforeseen events, the three of them clash but eventually decide to collaborate, each with their own agenda for personal gain. From here, numerous dramatic and humorous incidents unfold.
Audiences approaching Red Notice may not necessarily seek groundbreaking plots or unique cinematic language. They primarily watch the film to admire their idols portraying seemingly mundane yet perpetually fashionable roles - The Rock as the tough guy, Reynolds as the witty talker, and Gadot exuding heroine vibes. The storyline of Red Notice is packed with twists and turns, offering minimal substance but serving as entertaining eye candy, also praised for its visual appeal and ease of follow-through.
IMDb Rating: 6.3
Metacritic Score: 37
Tomatometer Score: 36%
4. Fighting With My Family (2019)
Fighting With My Family (2019) is a biographical film revolving around former WWE star Paige (Florence Pugh) featuring prominent stars: Dwayne Johnson, Florence Pugh, Vince Vaughn, Nick Frost,... The film carries humanistic values alongside humor, portraying a heartwarming story of Paige (a female wrestler in WWE - retired due to injury) and her journey to WWE. It successfully depicts how Paige achieved great success despite facing numerous family struggles and societal criticism.
The climax of the film involves the WWE Divas Championship match in Fighting With My Family between her and AJ Lee (Zelina Vega). Many WWE fans criticized this segment for its deviations from reality, ranging from the wrestlers' attire to their on-screen attitudes. However, overall, Fighting With My Family received favorable reviews from the majority of the press.
One of the commendable aspects of Fighting With My Family is its humanitarian significance, effectively conveying messages about family bonds and encouraging perseverance in life.
IMDb Rating: 7.1
Metacritic Score: 68
Tomatometer Score: 93%
5. Free Guy (2021)
Free Guy (2021) - The film revolves around this electronic game, which might seem destined for failure or niche viewership but is actually outstanding and highly worth watching. The idea of an NPC (non-player character) realizing its own identity and rising to seize freedom is truly creative, groundbreaking, and fascinating.
The motif of 'from zero to hero' is not unfamiliar, Guy (Ryan Reynolds) being an ordinary character, unwittingly tasked with saving Free City. The director doesn't spend much time on character development, Guy's learning to possess powers and skills like a real player isn't extensively explored, instead, the focus is on humor and action segments. The power of love is the fundamental driving force behind Guy breaking free from NPC life and standing up to defend his world. Towards the end, the film transitions towards romantic themes, surprising viewers and explaining why Guy was chosen. Through Guy's story, the film conveys the idea of breaking out of comfort zones, rejecting mundane lives, and struggling to find happiness.
In one of the many everyday life incidents for Guy, a bank robber comes to collect money from the blue-shirted transaction clerk (the bank robber being Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson). However, when Guy decides to deviate from the script and attempts to steal the robber's virtual glasses, he is promptly subdued.
IMDb Rating: 7.1
Metacritic Score: 62
Tomatometer Score: 80%
6. Rampage (2018)
Rampage (2018) draws inspiration from the video game of the same name by Midway Games. Rampage is an entertainment-packed film featuring numerous giant monsters. While the plot offers nothing groundbreaking, audiences are likely interested in the spectacular destruction scenes. Additionally, the friendship between The Rock's character and the mutated ape George brings many heartwarming moments.
In the film, The Rock plays Davis Okoye, a former US Army Special Forces soldier and a primatologist. Davis rescues and raises an albino gorilla named George. However, George is one of three animals infected by a pathogen, the result of an experiment that mutates animals into gigantic and powerful creatures. Over time, George, along with a wolf in Wyoming and a crocodile in the Everglades, becomes extremely aggressive.
Davis Okoye's mission is to stop these creatures and help them overcome the dangerous pathogen. Rampage is praised for its spectacular visual effects and gripping action sequences. In the lead role, former wrestler The Rock receives much acclaim from audiences for his witty humor and captivating action scenes.
IMDb Rating: 6.1
Metacritic Score: 46
Tomatometer Score: 51%
7. The Fast And The Furious
When it comes to Dwayne Johnson's iconic films, the Fast & Furious series cannot be overlooked. Over two decades and 10 films later, grossing billions of dollars, the Fast and Furious franchise is the epitome of Hollywood glamour: captivating audiences worldwide with its billion-dollar blockbusters. What started as a simple racing film has evolved into a cinematic universe, with increasingly gripping and thrilling storylines over the years, alongside breathtaking action scenes. Let's take a look at the Fast and Furious installments featuring The Rock:
Fast Five (2011): Fast Five is still often regarded as the best installment of the Fast & Furious series, revolving around an audacious heist in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The film marks the debut of The Rock's character, Luke Hobbs, thrilling audiences with the long-awaited showdown between him and Vin Diesel on screen, delivering an epic battle.
Fast and the Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) is a spin-off of the series, set after the events of Fast & Furious 8 (2017). The film showcases Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Jason Statham in their roles as the main protagonists of the franchise.
8. Gridiron Gang (2006)
Gridiron Gang (2006) features a stellar cast including Dwayne Johnson, Xzibit, L. Scott Caldwell, Kevin Dunn... directed by Phil Joanou and based on the true story of the Kilpatrick Mustangs during the 1990 season.
The film tells the gripping and emotional story of youth detention camp officer Sean Porter, who, along with another officer, Malcolm Moore (Xzibit), transforms a group of juvenile delinquents into a high school football team in four weeks. Faced with gang rivalries and bitter resentments among his teammates, Porter imparts some tough lessons (and learns a few himself) as the youths gain self-respect and responsibility.
On the journey to glory, Sean Porter also confronts the shadows of his past. Dwayne Johnson stars as Sean Porter, portraying a mature, emotionally invested coach who cares for and nurtures his students. Through Gridiron Gang, The Rock once again demonstrates his ability to tackle dramatic roles.
IMDb Rating: 7.0
Metacritic Score: 52
Tomatometer Score: 42%
9. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) stars a stellar cast including Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Bobby Cannavale... and directed by Jake Kasdan. It's an American fantasy adventure comedy film, a sequel to the 1995 hit movie starring Robin Williams. In this installment, four teenagers in detention discover an old video game console with a game they've never heard of. When they decide to play, they are immediately sucked into the world of Jumanji in their chosen avatars' bodies.
In Jumanji, Spencer becomes Dr. Smolder Bravestone (played by The Rock) - a courageous and confident archaeologist. Fridge becomes Mouse Finbar (Kevin Hart) - a diminutive zoologist. Bethany becomes Professor Shelly Oberon (Jack Black) - a hefty cartographer. Meanwhile, Martha becomes Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillan) - a quick-witted commando. Together, they must brave various challenges to find a way out of the game and ultimately destroy it to prevent anyone else from falling into danger.
IMDb Rating: 6.9
Metacritic Score: 58
Tomatometer Score: 76%
10. Walking Tall (2004)
Walking Tall (2004) is an American action film, a remake of the 1973 film of the same name, starring Dwayne Johnson and Johnny Knoxville. After intense battles, Staff Sergeant Chris Vaughn (played by Dwayne Johnson) of the U.S. Special Forces retires. Chris Vaughn returns to his hometown in Kitsap County, Washington. However, he soon realizes that the town is being corrupted by dangerous criminal gangs and corrupt authorities.
Chris Vaughn decides not to stay silent but to stand up and fight to restore honor to his homeland. He will have to endure what and face the ruthless forces? The returning veteran vividly describes the challenges that Chris Vaughn faces. The film features stunning and majestic scenes that leave every viewer in awe.
IMDb Rating: 6.2
Metacritic Score: 44
Tomatometer Score: 26%
