Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Parents Guide

I was able to screen Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom in order to write this Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Parents Guide. All opinions are my own.

First of all – if you haven’t seen Aquaman recently – WATCH IT before you go watch this. Pretty much everything in this film has a relation to that movie – so if you don’t watch it, it won’t be nearly as entertaining – and you won’t be as vested. So take the time to watch it before you go.

We watched it in 3-D – and it really made the movie that much better. Just beware – the first like 3-5 minutes can be a little tricky if you have motion sickness. After that, you should be fine.

First off, I appreciate that the original cast is back. Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Patrick Wilson as King Orm, YahyaAbdul-Mateen II as Black Manta, Nicole Kidman as Atlanna, Temuera Morrison as Tom Curry, Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus, and Randall Park as Dr. Stephen Shin. They all work well together and it shows. In trying to be nice I won’t say anything about Amber Herd still playing the role of Mera – but it did leave a sour taste in my mouth.

The movie starts with Arthur having found himself becoming a dad. The interactions between him and his son are priceless and I absolutely loved them. It shows the baby peeing in his face a few times – super funny, especially if you have ever changed a baby boys diaper before. It does a quick recap of all the things Arthur has been up to, and then it gets right into the bones of the movie. It bounces back and forth from Arthur’s perspective to Manta’s which I actually appreciate because it builds up both sides of the story and keeps me invested.

In the comics, Arthur’s baby gets killed. I don’t want to spoil anything – but there are some very emotional scenes in the movie. Orm and Arthur (Wilson and Momoa) have great chemistry and it is really fun to watch them together.

Overall I give the movie a 8/10. It is safe for kids – if you don’t mind them seeing some “super-hero” fighting and some language. See the parent’s guide below for the breakdown.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom opens in theaters on December 22, 2023

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Parents Guide

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence and some language. It runs for 2hr 4m.

There is one mid-credit scene for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. It shows some fun credits and a mid-credit scene, but when the normal credits start rolling, feel free to head out.

Sex & Nudity – 1/5 – A few risque mermaid outfits, but nothing overly crazy and only shown briefly.

Violence & Gore – 3/5 – Multiple scenes of fighting, explosions, hand-to-hand combat, guns, and people being burned by Manta’s laser ray. Fighting with the tridents. Zombie-looking creatures that attack people. A scene with giant bugs – shows them eating a giant rodent.

Profanity – 2/5 – One cut off F word, several uses of shit (6+), hell (7+), damn (2+), ass (8+), God and GD (3+), SOB, butthole.

Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking – 1/5 – Arthur and his dad are shown drinking a beer. Arthur talks about beer and vodka (in relation to food and missing good combinations).

Frightening & Intense Scenes – 2/5 – Intense scene where a creature is attacking divers. Creepy-looking “devil” man, a little Lord of the Rings feel to the lost kingdom and their ruler. The creatures that Orm and Arthur ride are pretty creepy-looking. It shows people being transformed into zombie-like creatures. A baby’s life is in peril.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is a fantastic second film. I loved the interaction between Orm and Arthur and would love to see more of that going forward. The special effects were on point, the storyline was fun and didn’t drag. I felt like overall it is really good – and I think it makes a great addition to the DC timeline.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Parents Guide

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom opens in theaters on December 22, 2023

About Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom:

Director James Wan and Aquaman himself, Jason Momoa—along with Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Nicole Kidman—return in the sequel to the highest-grossing DC film of all time: “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.”

Having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father’s death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all. This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force. To defeat him, Aquaman will turn to his imprisoned brother Orm, the former King of Atlantis, to forge an unlikely alliance. Together, they must set aside their differences in order to protect their kingdom and save Aquaman’s family, and the world, from irreversible destruction.

All returning to the roles they originated, Jason Momoa plays Arthur Curry/Aquaman, now balancing his duties as both the King of Atlantis and a new father; Patrick Wilson is Orm, Aquaman’s half-brother and his nemesis, who must now step into a new role as his brother’s reluctant ally; Amber Heard is Mera, Atlantis’ Queen and mother of the heir to the throne; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is Black Manta, committed more than ever to avenge his father’s death by destroying Aquaman, his family and Atlantis; and Nicole Kidman as Atlanna, a fierce leader and mother with the heart of a warrior. Also reprising their roles are Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus and Randall Park as Dr. Stephen Shin.

Directed by Wan, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” is produced by Peter Safran, Wan and Rob Cowan. The executive producers are Galen Vaisman and Walter Hamada.

The screenplay is by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, from a story by James Wan & David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Jason Momoa & Thomas Pa’a Sibbett, based on characters from DC, Aquaman created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger.

Joining Wan behind the camera is his sterling team of “Aquaman” artisans: director of photography Don Burgess (“The Conjuring 2”), production designer Bill Brzeski (“Jumanji: The Next Level”), editor Kirk Morri (“Furious 7”), composer Rupert Gregson-Williams (“Wonder Woman”) and music supervisor is Michelle Silverman (“Malignant”). Visual effects supervisor Nick Davis (“The Clash of the Titans” films, “The Dark Knight”) and costume designer Richard Sale (“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” “Ready Player One”) also join.

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents An Atomic Monster / A Peter Safran Production of A James Wan Film, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” set to open in theaters internationally beginning 20 December 2023 and in North America on December 20, 2023; it will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.