Shazam! Fury of the Gods [2023] – Zachary Levi, Lucy Liu, Helen Mirren

Shazam: Fury of the Gods doesn’t really defy expectations, but it also doesn’t rise to the occasion. A mix of clichés and meta jokes saves it from being too bland.

Personally, I’m here for Lucy Liu & Helen Mirren. By the end, I was really disappointed because director David F. Sandberg didn’t get them enough time to shine, or a character to develop.

Like stablemate Black Adam, Shazam: Fury of the Gods thrashes around for a reason to exist. Watching it, it felt like this franchise lost it focus and is trying anything and everything to stay relevant: From meta jokes all the way to cameo an-out-of-nowhere that makes no sense, especially considering the last year’s announcements of a full-on DC reset.

Surprisingly, despite lacking so much of what made Shazam! great, there’s fun to be had with Shazam: Fury of the Gods. It’s a movie that serves as a reminder that the DCEU wasn’t all bad. It’s just a shame it never quite manages to electrify us in the same way as its predecessor.

In addition, the customary credits scenes hint at a sequel, but it’s most definitely useless based on what we currently know. The movie would have been much better without the pointless tease.

Should you watch it?

Is it better than Black Adam? Definitely. The movie is more unfocused and less satisfying than its predecessor. However, it still retains almost enough of the source material’s silly charm to save the day.

Where can I watch it?

Shazam! Fury of the Gods is now playing in theaters.