Movie · 2023 · Comedy, Action, Fantasy · 2h 10m · PG-13 · English
Curator score: 0.6/10 (463.2K ratings)
Oh. My. Gods.
Overview
Billy Batson and his foster siblings, who transform into superheroes by saying "Shazam!", are forced to get back into action and fight the Daughters of Atlas, who they must stop from using a weapon that could destroy the world.
Ratings
Curator score: 0.6/10
IMDb: 5.9/10
Letterboxd: 2.32/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 49%
Metacritic: 47
TMDB: 6.4/10
Director
David F. Sandberg
Production
The Safran Company, New Line Cinema, DC Films
Cast
Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Rachel Zegler, Adam Brody, Ross Butler, D.J. Cotrona, Grace Caroline Currey, Meagan Good, Lucy Liu, Djimon Hounsou, Helen Mirren, Faithe Herman, Ian Chen, Jovan Armand, Marta Milans, Cooper Andrews, Rizwan Manji, P.J. Byrne, Diedrich Bader
Where to watch
Max
Curator Review
Verdict
A noisy, overstuffed sequel that keeps the family-first banter but loses the charm, spontaneity, and emotional spark that made the original work. The action is serviceable, the villains are undercooked, and the comedy lands inconsistently, making it hard to recommend unless you’re already committed to this corner of superhero silliness.
Best for
Viewers who like lightweight, quippy superhero movies
Fans of the first film who want a continuation no matter the quality
People in the mood for colorful effects and low-stakes fantasy action
Skip if
You want sharp writing or a strong villain
You need emotional payoff or character growth
You’re tired of formulaic franchise sequels
You prefer superhero films with tighter pacing and clearer tonal control
Overview
Shazam! Fury of the Gods has the same basic appeal as its predecessor on paper: a kid-friendly superhero premise, a foster-family ensemble, and a willingness to be goofy instead of grim. But this sequel struggles to find a reason to exist beyond repeating the setup with bigger monsters and louder effects. The result is a movie that feels less like a fresh adventure and more like a strained attempt to stretch a one-movie joke into a franchise.
Worth noting
The cast remains game, and there are flashes of the warm, chaotic energy that made the first film easy to like. But the humor is uneven, the villains are thinly drawn, and the action rarely builds momentum. It often seems unsure whether it wants to be a sincere coming-of-age story, a broad comedy, or a standard CG-heavy superhero spectacle.
Bottom line
If you enjoy breezy comic-book movies and don’t mind a lot of narrative clutter, there’s enough polish to make it watchable. Still, compared with the best family-oriented superhero films, this one feels safe, generic, and oddly flat. It’s a sequel that remembers the ingredients but not the recipe.
Top Letterboxd reviews
David F. Sandberg (0.5★) · 6944 likes
Billy and Shazam have different personalities. I really wish someone would point this out to the director. Unwatchable!
David Chen · 1919 likes
There’s a scene in this movie where Zachary Levi is speaking to Helen Mirren’s character Hespera and he says, “I’ve watched all the Fast and Furious movies. And that’s why I know it’s all about family.”
Oh really? If so, riddle me this Levi: who plays Magdalene Shaw, the mother of Deckard Shaw, Owen Shaw and Hattie Shaw, in The Fate of the Furious, Hobbs & Shaw, F9 and the forthcoming Fast X? AND WHY DO THEY LOOK EXACTLY LIKE THE GODDESS SITTING ACROSS FROM YOU??
theyo theyo (3★) · 1815 likes
is this a 130 minute long skittles advert??
jonathan fujii (2.5★) · 1534 likes
Imagine transforming into Zachary Levi lmaoooooo
Joe A (2★) · 1471 likes
Vacates all the charm of the first and replaces it with…a dragon? Some bland villains? Uninspired action? The answer is, all of the above. Shazam! Fury of the Gods makes no attempt at being anything exciting and happily settles with being safe and dull.