Under the Sea: The first ‘Aquaman’ poster is here
Warner Bros. finally dropped the first poster for James Wan’s Aquaman in the summer of 2018, and the image delivered exactly what fans wanted from the DCEU’s underwater king. Jason Momoa stood front and center in full Atlantean regalia, flashing that signature smirk while schools of fish, sharks, and dolphins swirled around him. The visual immediately drew comparisons to Finding Nemo, and the internet ran with the joke. Still, the poster set the tone for a big, colorful adventure that felt distinct from the darker entries in the franchise.
Release Anticipation
The original excitement around the December 21, 2018 release date proved justified once the film hit theaters. Aquaman opened during the holiday window and quickly became the highest-grossing DCEU title up to that point. Audiences turned out in strong numbers for the spectacle, and the movie’s global performance confirmed that the character had finally found his footing on screen.
Trailer Tease
The first trailer premiered at San Diego Comic-Con that same July weekend and landed with the crowd. Clips of underwater combat and Momoa’s swagger gave viewers a clearer sense of the tone Wan was chasing. The footage also showcased the scale of the Atlantean world, setting expectations that the finished film would deliver on both action and visual effects.
Box Office Performance
Aquaman ultimately grossed $1.152 billion worldwide against a reported budget between $160 million and $200 million. The numbers placed it ahead of every previous DCEU release and marked a rare bright spot for the shared universe at the time. International markets drove much of the success, with strong showings in China and Europe helping the film cross the billion-dollar threshold.
Critical and Audience Reception
Critics gave the movie a 65 percent Tomatometer score based on 411 reviews, while audiences posted an 80 percent score from more than 25,000 ratings. Reviewers noted the energetic fight sequences and lighthearted tone even when they found the story uneven. Fans embraced the same qualities, often citing Momoa’s charisma and the film’s willingness to lean into its comic-book roots.
Franchise Continuation
The 2018 film led directly to a sequel, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, which arrived in theaters in December 2023. Wan returned to direct but later stepped away from additional DC projects. The follow-up continued the story of Arthur Curry while attempting to build on the first movie’s commercial momentum.
Production Legacy
Wan became one of the few directors to deliver two non-franchise billion-dollar films with Aquaman joining the list alongside his earlier work. Momoa’s take on the character shaped how a new generation of viewers pictured the King of Atlantis. The combination of Wan’s swashbuckling vision and Momoa’s presence gave the DCEU one of its most distinctive entries, and the film still stands as a benchmark for what the studio could achieve when it leaned into spectacle and star power.
