The Ending Of Black Adam Explained

Contains spoilers for "Black Adam."

Although most superhero stories feature reluctant heroes learning to embrace their powers and fulfill their responsibilities to the world, DC's "Black Adam" shifts gears. It's the story of an anti-hero, someone who was never meant to be a hero and has no intention of being one, slowly realizing that he can use his abilities for more than murdering anyone standing in his way.

From start to finish, "Black Adam" explores the themes of what does and doesn't make a hero. First, we learn about the enslaved people of ancient Kahndaq who dared not challenge their ruler Anh-Kot, despite the fact that they outnumbered him. One boy named Hurut spoke up and inspired his people, becoming the hero Teth-Adam after being given powers by the council of wizards.

5,000 years later, Kahndaq is again ruled by tyrants and Adam has returned — but he's not interested in playing the hero. It takes the efforts of Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) and a classic superhero team consisting of Doctor Fate, Hawkman, Cyclone, and Atom Smasher to find out why Adam (Dwayne Johnson) isn't the hero everyone expects him to be, and to prove to him that he can do some good in this world. Let's break down how he goes from anti-hero to willing protector by discussing all the plot elements that come together in an explosive third act to help explain the ending of "Black Adam."

5,000 years after Teth Adam brought down Anh-Kot, a woman named Adrianna Tomaz (Sarah Shahi) releases him from his prison by speaking the words engraved on the seal trapping him in some kind of limbo state. The second he shows up, Adam goes on a lightning-spitting rampage as he kills the soldiers coming at him with guns and tanks, and all sorts of useless weapons.

Since the legends say that Teth Adam would return when Kahndaq needs him most, everyone naturally assumes that this super-strong guy who looks like the statue they built thousands of years ago is there to rescue them from Intergang (the military force that has occupied Kahndaq in order to mine for Eternium). Unfortunately, they couldn't be more wrong. The only reason Adam has killed those men is because they were in his way and they were attacking him — he has no intention of saving anyone.

This doesn't fit with all the legends they've heard, and there's a good reason for that: this isn't the Teth-Adam the wizards initially chose to have their powers. They selected the boy Hurut (Jalon Christian), who was the son of the man currently carrying the name Teth-Adam. Hurut gave his powers to his father to protect him, but was assassinated shortly after. Therefore, the man flying around modern-day Kahndaq is a broken father who's lost the only thing he's ever loved, and who sees his own existence as a curse.

When "Black Adam" opens, we're given a very detailed breakdown of everything that went down in Kahndaq in the year 2600 BC, thanks to a voiceover from the character Amon Tomaz (Bodhi Sabongul). He tells us all about how a magical element called Eternium can be found in Kahndaq, and that an ancient ruler had his slaves dig for the element in order to forge the Crown of Sabbac so he could wield ultimate power. However, Black Adam took the crown and destroyed his empire. 

In this prologue, we see Hurut with an old man, but once we get the full story, we realize that the old man was actually the boy's father, and he looks remarkably like Black Adam. While a tad confusing at first, this actually demonstrates just how much of Kahndaq's past and resources had been coopted by outside forces over the centuries. When the Justice Society explains they've had access to ancient texts that say Black Adam was a destroyer instead of a hero, Amon's mother Adrianna doesn't believe them.

It is very likely that people have been coming to Kahndaq and stealing from it so much, that even its own history is incomplete. Therefore, when we see Amon's story, what we're seeing is his interpretation of events, not the events as they actually unfolded. This stands as yet another reason why Kahndaq needs a protector: to keep their history intact.

Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan) is a man with a thousand storm clouds swirling over his head at all times, as the sentient Alien Helmet of Nabu he wears reveals every possible version of the future. He knows that the future is unwritten, but due to circumstances out of his control, he can't always predict which series of events will unfold. His job is to step in and make sure that the decisions made by the JSA result in the best possible outcome.

Throughout much of the film, he is dreading the completion of the mission because he knows the version of events where they save the day requires his friend Hawkman to die. When Sabbac rises from the underworld to conquer Earth, Fate knows the "happy" ending is approaching, but he's not about to let Hawkman go. He steps in and sacrifices himself.

While doing that, he uses his power to be in two places at once to free Adam, because he knows Adam is the only one powerful enough to defeat Sabbac. He tells Adam that he should accept his abilities because "Fate doesn't make mistakes," and at that moment Doctor Fate has literally chosen Adam to save humanity — whether he wants it or not. Fate's sacrifice also allows Hawkman to hold the helmet in order to multiply himself and distract Sabbac, turning the tide of the battle.

As the dust begins to settle and everyone realizes the battle has been won, the question posed to Adam is whether or not he is willing to be Kahndaq's hero. He destroys the throne meant for their savior because it feels wrong. Even after 5,000 years of imprisonment, Adam knows that Kahndaq doesn't need a ruler — it needs people who are willing to work together to return it to its former glory.

"Kahndaq already has heroes," he says, having met people like Adrianna and her son Amon who believe in Kahndaq and want to see it thrive again. Their hearts and intentions are pure, unlike his own. This goes back to the start of the film, when Hurut stresses the need for everyone to stand up and fight their enslavers when everyone else (including his father) is too scared.

Adrianna and Amon are this generation's version of Hurut. With Intergang gone and Sabbac killed, they can organize the citizens to work together. While that's going on, Kahndaq still needs a protector, someone who can stand in the way when an invading force shows up looking to occupy them again. That is the role Adam is more comfortable with, because he still isn't one for rescuing people. He will not save Kahndaq, but he will punish and destroy anyone who thinks they can invade it. This is a sign that he is moving away from being a total anti-hero and compromising a little bit.

Once the end credit sequence comes to a close, we fade up to see a drone descending from the sky before Black Adam. A hologram of Amanda Waller projects from the device and she, as usual, doesn't look happy. She tells him that since he won't be staying in her prison, he is required to remain in Kahndaq. If he steps beyond its borders, she'll make sure it's the last thing he ever does.

Since he isn't fond of serving a master, Adam tells her no one on Earth can stop him. She threatens to "call in a favor" with beings from other planets. He tells her to send them all. The hologram ends and we see Superman (Henry Cavill) emerge from the shadows. He tells Adam that it's been a while since anyone has frightened the people of Earth quite as much as he has, suggesting that Black Adam's presence is akin to the arrival of Superman himself.

Although he says he just wants to talk, Black Adam's penchant for foregoing discussion in favor of violence pretty much guarantees their conversation will not go well. Perhaps that means the sequel could feature a fight between Black Adam and Superman engaged in combat. Hopefully, a potential "Black Adam 2" can also explain why Superman would do favors for someone like Waller, given her shady tactics. Perhaps she didn't send him and he really did just come to talk.