Aquaman

Aquaman is currently streaming in Australia on Amazon Prime Video and HBO Max, and in the US on HBO Max Amazon Channel and YouTube TV, and it earns its premise rather than just borrowing genre trappings. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. With 15,003 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Jason Momoa's performance is the anchor the more ambitious scenes need. Put it on tonight on Amazon Prime Video and see for yourself.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Aquaman earns its spot. Aquaman uses its genre premise as cover for asking bigger questions. Half-human, half-Atlantean Arthur Curry is taken on the journey of his lifetime to discover if he is worth of being a king. Jason Momoa and Amber Heard lead a cast that keeps the bigger ideas grounded in something human. It hit screens in 2018. The world-building is meticulous enough to sustain multiple rewatches, with details early on that only make sense later. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Sci-fi fans who want ideas alongside the spectacle will find Aquaman genuinely rewarding. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Jason Momoa grounds the bigger ideas in something human. Once you are in, you will want to talk about it.