The first reactions to Shazam! have been revealed – and it looks like the DC Universe has another hit on its hands.

The superhero movie is set for release next month and tells the story of 14-year-old Billy Batson who is able to transform into the titular hero (Zachary Levi) whenever he shouts his name, after a chance meeting with an ancient wizard.

And while the comic book isn’t perhaps one of DC’s most renowned properties, it seems that it’s already winning over critics.


“#Shazam was damn near PERFECT in my book. My FAVORITE DC movie (DCEU? What are we saying now?) by far,” said Entertainment Tonight’s Ash Crossan in a glowing Twitter verdict.

“Pure of heart, incredibly funny, full of in-jokes and references. Brought me a childlike joy to watch. This role was MADE for @ZacharyLevi… & Jack & Asher & the entire cast.”

#SHAZAM! is pure joy that would have been right at home in the Amblin era. It has huge heart, loads of laughs, and even a few (welcome) scares. @ponysmasher combines classic charm and modern irreverence to create a thrilling superhero adventure for all. #SHAZAMMovie pic.twitter.com/3S7OYIjVos — Sean Gerber (@MrSeanGerber) March 8, 2019

#Shazam was damn near PERFECT in my book. My FAVORITE DC movie (DCEU? What are we saying now?) by far. Pure of heart, incredibly funny, full of in-jokes and references. Brought me a childlike joy to watch. This role was MADE for @ZacharyLevi… & Jack & Asher & the entire cast pic.twitter.com/rVrxjcwvCe — Ash Crossan (@AshCrossan) March 8, 2019

#Shazam is such a brilliant movie. It’s so tremendously fun, and incredibly scary at some points (thanks, David F. Sandberg!). It blows away every expectation and is my new favorite DC movie. pic.twitter.com/DlpymCukTP — The Brandalorian (@BrandonDavisBD) March 8, 2019

#Shazam is a super-powered BIG & I LOVED every second of it. A colorful, vibrant, vital addition to the DCEU. Vivid character-driven action, heartrending central relationships & fully earned, totally satisfying emotional moments. Super hilarious. Super thrilling. Super awesome! pic.twitter.com/KelHZ5YzFq — Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) March 8, 2019


Journalist Sean Gerber also likened it to the “Amblin era” – which saw Steven Spielberg creating family classics like ET.

#SHAZAM! is pure joy that would have been right at home in the Amblin era. It has huge heart, loads of laughs, and even a few (welcome) scares. @ponysmasher combines classic charm and modern irreverence to create a thrilling superhero adventure for all,” he said.

There are so many hilarious and absolutely clever moments in #Shazam that I lost track. There's no other superhero movie like this in existence. You never feel been-there-done-that with this one, even if some of it falls into the realm of stereotypical character tropes. @joblocom — Paul Shirey (@arcticninjapaul) March 8, 2019

With Shazam, David F. Sandberg proves once again that he is a remarkable filmmaker that has seamlessly made the jump from small budget horror to big budget blockbuster. Shazam naturally embraces diversity without being showy plus it has great messages about family too. #Shazam — Scott Menzel (@TheOtherScottM) March 8, 2019

#Shazam is an absolute delight! Super vibrant, tons of heart & a great fun-loving vibe. The family element is a big charmer & so is the humor that comes with watching @ZacharyLevi explore his new powers. Said this after IT but it's worth repeating – @Jgrazerofficial is a star. — Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) March 8, 2019

An official synopsis for Shazam! teases: ““We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson’s (Asher Angel) case, by shouting out one word—SHAZAM!—this streetwise 14-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult Super Hero Shazam (Zachary Levi), courtesy of an ancient wizard (Djimon Hounsou).

“Still a kid at heart—inside a ripped, godlike body—Shazam revels in this adult version of himself by doing what any teen would do with superpowers: have fun with them! Can he fly? Does he have X-ray vision? Can he shoot lightning out of his hands? Can he skip his social studies test? Shazam sets out to test the limits of his abilities with the joyful recklessness of a child. But he’ll need to master these powers quickly in order to fight the deadly forces of evil controlled by Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong).”

Shazam! is set for release on April 5.