Arthur is back, and he’s feeling a little bored since becoming a parent. He and Mera split their time between ruling Atlantis and caring for their son, Arthur Jr. At work, he’s dealing with the challenges of governing and protecting his people. Meanwhile, a plague is spreading under the sea, and the antagonist, Black Manta, is seeking revenge on Arthur. The movie also explores the concept of orichalcum, a powerful substance that has destructive environmental effects.
The idea of human-driven climate change and environmental pollution is more prominent in this sequel, adding a real-world context to the story. Black Manta, along with Dr. Stephen Shin, is determined to find and use orichalcum, despite its detrimental impact on the planet.
The movie presents a straightforward metaphor, linking greed, power, and destruction to a warming planet, making narrative sense. Despite some inconsistencies, the overall message about the consequences of environmental degradation comes through clearly.