It has been 10 years since the theatrical release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, a movie that effectively placed the DCEU on life support for the remainder of its run. Initially positioned as one of the most hyped moments in CBM history, this anticipation from fans was reflected in its massive $166 million domestic opening (via Box Office Mojo).
However, what the movie ultimately delivered didn’t sit well with fans for a plethora of reasons, whether it was how the iconic characters were handled or its insistence on laying the groundwork for the rest of the DCEU. For instance, beyond its narrative issues and bleak tone, many fans were put off by the portrayal of a Batman who kills.
While that darker interpretation could have worked as a version of the character struggling to come to terms with his own moral decline, Zack Snyder appeared more focused on making the brutality look cool than on exploring its psychological weight.
Yet despite the elements that have plagued this movie’s legacy even after the director’s cut helped soften some of the theatrical cut’s issues, there are some elements that Snyder did get undeniably right in his ambitious follow-up to Man of Steel.
MovieBatman v Superman: Dawn of JusticeIMDb6.4Tomatometer | Popcornmeter28% | 63%Box Office$874 million
5. Jeremy Irons is Perfection as Alfred
A still from Batman v Superman | Credit: Warner Bros.
Considering Michael Caine had played Bruce’s dutiful butler quite exquisitely in The Dark Knight trilogy, living up to that, his bar was always going to be a huge task. Jeremy Irons, however, offered nothing but perfection in his brief tenure as Alfred. Unlike Caine’s iteration of the character, Irons gave his version a military feel, which aligns well with the character’s comic book roots.
Combined with the complicated surrogate-father dynamic he shares with Bruce, and some truly great lines from Irons as Batman’s closest ally and advisor, he’s one of the few characters that Snyder got right in this movie.
4. The Introduction of Wonder Woman
A still from Batman v Superman | Credit: Warner Bros.
For all the movie’s shortcomings, Zack Snyder does an impeccable job with the introduction of Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman in the climax of BVS. While Diana appears earlier in the movie, seeing her leap into the battle against Doomsday to aid Batman and Superman, along with the thunderous guitar riff, was something truly exhilarating.
Snyder excels at capturing the mythic-esque presence of these characters, and the shot of the Trinity together is a testament to his visual prowess. Although Patty Jenkins would later flesh out Diana in the standalone features, the BVS director’s contribution to this version of the character is undeniable.
3. Cinematography and Comic Book Panel-Esque Visuals
A still from Batman v Superman | Credit: Warner Bros.
As I said before, Snyder does an impeccable job of capturing the larger-than-life essence of these comic book figures. Even though this does not always translate well, as his obsession with cool imagery often works against the themes he is trying to explore, there is no denying that Snyder, along with cinematographer Larry Fong, did a great job on that front with Batman v Superman.
Like 300 and Watchmen, which saw panel-to-panel translations of their source material brought to the screen, BVS also comprised many striking images that, in a vacuum, looked impeccable and served as a nice contrast to the heavily criticized washed-out template of the MCU.
2. The Best Batman Fight Scene in Live-Action
A still from Batman v Superman | Credit: Warner Bros.
Ben Affleck’s Batman was simultaneously one of the best aspects of BVS and also the lightning rod for the movie’s biggest controversies. But one thing many fans can agree on is that the movie delivered arguably the best Batman fight scene in live-action, period. The warehouse sequence is extremely well-crafted and blows nearly every action scene from previous Batman movies out of the water.
Even The Batman, despite its impressive combat, is no match for this crowd-pleasing warehouse scene, which serves as a testament to this veteran Caped Crusader’s prowess and makes him a force to be reckoned with. It also leaves us wondering how a showdown between Joe Manganiello’s Deathstroke and Affleck’s Batman might have played out had his solo movie come to fruition.
1. Ben Affleck’s Batman/Bruce Wayne
As the tradition with Batman actors goes, Affleck, like his predecessors, wasn’t seen as the right fit for the caped crusader by fans online. While the writing surrounding this Batman has been subject to criticism, Affleck, on the other hand, has been lauded by fans for playing a veteran caped crusader, who has lost faith, immaculately. Once again, Snyder nails the introduction of this Batman, and one of the shots from the climax also features a homage to Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns.
He was arguably the best part of the movie, and even though the Martha moment doesn’t do a great job at capturing Bruce’s supposed realization that he was in the wrong, seeing him briefly befriend Superman and then take the opportunity to right his wrongs still carries some emotional weight.
CategoryDetailBatmanBen Affleck is absolutely brilliant as the caped crusader despite the narrative shortcomings.The Warehouse fight sceneThe warehouse fightscene is arguably the best Batman fight sequences on the live-action front.CinematographySnyder does a great job at capturing the larger-than-life essence of these superheroes.Wonder Woman’s introductionSeeing Wonder Woman leaping into the final battle was exhilerating.AlfredJeremy Irons does a great job of playing a rugged version of Alfred.
Amid all its issues, Dawn of Justice had all the makings of a great comic book movie, and had Zack Snyder opted for a more restrained approach, similar to what he employed in Man of Steel, the DCEU might still be standing today. Still, it remains fascinating to look back on the movie, which has fans debating to this date.
How long is the BVS Director’s Cut compared to the theatrical version?
The director’s cut, or the Ultimate Edition, clocks in at 182 minutes, compared to the theatrical version’s 151 minutes, making the BVS Director’s Cut 30 minutes longer than what fans got to experience in theaters.
Was BVS a box-office disappointment?
Although BVS was a success on paper, as it grossed closer to $874, considering that it registered one of the biggest domestic openings at the time, the box-office gross was indeed a bit disappointing.
Has the general consensus about BVS improved?
Yes, but only slightly, especially when taking the Ultimate Cut into account. While it offers better pacing and restores several important details, many have remained critical of BVS and its underlying flaws, which have only added to the film’s enduringly polarizing reputation.
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Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is streaming on HBO Max (USA).
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