With the hype surrounding the DCU and Superman at an all-time high, the way the superhero epic Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice divided fans and critics feels like a distant memory, but the early DCEU movie’s proponents remain stalwart in their defense. In fact, it’s an enthusiasm that has endured for nearly ten years.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was released on March 25, 2016. At that time, the MCU was not only well-established but flourishing as it entered Phase 3 with Captain America: Civil War on the immediate horizon. The DCEU, by comparison, was in its infancy, with 2013’s Man of Steel being its sole installment at the time.
With Man of Steel, the DCEU had already distinguished itself from most other superhero movies that dominated theaters. Man of Steel explored a darker and more stylized approach to the genre than its contemporaries, and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was poised to follow suit, but its success was debatable.
Why Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice Was So Negatively Received By Critics
Critics Said It Was “Humorless”
Whereas movies like X-Men and Iron Man painted a positive picture for the future of their respective franchises, the DCEU was not so fortunate. To this day, Man of Steel displays a modest 57% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. Three years later, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice fared much worse.
Critics knowledgeable about the source material accused Batman v Superman of fundamentally misunderstanding the characters.
With a 28% critics’ score, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice remains one of the worst-rated modern superhero movies. By comparison, the MCU’s lowest-rated movie (out of 36), Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, boasts a comparatively respectable 46%.
Batman v Superman‘s attempts to distinguish itself from the more colorful and lighthearted tones of its rivals fell flat, drawing ire instead for being “humorless” and over-reliant on stylized action sequences. Critics knowledgeable about the source material accused Batman v Superman of fundamentally misunderstanding the characters.
This is where critics and audiences find common ground. Batman v Superman was Ben Affleck’s introduction as the тιтular Caped Crusader. Despite his portrayal being largely praised, his arrival was tainted by the decision to have him flout Batman’s sacrosanct no-killing rule.
The same could be said for Jesse Eisenberg’s rendition of Lex Luthor. The frenetic depiction flew in the face of all convention, with critics pointing out that he more closely resembled Heath Ledger’s Joker from The Dark Knight than any traditional characterization of Luthor.
Despite Reviews, Batman V Superman Inspired A Devoted Audience
Audiences Rated The Movie Better And Remain Stalwart In Their Support
Although some critiques are largely accepted on both sides of the aisle, audiences generally responded much more positively to Batman v Superman. With an audience score of 63% on Rotten Tomatoes, it remains one of the best examples of a DCEU movie that divided critics and audiences.
Where the MCU strove to make its superheroes as grounded and relatable as possible, the DCEU leaned into the inherently mythological aspects of its main stars.
Whereas Batman v Superman‘s action sequences didn’t win over critics, the same can’t be said for its supporters. The movie epitomized Zack Snyder’s distinctive style, which has its fair share of diehard fans. Meanwhile, its muted tones arguably evoked the most gothic Batman comics while leaning into the spectacle inherent in having two superhero icons duke it out.
Proponents were also won over by the darker tones that fueled the accusations of humorlessness from some critics. In a climate where the MCU – particularly Avengers: Age of Ultron – was being accused of being too irreverent in places, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice felt distinct.
Where the MCU strove to make its superheroes as grounded and relatable as possible, the DCEU leaned into the inherently mythological aspects of its main stars. The move was seen as an ambitious breath of fresh air and continues to inspire its fans to this day.
Foibles were overlooked due to established precedents. Batman has, after all, been known to kill long before Batman v Superman (including in the critically acclaimed 1989 Batman), and the warehouse scene in which Batman makes quick work of multiple goons is largely celebrated as one of Batman’s best cinematic fight scenes.
Batman V Superman Has A Lasting Legacy In DC Movie History
It Was Lambasted But Was One Of DC’s Highest-Earning
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice typified the first half of the DCEU. Zack Snyder’s vision for DC’s cinematic franchise was in its infancy when Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice doubled down on the motifs of Man of Steel, securing the DCEU’s idenтιтy as wholly distinct from other superhero movies.
It also made a pretty penny at the box office. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is the DCEU’s second-highest-grossing movie behind Aquaman’s $1 billion, earning a global box office total of $872 million according to The Numbers.
Sadly, with it missing the mark so severely with critics, this began an unfortunate trajectory for the DCEU. Over four months later, Suicide Squad would safely secure itself as the DCEU’s worst-rated movie. Wonder Woman would change the DCEU’s critical fortunes with its release one year later, but Justice League then further hampered the franchise’s reputation.
Justice League earned just $656 million globally, falling short of the MCU’s equivalent, The Avengers, by more than half. After Aquaman‘s almost anomalous success, the DCEU would never again reach a box office as high as Batman v Superman or Aquaman.
What makes these circumstances so frustrating for DC fans is the fact that the extended/director’s cuts for both Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League were largely seen to be vast improvements on the originals. Had Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice‘s full cut been released initially, the entire franchise’s fortunes might have looked different.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice debuted at a time when a rival franchise dominated the genre and made some bold moves. Ten years later, it has benefited from hindsight. Now that Superman looks like it will flip the script on the tone of DC movies, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is worth remembering for better or worse.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes & The Numbers
