Directed by Zack Snyder, the film opened on March 25, 2016, to largely negative reviews. It currently holds a 6.4 rating on IMDb and a 28% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite the critical response, the movie earned a strong $874 million worldwide at the box office.
Speaking on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast to mark the anniversary, Snyder stood by his creative choices.
“My 100% honest reaction to ‘BvS’ and how it’s received in the world is… Do you really want a movie that’s had all the edges shaved off it by the focus groups?” Snyder said. He questioned whether audiences truly want studio-shaped blockbusters instead of bold, personal storytelling.
A Darker Vision of Heroes
Batman v Superman followed Snyder’s 2013 film Man of Steel and continued his darker interpretation of DC’s most iconic heroes. The movie sparked controversy for showing Superman killing General Zod in the previous film and for depicting Batman using lethal force against criminals.
Another moment that divided audiences was the now-famous “Martha” scene, where Batman and Superman bond after discovering their mothers share the same name.
Snyder said the backlash reflected a deeper discomfort with seeing beloved heroes deconstructed.
“You realize then that we were kicking the zeitgeist in the nuts,” he said. “Not only do they not want their heroes deconstructed, they don’t want their heroes battling each other.”
He also recalled difficulties securing a PG-13 rating, claiming the Motion Picture Association repeatedly pushed back on the film’s intensity.
The SnyderVerse and Its Challenges
Batman v Superman became the second chapter in what fans later called the “SnyderVerse.” The story continued with Justice League in 2017.
During production, Snyder stepped away from directing after the tragic death of his daughter, Autumn Snyder, in March 2017. Joss Whedon took over the project, rewriting scenes and overseeing reshoots.
The theatrical version of Justice League received mixed-to-negative reviews. However, a strong online fan movement campaigned for the release of Snyder’s original cut. In 2021, Warner Bros. released Zack Snyder’s Justice League on HBO Max, giving fans a four-hour version of the film closer to Snyder’s original vision.
Snyder reflected positively on the journey.
“I love the mythological journey we went on in these three movies,” he said, adding that there were moments when he believed his version of Justice League would never be released.
He also praised fans for raising significant funds for suicide prevention charities during the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut campaign.
A New DC Era
Since then, DC Studios has entered a new chapter under the leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran. Gunn directed a new Superman film that received a warmer critical response, earning a 7.0 rating on IMDb and an 83% Rotten Tomatoes score.
Snyder expressed support for the new direction.
“James is cool. I wish them all the best,” Snyder said. “To me, it’s not the same thing. It’s a different thing.”
While comparisons between Snyder’s darker, mythic tone and Gunn’s more classic, hopeful approach continue, many observers note that both versions simply reflect different creative visions of the same iconic characters.
Although Snyder did not complete the two planned Justice League sequels, he said he has discussed the possibility of continuing the story in other formats, such as comics or animation.
“We live in a world where all that is possible,” he said.
A decade later, Batman v Superman remains a film that divides opinion — but its impact on superhero cinema is undeniable.
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