10 Years Later, Zack Snyder's Ruthless Batman Film Has Only Made Superhero Movies Worse

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Batman and Superman facing each other ready to fight in Batman v Superman Dawn of Justice

Published Mar 25, 2026, 6:23 PM EDT

Billy is a Senior Features Author for Collider. Having written over 300 articles in just over a year, Billy regularly covers the biggest TV shows and films releasing while also analysing some of the most underrated properties that may slip your attention.
Having studied for an MA in Screenwriting at UAL in 2023, Billy honed his writing skills and also developed his ability to critique the work of other creative minds.
Before that, Billy studied politics at the University of Nottingham, which helped him to bring nuanced and scholarly analysis to the frameworks within which filmmakers and writers have framed their thematic messages.

When the first trailer for Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice was released, it quickly shot to the top of everyone's list of most-anticipated movies in the superhero genre. Not only were two of the most iconic comic book characters ever created going to appear on-screen together, but the idea of them battling it out to see who claimed the spot of the most powerful superhero was a mouthwatering prospect, with debates surrounding kryptonite, prep time, and godlike abilities dominating cinema discourse for years. Yet, upon Batman v. Superman's release, rather than serving as a victorious statement from DC that it was ready to challenge the MCU moving forward, criticism of the numerous plot holes and the anticlimactic face-off triggered a deep introspection within the superhero genre. In the end, rather than learning the right lessons about the need for a truly well-thought-out narrative and meaningful characterization of its heroes, the genre as a whole became less artistic, with seemingly reduced creative control for directors and an emphasis on premise over story to sell movies.

As previously mentioned, there are genuine issues with Batman v. Superman that cannot be overlooked. Ben Affleck's Batman is all over the place. Beyond breaking his no-killing rule, he teeters back and forth on Superman (Henry Cavill) with little conviction, having his entire perspective turned around by being shocked to learn their mothers have the same name, despite supposedly being the world's greatest detective. On the other hand, Superman is far too dark, with the line "The Bat is dead. Bury it," meaning he and Batman are too similar in their brooding mentalities, and that's before getting into the issues surrounding the bizarre Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg).

Yet Batman v. Superman does have moments of beauty. From the Christ-like imagery of Superman appearing above a house during a flood, to Batman bursting through a window into the warehouse to save Martha (Diane Lane), even Lex walking down a brightly lit hallway in the Kryptonian ship, every shot is incredibly purposeful and emotive. On top of this is a score by Hans Zimmer that emphasizes the scale of the conflict about to unfold, with the track "Beautiful Lie" an epic piece of music.

However, superhero films have largely ditched this level of artistry in the creative elements of filmmaking. Many MCU and DC films feel like they were shot on sound stages, with little sense of an expansive world; films like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Thor: Love and Thunder stand out as truly awful-looking. The new James Gunn-led DC films, such as Superman, have looked and sounded better, yet they still lack an artistic edge at times, with their bright lighting. Even Nia DaCosta can attest to how directors have their power stripped away during the making of superhero films. Yes, films like Logan and The Batman stand above the rest, but they are truly the exception, rather than the rule, especially considering their Elseworlds status, as they remain separate from interconnected universes.

Superhero Movies Now Sell Themselves on the IP Rather Than the Quality of Storytelling

Armored Batman confronting Superman in the rain in Batman v Superman.

There is one aspect of Batman v. Superman that the superhero genre has leaned into since the film's release, yet it has not had a positive effect. More superhero films are now marketed primarily on the simple premise of certain characters appearing in the same movie. Yes, the MCU arguably already did this with The Avengers and Captain America: Civil War, but those team-ups were driven by character dynamics that could be explored and had already been teased in the preceding years. In contrast, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Deadpool & Wolverine, and the end of Black Adam, which showed Cavill's Superman facing off with Black Adam (Dwayne Johnson) to sell a sequel, had little to no buildup and were merely a way to generate excitement without thinking too hard about the story itself. The fact that most of these films were enjoyed by fans yet have been largely forgotten points to short-lived buzz that lacked real substance.

Whether the superhero industry will become a more creative-led genre again is yet to be seen. However, with Avengers: Doomsday currently being the most anticipated superhero film, it appears that marketing may still take precedence over narrative buildup and purpose. Yet, with James Gunn and the Russo brothers convinced they are leading their cinematic universes in the right direction for the characters, perhaps there is still hope that the correct lessons will eventually be learned from the mistakes of Batman v. Superman.

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice is available to stream on HBO Max in the U.S.