Ten years ago, Warner Bros. released Zack Snyder’s Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice, a film that sharply divided comic book movie fans. Some passionately defend it as a masterpiece, while others consider it a complete failure. The reality is more nuanced. While certain aspects of the movie haven’t held up well over time and now feel more flawed, other elements have actually improved with age. It’s a film with both significant weaknesses and surprisingly enduring strengths.
Released in theaters on March 25, 2016, Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice has some aspects that have held up well over the past decade, while others haven’t aged so gracefully.
6) Batman’s Blind Aggression Aged Like Milk
Some fans enjoy the darker, more violent portrayal of Batman in Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice, where he readily kills criminals. However, depicting Batman as a killer doesn’t fit his character and contradicts his long-established heroic principles. While this version of Batman was meant to be a broken, desperate hero, it doesn’t align with the Batman most DC Comics fans know and admire.
What’s even more disturbing than Batman’s usual violence is his willingness to kill Superman, who hasn’t done anything to deserve it. The notion of Batman deciding an alien should die simply for being different and having powers is deeply problematic. That shortsighted belief that he needs to eliminate Earth’s most virtuous hero as a precaution hasn’t held up well over time. For a large portion of this film, Batman essentially acts as the villain.
5) Wonder Woman Aged Like Fine Wine
Gal Gadot first appeared as Wonder Woman in the DC Extended Universe in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and it was a truly impressive debut. She arrived during the film’s climactic battle, fearlessly joining Batman and Superman with both her sword and her powerful presence. Many viewers felt she actually stole the show.
Superman’s first film, Man of Steel, focused on him discovering his purpose, and Batman’s introduction involved attempting to kill another hero. In contrast, Wonder Woman immediately presented a clear example of a true hero. Her solo film is still considered the best in the DC Extended Universe, and her debut remains as impactful and inspiring now as it was when it first came out.
4) The Bloated Movie Aged Like Milk
Putting aside the issues with the plot of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, its biggest flaw—and what hasn’t held up over time—is that it tried to do too much. The movie crammed two major DC storylines—Batman versus Superman and an adaptation of The Death of Superman—into a single film, preventing either story from being fully developed or impactful.
As a fan, I always felt like the movie spent so much time building up to Batman versus Superman, but then it felt rushed. They had to suddenly deal with Lex Luthor and rescue Lois and Martha Kent, and then also shoehorn Doomsday into the ending for a big fight. Superman’s sacrifice was powerful, but Doomsday felt totally shortchanged – it really didn’t do the ‘Death of Superman’ story justice. Honestly, it felt like it needed to be split into two films. Knowing how things played out with the Justice League later, I can understand why Zack Snyder tried to pack everything into just one movie, but it still didn’t quite work for me.
3) Superman’s Sacrifice Aged Like Fine Wine
Although the fight with Doomsday and the ‘Death of Superman’ story felt like something that should have been in a separate movie, the way it happened still worked well. Throughout the film, Batman was focused on eliminating Superman, believing he was a danger to Earth, even though there was no real proof of that. Superman, consistent with his character since the movie Man of Steel, simply wanted to rescue as many people as possible.
When Superman realized he needed to make the ultimate sacrifice to save Batman, Wonder Woman, and all the people he cared about, he acted without hesitation. His death was a powerfully emotional scene and provided a strong conclusion to the film. While it might have been more impactful in a dedicated Death of Superman movie, it was still a well-executed moment.
2) Jessie Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor Aged Like Milk
Jesse Eisenberg is a talented actor with a strong track record, but his portrayal of Lex Luthor in Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice didn’t quite work. While his performance was energetic and amusing, it felt disconnected from the established character in both the comics and previous films. It was hard to understand what version of Lex Luthor he was aiming for.
While Gene Hackman wasn’t a perfect match for the comic book Lex Luthor, his portrayal felt much more authentic than Jesse Eisenberg’s. Michael Rosenbaum truly embodied the character, and Nicholas Hoult recently gave a fantastic performance as a younger Lex, clearly inspired by Rosenbaum. Eisenberg’s version, however, was widely disliked from the moment the film was released.
1) Batman Realizing He Is The Villain Aged Like Fine Wine (Although ‘Martha’ Is Still Groan-Inducing)
The decision to have Batman attempt to kill Superman because he was a powerful alien felt like a misstep. The scene where Superman pleaded “Save Martha” and Batman questioned why that name meant something was particularly awkward and poorly executed. Despite being a weak moment in the film, it did serve a purpose: it made Batman realize he was acting as the story’s antagonist.
When Batman heard Clark Kent’s mother was also named Martha, he understood that, despite his powers, Clark was fundamentally human, just like anyone else. This realization was crucial for Batman, as he recognized he was on the verge of becoming the very thing he fought against – a murderer, no better than villains like the Joker or Bane. While many criticized the scene in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, it was a pivotal moment in Batman’s development, ultimately pushing him to reaffirm his heroic principles and proving surprisingly impactful over time.
What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!
Read More
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Dune 3 Gets the Huge Update Fans Have Been Waiting For
- Disney Promotes Thomas Mazloum To Lead Parks and Experiences Division As Josh D’Amaro Prepares To Become CEO
- Jack Osbourne Shares Heartbreaking Tribute to Late Dad Ozzy Osbourne
- Action Comics #1096 is Fun Jumping-On Point for Superman Fans (Review)
- 5 Weakest Akatsuki Members in Naruto, Ranked
- Antiferromagnetic Oscillators: Unlocking Stable Spin Dynamics
- 22 actors who were almost James Bond – and why they missed out on playing 007
- Dungeon Stalkers to end service on June 9
- Hazbin Hotel Secretly Suggests Vox Helped Create One of the Most Infamous Cults in History
2026-03-25 21:14