DC Extended Universe: 5 Best & 5 Worst Characters Introduced In 2016
5 Worst
5. Lex Luthor (Batman v Superman)
This year marked the cinematic reintroduction of two of the most iconic comic book villains of all time, the Joker and Lex Luthor, both of whom have been portrayed by countless actors over the decades. Unlike, say, Enchantress, the sheer iconic status and popularity of both characters means that each and every new interpretation of them carries with them a lot of expectation that they can try and top what's come before.
Now, Jared Leto's take on the Joker divided a lot of people, but he's in Suicide Squad so little that, when comparing the two, Jesse Eisenberg's take on Lex Luthor comes out looking worse simply due to having a lot more screentime to prove it didn't work. While it's admirable that Eisenberg and everyone involved were willing to try something new with Lex, the mix of instability, psychosis, and brilliance was too far removed from what has always made Luthor who he is that watching it was often off-putting.
Had there been a film or two building up the character, particularly showcasing his public persona of doing good for Metropolis and highlighting how the city's citizens look up to him while occasionally dabbling with his dark side, Lex's obsessive desire to destroy Superman here could've worked a lot better, but instead we got a rushed arc with iffy motivations - and Doomsday thrown in the mix! - that only served as a detriment to an already overstuffed film.