Every Live-Action Superman Movie & TV Show Ranked
8. Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice
In 2016, DC were desperately trying to catch up with Marvel
in terms of Cinematic Universes. In an attempt to capitalise on the MCU’s popularity,
Batman was inserted into the Man of Steel sequel, taking some of the spotlight
away from Superman.
The theatrical version of the film is very choppy and strangely paced due to the infamous studio interference. However, Henry Cavill’s Superman is good in this film. He plays a very conflicted, stoic Superman in this film, something very different to the usual interpretations. Superman’s interactions with Batman are also very comic book accurate and Batman’s insecurities about the Man of Steel are portrayed very well by Ben Affleck.
Where this film falls down is with its villain and its storyline. Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor is horrifically miscast. He comes across like The Riddler cosplaying as Lex Luthor rather than the iconic antagonist we know from the comics. The story falls down in the final act, when the film shifts focus to the Justice League, rather than continuing the Batman Vs Superman story.
On the whole, Batman Vs Superman is flawed, however the positives vastly outweigh the negatives. Particularly if you dive into the Ultimate Edition on Blu Ray.