“So for me… You know, I heard someone say, ‘You’re entering the Snyderverse now.’”
Zack Snyder, Beyond The Trailer, 20 July 2020
Welcome to my analysis of Zack Snyder’s DC cinematic story, the last great hope that superhero films could be genuine moral tales. I will walk through these films in exhaustive detail to explain why I believe they do not only constitute an absolute combined masterpiece, but also include the best titles in the superhero genre on the big screen by far.
I do not mean to brag, but I spent years working on this analysis, collecting behind-the-scenes info, quotes from cast and crew, researching other analyses, and ensuring that everything you could ever know about these films is all available with links and references. Not to devalue any other analysis, but you will certainly find this to be the most comprehensive resource on these movies outside of the actual filmmakers. Beyond that, I took to learning at least somewhat about film, researching what defines good editing, pacing, dialogue, story, and character. Over time, I will also expand on these details in my analyses. I further revised my comic book knowledge and learned a great deal more about the characters, their stories, and their fans.
This is my own masterpiece, methodically crafted to analyse these films to the bone. I sincerely hope you find it an enjoyable and thought-provoking resource, and feel free to spread it around. I ask that you please give credit for any portions you copy-paste or photograph. If you dislike the films, then I hope this analysis can persuade you to see them in a new light. I also hope that those who already enjoy these films can learn plenty more about them.
I would just like to state that my personal thoughts do not necessarily represent the feelings of the films’ creators. I can only hope I have judged and analysed the films accurately to what they had intended.
THE MOVIES
I am dedicated to an objective analysis of these films to the best of my ability, rather than personal interpretations. I try to look at what the films are actively doing and form conclusions from that, rather than inventing my own components of the films. I do posit my own interpretations, but I try to make it very clear when I do, putting them forward as mere possibility and not as fact. For the purpose of this analysis, Zack Snyder and his team are the final word on anything, and are referenced accordingly. I will also reference the theories and analyses of other proponents of this films.
I have chosen to include extensive behind-the-scenes details derived from the social media of the filmmakers, bystander photos, news articles, video featurettes, director’s commentary, interviews, and lastly the various technical tie-in manuals, all of which provide immensely insightful information on the films’ production. I have done this partly because I firmly believe the unspoken names behind the films deserve to have their work spotlighted, and sources like these are useful for providing new contexts and quotes from the cast and crew. I will also make mention of deleted footage and dialogue.
This analysis can still be a little rough around the edges, so please be patient with me and forgive any typos, broken formatting, and barren areas as I was in a hurry to meet my deadlines. However, I will continue to add to this analysis over time from here on, expanding empty areas and including new thoughts as they come about.
OTHER FILMS
Behind-the-scenes analysis of the films that never saw the light of day, documenting known story details and their production history.
COMMUNITY
A very special thanks to director Zack Snyder, screenwriters David Goyer and Chris Terrio, cinematographers Amir Mokri, Larry Fong, and Fabian Wagner, composers Hans Zimmer and Tom Holkenberg, the universe’s many unseen artists who worked around the clock to bring these films to life, and the excellent cast too big to name here. They all have my gratitude for this amazing piece of cinema and for an incredibly rich experience that has inspired my in-depth investment in film, and giving me some special movies to remember forever. I wish them all the best in their futures, and I sincerely hope that they never think they created — through their immense effort — anything less than an absolutely remarkable series.
Special thanks to Daniel Wallace for Man of Steel: Inside the Legendary World of Superman, Peter E Aperlo for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice: The Art of the Film, Adam Newell and Sharon Gosling for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice: Tech Manual, and Abbie Berstein for Justice League: The Art of the Film.
Special thanks to Discord users @AriSnow (proofreading) and @ZaBattoman (music analysis) for providing their invaluable observations and unique skills to this analysis. This would have been considerably harder and more time-consuming without them.
Special thanks to the many other people I have encountered online who have informed my opinion on these films with their own analyses and defences alongside me, especially including the many essayists, journalists, YouTubers, commenters, and Reddit posters who provided their own insightful commentary and thoughts.
Special thanks to The Internet Movie Firearms Database, the Internet Movie Cars Database, and the The Internet Movie Plane Database.
Lastly, a special thanks to everyone who has read this analysis. I hope I have changed your thoughts on the film if they were negative, and I hope that you learned a lot more about my favourite movie.
The content of this website is the property of its respective owners, primarily Warner Bros Entertainment Inc.
Snyderverse Analysis 