Zack Snyder’s Justice Leagueis coming this week, years after the director was forced to leave the DC Comics superhero blockbuster, and his vision for what could have been will finally see the light of day. Judging from early comments from film critics, this newJustice Leaguecould prove to be everything the Joss Whedon’s version wasn’t.
Despite directingMan of SteelandBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and also working as a producer on the firstWonder Woman, Snyder left theJustice leagueproject before completion, meaning the movie audiences got to see wasn’t something that contained the true intended identity of the film but was instead a rushed attempt to put together a somewhat working product. That regrettable decision is worsened byallegations from Gal Gadot and Ray Fisherthat Whedon and Warner Bros. acted in an abusive manner towards the film’s stars.
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Now that Snyder finally got to make the movie he always wanted, it seems his effort and struggles may have been very much worthwhile. Early reviews are already showing plenty of praise for Snyder, calling thisJustice League“Superior to the 2017 version in every way,” pointing to a very cohesive story that leaves plenty of room for character development and flashy superhero action. Some critics are actually callingSnyder’s Justice Leagueoutright epic or the “most operatic superhero film ever made.”
The Wrap’s Umberto Gonzalez claims to have watched Zack Snyder’sJustice Leaguethree times and gives a special shout-out tocomposer Tom Holkenberg’s score, considering it not just a better justJustice Leaguebut a good movie in its own right. Gizmodo’s Germain Lussier noted howSnyder’s Justice Leagueis obviously still very similar to Whedon’s version yet “very different” for the way it’s improved by all the changes and new material.
Others weren’t as keen as to offer their unconditional praise for Snyder, but even in that case, everyone seems to concur that this is indeed a much betterJustice Leaguein absolutely every possible way, although it’s still a bloated superhero movie for some. For true DC fans, it might be comforting to hear that the movie’s even gotten approval fromthe family of Darkseid’s creator Jack Kirby, with the villain getting real screen time in this revamped version.
Perhaps the biggest question still left to be made is how a movie that only works when edited as a four-hour cut could have actually made it to theaters without it being transformed into a noticeably inferior experience. All that being said,Snyder’s Justice Leaguestill hasn’t crossed the finish line, asWonder Woman 1984also earned early critical praisebefore being brought down by public perception and memes made by fans.
Zack Snyder’s Justice Leaguewill be available on HBO Max starting June 22, 2025.
