Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a 2016 superhero film directed by Zack Snyder and released by Warner Bros. Pictures. It follows Snyder’s Man of Steel and brings Ben Affleck’s Batman into the same story as Henry Cavill’s Superman. Gal Gadot appears as Diana Prince, who is revealed to be Wonder Woman. Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer wrote the screenplay, while Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL composed the score.

The film opens during the destruction of Metropolis at the end of Man of Steel. Bruce Wayne sees a Wayne Enterprises building collapse as Superman fights General Zod. Eighteen months later, Bruce regards Superman’s power as a threat that no one can control. Superman, meanwhile, questions Batman’s violent methods in Gotham City. Their distrust grows amid public debate over Superman’s actions and a Senate inquiry led by Senator June Finch, played by Holly Hunter.

Lex Luthor, played by Jesse Eisenberg, exploits that conflict. He imports kryptonite recovered from the Indian Ocean, which Batman later steals to make weapons against Superman. Lex also engineers a bombing at the Capitol during Superman’s Senate hearing. Lois Lane, played by Amy Adams, investigates evidence connecting Lex to violence blamed on Superman. When Lex kidnaps Martha Kent, he forces Superman to confront Batman by threatening her life.

Batman prepares the fight on his own terms, using kryptonite gas grenades and a kryptonite-tipped spear. He gains the upper hand, but stops when Superman asks him to save “Martha.” The name is also that of Bruce’s mother. Lois explains whom Superman means, and Batman leaves to rescue Martha Kent from Lex’s men.

Lex then creates Doomsday aboard the Kryptonian scout ship, using the body of Zod and his own blood. Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman fight the creature together. Superman kills Doomsday with Batman’s spear, but dies after Doomsday impales him. The film closes with separate funerals for Superman and Clark Kent, before a final shot shows dirt rising from Clark’s coffin.

Batman v Superman opened in the United States on March 25, 2016. Its theatrical version runs 151 minutes; an extended “Ultimate Edition” was released later that year. The film also introduces Ezra Miller’s Flash, Jason Momoa’s Aquaman and Ray Fisher’s Cyborg through files Bruce obtains from Lex. Those appearances point toward Justice League, released in 2017. Batman v Superman earned more than $870 million worldwide, despite sharply divided critical and audience responses. Its central clash ties Bruce’s fear of unchecked power to the destruction he witnessed firsthand, rather than beginning as a dispute between two heroes who already know each other.