Written by Mikey Sutton • Editor-in-Chief • Owner
The good news is that Zack Snyder’s epic cut of DC’s Justice League made the list of the 50 greatest superhero movies. The bad news is that it came in last.
And it’s also below Ghost Rider.
This is no random Internet poll. This isn’t from a Facebook page with Zack Snyder bashers hiding in the bushes.
It’s from Rolling Stone magazine.
Granted, some will argue that Rolling Stone hasn’t been relevant in a long time. Decades even. In 1991, Nirvana’s legendary breakthrough Nevermind acquired an average review. However, Rolling Stone remains a highly respected publication. Therefore, their selections and comments are worthy of discussion.
For the most part, Zack Snyder fans shouldn’t be shocked. Critics have chastised Snyder’s DC movies since the beginning. Or at least under rated them.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League Ranked Below Other DC Films On Critics’ List
Image: Warner Bros.
2009’s Watchmen, for example, has a passable 65% on Rotten Tomatoes. While that’s not bad, it’s easy to see the issues critics had with Zack Snyder’s work, especially with DC properties.
By 2013’s Man of Steel, reviewers jumped off the Snyder train. They bashed the film down to a 56% average on Rotten Tomatoes. They should see the movie again after Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
Certainly, Zack Snyder’s Justice League changed my perspective on his DC movies.
In hindsight, Man of Steel reboots Superman for a new generation of angst-ridden youths. This is Superman for a post 9/11 world. Snyder’s poetic bleakness is operatic in its dark beauty.
Likewise, critics used 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice as a punching bag. However, its 29% on Rotten Tomatoes is misleading. Its longer Ultimate Edition, streaming on HBO Max, is the real deal.
It’s truly magnificent.
Neither version of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice appears on the list. In fact, Rolling Stone only acknowledges Zack Snyder’s Justice League. And they drop it behind Ghost Rider.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League Ranked Below Other DC Films On Critics’ List
Image: Warner Bros.
For DC films, it’s apparently not on the level of 1966’s campy Batman: The Movie. Or 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises.
Or 2017’s The LEGO Batman Movie.
On the other hand, such lists are made to trigger. To generate coffee talk. As such, Rolling Stone has succeeded.
Nevertheless, Zack Snyder still doesn’t receive the accolades he deserves. In terms of critical recognition, Snyder is the equivalent of progressive rockers Rush. On the contrary, they both have the most devoted followers.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League grabbed some of his finest reviews. To Rolling Stone, it still wasn’t enough. For his legion of fans, it doesn’t matter. Snyder speaks to them. In the end, that’s all that matters.