Theproduction of the original film was difficult, and the script frequently underwent major changes. In May 2017, Snyder stepped down duringpost-production following the death of his daughter, andJoss Whedon was hired to finish the film, completing it as an uncredited additional director. Whedon wrote and directed new sequences and incorporated a brighter, more humorous tone while significantly reducing the runtime in accordance with directives fromWarner Bros. Pictures. The theatrical version polarized critics and underperformed at the box office, resulting in Warner Bros. developing future DCEU films around individual characters with less emphasis on a widershared universe.
Many people expressed interest in Snyder's version of the film, often colloquially referred to as theSnyder Cut. Although most industry insiders reported its release unlikely, Warner Bros. moved ahead with it in February 2020. In May 2020, Snyder announced it would be released asZack Snyder's Justice League onHBO Max. $70 million was spent to complete the visual effects, score, and editing, with new material being shot in October 2020. The film is dedicated to the memory of Autumn Snyder.
Zack Snyder's Justice League was released on HBO Max in the United States on March 18, 2021. It became the fourth-most-streamed film on the platform that year. Critics generally considered the film an improvement over the 2017 theatrical release.
Thousands of years ago,Apokoliptian warlordDarkseid and hisParademons attempt to invade Earth using the combined energies of threeMother Boxes to form "The Unity", a phenomenon which would instantly devastate Earth andterraform it into a copy of their homeworld. This would allow Darkseid to harvest theAnti-Life Equation, a secret power capable of controlling all sentientfree will in the multiverse, from the planet unchallenged.
Darkseid is foiled however by an alliance of the Old Gods,Amazons,Atlanteans, humanity, andextraterrestrial beings. The Mother Boxes are then separated and hidden in different locations. Millennia later,Superman's death following the battle withDoomsday[c] reactivates the Boxes. This attractsSteppenwolf, Darkseid's disgraced lieutenant who seeks to regain his favor. Steppenwolf reachesThemyscira through a portal and fights to obtain the Amazons' Mother Box.Diana Prince informsBruce Wayne, as the two seek to form a team ofmetahumans to protect the planet. After failing to recruitArthur Curry, Bruce locatesBarry Allen, who joins enthusiastically.
Diana locatesVictor Stone, who joins after his father,Silas, and otherS.T.A.R. Labs employees are kidnapped by Parademons seeking humanity's Mother Box. Steppenwolf kills Atlantean guards and takes their Mother Box, forcing Arthur to join the group. Victor retrieves the last Mother Box, which he had hidden. He reveals his father used it to rebuild his body after a car accident, explaining that the Boxes can rearrange matter. The group realizes they could resurrect Superman using the Box. The team exhumes Clark Kent's body and places it in aKryptonian ship.[d] They successfully resurrect him, but Clark fails to remember who he is, so attacks the group.Lois Lane arrives and placates him, then they go together to Clark's family home inSmallville, allowing him to regain his memories. Steppenwolf retrieves the last Mother Box, but not before Victor's father sacrifices himself to supercharge it with laser heat, allowing Victor to track it. Without Superman, the five heroes travel to the abandoned Russian city Pozharnov, where Steppenwolf aims to form the Unity.
The team fight their way through the surrounding Parademons, with Superman arriving in time to subdue Steppenwolf. However, Victor fails to prevent the Unity, so Earth begins to be destroyed. To reverse time in order to provide Victor the necessary charge, Barry enters theSpeed Force, allowing him and Superman to prevent the Unity. Working together, the team kills Steppenwolf, but Darkseid vows to return to Earth for the Anti-Life Equation. In the aftermath, Bruce and Diana make plans to set up a base of operations for the newly formed alliance at the desolatedWayne Manor. Clark resumes his double life inMetropolis, with Lois implied to be pregnant with his child. Arthur meets withNuidis Vulko andMera before going to see his father,[e] and Barry informs his erroneously convicted father in prison that he has acquired a job inCentral City's police department. Victor is inspired by a message left by his father to realize his purpose in life.
Later,Lex Luthor, who has escaped fromArkham Asylum, is visited on his yacht bySlade Wilson, to whom he reveals Batman's secret identity. At home, Bruce awakens from an apocalyptic dream of the future,[f] in which he is amongst a resistance troop being hunted by a mind-controlled Superman. He receives a visit from theMartian Manhunter, who promises to help the Justice League prepare for Darkseid's return.
Henry Cavill asClark Kent / Superman: AKryptonian survivor with superpowers based inMetropolis, he serves as the inspiration for the Justice League, later becoming a member of the team. In 2018, Cavill described Superman as he appears in Snyder'sJustice League as coming closer to completing hischaracter arc that began withMan of Steel (2013) and becoming the "true" Superman as depicted in the comics.[8] Snyder said while he loves the traditional portrayals of the character, he wanted Superman to have a realistic arc and develop as a character, and not be a "one-dimensionalBoy Scout."[9]
Amy Adams asLois Lane: A reporter for theDaily Planet and the love interest of Clark Kent.[10]
Ray Fisher asVictor Stone / Cyborg: A former college athlete who, after beingcybernetically reconstructed after a nearly fatal car accident, is turned into a techno-organic being enhanced by adaptivebiomimetic alien technology. Much of Cyborg's character development was removed in the theatrical release, and Snyder described Cyborg's role inZack Snyder's Justice League as "the heart of the movie."[11] Fisher also stated Cyborg's arc is emotional and allegorical of "the journey thatBlack people have taken in [America],"[11] as well as representative ofpeople with disabilities.[12] According to Fisher, the only Cyborg scene directed by Snyder in the theatrical release was that of Cyborg meeting with Batman and Commissioner Gordon at theGotham City police rooftop.[13]
Jesse Eisenberg asLex Luthor: Superman's nemesis and former head ofLexCorp, his appearance at the end of the film was originally intended to tease Affleck's now-reworkedThe Batman project rather than a potential sequel.[17]
Ciarán Hinds asSteppenwolf: ANew God military officer from the planetApokolips who leads an army ofParademons to search for the threeMother Boxes on Earth.[20] Hinds had previously described Steppenwolf as "old, tired, still trying to get out of his own enslavement to Darkseid."[21] Steppenwolf was redesigned for the new release,[22] bringing his appearance closer to Snyder's original vision.[23]
Zheng Kai asRyan Choi: A scientist working atS.T.A.R. Labs, under the leadership of Silas Stone.[24] By the end of the film, Choi is promoted to Director of Nanotechnology at the company.[25] The character was intended to star in a spin-off, with Snyder havingpitched a film to the studio, which would have featured Choi asThe Atom, and have taken place inChina with aChinese cast.[26]
Nick McKinless asAres: Stuntman Nick McKinless physically portrays Ares, whileDavid Thewlis's face is superimposed on McKinless's using CGI.[28][29]
Ray Porter portraysDarkseid, a tyrannicalNew God fromApokolips.[30][31] Darkseid did not appear in the theatrical release,[4] with the film being the character's first appearance in live-action.[31] Porter portrayed Darkseid throughmotion capture[20] and "went through a few different vocal gymnastics trying to figure out the voice."[32] He was unfamiliar with Darkseid upon being cast, with Snyder and screenwriterChris Terrio helping him with their knowledge of comics.[32]Peter Guinness portraysDeSaad, Darkseid's master enforcer and liaison between him and Steppenwolf.[33][34]
Harry Lennix reprises his DCEU role asUS Secretary of DefenseCalvin Swanwick, later revealed to beJ'onn J'onzz/Martian Manhunter. Snyder stated Swanwick was always Martian Manhunter sinceMan of Steel and secretly guided mankind to do good as he wanted humanity to try to protect Earth themselves before intervening.[35]Jared Leto reprises his role fromSuicide Squad (2016) as theJoker, a psychotic criminal and Batman'sarchenemy, who becomes a surviving resistance member in the Knightmare future.[36] The Joker was not planned to appear in Snyder's original version, but he chose to use and redesign Joker for it following its revival as he intended to use Joker.[37][38]
Following the release ofMan of Steel in 2013, directorZack Snyder outlined his vision for theDC Extended Universe (DCEU), consisting of a five-film arc includingMan of Steel,Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), and aJustice League trilogy.[49] Snyder's original intention was forBatman v Superman to be the darkest in the franchise, and have subsequent films become lighter in tone.[50][51] However,Batman v Superman was poorly received, with criticism for its dark tone, slow pacing, and lack of humor. DistributorWarner Bros. Pictures and Snyder re-evaluated upcoming DCEU films, particularlySuicide Squad (2016), which had already wrapped principal photography, andJustice League, which was a month away from filming. Thus, Snyder and screenwriterChris Terrio rewroteJustice League to change its tone.[50][52] CinematographerFabian Wagner said Snyder wanted to "get away from the stylized, desaturated, super-high contrast looks of other films in the franchise."[53]
Principal photography forJustice League began in April 2016[54] and wrapped the following December.[55] Months later, multiple cuts of Snyder'sJustice League were shown to Warner Bros. executives, in addition to friends and family of Snyder. A final run-time andpicture lock were achieved, though the cuts had incompletevisual effects shots and partial audio mixing. Snyder said his multiple cuts were essentially "done," only requiring "a few CG tweaks" for completion.[56][55]Forbes contributor and film screenwriter Mark Hughes reported that Snyder's cut was more than 90% complete,[57] whileThe Daily Telegraph cited a visual effects expert estimating that Warner Bros. would need another $30–40 million for completion.[58] Snyder began screening his rough versions ofJustice League by February 27, 2017, with studio executives disliking it as they felt the plot was too complex and decided to pivot.[59]
After disapproving of Snyder's direction, Warner Bros. hiredJoss Whedon, who directed theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) filmsThe Avengers (2012) andAvengers: Age of Ultron (2015), to rewrite the script and help with extensivereshoots.[60] Warner Bros. CEOKevin Tsujihara mandated thatJustice League's runtime could not exceed two hours.[61][62] Warner Bros. decided not to delay the film partly due to concerns that parent companyAT&T might dissolve the studio in an upcomingmergerwhich wouldlater happen in 2022.[63] Snyder was expected to film scenes that Whedon re-wrote, and they were working together to meet Warner Bros.' requests when Snyder's daughter, Autumn Snyder, died in March 2017.[60] Though Snyder was initially open to Whedon rewriting the script, he eventually became more resistant as Warner Bros. began granting Whedon more directing privileges. However, he did not directly challenge it as he and his family were dealing with Autumn's death.[62]
Snyder leftJustice League that May, while producerDeborah Snyder, his wife, also departed soon after.[56][64] A source claimed in February 2018 that Snyder was quietly fired by the studio approximately three months prior to the public announcement of his departure.[65] Whedon later assumed full control over production,[64] although Snyder retained directorial credit. Whedon added nearly 80 pages to the script,[66] and Wagner estimates that Whedon's cut uses only about 10% of the footage that Snyder shot.[67] ComposerTom Holkenborg completed his film score before being replaced byDanny Elfman[68][69] halfway through post-production.[70] The scenes that Whedon wrote or re-shot for the theatrical release featured a brighter tone and more humor, and reduced the level of violence seen in Snyder's darker direction.[60] To meet the mandated runtime, more than 90 minutes of Snyder's footage was removed, but the result still adhered to the basic outline of the story. While the initial cut was poorly received by test audiences, the early screening of Whedon's cut scored as high asWonder Woman (2017), so Warner Bros. decided to move forward with it.[61] Later in February 2021, an anonymous Warner Bros. executive stated that even the studio did not like the "stupefying" changes in Whedon's version, they were reluctant to criticize it and thus decided to proceed with it.[62]
Justice League was released theatrically on November 17, 2017.[71] Critics described it as a "Frankenstein" film, identifying it as the work of two different directors with competing visions.[63][72][73] After seeing Whedon's version in late 2017, Deborah and executive producerChristopher Nolan advised Snyder to not watch it, knowing it would "break his heart."[62]Justice League grossed $657.9 million against an estimated $300 million budget.[3][71] Against an estimatedbreak-even point of as much as $750 million,[74]Deadline Hollywood estimated the film resulted in a net loss of $60 million for Warner Bros.[75] Due to the film's poor performance, Warner Bros. decided to move away from Snyder's vision for ashared universe of interconnected films and focus on standalone films and solo franchises instead.[76]
"Snyderverse" and "SnyderVerse" redirect here. For the film franchise, seeDC Extended Universe.
After leaving the project, Snyder subsequently saved the rough version of his cut on ahard drive, which had not undergone thepost-production process at the time. He kept it as a "memento," so that he could show people or for "snippets" of footage to be included in a documentary, as he thought his version would not be released.[62] Snyder sent an editor in to retrieve materials related to the film on a hard drive. However, he was asked to return them as they were considered to be studio property, but refused to do so as he said it was his "personal use." Sources said that though security was notified, no action was taken as the studio did not expect Snyder would "begin tinkering with an alternate cut of the film."[59]
Immediately after the theatrical release ofJustice League, fans created an online petition to release the "Snyder Cut" that gained more than 100,000 signatures.[77] The movement, which used thehashtag #ReleaseTheSnyderCut on social media,[78][79] began before fans had any knowledge that Snyder's cut ofJustice League actually existed.[58][80] The movement had gained traction following the theatrical version's mixed reviews, with fans particularly disliking the film as they assumed Whedon created an inferior film. The circumstances were compared to that ofSuperman II (1980):Richard Donner was able to complete his version of the film, which was released asSuperman II: The Richard Donner Cut in 2006.[78][79][81] Commentators assumed an alternate cut ofJustice League was inevitable as some of Snyder's previous films had been re-released in extended cuts for home media, such asWatchmen (2009) andBatman v Superman, which critics considered an improvement to the theatrical version.[82][83]
Following the death of Snyder's daughter and his departure fromJustice League, fans from the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut movement soon began campaigns to raise money for suicide prevention;[103] these campaigns raised over $500,000 for theAmerican Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) in donations by February 2021.[104] These efforts garnered praise from Snyder and the AFSP.[105][106] Ahead of the 2019San Diego Comic-Con, fans launched a crowdfunding campaign with half of the revenue to be spent for an advertising campaign consisting of billboards and a flying banner ad, while the other half was donated to the AFSP.[107][108] For a similar campaign at the 2019New York Comic Con, the movement purchased ad space on two billboards overTimes Square featuring quotes from members of the cast and crew.[109] That December, the movement rented another flying banner ad, this time passing over Warner Bros. Studios and directly asking Sarnoff to release the Snyder Cut.[110] In January 2020, the movement bought four minutes of ad space advocating for the film's release on a digital banner wrapped around the interior ofRiverside Stadium during theFA Cup.[111]
Shawn Robbins, chief analyst forBoxoffice Pro, suggested the size of the movement was too small to make an impact, opining that the film "doesn't seem to be something many outside the die-hard fan base are clamoring to see."[112] Writer Mario F. Robles, based on his industry connections, said Warner Bros. did not trust Snyder's vision and was not willing to spend the money required for its completion.[113] Throughout the movement, various media journalists referred to the Snyder Cut as "fabled"[84][109][114] or "mythical."[115][116][117]
Members of the movement have also been described by various journalists as "toxic"[118] for harassing, threatening, andcyberbullying those who expressed contrary opinions about the Snyder Cut.[119] Yohana Desta ofVanity Fair broadly described the act of fans demanding an alternative cut as a "modern pattern of audience demand that is actively making fandoms more toxic," comparing it to the harassment ofStar Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) actressKelly Marie Tran.[118] Brandon Katz ofThe New York Observer said that the movement was composed of "both toxic DC fans that hurl vitriolic harassment at any and all opposition, and supportive moviegoers that genuinely enjoy Snyder's style and are just hoping to see the conclusion of his trilogy that began with 2013'sMan of Steel. As with any contingent, there are both extremists and level-headed individuals in its ranks."[118]
Bob Rehak,Swarthmore College Associate Professor and Chair of Film and Media Studies, said that fandoms such as #ReleaseTheSnyderCut react strongly when a major change is made to something they enjoy, and that this reaction usually comes from a smaller subsection of the fandom, which "[paints] the whole community with a really broad brush."[120] In July 2022,Rolling Stone reported that WarnerMedia had discovered via internal investigations that approximately 13% of online activity relating to the Snyder Cut had been deemed "fake" and the result ofInternet bot activities.Rolling Stone also spoke with more than 20 people involved with both versions of the film, most of whom believe that Snyder was "working to manipulate the ongoing campaign."[59] In September 2018, formerDC Entertainment presidentDiane Nelson deleted herTwitter account after substantial online harassment by members of the movement.[121] Warner Bros. telephone operators, inundated with regular calls about the "Snyder Cut," were trained to treat them asprank calls.[118]
By March 2019, Snyder stated that a cut ofJustice League did exist and that it was Warner Bros.' decision to release it.[122] That November, an insider claimed Warner Bros. was unlikely to release Snyder's cut, calling such hopes a "pipe dream."[123] Snyder later confirmed by that December that his cut was approximately 214 minutes.[58]Robert Greenblatt, then chairman of WarnerMedia and head of HBO Max, stated that discussions surrounding the release of Snyder'sJustice League began in late 2019, and lasted a few months. He emphasized Snyder's cut was not finalized, and that Warner Bros. would have to fund its completion while also clarifying issues with film unions.[5] The studio first approached Snyder to release his unfinished cut, but Snyder rejected the option and insisted on either completing or not releasing it, leading Warner Bros. to decide if they would proceed across the next few months.[62] According to Snyder,WarnerMedia chose to release the Snyder Cut in February 2020, after chairmanToby Emmerich acknowledged the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut movement and contacted Snyder.[4]
The Snyders invited executives from Warner Bros., HBO Max, and DC to their home to watch a then-assembledblack and white version of the Snyder Cut. Snyder also proposed various ideas for its release, including releasing the cut in an episodic manner. Impressed, the executives decided to proceed with the project. Snyder began to collaborate with the film's original post-production team for completion. Despite the process being compromised by the then-ongoingCOVID-19 pandemic, which was escalating around the time, the Snyders insisted on completing it. Snyder notified the original cast of the undertaking from April and May 2020; according to Snyder, he contacted Fisher first, who initially thought that Snyder was joking.[4] On May 20, 2020, Snyder announced during a Q&A after an online watch party ofMan of Steel that his cut ofJustice League would be released asZack Snyder's Justice League on HBO Max in 2021.[76] Greenblatt said WarnerMedia tried to get the news out "as quickly as possible" before HBO Max launched on May 27.[5]
Snyder described his cut as "an entirely new thing, and, especially talking to those who have seen the released movie, a new experience apart from that movie."[4] The Snyders felt that being able to finally finishJustice League would bring them closure, and were excited by the prospect of expanding the film's character development.[4] Greenblatt indicated its completion would be "wildly expensive" and estimated it would cost more than $30 million.[5] In June 2020, Sandra Dewey, president of productions and business operations for WarnerMedia, stated in an interview that they are aiming for an "early to mid-2021" release.[124] By January 2021, Snyder had completed his cut.[125]
The announcement ofZack Snyder's Justice League was celebrated by the #ReleasetheSnyderCut movement, with many fans expressing their enthusiasm on social media.[126][127] Some Snyder fans uploaded videos of them destroying their DVD and Blu-ray copies of the theatrical release.[128][129] Many industry figures, such as cast members ofJustice League, expressed their gratitude to the fans who supported the release of Snyder's version of the film.[130] However, various journalists expressed concern that WarnerMedia was conceding to fans who engaged in forms of harassment andtrolling during the movement, fearing it would set a negative precedent.[131]Screen Rant opined that it gave the impression that similar methods of fan activism can influence film studios, networks, and streaming services.[132] In response to this concern, HBO Max CEO Tony Goncalves affirmed the passion of the fandom and denied such claims, stating that as a business, they listen to the consumers' demand.[133]
While initial reports indicated that no new material would be filmed,[134] in September 2020, it was revealed that Snyder was preparing to film additional footage, with Affleck and Fisher reprising their roles. As a result, the budget was estimated to have increased to $70 million.[135][6] Filming began on October 6.[136] Later that month,Amber Heard,Jared Leto, andJoe Manganiello joined the cast to reprise their DCEU roles asMera, theJoker, andDeathstroke, respectively.[36][137] Snyder also directed an additional scene withEzra Miller as Flash overZoom, who was then filmingFantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022) in London. Snyder sent the film's crew drawings and diagrams of how he wanted the scene to look. His video feed played through a stand on a table, enabling him to direct Miller and the crew, who filmed the scene on his behalf.[138] He estimated that only four to five minutes of footage was shot.[139] Heard stated that filming for reshoots had wrapped by that December.[140]
The final scene was originally filmed withJohn Stewart / Green Lantern portrayed by Wayne T. Carr, but Warner Bros. rejected it as they had other plans for the character. Previous variations of the scene included characters such as Kilowog with John Stewart,[141] Kilowog withTomar-Re,[142] and Stewart with Martian Manhunter. Snyder opted to change Kilowog to Martian Manhunter, while rejecting the second idea during post-production in 2017. Ultimately, Snyder chose the third idea and filmed the scene in August 2020.[143][144] Warner Bros. did not want Stewart to be in the scene, so Snyder decided to compromise with the studio and reshot the scene to only include Martian Manhunter by October 2020. He reshot Affleck's side of the scene as the previous footage was unusable due to lighting issues.[145] Snyder originally wanted to includeRyan Reynolds, who previously portrayedHal Jordan inGreen Lantern (2011), as an "additional lantern... to fill out the corps a bit," but did not contact him.[146]
While the basic framework of the story is the same, numerous scenes that were removed by Joss Whedon are restored to expand upon the characters,mythos, andworldbuilding elements. Teases for upcoming films are also present in Snyder's version.[147][148] Snyder's version does not use any of the scenes shot by Whedon for his version ofJustice League.[149] Former Warner Bros. executivesJon Berg andGeoff Johns, who oversaw the production for Whedon's version, had their credits removed for Snyder's.[36]
Snyder stated that his version is not set in the samecontinuity as Whedon's, which would remain thecanonical version of the film.[150] However, Jason Momoa said thatAquaman (2018) takes place after Snyder's version, rather than Whedon's.[151] Similarly,Wonder Woman directorPatty Jenkins said that no DC director considers Whedon'sJustice League canonical, and that she had worked with Snyder to ensureWonder Woman maintained continuity with his film.[152] Despite these sentiments, commentators noted various contradictions betweenAquaman andZack Snyder's Justice League relating toMera's backstory.[153] Additionally,The Flash (2023) acknowledges the events ofZack Snyder's Justice League.[154]
Following the release of the film, fans expressed their appreciation on social media. Fans soon began a new movement, #RestoreTheSnyderverse, advocating for Warner Bros. to allow Snyder to complete his originally plannedJustice League trilogy. Another movement, #ReleasetheAyerCut, also started trending as well, with fans advocating for Warner Bros. to release directorDavid Ayer's original cut ofSuicide Squad (2016).[155] In July 2022,DC Comics artistJim Lee, who assisted Zack Snyder in the creation of the initial five-film plan, confirmed atSan Diego Comic-Con that there were no plans to make more DC projects with Snyder or develop sequels to hisJustice League cut.[156]
Tom Holkenborg, also known as Junkie XL, composed the film's score; he had previously worked on the score for the theatrical version ofJustice League, before being replaced byDanny Elfman following Snyder's departure and Whedon's arrival.[68][69][157] When Holkenborg was rehired to score the film in early 2020, he decided to restart and make a brand new score for the film, which consists of fifty-four tracks and is three hours and 54 minutes long. The length of the score surpassed that ofBen-Hur (1959) by nearly a full hour, becoming the longest musical score in film history.[158][157] Holkenborg described the score as "fullyelectronic [at times], and at other times fully orchestral," incorporating elements ofrock andtrap. The album was released viaWaterTower Music on March 18, 2021, the same day as the film's release.[157]
Two tracks from the film's score, "The Crew at Warpower," and "Middle Mass," were released as singles on February 17, 2021, and March 12, 2021, respectively.[157] The soundtrack also makes use of a couple of songs; the beginning of the movie features a traditional Icelandic song "Vísur Vatnsenda-Rósu" by Yong Aus Galeson, while later scenes use the songs "Distant Sky" and "There Is a Kingdom" byNick Cave and the Bad Seeds; none are included on the soundtrack.[159]Allison Crowe's cover of theLeonard Cohen song "Hallelujah" plays during the end credits as a tribute to Autumn Snyder.[62]
Alongside the announcement ofZack Snyder's Justice League, HBO released posters depicting the six members of the Justice League. Although these posters had previously been used for the 2017 marketing campaign, the HBO ones featured a black-and-white filter and strongly emphasized Snyder's name. Chris Agar ofScreen Rant called the filter "a stark contrast from the colorfulJustice League posters that were prevalent in the buildup to the theatrical release, which is most definitely an intentional choice to separate the two versions of the movie."[160]Rolling Stone stated that film expenditures had risen from $73 million to over $100 million after accounting for marketing costs, indicating WB spent at least $27 million in marketing.[59]
On August 22, 2020, the first teaser was released during theDC FanDome event, which featured a remix of the song "Hallelujah" (1984) byLeonard Cohen. It was considered to be a highly anticipated part of the event, and well received by audiences and critics.[161][162] The trailer had leaked hours prior to its planned debut in the DC FanDome event.[163] Julia Alexander, writing forThe Verge, had remarked that those desiring a "more Snyder vibe to the film overall should be pleased," while Alex Abad-Santos ofVox observed the inclusion of scenes not included in the theatrical version, such as the death of Cyborg's father and Wonder Woman receiving the signal from the Amazons.[162][164] Critics also enjoyed the presence of Darkseid, Superman's black suit, and the inclusion ofIris West's scenes, which was omitted in the theatrical version, in the trailer.[164][165] In early November, the original teaser was temporarily removed from HBO Max's social platforms due to the expiration of the rights to "Hallelujah."[166] On November 17, the third anniversary of the theatrical release, an updated version with new footage was uploaded inblack and white on Snyder'sVero account and in color on HBO Max's social media accounts.[167] In July 2023, the trailer was delisted fromYouTube again after a music licensing issue. It had by then gained over 31 million views, making itMax's most-viewed trailer.[h][169]
Warner Bros. also announced a tie-in meal kit product based on the design of the film's Mother Boxes and menu items inspired from the characters it had developed in collaboration with Wonderland Restaurants, a DC Comics-themed restaurant operating inLondon.[170] On February 14, 2021, the first officialtrailer for the film released. Snyder had previously been releasing sneak peeks for the trailer on social media, including showing the Batmobile and Jared Leto's Joker. As such, Abigail Covington fromEsquire had said that the trailer "expands on those earlier previews" and highlighting the action sequences, Darkseid, and Superman's black suit.[171] Charles Holmes ofThe Ringer highlighted Leto's appearance as Joker in the trailer, particularly his line, "We live in a society," and felt that the trailer "doubles down" on Snyder's aesthetics, but was skeptical if the film would be superior to the theatrical version.[172] On March 14, the final trailer for the film released,[173] with Daniel Kreps atRolling Stone writing that it featured "many of the hallmarks that made Snyder's version of the blockbuster so mythic in the first place."[174] Two days later, DC published three variant covers of the film in the comic book issue,Justice League #59, written byBrian Michael Bendis, penciled and inked byDavid Marquez, and colored by Tamra Bonvillain. The covers were drawn byLee Bermejo,Liam Sharp, andJim Lee.[175]
At the 2021 WarnerMedia Upfront, Warner Media declared the film was "a hit" Max original.[176] Priya Dogra, president of WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific stated the film to be a "global phenomenon" during a presentation for HBO Max Europe.[177]
Zack Snyder's Justice League was released on March 18, 2021, in the United States.[178][76][124][179] It is also available to stream on HBO Max in4K,HDR in both HDR10 andDolby Vision, andDolby Atmos.[180] Unlike the theatrical version which was ratedPG-13, this version received anR rating for "violence and some language."[181] Ten days prior to the scheduled debut of the film, HBO Max accidentally released the film to some viewers that were attempting to watchTom & Jerry (2021).[182] A week after the film's HBO Max release, theJustice Is Gray Edition was released on the platform, and in the UK throughSky Cinema on April 30.[183]
While the cut was originally planned to release as a four-partminiseries in addition to a single film, Snyder said onVero in January 2021 that the cut would be released as a "one-shot."[195] WarnerMedia later confirmed this in a press release, describingZack Snyder's Justice League as a "full-length [HBO] Max Original feature film."[196] The film is dedicated to Autumn Snyder's memory.[62]
Snyder expressed his interest in screening his film inIMAX theaters once they were safe to re-open during theCOVID-19 pandemic.[197] Ablack and white version of the film, titled "Justice Is Gray Edition," had an exclusive theatrical release on July 19, 2022, with three IMAX screenings inNew York City,Los Angeles, andAustin, Texas. Proceeds from the event were donated to a charity for theAmerican Foundation for Suicide Prevention. For the theatrical release of the film, Snyder added a 10-minuteintermission into the film accompanied by the score track "The Crew at Warpower."[198] The film was released in anopen matte 1.33:1 aspect ratio alongsideIMAX 1.43:1.[199][200] The film was screened in full color for the first time on IMAX on April 30, 2023, as the last film in a "Snyderverse Trilogy" three-day event to benefit suicide prevention.[201][202]
The film was released May 24, 2021, on4K Ultra HD,Blu-ray, andDVD in theUnited Kingdom.[203] It was released on Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray inHong Kong,Australia,Germany, andItaly on May 25, May 26, and May 27, 2021, respectively.[204] A limited edition SteelBook was announced for the UK byHMV with pre-orders starting March 22. According to Warner Bros UK, pre-orders for the home media version sold out in the first 20 minutes of releases.[205] It was released in theUnited States andCanada on September 7 on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K, and a week later on those same platforms in Canada.[206][207] The film was digitally released on July 19, 2022.[208]
Following its opening weekend, view-tracking appSamba TV reported that 1.8 million American households had watched at least the first five minutes of the film between March 19–21 (only counting smart TVs, not devices). The total was behind the three-day total of DCEU filmWonder Woman 1984 (2.2 million).[209] Samba TV also reported that just one-third of households watched the film in its entirety in a single sitting.[210] Over its first full week of release, the film was watched by 2.2 million US households, with 792,000 (36%) finishing it in one sitting.[211][212][213] Over the same timeframe, the HBO Max app was downloaded 64% more and opened 8.9% more than in an average week.[214] Later, Samba TV reported that it was watched in 3.2 million households over the first 17 days[215] and 3.7 million US households after 39 days.[216]
In Canada, the film became the most-streamed content of all time onCrave, with 1.1 million viewers in one week.[217] It also allegedly led to the service growing in subscribers by 12%.[218] In the United Kingdom, where it is streaming viaSky Cinema, the film was viewed by 954,000 households, with 458,000 (48%) watching it in its entirety.[219] In India, where it was released on BookMyShow Stream, about 100,000 homes watched the film in its first weekend.[220] The film went on to become the most rented film of 2021 on that service.[221] In Spain, the film became the 3rd most viewed release of 2021 on HBO Max España.[222] In Germany, it ranked first during its first full week of release onNetflix[223] and spent seven weeks in its weekly rankings for top 10 most-viewed films.[224]
According toWhip Media, who track viewership data for the 19 million worldwide users of theirTV Time app, the film was the eighth most-streamed-film of 2021.[225] In January 2022, tech firm Akami reported that the film was the second most pirated film of 2021.[226]Variety stated that the film was the fourth most-streamed film of 2021.[227]
The film ranked first on the "NPD Videoscan First Alert" chart for home media sales in the United States during its first week, as well as in theBlu-ray sales. Overall, it sold five times more than the second-rankedThe Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. In addition, the trilogy consisting of all three DCEU films directed by Snyder was ranked fourteenth on the Blu-ray sales chart.[228] According toThe Numbers, the film sold 107,489 Blu-ray units and 33,820 DVD units in the first week for a revenue of $4.1 million.[229]The Numbers reported the film had made an estimated $15.96 million from domestic video sales, as of May 29, 2022, with 439,547 Blu-rays and 92,599 DVDs sold.[229]
In the second week, the film was ranked second in home media sales as well as the Blu-ray sales, being displaced byBlack Widow, which outsold it by four times overall.[230] It sold 71,682 units overall for $2 million according toThe Numbers.[229] By the end of September, it ranked third in overall disc sales according to NPD.[231] After dropping to the 29th rank in overall disc sales and the 24th rank in Blu-ray sales by the ninth week, it returned to the top 10 rankings by acquiring the second position overall the next week amidst discounts offered ahead ofBlack Friday, while also selling the most number of Blu-ray units.[232] According toThe Numbers, it sold 51,027 Blu-ray units for $1.4 million during the week.[229] In the United Kingdom, it ranked first on theOfficial Film Chart for five weeks.[233] It was the second-highest-selling Blu-ray title of 2021 in the country, selling nearly 26,000 units during the year.[234]
On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, 71% of 314 reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.7/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Zack Snyder's Justice League lives up to its title with a sprawling cut that expands to fit the director's vision – and should satisfy the fans who willed it into existence."[235] According toMetacritic, which calculated a weighted average score of 54 out of 100 based on 46 critics, the film received "mixed or average reviews."[236] The scores of the film are higher on both sites than what the 2017 film received (39% and 45, respectively).[237][238]
According toThe Hollywood Reporter, critics praised Snyder's direction and characterization, but criticized the film's length.[239]Variety later noted that most critics felt the film was superior to the 2017 version,[240] a sentimentThe Hollywood Reporter andTheWrap also agreed with.[239][241] However,Total Film reported that critical response to the film was mixed, with critics being "divided" on whether or not it was superior to the theatrical version.[242] Rob Harvilla ofThe Ringer felt that the film is "A Zack Snyder film that 'critics enjoyed', or at least 'grudgingly appreciated'." He further opined both fans and critics "respect" the film due to the nature of its existence.[243]
Robbie Collin ofThe Daily Telegraph awarded the film a full five stars, praising Holkenborg's score, action sequences, and characterization, which he felt was superior to the original. Collin went on to opine that Snyder's creative vision for the DCEU had felt unique.[244] Jenna Anderson fromComicBook.com, who rated the film a 4.5 out of 5, also praised the increased characterization, performances, and Snyder's filmmaking techniques, believing Snyder created the film out of love for both his daughter and fans. She went on to describe it as being "well-executed, entertaining story about the power of human connection and inspiration, one that feels both timeless and timely."[245] Writing forVariety,Owen Gleiberman enjoyed Snyder's direction, which he felt "exudes a majestic sense of cosmic historical evil," and compared it toPeter Jackson'sLord of the Rings trilogy (2001–2003), in addition to highlighting the visuals and the characterization.[246] Gleiberman andVariety's Peter Debruge later ranked it as the eighth best film of 2021.[247]Matt Zoller Seitz fromRogerEbert.com, who gave it a 3.5 out of 4, felt the film was superior to the theatrical version, and described Snyder's vision as being a "brazenauteurist vision." Though he felt many scenes were protracted, he also felt it was used to improve characterization and create a "sense of space and place."[248]
Tom Jorgensen ofIGN gave the film an 8 out of 10 rating, calling it a "vindication" for Snyder's vision, and like Seitz, maintained the extended runtime allowed for further development of its lore and characters. He particularly enjoyed the extended characterization, feeling "Nearly every character in Zack Snyder's Justice League, from the top down, has a clearer journey and more dimension."[249]Mick LaSalle, for theSan Francisco Chronicle, gave the film a positive review, agreeing the increased runtime improved characterization and emphasizing his belief it was superior to the theatrical version. He concluded that it "may not be a great film, but it has the madness, strangeness and obsessiveness of a real work of art."[250] In a more critical review,Bilge Ebiri ofVulture wrote the film "contains the best and worst of Zack Snyder," noting its existence as being a personal endeavor for Snyder. Ebiri's opinion on Cyborg's character arc was mixed: he thought Cyborg's character consisted of "broad, basic emotions" but also called it the "best stuff in the film." He mainly criticized the action – feeling it was overreliant oncomputer-generated imagery (CGI) andslow motion rather thanpractical effects – and story, calling it "least interesting part."[251]
The Hollywood Reporter's John DeFore gave the film a negative review. Though he acknowledged that the plot, tone, and visual effects were superior to the theatrical version, he criticized the runtime and dialogue, opining that it "largely maintains a testosterocious monotony from its first chapter."[1] Writing forThe New Yorker,Richard Brody also disliked the runtime, deeming it to contain scenes "chopped down to a bare informational minimum, leaving no room for thought or emotion." Additionally, he disapproved of the visual effects and characterization, perceiving it as "trivialization, manipulation, and deformation of the sincere and serious emotions that undergird and motivate its cast of heroes."[252] While Richard Trenholm, writing forCNET, praised the performances, he described the film as "bloated," feeling there were many redundant scenes and perceived the tone to be overly serious.[253] In a 1.5/4 star review forThe New York Observer, Siddhant Adlakha wrote that "the film's improvements are hardly enough to fix what was, now quite apparently, a flawed endeavor from the start."[254] The BBC's Mark Kermode described the film as "turgid and bloated," further deeming the director's cut "uniformly boring as opposed to before when it was fractured and disjointed boring.[255] Hannah Strong of Little White Lies gave a 2 out of 5 rating, concluding that it "is overlong, miserable and signifies nothing other than the potential of fandom to influence top-level creative decision-making."[256]
^In regions where HBO Max is unavailable, the film was released on various streaming andPVOD platforms by Warner Bros. Pictures.
^The theatricalJustice League cost around $300 million to produce.[3] Former WarnerMedia chairman and then-head of HBO MaxRobert Greenblatt had indicated that the amount required to finish the Snyder Cut would likely cost more than the reported $20–30 million.[4][5] After the announcement of reshoots to film brand new footage, the estimated cost rose to around $70 million.[6]
^"BCE reports first quarter 2021 results"(PDF).BCE Inc. April 29, 2021.Archived(PDF) from the original on April 29, 2021.High-demand programming like Zack Snyder's Justice League, the #1 title ever on Crave boosted total Crave subscribers 12% year over year to 2.9 million
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