Love it or hate it, you can’t deny the impact Zack Snyder’s Justice League trilogy has had on popular culture. Not only have his movies divided fans with their dark tone and controversial take on classic characters but the last of these three films is also the result of fan demand. Let that sink in a moment – it’s the will of a stirring fandom that helped Snyder’s film become reality. And now, attempts are being made to do the same with David Ayer’s cut of 2016’s Suicide Squad.
But whether Ayer’s cut becomes reality or not, we still have three films’ worth of Zack Snyder’s goodness. It’s goodness filled to the brim with some of the most memorable superhero moments in modern cinema. But what exactly are the best of the best? What are the best moments of the Justice League trilogy? That’s what we explore here, starting from number 10 going up to first place…
10) Bruce Wayne Sees His Batman Suit (Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, 2016)
Batman has always been a tortured figure. Snyder tries to get this across in Batman v. Superman, failing in some respects, but succeeding in others. The scene where Bruce sees the Joker-defaced Robin suit (of his former protege implied dead) and then proceeds to scan his own suit with a sense of foreboding and dread is visually effective in terms of narrative. It’s a silent scene devoid of dialogue, but you get the sense that Bruce has seen so much crap in his life through his facial expression alone. If Batman v. Superman explored more of this, it’d be a far better movie.
9) Cyborg’s Dad Risks His Life to Save the World (Zack Snyder’s Justice League, 2021)
One of the many improvements that Zack Snyder’s Justice League makes upon its theatrical counterpart is that it fleshes out the relationship between Victor and his father. As a result, it makes Victor’s dad a far more sympathetic character than before. Thus, when the tormented scientist risks his life nearing the end of the film, you can’t help but feel a lump in your throat. Even Cyborg, who has issues with his dad throughout the film, is torn apart by his demise.
8) Superman Sacrifices Himself (Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, 2016)
Batman v. Superman is a flawed movie for all manner of reasons. But it’d take a stone heart not to feel something for Superman’s sacrifice near the end of the film. Impaling Doomsday with a Kryptonite Spear, Superman subsequently gets a taste of his own medicine. Accompanied by a slower-tempo version of the ‘Superman vs. Zod’ battle music from Man of Steel, we see Superman end his own life for the greater good. Its tragedy is amplified by his sincere goodbye to Lois beforehand.
7) Superman’s Ressurection (Zack Snyder’s Justice League, 2021)
It’s the moment we all waited for throughout Snyder’s cut – the resurrection of Superman. It’s a delightfully epic moment that has Ezra Miller’s Flash supercharge the Mother Box and the ship’s liquid with lightning. Watching Flash bring the Man of Steel back via an impressive slow-motion camera is pretty brilliant. It’s just a shame that Superman’s resurrection becomes bad news for the League right afterward…
6) Jonathan Sees Clark’s Potential (Man of Steel, 2013)
One of the most touching scenes of Man of Steel comes at the very end. Reflecting on his late father while visiting his grave, Clark regrets that Jonathan Kent never saw his rise to herodom. However, Ma Kent gently assures him that Jonathan did see it – cue a beautiful scene of child Clark playing with his dog while wearing a red t-shirt as a cape. Jon Kent looks on profoundly as his son makes the famous ‘Superman stance’, as a subtle piano score plays overhead. It’s a short but powerful scene that shows that despite Jonathan’s doubts, he always had faith his son would be a force for good in the end.
5) Opening Battle in Themiscrya (Zack Snyder’s Justice League, 2021)
Zack Snyder openly credits The Lord of the Rings as inspiration for his epic four-hour JL film. And when you see the early battle of Themiscrya between the Amazons and the Parademons, you’ll see why. A huge, pulse-pounding war between sword-wielding warrioresses and supernatural forces brings to mind the Battle of Pelennor Fields from Return of the King. Orchestrated by a powerful score, this early action setpiece is just a teaser for the epic that follows. But man, what a teaser this is – moments like these make you regret that Snyder isn’t able to continue his real Justice League trilogy.
4) Victor Steps Up to the Plate (Zack Snyder’s Justice League, 2021)
Zack Snyder’s Justice League is better than its theatrical counterpart in multiple ways. The one generally agreed upon is the treatment of Victor Stone AKA Cyborg. Not only is the former high school football jock more fleshed out and given a better arc, but he also has far more memorable moments in Snyder’s cut. Chief among these is when he stops the mother boxes near the film’s conclusion. His heroic effort intercedes with an image of his non-Cyborg self standing with his late parents. Cyborg realizes that he “is not alone” and “not broken”, despite his tragic origin, since he has found the Justice League, who accept him for who he is. It’s a powerful moment that ties up Victor’s arc and proves Snyder’s point that this character is the heart of the movie.
3) Batman vs. Superman (Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, 2016)
The “Martha” moment is widely mocked – and for good reason. But let’s just take a few steps back and look at the fight before that meme-making moment. It shows us a Kryptonite-weakened Supe and metal-suit-wearing Batman duke it out – and it’s actually a tense battle. At one point during the scrape, the Kryptonite wears off and it looks like Supes is ready to kick Batsy’s ass – which makes us worried for the Dark Knight. However, Batsy shoots him with Kryptonite gas once again, allowing him to continue pummeling Clark.
2) Bruce Wayne’s Knightmare Dream (Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, 2016)
Many have amusingly pointed out that much of B v S: Dawn of Justice is Bruce Wayne dreaming. Regardless, it’s lucky that Wayne dreams in high-definition, and his dreams are at the very least eventful. The ‘Knightmare’ dream is a big example of this, as Batman single-handedly fends off multiple Superman footsoldiers before getting overwhelmed and captured. This is then followed up by Superman confronting a captured Batman, wrenching off his mask and burning him with his heat vision. It’s a shocking moment and one of the best visual moments in the Justice League trilogy.
1) Superman vs. Zod (Man of Steel, 2013)
Man of Steel is a divisive movie, but there’s no denying its setpieces are fantastic. The one that sticks out, in particular, is the long battle between Superman and Zod. Watching the superpowered rivals duke it out across a battle-ravaged Metropolis is just plain thrilling, particularly if you’re watching on a large television with a good sound system. Amplified by a sprinkling of Hans Zimmer’s epic score, the Clark-Zod fight is as cinematically epic as a movie fight can get, to the point you won’t care about some of the uncanny valley-destroying CGI. Even despite being the first Snyder film, it remains one of the best moments in the Justice League trilogy.
But alas, this is just my opinion. What do you agree with and disagree with on this list? Have you bought the new Zack Snyder’s Justice League trilogy box set? Let us know in the comments below!