Skip to content
MovieCove
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

The greatest gladiator match in the history of the world.

2016151 minPG-13Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
Director
Zack Snyder
Starring
Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Jesse Eisenberg, Gal Gadot

Fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice streaming on discovery+ via The Roku Channel and HBO Max and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice?

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice earns 12 badges, led by Top 10% in Sci-Fi and Guilty pleasure.

Show 4 more
  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Content
  • Cast

Reception

Is Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice worth watching?

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice's Midcredits score is the 54th percentile of all films, from 1.9M ratings across 6 sources. 57% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

54th percentile

Better received than 54% of films

91st percentile among Sci-Fi54th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)44th
Approval (how many liked it)62nd

60 /100

44th percentile of all films

87th percentile among Sci-Fi45th percentile among 2010s

Critics 44 · Audience 61

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.7 — solid but not unanimous.

57% liked it

62nd percentile of all films

90th percentile among Sci-Fi62nd percentile among 2010s
57% rated it 7–1043% rated it 1–6

Critics 28% · Audience 63%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 14 wins / 34 noms overall

91st percentile

1.9M ratings across platforms

97th percentile among Sci-Fi92nd percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 6% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$250M
Opening weekend$166M
Domestic gross$330M
Worldwide gross$874M

Returned 3.5× its budget — 97th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Batman v Superman is a dense, visually ambitious, and tonally dark superhero epic, but its labyrinthine plot and inconsistent character motivations divide audiences on whether that ambition pays off.

Fans praised

  • Ultimate Edition restores plot coherence and character depth
  • Affleck's weary, brutal Batman and Cavill's burdened Superman
  • Visually stunning action and Snyder's mythic, brooding tone

Detractors panned

  • Muddled, bloated story with lazy motivations and plot holes
  • Eisenberg's Lex Luthor as an annoying, unfitting Joker retread
  • Dour, self-serious tone and clumsy Justice League setup

What stands out

Cinematography80

Visual opulence and stunning shots, some CGI hiccups

AtmosphereDivisive75

Dense, mythic, dark world-building; some find it too grim

Effects and spectacle70

Brutal, thrilling fight scenes; Doomsday CGI criticized

ActingDivisive60

Affleck and Cavill praised; Eisenberg polarizing

CharactersDivisive55

Batman's brokenness and Superman's burden praised by fans, but critics call them poorly motivated

PacingDivisive50

Ultimate Edition improves but theatrical cut is choppy and slow

Plot and storyDivisive40

Ultimate Edition fills holes but theatrical cut is disjointed; setup feels forced

DialogueDivisive35

Maudlin, clunky lines; few laughs

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 26 points higher than women.

US vs non-US

Preferred by Non-US Viewers

Non-US viewers scored it 15 points higher than US viewers.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Under-30s vs over-30s 5 points apart
  • Critics vs users 5 points apart

Watch experience

What is Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Big and sweeping: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready to pay close attention and feel heavy feelings, and you want to be swept up in something big.

It is intense and leaves you bittersweet. Skip it when you want an easy night or you can only half-watch.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Your full attention and room for heavy feelings.

What it feels like

Big and sweeping.

Moods
TenseDreadMelancholic
Heaviest: late
Register
Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.Epic · 2% of films: Vast in scale: big landscapes, big stakes, a long span.Brutal · 7% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Multiple perspectives · 2% of films: The same events retold from different characters' points of view.
ToneThe film treats its mythological superhero conflict with solemn gravity, employing a dark, operatic aesthetic and playing its story completely straight without irony.
The rideThe film sustains a tense, dread-filled atmosphere, with the emotional weight peaking in the climactic confrontation.
StructureThe story unfolds in a conventional three-act structure, intercutting the perspectives of Batman, Superman, Lois Lane, and Lex Luthor to build the conflict and eventual alliance.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Bittersweet.

BittersweetThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves you reflecting on the cost of heroism and the thin line between fear and trust, while the ending carries both triumph and loss.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Monster
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% (this title) · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Corporate villainy: A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).

21% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeThe central conflict is driven by Lex Luthor's manipulation, forcing Batman and Superman into rivalry before they unite to defeat the monster Doomsday, which Luthor created. Batman also works to expose Luthor's scheme.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfJusticeMorality
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% (this title) · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16% (this title): Justice 13% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% (this title) · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Morality

Justice · 13% of filmsPower · 2% of filmsRedemption · 6% of films: Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Global stakes: Consequences reach the world.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores what justice means when wielded by flawed humans and metahumans, and questions unchecked power.
StanceThe film questions the nature of power and justice in a world where heroes are mistrusted and villains exploit fear.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanInstitutionalStylized realism
Orchestral modernElectronicForeground music · original score · Hans Zimmer
SettingA gritty, heightened version of modern American cities, dominated by skyscrapers and government buildings.
MusicThe score blends Zimmer's epic orchestral style with Tom Holkenborg's electronic edge, most famously in Wonder Woman's theme.

Content guide

Is Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice okay for kids?

PG-13

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is listed as PG-13, but the MPAA's rating reason reads “Rated R for sequences of violence”. As of September 28, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (72/100), sexual content at mild (35/100), language at moderate (50/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (30/100) and frightening material at intense (67/100). Overall it is heavier than 90% of PG-13-rated films.

Ratings in 38 other countries
  • UK12A
  • CanadaPG
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany12
  • France12
  • Ireland12
  • New ZealandM
  • JapanG
  • South Korea12
  • Brazil12
  • Argentina+13
  • Belgium12
  • BGC
  • Czechia15+
  • Denmark11
  • FinlandK-16
  • GreeceK12
  • Hong KongIIB
  • Hungary12
  • IndiaUA
  • IsraelAll
  • ItalyT
  • LTN-13
  • MexicoB
  • MYP13
  • Netherlands12
  • Norway15
  • Poland16
  • PortugalM/14
  • RO18
  • Russia16+
  • SingaporePG13
  • Spain12
  • Sweden11
  • Switzerland16
  • Taiwan6+
  • Türkiye13A
  • UA16+
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 58% of all filmsHeavier than 90% of PG-13-rated films
Violence & Gore
Intense
heavy for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 94%
Sex & Nudity
Mild
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 62%
Profanity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 69%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 45%
Frightening / Intense
Intense
heavy for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 86%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is violence and frightening material. Everything else sits at or below what PG-13-rated films usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice have?

MovieCove's classifier found 6 depicted content warnings in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice: Death of a parent (severe), Gun violence (severe), Torture (moderate), Self-harm (mild), plus 2 withheld here because they would spoil the plot. Each is backed by a verbatim quote from the parents' guide notes; a missing warning is not a guarantee of absence.

SevereDeath of a parentGun violence
ModerateTorture
MildSelf-harm

Cast and crew

Who is in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice?

Cast

7 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Ben Affleck
as Bruce Wayne
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Henry Cavill
as Clark Kent
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Jesse Eisenberg
as Lex Luthor
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Gal Gadot
as Diana Prince
newcomer then · star now
Amy Adams
as Lois
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Diane Lane
as Martha Kent
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Laurence Fishburne
as Perry White
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Jeremy Irons
as Alfred
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Holly Hunter
as Senator Finch
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Scoot McNairy
as Wallace Keefe

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice?

Movies like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice include Man of Steel (2013), The Dark Knight Rises (2012) and Max Payne (2008). Of the 12 closest matches, several are films written by David S. Goyer, and most are superhero films.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

Zack Snyder directed 3 of these 12. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice?

605 other films share the rarest tag below, follows: superhero. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.