Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), directed by Zack Snyder, is the second film in the DCEU and sets up the formation of the Justice League. It stars Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Henry Cavill as Clark Kent/Superman, Gal Gadot as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, and Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor. The Ultimate Edition runs 3 hours 2 minutes, while the theatrical cut is 2 hours 31 minutes.
The story opens during the climax of Man of Steel. Bruce Wayne is on the ground in Metropolis as Superman and Zod’s battle levels buildings, killing Wayne Enterprises employees and civilians. To Bruce, Superman is an alien with unchecked power who could destroy humanity on a whim. Eighteen months later, public opinion on Superman is split. Clark Kent, now at the Daily Planet, sees Batman as a brutal vigilante who brands criminals in Gotham, leaving them to be murdered in prison. Both men view the other as a dangerous threat that must be stopped.
Lex Luthor orchestrates their conflict. He manipulates Senator June Finch’s hearings on Superman, obtains Zod’s corpse and the Kryptonian ship from the government, and begins experimenting with Kryptonite. He also acquires secret files on metahumans – Diana Prince, Barry Allen, Victor Stone, and Arthur Curry. Lex pushes Bruce toward Kryptonite by funding him and stoking his fear, while simultaneously framing Superman for violence in Africa and at the Capitol bombing. When Bruce steals the Kryptonite and builds a power-armored suit, Lex escalates: he kidnaps Martha Kent and forces Superman to fight Batman, telling him “if you want to save Martha, you have to kill the Bat.”
Superman tries to reason with Bruce, but Batman attacks, blaming him for the Metropolis deaths. Using Kryptonite gas grenades to weaken Clark and his armored suit, Bruce nearly kills him. As Batman raises a Kryptonite spear, Superman chokes out “save Martha.” The name triggers Bruce’s trauma over his own parents’ murder. Lois arrives and explains Martha is Clark’s mother. Realizing he’s become the thing he hates, Bruce drops the spear and vows to save Martha. He flies to rescue her while Clark recovers and goes to confront Lex.
On the Kryptonian ship, Lex uses his blood and Zod’s body to create Doomsday, a Kryptonian monstrosity. The U.S. government nukes Doomsday in space, but it only makes him stronger. Batman, realizing conventional weapons are useless, lures Doomsday to Gotham’s abandoned port. Diana Prince finally suits up as Wonder Woman and joins the fight, revealing herself to the world. Superman returns, weakened by Kryptonite exposure, and realizes the only way to kill Doomsday is with the Kryptonite spear. In the final clash, Superman impales Doomsday with the spear while Doomsday stabs him – both die.
The world mourns Superman. Bruce and Diana attend Clark’s funeral in Smallville as an empty casket is buried. Bruce feels guilt for his paranoia and tells Diana the age of heroes isn’t over – they need to find the other metahumans Lex discovered. Lex is arrested and locked in Belle Reve, where he raves that “he’s coming” after Batman brands him. In a private moment, Lois drops dirt on Clark’s coffin and it levitates slightly, hinting he isn’t truly gone. The film ends with Bruce, Diana, and Alfred looking toward a future team, setting up Justice League.
The story is about fear, power, and accountability – two icons manipulated into war by human machinations, only to unite against a greater threat and inspire hope through sacrifice.
