Few modern blockbuster filmmakers draw as sharply divided reactions from critics and general audiences as Zack Snyder. For every review that praises Snyder’s remarkable ability to create grand, fantastical visual imagery on film, there will be another review criticizing the filmmaker’s overreliance on slow motion and weak plot points. Let us take a look at Snyder’s filmography, and the critical reaction to his works as determined by Rotten Tomatoes.
Dawn of the Dead (2004), Tomatometer: 76%
Zack Snyder‘s maiden effort as a director remains his most critically successful venture. In 2004, Zack Snyder presented the world with his dramatic reimagining of George Romero’s classic horror tale of a zombie invasion. The slick, visually compelling action scenes coupled with a strong screenplay by James Gunn help elevate the film above your run-of-the-mill horror remakes.
Dawn of the Dead is now available for streaming on Starz.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021), Tomatometer: 72%
The DCEU has been the subject of much controversy, but nothing close to the controversy surrounding the development of the Justice League live-action movie under Zack Snyder. After being forced to leave the project once, Zack Snyder’s fans rallied together to campaign for the filmmaker to come back and finish making the movie as he had originally planned. Thus, the “Snyder Cut” version of Justice League was born, and audiences mostly agreed the feature was a significant improvement over the 2017 studio cut of Justice League.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League is now available for streaming on HBO Max.
Army of the Dead (2021), Tomatometer: 67%
Netflix has proven to be a loyal partner to Zack Snyder, affording the filmmaker the budget and creative freedom to make movies according to his distinct creative vision. Army of the Dead is a result of this happy union, as Zack Snyder continues with his fascination with zombies from his debut film. This time a gang of mercenaries are tasked with completing a mission at the heart of Las Vegas when the city has been overrun with zombies. A labored screenplay is given some heft thanks to some memorable central characters and a new take on zombie culture that sees the creatures evolving into a thinking, planning, and fearsome group of predators.
Army of the Dead is now available for streaming on Netflix.
Watchmen (2009), Tomatometer: 65%
Years before the DCEU was kickstarted with Man of Steel, Zack Snyder was already making a name for himself in superhero movie circles with a live-action film adaptation of Alan Moore’s classic graphic novel series, Watchmen. Here we see the first few instances of Snyder’s unerring instinct for excellent superhero movie casting, as well as his remarkable ability to bring the most imaginative comic book panels to life on the big screen faithfully and in spectacular fashion.
Watchmen is now available for streaming on HBO Max.
300 (2007), Tomatometer: 61%
Widely considered one of the most influential action movies of the new millennium, 300 was the first big-budget action movie that allowed Zack Snyder to show off his remarkable visual style of filmmaking. Based on a graphic novel that was in turn based on the historical Battle of Thermopylae, 300 follows the Spartan King Leonidas on his quest to defy the Persian “God-King” Xerxes through a spirited battle against all odds against a much bigger army.
300 is now available for streaming on AppleTV+.
Man of Steel (2013), Tomatometer: 56%
After a middling response to Superman Returns, the studio was looking to add a bit of newness and excitement to the long-dormant Superman franchise, which is when Zack Snyder was chosen to kickstart the brand new DCEU with a solo Superman movie. Thus was born Man of Steel, a gritty, relatively grounded, and fresh take on the Superman mythos that has inspired other filmmakers over the years. The movie combines epic disaster movie tropes with an intensely personal journey of the main character on a quest to become the greatest superhero in the world.
Man of Steel is now available for streaming on HBO Max.
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole (2010), Tomatometer: 52%
With his pronounced affinity for visual storytelling, it is no surprise that Zack Snyder has dipped his toes in the world of animation with Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole. The movie is an adaptation of a book series by Kathryn Laksy. It tells the story of a war between different factions of an owl dynasty. You can see echoes of 300 in the action set pieces used in the movie, as well as early signs of Zack Snyder’s willingness to play fast and loose with the source material while adapting pre-existing works.
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole is now available for streaming on AppleTV+.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Tomatometer: 29%
What was meant to be the crown jewel of the DCEU was instead met with confusion and controversy when Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was finally released in theaters after years of anticipation. Zack Snyder puts his own spin on Batman as a battle-weary vigilante, who is willing to destroy anything and anyone in his single-minded quest to eliminate Superman due to the threat his presence poses for all of humankind.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is now available for streaming on HBO Max.
Sucker Punch (2011), Tomatometer: 22%
A rare case of Zack Snyder making an original film without any pre-existing source material, Sucker Punch is a stylized tale of exploitation and revenge told through the character of Babydoll, a young girl who finds herself trapped in a mental institution filled with corrupt people in positions of power thirsting to have her submit to their control. Some lively action set pieces and Zack Snyder’s trademark slow-motion shooting style are encumbered with a muddled script and a lack of compelling characters.
Sucker Punch is now available for streaming on AppleTV+.
Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire (2023), Tomatometer: 21%
After being refused the chance to make a Star Wars movie, Zack Snyder gave the world his own take on a space opera epic with Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire. The movie borrows liberally from not only Star Wars but also Seven Samurai, Dune, Warhammer 40K, and more.
Its tale of a group of ragtag warriors going up against an evil empire might feel all too familiar, but the visuals and worldbuilding of the first movie in the planned franchise are worth a look for fans of sci-fi.
Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire is now available for streaming on Netflix.
Rebel Moon: Part Two – The Scargiver (2024), Tomatometer: 16%
The latest entry in Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon franchise, Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver is just as densely packed with visual themes and motifs as the first film in the series but does a slightly better job with the world-building and expositional elements.
Once again your receptiveness to the story depends on your tolerance for well-worn sci-fi tropes, and Zack Snyder’s insistence on the use of slow motion for large chunks of the film’s run time.
Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver is now available for streaming on Netflix.
