Zack Snyder’s early films proved him to be an interesting visionary who had a distinct style to his works. Grand visuals, the application of slow-mo sequences, and colorful imagery have been the main strengths and trademarks of a Snyder film. However, audiences have been divisive about his big screen DC films in the 2010s.
Considering the hit-or-miss nature of Snyder with audiences, the 2020s saw a big change in the director and where he puts his films. Starting from Army of the Dead, his films have only premiered on Netflix. This sudden downgrade from making big-budget studio films for the big screen to just releasing streaming films is surprising but a new report sheds light on how films are greenlit nowadays.
Studios Are Reportedly Analyzing a Director’s Rotten Tomatoes Scores While Hiring
Rotten Tomatoes has been a significant go-to website for cinephiles whenever new films come out. In addition to the trailer for movies, the Rotten Tomatoes score is a key factor in people deciding whether to watch a film in theatres/ streaming services or not. While the website’s authenticity has been called into question many times, it nevertheless remains an essential ‘tool’ for moviegoers.
Now an industry report by The Hollywood Reporter (THR) allegedly sheds light on how the industry has now made a director’s Rotten Tomatoes (RT) track record, a significant factor in deciding their potential and credibility. One director’s rep told THR,
“Critical acclaim is now gamified. The Rotten Tomatoes score is the first thing people look at when I go pitch a director. It inevitably affects decision-making around hiring a director. When you hire a director, all you have is their past work and a meeting.”
This alleged criteria seems to explain Zack Snyder’s current position at Netflix. After delivering divisive DC films during the 2010s including Justice League, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Man of Steel all having RT scores less than 60%, fans believe that the industry has slowly demoted him to Netflix.
As per the said criteria, it seems studios (allegedly) don’t believe in his big-screen potential anymore after the divisive nature of those films. However, fans are not happy with this supposed ludicrous industry criteria as Rotten Tomatoes does not realistically reflect a director’s capabilities. Here are some of the reactions on X,
Explains why Zack Snyder is over at Netflix 💀
— RJ (@ResonantJustice) April 24, 2024
So now rotten tomatoes decide who should cook the script.
— mimicracy (@mimicracyy) April 24, 2024
the damage rotten tomatoes has done to the film industry needs to be studied pic.twitter.com/nvBhzI4R7i
— ً (@tylerduran21) April 24, 2024
Producers taking Rotten Tomatoes scores seriously in 2024 pic.twitter.com/vwBueFYI18
— SUPERDIVORCE (@superdivorce) April 24, 2024
Surely this can't be real? RT is a terrible site in so many ways. Nobody in their right mind would do this right?!
— Stanley Ipkiss (@restoreZSJL) April 24, 2024
There have been many instances where the audience scores differ vastly from the Rotten Tomatoes score. Keeping it as a (alleged) deciding factor for directors to get work is certainly illogical. In Snyder’s case, his deal with Netflix is also not going well as both his Rebel Moon films have been widely panned by critics and audiences.
Zack Snyder Is Looking Forward to James Gunn’s New DCU
Zack Snyder‘s tenure at Warner Bros when he dealt with the DCU was tumultuous, to say the least. The divisive nature of his DC films and the whole Snyder Cut drama disillusioned him and the studio ultimately decided to reboot the IP with James Gunn. The director has a connection with Snyder as he wrote his first film Dawn of the Dead in 2004.
In an interview with CBR, Snyder expressed his excitement with how his friend Gunn would be constructing the new DCU, starting with Superman. He stated that he is completely open to watching Gunn’s DCU if the characters are treated with reverence and are mythologically accurate. Snyder said,
“You know, I’m a pretty open book. I really feel like, you know, if the characters are treated with reverence, and mythologically correct, then I’m down. I’m in. Let’s see what happens. I’m pretty excited[…] I mean, we’re going to get Superman pretty soon, so we’ll see what that’s like.”
Snyder is creating his own universe with the Rebel Moon films on Netflix. Unfortunately, his ambitious vision has become a nightmare for him and his audiences as both films have become the lowest-rated films of his career (via Rotten Tomatoes).
Interested fans can watch Snyder’s Rebel Moon films on Netflix.
