Batman V Superman: The records Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Zack Snyder and Gal Gadot broke despite bad reviews
Dawn of Justice took a huge $424.1 million at the global box office proving the fan response counts for most
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice has enjoyed a record-breaking debut weekend despite flopping with critics.
Zack Snyder’s special effects heavy blockbuster raked in a massive $170.1 million over the Easter holiday state-side to score the biggest DC Comics opening of all-time (beating The Dark Knight Rises), the best March launch (beating The Hunger Games), Warner Bros’ best US opening (beating Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2), best superhero movie opening (beating The Avengers), and the sixth largest domestic debut ever. Its worldwide gross was an impressive $424.1 million and it took £15.5 million in the UK to set a March record here.
Snyder, Henry Cavill’s Superman, Ben Affleck’s Batman and Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman proved strong draws among film fans, as did the $250 million spent on first class production.
Reviews flooded in last week, with most critics awarding the movie a decidedly average three stars. The Telegraph’s Robbie Collin wrote that “no major blockbuster in years has been this incoherently structured” while Forbes’ Scott Mendelson warned that the convoluted plot will “hurt your brain”.
The cast and crew, however, have shrugged off their film’s 31 per cent Rotten Tomatoes approval rating, insisting that it is the fans’ response that they care about.
“The audience’s voice is loudest and after this weekend the audience, at least partly, will have spoken,” Cavill said before Batman V Superman’s release, and speak it did.
Warner Bros is “proud” of the movie’s success following a string of recent box office bombs from Pan to Jupiter Ascending. The studio is producing a slate of superhero spin-offs and sequels over the next five years, with the much-hyped Suicide Squad coming up next in August.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments