Summary
Among critics and audiences, Zack Snyder is a name known far and wide due to his distinct style across a variety of action-packed movies. Whilst some of Zack Sndyer’s movies are not seen as critically favorable, they all have the potential to pack a punch for a great time, paving the way for a discussion of Zack Snyder’s best movies across his entire filmography in the director’s chair.
Whether it’s helming his own Star Wars-inspired universe, dealing with the undead, or championing men and women in capes and comics, Zack Snyder has a vast library of movies that all feature his signature slow-motion. Whilst fans await what’s next from the director, it’s time to look across all Zack Snyder movies and see how they rank up.
Distributor:
Netflix
The second part of Zack Snyder’s creative magnum opus,Rebel Moon - Part Twois ambitious but flawed. There are many characters to keep track of, each with desires and plot points that can confuse general audiences. Despite the often neat visuals and the creative CGI involved inRebel Moon, the plot and the characters are not serviceable, or entirely memorable.
Like all Zack Snyder films,Rebel Moon - Part Twolooks great, with highly detailed costumes, incredible CGI, and cinematography to truly immerse in this crafted world, but sadly, compared to other Zack Snyder movies, itdoesn’t offer much to say other or do.
Zack Snyder’s ambition reaches new heights as he takes his Star Wars-influenced universe to Netflix.Rebel Moonlooked the part, building on imagination and creativity to craft new worlds, technologies, and characters in a sci-fi epic. Yet, there’s something distinctly lacking inRebel Moon, and outside the visual landscape, a heart is needed.
The film itself follows a pretty standardized plot for a sci-fi film, and the Star Wars influences are clear, but with a Zack Snyder twist. In essence,Rebel Moontries to fit multiple pieces of pop culture fragments into a stellar puzzle, but theplot lacks the richnessfound in other movies of a familiar format, even if the visuals are something to admire.
Warner Bros. Pictures
Things get strange and unconventional inSucker Punch, and audiences might be a tad confused as they try to follow a plot involving an institutionalized and abused woman who crafts action-packed fantasy worlds in an attempt to escape. The premise alone is pretty wild, but neither the plot nor the characters are as memorable as the set pieces, which utilize plenty of action and CGI toengage audiences.
The problem withSucker Punchmainly lies in its characters, as it’s just hard to remember them or care for them in a way that redeems them, especially when it seems that the forefront of the movie is all about how cool they look when wielding guns and swords, but that doesn’t meanSucker Punchdoesn’t merit a watch. People should check it out as one of Snyder’s more complex and controversial movies.
A unique entry into Zack Snyder’s filmography,Legend of the Guardiansis Snyder’s first animated film, and it’s unapologetically him. Anyone who’s seen a Snyder film will recognize his style here, as the stakes seem raised at every turn, to the point where some children might find it distressing, even if it is a rather captivating world of fantasy owls.
It’s a dazzling spectacle of ananimated movie that truly makes use of the technology of its time. When it comes to the action, it’s hard not to get lost in the immersive battles and scenery, crafted with such care and love for adventure. As for the plot, things can get pretty dark, but there’s a hopeful lining in the desire to escape wrongful imprisonment and fight for justice.
A heist film featuring zombies,Army of the Deadcements itself as fun based on those few words alone.Army of the Deadwas Zack Snyder’s return to cinema, and it’s great to see him bet on himself, going all in on the things he enjoys. Whether it’s slow-motion, violence, or muscles,Army of the Deadcertainly has it all, as the characters attempt a heist ina zombie-infested Las Vegas.
There are some interesting themes and concepts presented inArmy of the Dead, but they are a bit too on the nose and confusing, leaving obvious room for sequels and spin-offs, but it never subtracts from the plot. At the end of the day,Army of the Deadisn’t the best film ever, but it’s not trying to be, and it’s balance of drama, tension, and action, work pretty well for a zombie movie.
Universal Pictures
A remake of George A. Romero’s 1978 classic,Dawn of the Deadenters the modern era with a new cast of survivors taking refuge in a mega mall, all while flesh-eating zombies overrun the world, and potentially harbor an intellect otherwise unseen in zombie movies.Dawn of the Deadis Zack Snyder’s directorial debut, and it’s a great start to his career for a few reasons.
Snyder is given a smarter script that focuses more on the characters than the spectacle,thanks to the work of James Gunn, and Snyder uses this script greatly to emphasize the ambitions and drives of the main characters, keeping audiences interested in their stories, whilst tensions continue to rise with the threatening hordes of gory undead.
Zack Snyder dips his toes into comic books for the first time, and he doesn’t disappoint. It’s clear with a watch of300, fans can tell what Snyder liked about Frank Miller’s graphic novel, and his heightened masculine movie about 300Spartans fighting against all oddsto destroy Xerxes and his Persian army delves deep into glory and action.
With300, Snyder cements himself as a memorable movie maker for its design choices. Whilst there may be flaws when it comes to historical accuracy, but taking300as simply a fantastical version of history heightens the drama with its characters. The film boasts masculine bodies and shouting, as well as a distinct art in its visuals and violence, making it a great and memorable watch.
Batman v Supermanwill always have a place in comic book movie history, even if that’s regarded with criticism. The story focuses on an older and more rugged Batman in the height of brutality is a bold take on the classic Caped Crusader, and his fears grip him, influencing him to kill Superman, an alien who he deems a threat to the world. Meanwhile, Superman has his own fear, of humanity rejecting him, and these doubts are only further manipulated by Lex Luthor, making for a detailed and intricate script, albeit, a flawed one.
Zack Snyder manages to bring Batman and Superman to life, on-screen together for the first time. The film’s central focus on these characters as titans and gods is an interesting take that hasn’t been seen from comic book movies before, or since, and whilst some may have understood Snyder’s goals and ideas withBatman v Superman, others either didn’t get it, or simply didn’t agree. The symbolism and political commentary of Superman make for an interesting deconstruction of a superhero, and whilst it is a slow burn, it only further fuels Batman’s paranoia and rage. With an interesting plot and memorable action,Batman v Supermandeserves its place as one of the best comic book movies, even with its notable flaws.
05 July 2025
Cast:
Jackie Earle Haley, Patrick Wilson, Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode
Alan Moore’s workmight be seen as unadaptable to his standards, but Zack Snyder does a great job at adapting theWatchmengraphic novel, and bringing it to live-action. From the imagery to the dialogue,Watchmenis sharp and dark, bringing to light a story of flawed mortals and a flawed god as they navigate through the rising tensions of nuclear war in an alternative reality of 1980s America.
To watchWatchmenin 2024, audiences might see that the movie is certainly ahead of its time, as it navigates through dense themes with political commentary and complexities of the superhero condition.Watchmen’s grittiness deserves audiences' respect, and its visual style brings the graphic novel to life.
A reinvention of DC Comics' most influential superhero, the superhero, Superman.Man of Steelpresents the story of a man who struggles to find his place in a world that he discovers was not originally his own, and as Clark Kent discovers his heritage from a dead planet known as Krypton, he realizes that survivors of that world are arriving to invade Earth. Superman must put on the red cape and boots to show that despite his status as an alien, he’s as human as it gets.
Man of Steelis bold, in both its depiction of a young Superman and its visual flair. Zack Snyder’s style works great for Superman, and his action-packed aesthetics make audiences believe that a man can fly again. With every flight and every kick, audiences immerse themselves in the creativity of Superman’s powers, and the story that revolves around his childhood and his first flight as Superman, is inspiring, even if some audiences find it a tad dark for the cheery boy scout.
