Following the devastating battle of Metropolis, the world finds itself divided over whether Superman is a savior or a threat. Fueled by rage and a sense of powerlessness, billionaire vigilante Bruce Wayne takes matters into his own hands, plotting to neutralize the Kryptonian. Meanwhile, the eccentric mastermind Lex Luthor orchestrates a deadly scheme to pit the two heroes against each other, forcing them to confront their own demons before a new, unstoppable abomination rises to threaten all of humanity.
Information |
|
|---|---|
Language |
English |
Country |
United States |
Premiere date |
March 25, 2016 |
Running time |
151 minutes |
Genre |
Action Adventure Sci-Fi |
Budget |
$250,000,000 |
Box Office |
$873,637,528 |
Crew |
|
Directed by |
Zack Snyder |
Produced by |
Charles Roven Deborah Snyder |
Written by |
Chris Terrio David S. Goyer |
Music by |
Hans Zimmer Junkie XL |
Cinematography |
Larry Fong |
Edited by |
David Brenner |
Production Co. |
Warner Bros. Atlas Entertainment RatPac-Dune Entertainment |
Distributed by |
Warner Bros. |
Official Trailer
The Plot
The Fall of Metropolis
In 1981, a young Bruce Wayne witnesses the traumatic murder of his parents, Thomas and Martha Wayne, by a mugger on the streets of Gotham. During their funeral, he runs away into the woods and falls into a dry well, where a swirling vortex of bats surrounds him, inspiring the persona that would eventually define his life. Decades later, Bruce arrives in Metropolis in his helicopter and transfers to a car, driving straight into the chaos of the "Black Zero Event." The battle between Superman and the Kryptonians is tearing the city apart. As Bruce navigates the crumbling streets, he frantically issues an evacuation order via phone to the employees inside the Wayne Enterprises finance building.
The destruction is catastrophic. Bruce narrowly avoids debris from the crashing Fortress of Solitude as Superman and General Zod struggle inside. High above, the World Engine is destroyed, and the collision of Kal-El's Phantom Drive with the Black Zero creates a singularity that crushes the Kryptonian ship. However, the fight between the two aliens continues. Zod, in a rage, hurls Superman directly through the Wayne Tower. Zod’s uncontrollable heat vision slices through the structure's support beams, causing the massive skyscraper to collapse in ruin. Bruce watches in horror as the building falls, killing a board member named Jack. He rushes into the blinding dust and debris, finding Wallace Keefe trapped under a heavy girder with his legs crushed. Bruce helps rescue him and then saves a little girl who is staring blankly at the ruin of the building where her mother perished. While consoling the child, Bruce looks up to the sky with seething anger as Zod and Superman fly down, viewing these god-like beings as an unchecked existential threat.
The Discovery in the Indian Ocean
Eighteen months after the destructive arrival of the Kryptonians, the world remains divided on Superman's presence. In the Indian Ocean, near the site of the destroyed World Engine, two divers discover a large rock formation that resembles the Kryptonian geo-forming technology. Upon winching the object to the surface, they crack it open to reveal a large, glowing green crystal: Kryptonite.
Meanwhile, Lois Lane travels to the war-torn nation of Nairomi in Africa to interview a local warlord during a raging civil war. She is accompanied by a photographer, Jimmy Olsen. During the security check at the warlord's compound, a bodyguard discovers a tracking device hidden inside Jimmy’s film roll. Jimmy admits he is a CIA operative, but before he can negotiate, the warlord’s erratic general, Anatoli Knyazev, shoots him dead in the head. Knyazev states that Lois knew nothing of the device. The warlord takes Lois hostage as Superman arrives, creating a sonic boom that disrupts the compound. Superman crashes through the ceiling, rescues Lois, and tackles the warlord through several walls. In the chaos, Knyazev and his mercenaries burn the bodies of the other rebels to frame Superman for the slaughter, making it look like his heat vision was responsible for the massacre.
The Bat-Brand and the Bath
In Gotham City, a darker, more weary Batman rescues a group of young Asian women from a sex trafficker named Cesar Santos. Batman subdues the criminal and ruthlessly brands him with a bat symbol on his chest. A rookie cop from the Gotham City Police Department attempts to shoot the vigilante, but the Dark Knight escapes, leaving the branded criminal for the authorities. It is later revealed that in prison, the "Bat-Brand" is a death sentence, as fellow inmates kill anyone marked by the Bat.
Back in Metropolis, Clark Kent returns to the apartment he shares with Lois. He finds her in the bathtub and attempts to surprise her with flowers and dinner. The conversation shifts to the controversy surrounding the Nairomi incident. Clark is unconcerned with the politics, insisting he didn't kill anyone and that his priority was saving her. When Lois questions if it is truly possible for him to love her while being Superman, Clark hands her a rose, steps into the bathtub fully clothed, and kisses her passionately, telling her that she is his world.
The Senator and the Billionaire
In Washington D.C., a US Senate committee headed by Senator June Finch hears testimony from a Nairomian woman, Kahina Ziri, who claims Superman's actions brought destruction to her village. Finch, concerned about Superman's unilateral actions and lack of oversight, considers him a potential danger. Meanwhile, billionaire Lex Luthor invites Senator Finch to his secure laboratory. He discusses the radioactive mineral found in the Indian Ocean, proposing that it be weaponized as a "deterrent" against Superman and other potential metahumans. He calls it a "silver bullet."
Finch is skeptical. Luthor requests an import license for the mineral and access to the wreckage of the Kryptonian scout ship and the corpse of General Zod. Finch considers the request but ultimately meets Luthor later at his home to decline, stating she sees through his facade of benevolence and will not allow him to import a biological weapon. Angered, Luthor warns her that devils don't come from hell beneath, but from the sky. Despite her refusal, Luthor manages to gain access to the scout ship and Zod's body through Finch’s subordinate, Barrows, whom he bribes.
Investigating the White Portuguese
Bruce Wayne has been tracking a lead on a weapon Knyazev is bringing into Gotham, involving someone known as the "White Portuguese." He attends an underground fight club where he clones Knyazev's phone data. The data reveals Knyazev is in contact with Lex Luthor. Bruce decides to infiltrate Luthor's house to hack his mainframe. Alfred Pennyworth tries to dissuade him, suggesting that Bruce is projecting his feeling of powerlessness onto Superman, but Bruce is adamant that if there is even a "one percent chance" Superman is an enemy, they must take it as an absolute certainty.
At the Daily Planet, Clark Kent sees the news of Kahina Ziri's testimony and later reads reports about the death of Cesar Santos in prison. He decides to investigate Batman, viewing him as a dangerous vigilante who targets the poor. Perry White rebuffs him, assigning him instead to cover a football game between Metropolis and Gotham. At the same time, news breaks that Wallace Keefe, the crippled Wayne Enterprises employee, has vandalized the Superman statue in Heroes Park, spray-painting "False God" in red across the chest. Clark watches the coverage, visibly disheartened.
The Fundraiser and the Drive
Bruce Wayne attends Lex Luthor's library fundraiser to steal encrypted data. Clark Kent is also there as a reporter. Clark overhears Bruce's communication with Alfred and confronts him. They have a tense exchange; Clark questions Bruce about the "Bat vigilante" trampling civil liberties in Gotham. Bruce counters by calling the Daily Planet hypocritical for writing puff pieces about Superman, an alien who could burn the whole place down. Bruce remarks, "Maybe it's the Gotham City in me... we just have a bad history with freaks dressed like clowns."
Bruce manages to transfer the data from Luthor's mainframe but discovers the physical drive has been stolen by a mysterious woman he noticed earlier, Diana Prince. He tracks her down at a museum gala later, and she returns the drive, admitting she couldn't decrypt the military-grade encryption. She explains she only wanted a photograph Luthor possessed that belonged to her. Bruce takes the drive back to the Batcave to decrypt it.
The Knightmare and the Warning
While the computer decrypts the drive, Bruce falls asleep and experiences a terrifying vision known as the "Knightmare." In a post-apocalyptic desert wasteland, the Omega symbol is burned into the landscape. Batman leads an insurgency against a tyrannical Superman. He attempts to buy Kryptonite but is betrayed; his soldiers are slaughtered by Superman's stormtroopers and winged Parademons. Batman is captured and chained in a bunker. Superman descends, eyes glowing red, and kills the other prisoners. He unmasks Batman and says, "She was my world... and you took her from me," before ripping Batman's heart out.
Bruce jerks awake to see a vortex of lightning opening in the Batcave. A man in red armor (The Flash) leans out, screaming a warning from the future: "Lois Lane! She's the key! Am I too soon? I'm too soon! You were right about him! You've always been right about him! Fear him! Find us!" The vision collapses, and Bruce wakes up again, seemingly from a dream within a dream.
The Chase and the Threat
The drive finishes decrypting. Bruce discovers the "White Portuguese" is not a person, but a ship carrying the Kryptonite to Gotham. He also finds folders on "Metahumans," including Diana (Wonder Woman), the speedster Barry Allen (The Flash), Arthur Curry (Aquaman), and Victor Stone (Cyborg). Ignoring the other files, Bruce gears up to intercept the Kryptonite.
Batman pursues the convoy carrying the Kryptonite in the Batmobile, causing massive property damage and tearing through Knyazev’s henchmen. As he closes in on the truck, Superman arrives, landing in the Batmobile's path. The vehicle crashes into Superman and ricochets off. Superman tears the doors off the Batmobile and issues a warning: "The Bat is dead. Bury it. Consider this mercy." As Superman flies away, Batman grimly mutters, "Tell me... do you bleed? You will." Superman does not hear him, and the Kryptonite is successfully delivered to LexCorp.
The Capitol Bombing
Senator Finch calls Superman to testify before the Senate regarding the Nairomi incident. Lois Lane discovers that the bullet from Nairomi is a prototype manufactured by LexCorp, but her discovery comes too late. Superman arrives at the Capitol, greeted by protesters. He enters the hearing room where Wallace Keefe is present in his wheelchair. Senator Finch begins her opening statement but stops when she sees a jar of "Granny's Peach Tea" (a reference to a conversation with Luthor) on her desk. She realizes too late that Luthor has outplayed her.
A bomb hidden inside the lead-lined seat of Keefe's wheelchair detonates. The explosion incinerates everyone in the room, including Finch and Keefe. Superman, invincible to the blast, stands amidst the flames and charred bodies, horrified that he didn't detect the bomb. He makes eye contact with a sorrowful Lois before flying away into exile. The media turns on him completely, blaming him for the tragedy or his failure to stop it.
Preparations for War
Believing the threat is imminent, Batman breaks into the LexCorp research facility and steals the large chunk of Kryptonite. He leaves a Batarang in the empty containment unit for Luthor to find. In the Batcave, Bruce begins a brutal training regimen, dragging heavy tires and hammering steel. He weaponizes the Kryptonite, creating gas grenades and a Kryptonite-tipped spear. He also builds a heavy mechanized exo-suit to withstand Superman's strength.
Lex Luthor enters the Kryptonian scout ship using Zod's fingerprints (sliced from the corpse). He accesses the ship's archives, learning about hundreds of thousands of worlds. He takes Zod's body to the Genesis Chamber. Despite the ship's AI warning that genetic modification is forbidden "abomination," Luthor mixes his own blood with Zod’s corpse to create a "Doomsday" creature, designed to kill Superman.
Clark, in self-imposed exile on a snowy mountain, hallucinates a conversation with his late father, Jonathan Kent. Jonathan tells a story about how he once saved his farm from a flood, only to inadvertently drown the Langs' horses downstream. He explains that the nightmares only stopped when he met Martha, who became his world. He urges Clark to find his anchor. Inspired, Clark returns.
The Ultimatum
Luthor puts his endgame into motion. He kidnaps Martha Kent and holds her hostage. He also has Lois Lane abducted and brought to the top of the LexCorp tower. When Superman arrives to confront him, Luthor pushes Lois off the skyscraper. Superman dives and catches her just before she hits the ground. He flies back up to confront Luthor.
Luthor reveals he knows Superman is Clark Kent. He shows Clark photos of Martha bound and gagged. He gives Superman an ultimatum: Bring him the head of the Bat within one hour, or Martha will be burned to death. "Mother of God, don't let me lose," Luthor mocks. Superman flies to Gotham, intending to ask Batman for help, but prepared to fight if necessary.
The Battle of Gods
Batman waits near the Bat-Signal in the pouring rain. Superman lands and tries to explain, "Bruce, listen to me!" but Batman activates sonic cannons and machine gun turrets. Superman destroys them easily. The fight begins in earnest. Superman holds back, tossing Batman around, but Batman lures him into a trap. He fires a grenade launcher; Superman catches the canister, but it explodes, releasing Kryptonite gas. Superman is instantly weakened, coughing and losing his powers.
Batman brutally beats the de-powered Superman, smashing him through skylights and walls. As the gas wears off, Superman regains the advantage, but Batman fires a second Kryptonite round. With Superman helpless again, Batman rips a sink off a wall and smashes it over his head. He drags Superman to a stairwell and stands over him with the Kryptonite spear, ready to plunge it into his chest. "You were never a god. You were never even a man," Batman growls, raising the spear.
Superman, gasping for air, pleads, "You're letting him kill Martha... Save Martha!" Batman freezes, triggered by his own mother's name. "Why did you say that name?!" Batman screams, spiraling into a PTSD-fueled rage. Lois Lane rushes in and throws herself on Superman, explaining, "It's his mother's name!" Bruce, realizing he has become the very thing he hated—a murderer about to kill a son trying to save his mother—throws the spear aside in disgust and shame.
The Warehouse Rescue
Superman and Batman form a truce. Superman says he must confront Luthor, while Batman promises, "I won't let her die tonight." Batman flies the Batwing to the warehouse where Martha is held. He drops in, using his gadgets and combat skills to dismantle Knyazev’s mercenaries in a fluid, brutal display of efficiency. He bursts through the floor and grabs a machine gun, overpowering the thugs. Knyazev holds a flamethrower to Martha's neck, threatening to kill her. Batman shoots the tank on Knyazev’s back, causing it to leak gas. "I said I'd kill her!" Knyazev screams. "I believe you," Batman replies, before shooting the tank, igniting Knyazev in an explosion. Batman shields Martha, calming her by saying, "I'm a friend of your son's."
Doomsday
Superman confronts Luthor in the scout ship. Luthor, realizing Batman failed to die, unleashes his backup plan. The Genesis Chamber bursts open, and the monstrous deformity, Doomsday, emerges. The creature attacks Luthor, but Superman blocks the blow. The monster grows rapidly, bursting out of the ship and leaping to Metropolis. Superman engages it, but Doomsday evolves with every attack, absorbing energy.
The US military launches a nuclear missile at the pair as Superman flies Doomsday into space. The nuke explodes, hitting them both. Superman is reduced to a near-skeletal state, floating in orbit. Doomsday falls back to Earth, crashing onto Stryker's Island, larger and pulsating with energy. The sun's rays hit Superman, regenerating his cells and restoring his life. He flies back to Earth.
Batman attempts to lure Doomsday back to Gotham to use the Kryptonite spear, but the Batwing is shot down by the monster's heat vision. Doomsday corners Batman, preparing a fatal blast. Suddenly, Wonder Woman drops from the sky, deflecting the heat vision with her bracelets, creating a massive shockwave. "Is she with you?" Superman asks as he lands. "I thought she was with you," Batman replies.
The Death of Superman
The Trinity—Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman—battle Doomsday. Wonder Woman manages to sever the creature's hand, but a sharp bone spike grows in its place. Batman realizes the Kryptonite spear is still nearby. Lois, who had thrown the spear into a flooded stairwell to hide it, dives in to retrieve it but gets trapped. Superman hears her struggle, leaves the fight to save her, and retrieves the spear. The radiation weakens him, but he knows what he must do.
Superman flies back to the battle. Wonder Woman uses her lasso to restrain Doomsday, and Batman fires his last Kryptonite gas grenade to weaken the monster. Superman charges with the spear. Doomsday impales Superman through the chest with his bone arm, but Superman pushes himself further down the spike, driving the Kryptonite spear deep into Doomsday’s chest. The monster screams and dies, releasing a massive energy wave. Superman falls to the ground, lifeless.
The Bell Has Been Rung
Batman and Wonder Woman retrieve Superman’s body, wrapping him in his cape. Lois weeps over his fallen form. Later, Luthor is arrested. Batman visits him in his cell, threatening to brand him, but instead punches the wall, sparing him. Luthor, raving mad, warns that the death of Superman has sent a signal to the stars. "The bell's already been rung... and they've heard it. Out in the dark... among the stars. Ding dong. The God is dead."
A grand state funeral is held for Superman in Metropolis with an empty coffin. Simultaneously, a humble funeral for Clark Kent takes place in Smallville. Bruce Wayne pays for the funeral. He tells Diana that he failed Superman in life, but he won't fail him in death. He asks for her help to find the other metahumans to form a team to protect the world. Martha gives Lois an envelope Clark had intended for her; inside is an engagement ring. As the mourners leave, Lois drops a handful of dirt on Clark's wooden coffin. As the camera lingers, the dirt on the coffin begins to levitate slightly, echoing the anti-gravity effect of Superman's first flight.
Top Cast
- Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne / Batman
- Henry Cavill as Clark Kent / Superman
- Amy Adams as Lois Lane
- Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor
- Diane Lane as Martha Kent
- Laurence Fishburne as Perry White
- Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth
- Holly Hunter as Senator Finch
- Gal Gadot as Diana Prince / Wonder Woman
- Scoot McNairy as Wallace Keefe
Movie Collection
- Man of Steel (2013)
- Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
