Movies

Why Watchmen is the Ultimate Comic Book Movie You Need to Revisit Now!

BBG News

Despite facing ongoing controversy in the 2020s, Zack Snyder’s work on comic book movies during the 2000s continues to be highly regarded. His breakthrough came with his direction of the remake of “Dawn of the Dead” in 2004, which brought in $100 million on a budget of only $26 million. With this success behind him, he directed the $450 million film “300,” an adaptation of Frank Miller and Lynn Varley’s comic series. Impressed by his abilities, Warner Bros. enlisted him to contribute to the development of the DC Extended Universe, overseeing “Man of Steel” in 2013, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” in 2016, and “Justice League” in 2017.

It’s true that Zack Snyder has received a lot of criticism for several of his movies. For instance, the portrayal of Batman and Superman’s encounter in Batman v Superman was heavily criticized, while he had to step down from Justice League during production due to personal matters. Later, his direction for Netflix’s two-part Rebel One drew criticism from both critics and viewers. His movies are known for their divisive nature, as his dark, semi-realistic, and time-bending filming style doesn’t always appeal to all the critics. However, his 2009 adaptation of Watchmen is considered his best work and is arguably one of the top comic book movies from that era.

Watchmen Was an Outright Masterpiece

It Remains Both Unique and Controversial

In stark contrast to franchises like the DC Extended Universe and Marvel Cinematic Universe, which delve into the origin stories of a superhero universe, this film centers around the mature era of superheroes. With their heroic status well-established over time, each member of this strikingly realistic team carries the weight of years in the field, showing signs of weariness and cynicism. Following the demise of their comrade, The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), the remaining members are compelled to unravel a heart-wrenching tale that culminates in the loss of 15 million lives. The intense and somber ambiance is further amplified by its Cold War setting, even with the presence of the god-like Doctor Manhattan (Billy Crudup) amidst it all.

Opinions on the movie “Watchmen” are divided, with some viewers and critics finding it engaging, while others have reservations. Despite this, it has received positive reviews, albeit not exceptional ones, with a 65% Tomatometer score and a 71% Popcornmeter score. Some praise it as a film that’s “worth seeing more than once,” although they admit to being unsure about fully grasping all its complexities and undertones. However, other critics argue that the movie is hampered by mediocre acting, an overbearing emphasis on its themes, and a lack of entertainment value for viewers. These criticisms contributed to its disappointing performance at the box office, as it only managed to earn $180 million against a budget of approximately $140 million. Despite its initial underwhelming reception, “Watchmen” can now be appreciated as a truly profound and groundbreaking piece of cinema.

Watchmen Came Before Modern Superhero Movies Exploded

The MCU Had Not Yet Fully Formed

In 2009, when Watchmen debuted, there wasn’t an immediate demand for a fresh take on heroes due to the already established and popular comic book adaptations. However, the cinematic universe was still recovering from the critical flops like Spider-Man 3 (2007), Elektra (2005), and Daredevil (2003). These films tried to use dark narratives to challenge conventional superhero tropes that hadn’t fully solidified yet. By then, gritty superhero movies had gained a negative reputation, offering little for satire. Moreover, the last official Superman film was released in 1987, leaving limited material for parody. Essentially, there wasn’t a pressing need to reinvent the superhero genre as it hadn’t yet gained significant prominence.

A decade following “Watchmen,” “The Boys” endeavored to satirize superheroes in a manner that portrayed a more authentic perspective of their behavior. Unlike Snyder’s film, the show gained an advantage from its release during a time when the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC Extended Universe had reshaped Hollywood. By this point, critically acclaimed superhero movies were being released frequently, which was not common when “Watchmen” hit theaters. As a result, exposing the truth about heroes became significantly more significant in the decade after “Watchmen” premiered, as audiences were now more knowledgeable and accustomed to these characters.

The emergence of the Marvel Cinematic Universe significantly altered the landscape for Watchmen. In the ensuing decade, we’ve seen numerous superhero films that balance serious moments with humor. However, Zack Snyder’s gritty and realistic interpretation of superheroes stands out as particularly captivating. Snyder’s exceptional visual style perfectly suited the film, and the twist at the end has even more impact after 15 years of villains delivering monologues in a similar fashion, much like Matthew Goode’s Ozymandias critiqued. While Snyder didn’t fully capture the message of Moore’s original work, he still produced an exceptional piece on its own merits. Over time, this movie has only grown more relevant as the real world seems to darken.

Watchmen Did Face Real Competition

It Still Managed To Blow Other Movies Away

TitleTomatometer ScorePopcornmeter Score
The Incredibles (2004)97%75%
The Dark Knight (2008)94%94%
Iron Man (2008)94%91%
Spider-Man 2 (2004)93%82%
X2 (2003)85%85%
Watchmen (2009)65%74%

In the 2000s, although it had less cinematic competition than today, Watchmen still faced tough rivalry. Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy was a massive hit, but its release timing and being “ahead of its time” limited its impact. Other films also gained critical acclaim, such as Brad Bird’s The Incredibles, the initial Iron Man from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the first two installments of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man series, and several movies from Fox’s X-Men lineup. These films were exceptionally well-received, particularly when contrasted with Watchmen‘s moderate Rotten Tomatoes rating.

Among all those remarkable films, I find myself consistently drawn to “Watchmen.” It was pioneering in establishing a gritty, dark superhero universe that would later become a staple of the genre. This film breathed life into a critically acclaimed comic and transformed many of its characters into cultural icons, even when it faced challenges at the box office initially. It masterfully satirized common tropes, skillfully subverted them where necessary, and forged an unexpected emotional bond with characters who were virtually devoid of emotion themselves. After the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and DC Extended Universe (DCEU) gained immense popularity, a dedicated fanbase rediscovered “Watchmen” and began to fully appreciate its genius.

Unlike other movies from that time period, which were undeniably thrilling, none could match the unique revitalization of the superhero genre that Watchmen brought about. As comic book adaptations were gaining mainstream popularity, this film would have been widely acclaimed by critics, just like the recent TV series based on Watchmen. It’s unfortunate that the movie didn’t achieve success initially, but its influence has grown stronger with every passing year.

Read More

2025-05-26 00:44

Previous post PlaqueBoyMax Levels Up on ‘ATLANTA’
Next post Is This Brawl Stars Skin Worth the Investment? Players Weigh In!