Zack Snyder is arguably one of the most visionary — and most divisive — director in Hollywood today. While his style is instantly recognizable, few other filmmakers stir such passionate reactions about their work, positive and negative. With only eight theatrical films on his resume, Snyder is already one of the most influential directors of the modern age, particularly in the comic book/fantasy genres, a point even his detractors concede.
One fact is undeniable, however: Snyder has defined DC comic book films for more than a decade now, and even if he never makes another superhero film, his influence will continue on. His style was crafted after years of making commercials and music videos for groups like Lizzy Borden and Soul Asylum, culminating in an impressive directorial debut in 2004's Dawn of the Dead. His 2006 film 300 put him on Hollywood's A-list, and in 2009, he joined the DC cinematic universe with Watchmen.
While most of his films have been big-budget blockbusters, not all have been wildly successful. Following is a ranking of his films by box office earnings, worst to first, according to data from Box Office Mojo. It should be noted that three of his films were not released theatrically, and thus have no actual box office figures, so they are not included on this list:
- Batman v Superman - Ultimate Version - Snyder's director's cut was only released on digital home video in June 2016, although it did have a free one-time theater screening.
- Army of the Dead - Snyder's 2021 Netflix film was an entertaining return to the zombie genre for the director.
- Zack Snyder's Justice League - The "Snyder Cut," which also included newly-shot scenes, ditched Joss Whedon's material and was released on HBO Max in 2021.
8 Sucker Punch (2011)
Worldwide Box Office: $89.8 million
Domestic Box Office: $36.4 million
International Box Office: $53.4 million
Sucker Punch is a prime example of "Good Snyder" versus "Bad Snyder." His signature style is on display here, but to such an extreme that it often feels like parody. In 300, Snyder's style allowed the viewer to isolate and appreciate the chaos of battle by slowing down the action at certain points. In Sucker Punch, even the most mundane scenes are depicted in this manner, which not only lessens the gravity of the moment, but wreaks havoc with the pacing.
It's a shame, because the film is imaginative and wildly entertaining. It's also overblown and emotionally detached, despite an outstanding cast that do their best to bridge the gap between CGI spectacle and character development. The film will also make you wonder why Emily Browning isn't more famous; here, she plays a patient in a mental institution who retreats to her own fantasy world. Regardless of all the eye candy, the film bombed at the box office, failing to make back its production and marketing budget.
7 Dawn of the Dead (2004)
Worldwide Box Office: $102.2 million
Domestic Box Office: $59 million
International Box Office: $43 million
Snyder first made his name in the zombie genre with Dawn of the Dead, a fantastic remake of George Romero's classic film from 1978. Co-written by James Gunn, the film is a non-stop thrill ride with a perfect amount of humor. Years before The Walking Dead captured the cultural zeitgeist, this film set a new high for zombie films, and his recent Netflix film, Army of the Dead, brought him full circle. 2004 was a great year for the genre — Simon Pegg's Shaun of the Dead opened about a month later.
The film stars Sarah Polley as a nurse and Ving Rhames as a cop who take refuge in a mall when the zombie outbreak hits. It was a surprising number one on its opening weekend in March with a $27 million take, competing against Mel Gibson's box office phenomenon The Passion of the Christ, no less. It brought in nearly $60 million with a Spring release, without the aid of the Halloween season.
6 Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010)
Worldwide Box Office: $140 million
Domestic Box Office: $55.7 million
International Box Office: $84.4 million
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole is unlike Snyder's other films. Based on Kathryn Lasky's book series, the animated family film tells the story of a young barn owl named Soren (voiced by Jim Sturgess) who becomes a hero in a kingdom of owls facing a war from a rising army intent on conquest. The film features an all-star voice cast, including Hugo Weaving, Joel Edgerton, Sam Neill, and Helen Mirren. Reviews on the film were mixed; although the computer animation was praised, critics found the story too dark and the tone inconsistent to appeal to family audiences.
Adapted by Emmy nominee John Orloff (Band of Brothers), the film opened in late September 2010, taking in a solid $16 million in its opening weekend and a second place finish, behind Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. However, a reported $80 million budget meant Warner Bros. expected a much bigger hit, and despite cracking the $100 million banner worldwide, plans for a film franchise evaporated.
5 Watchmen (2009)
Worldwide Box Office $186 million
Domestic Box Office: $108 million
International Box Office: $78 million
Alan Moore may not be a fan of Snyder's interpretation of his legendary comic, but in all fairness, he refuses to actually watch it. If the rest of us are being honest about Watchmen, the highly-anticipated 2009 film isn't as bad as its detractors would have you believe, nor is it the masterpiece some claim it is. Snyder's stylized take on aging heroes in an alternate-universe 1980s America is actually pretty faithful to the source material, which makes for a convoluted narrative. Even producer Joel Silver said the film suffered from Snyder's loyalty to the comic. The cast, however, is superb, and the cinematography is striking.
The film had a robust $55 million opening in March 2009, but despite generally good reviews, the lack of positive audience buzz hurt. It faded quickly in subsequent weeks, and was out of the box office top ten by the end of the month.
4 300 (2006)
Worldwide Box Office: $456 million
Domestic Box Office: $211 million
International Box Office: $245 million
Often imitated, yet rarely equaled, 300 blurred the line between history and fantasy, creating an entirely new legend around the story of the Battle of Thermopylae. Snyder had nearly complete creative control, including creating the film's signature look and casting Gerard Butler as King Leonidas, rather than an A-list movie star. Even today, the film stands apart as a unique viewing experience.
The film was an instant hit, earning $70 million in its opening weekend, enough to make back its entire production budget. It became a pop culture phenomenon, made Butler a star, and earned nearly half a billion worldwide. It also spawned a sequel in 2014 (which Snyder produced), but it failed to impress critics or fans of the original.
3 Justice League (2017)
Worldwide Box Office: $658 million
Domestic Box Office: $229 million
International Box Office: $429 million
Snyder Cut or Whedon Cut? That is the debate now over Justice League, the 2017 film that united Henry Cavill's Superman, Ben Affleck's Batman, Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman, Jason Momoa's Aquaman, Ezra Miller's Flash, and Ray Fisher's Cyborg. It's a film that should have topped Marvel's Avengers, but that changed after Snyder left the film over a personal tragedy, and Joss Whedon (Firefly) stepped in to finish the film.
The turmoil surrounding the film's production was infamous, but it was nothing compared to the response to the finished film, as both critics and fans didn't care for Joss Whedon's take, which added misplaced humor and a disjointed story. It launched the "Release the Snyder Cut" social media movement, which Warner Bros. eventually capitulated to in 2021 with an HBO Max release. Although the Snyder Cut is the popular choice, there are still those who prefer Whedon's vision, finding Snyder's four-hour opus too self-indulgent.
Whedon's theatrical release, however, still managed to impress at the box office. It earned nearly $94 million in its first weekend, and nearly $230 million domestically. It nearly doubled that take overseas; in China alone, the film grossed over $106 million. It's an impressive take during a holiday season that also saw Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Coco in theaters.
2 Man of Steel (2013)
Worldwide Box Office: $668 million
Domestic Box Office: $291 million
International Box Office: $377 million
This isn't your parents' Superman. Man of Steel is a desaturated, far more serious take on Kal-El, a distinct departure from the Christopher Reeve and George Reeves versions DC fans were accustomed to. In Snyder's hands, we see Superman as a loner, burdened with the responsibility of being the world's savior. The Christ parallels are still prominent, and Cavill's incredible performance is the most mature portrayal of the character yet. Despite some changes Snyder took with the Superman mythos, and mixed critical reviews, fans embraced the potential Cavill brought.
It opened in mid-June 2013 with a $117 million weekend haul and a $291 million summer, against Iron Man 3, Monsters University and Despicable Me 2. In retrospect, even though it finished as the fourth-biggest box office hit that year, it was easily the best of the summer blockbusters.
1 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Worldwide Box Office: $873.6 million
Domestic Box Office: $330.4 million
International Box Office: $543.3 million
For all the things Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice got right (the three leads, namely), it got so many things wrong. A film that was advertised as a battle royale between two comic book icons was bogged down by needless subplots, a drawn-out tease of the Justice League, a terrible interpretation of Doomsday, and the worst Lex Luthor ever. The Ultimate Edition only exacerbated those issues, and critics ravaged the film, with a 29% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
While support for the Snyderverse has grown over the years, even Snyder's most ardent backers admit some of his creative choices, particularly in Batman v Superman, hurt the film. Even Affleck called some of the criticism of the film fair, and much of the support for the Snyderverse is tied directly to the growing appreciation of Affleck and the other actors being perfect in their roles.
While fans had their bones to pick with Batman v Superman, they largely embraced the film, with nearly a billion dollars in ticket sales worldwide. Despite a March release date, it made $166 million in its first weekend, and even more ($181 million) the following weekend. International audiences loved the film, but a divided fandom didn't show up in the same numbers for Justice League a year later.