"This is too funny," Margot Robbie couldn't hold back her laughter, covering her mouth. "This movie is just too much."
On the big screen, Batman was about to pierce Superman with the Kryptonite spear. Just as the situation reached a critical point, Superman used his ultimate protection skill—Martha!
Then, laughter inevitably broke out in the theater. Many, like Margot Robbie, who hadn't read the related comics, couldn't help but laugh.
"Is it really that funny?" Murphy asked softly.
Margot Robbie nodded, lowering her voice. "The reason for Superman and Batman fighting was already tenuous, but this reason for stopping... it's just ridiculous."
She could only shake her head, unable to find the right words.
Murphy could only shake his head too. For them, as general audience members, the whole scenario was indeed too comical.
Because Murphy had already introduced Lex Luthor in "Man of Steel," this "Batman v Superman" could only use a congressman to get Lex Luthor out of prison, allowing him to continue scheming and collaborating with the remnants of Kryptonian forces led by General Zod.
Of course, for die-hard comic fans, this film was mesmerizing, with references to the Injustice League, Reverse-Flash, Darkseid, and more.
But then there was the "Martha" moment, where comic fans and general audiences reacted completely differently.
Comic fans were thrilled to see Zack Snyder almost perfectly recreate the "Martha" scene from the comics.
People like Murphy and Margot Robbie, who were not hardcore comic fans, found the reason for stopping the fight incredibly flimsy.
In Murphy's mind, the scenario unfolded like this:
- "Superman: Martha..."
- "Batman: Martha?! Why did you say that name?!"
- "Superman: Because my mom's name is Martha."
- "Batman: Ah? What a coincidence? My mom's name is Martha too!"
- "Lois Lane: What are you two still fighting for! Go find Martha, then deal with Lex Luthor!"
- "Superman and Batman: Oh, right! Let's stop fighting and go find Martha and Lex Luthor!"
This scene flashed through Murphy's mind. Having read some Superman comics while filming "Man of Steel," he understood the characters' psychology.
Martha was Batman's reason for believing Superman wasn't heartless, as Batman was shocked that a godlike figure like Superman was thinking about his human foster mother before dying. This made Batman feel Superman was still a good person at heart, and since her name matched his deceased mother's, he decided to ally with Superman.
From this perspective, the transition made sense.
The problem was that comic readers could understand these nuances, but general audiences couldn't.
The immediate consequence of this approach was two starkly different reactions in the premiere theater: comic fans were enthralled, while general audiences burst into laughter.
Even if general audiences could understand, unless they were hardcore Superman or Batman fans, they would still find the scene forced.
This sort of twist worked in comics but transferring it directly to film, a medium with a broader audience, often turned what was cherished in comics into material for ridicule in movies.
Murphy was keenly aware of this, so he had largely abandoned comic storylines while filming "Man of Steel."
Besides the "Martha" moment, another point confusing for non-comic fans was Superman's selective superhearing. He could always rescue his girlfriend Lois Lane but couldn't sense his mother Martha was in danger?
Comic fans knew the reasons, but non-comic fans just saw Superman's senses as selective, only working for his girlfriend.
The film concluded with Batman and Superman defeating General Zod together, and the theater erupted in applause, especially from comic fans, who were overjoyed by the many familiar and beloved scenes.
"Will this film do poorly at the box office?" Margot Robbie asked quietly.
Murphy shook his head. "No, this is the first film where Superman and Batman appear together."
"Yes," Margot Robbie nodded lightly. "Your 'Man of Steel' set such a good start for this series. The box office for this film, posing as a sequel, shouldn't be bad."
Murphy just smiled, saying nothing more.
With such a high investment, a film like DC's superhero movies couldn't rely solely on comic fans. Although the initial films might do well due to the heroes' pull, once their appeal was exhausted, general audiences would be hard to attract back. Comic fans, after all, were a niche group.
Films like this couldn't keep saying, "We're making this for the fans," or "As long as the comic fans are happy." If repeated too often, even general audiences would stop going to theaters.
Just as Murphy predicted, "Batman v Superman" performed well at the box office.
The film was released on Thursday night in over 3,800 theaters across North America, grossing $25.7 million, a stellar performance.
On Friday, it expanded to nearly 4,300 theaters, grossing $82 million on its first day, breaking the record for the highest first-day gross in North American film history!
The combined pull of Superman and Batman was undeniable, creating an effect where 1+1 far exceeded 2.
However, after the first day, the film's fan-driven word of mouth began to spread. Negative feedback quickly proliferated via the internet, leading to a significant drop in Saturday's gross to just over $40 million, a 50% drop from Friday.
On Sunday, the gross fell below $30 million, bringing the North American opening weekend total to over $150 million.
As a sequel to "Man of Steel," this film had a high opening but didn't reach Warner Bros.' expectations of $170 million to $180 million.
Internationally, the film performed well, breaking superhero genre opening records in multiple markets like the UK and Mexico, with a global opening weekend of over $350 million, the best in superhero film history. But Warner Bros. and DC Comics were not celebrating.
The negative reviews for "Batman v Superman," like a virus, spread from North America to all overseas countries and regions within two days.
"There are a few moments that make the film worthwhile, and it introduces a charming new Batman. However, the film suffers from a convoluted story and weak narrative."
Warner's "Empire" magazine's review was somewhat lenient, but other media weren't so kind.
"If there's any justice or dawn here, audiences would abandon Zack Snyder's slow, nearly lifeless superhero mash-up. This $250 million tombstone indicates that DC's superhero films desperately need to pause and rethink Murphy Stanton's step-by-step plan."
— "The New Yorker"
"The film is too long, with an undeveloped story, lacking almost any epic feel. 'Batman v Superman' satisfies hardcore fans by merely putting DC's two giants in a fight. Other audiences won't understand why the giants are fighting or why they stopped."
— "Premiere"
Mainstream media reviews were sharper, directly targeting Zack Snyder and Warner Bros.' executives.
"We still can't understand why Warner Bros. replaced Murphy Stanton with Zack Snyder. While both directors are known for dark styles, 'Batman v Superman' shows Snyder's darkness is only in visuals, lacking the profound dark allure of Murphy Stanton's films. 'Batman v Superman' undoes all the dark, weighty, and thoughtful elements 'Man of Steel' brought."
— "Los Angeles Times"
"Compared to the mission-driven, epic, and profound 'Man of Steel,' 'Batman v Superman' is just child's play."
— "The New York Times"
If it were only media reviews, it wouldn't be so bad, as media opinions don't represent the market. There have been films with poor critical reception but good audience reviews.
However, audience feedback wasn't good either. Indeed, many gave positive reviews, but almost all were comic fans. General audience feedback quickly turned negative.
"What did we see in this film? An arrogant alien, a brooding rich guy, a troublemaking journalist, and a creepy, neurotic villain! They dragged this mess out for over two hours! It didn't even compare to Wonder Woman's few minutes of badassery in 'Man of Steel'! Warner Bros., are you all just clowns?"
"Many parts were confusing if you're not a comic fan. The action scenes were great, but the plot pacing was chaotic, with underdeveloped characters and strange transitions. If not for Hans Zimmer's score, some scenes would have fallen apart!"
"Zack Snyder, stop trying to imitate Murphy Stanton. You can't do it. Just try to be like Michael Bay…"
On Monday morning, the first-weekend box office numbers and all the negative reviews for "Batman v Superman" were laid on the desks of Warner Bros.' executives.
Having accepted Warner Bros.' invitation, Murphy certainly wouldn't miss the North American premiere of "Batman v Superman," held in New York. Since the disagreement with Warner Bros. over remuneration, Murphy knew Zack Snyder was chosen to helm the DC series but hadn't followed up much. Hearing Warner Bros. chose "Batman v Superman," he sighed inwardly, recognizing they stubbornly returned to their old ways.
Murphy couldn't understand why DC, starting almost simultaneously with Marvel, felt the need to rush. Perhaps Warner Bros. and DC Comics wanted to prove they could achieve unparalleled success without Murphy Stanton.
This was mere speculation on Murphy's part and not definitive, but Warner Bros. and DC Comics abandoning his step-by-step plan was a fact.
Busy with the Oscars and then preparing a new project, Murphy didn't attend the "Batman v Superman" screening. However, initial reports suggested the screening had received positive feedback. Rotten Tomatoes had a 100% fresh rating, all seven participating media outlets gave positive reviews, and IMDb had a temporary score of 9.4.
Warner Bros. even touted the film as having zero negative reviews.
All this was eerily reminiscent of the situation before the release of the previous "Batman v Superman" film Murphy remembered. The pre-release hype was phenomenal, with fans giving zero negative reviews during screenings. But the outcome?
Before heading to the Lincoln Center, Murphy watched the trailer for "Batman v Superman." Influenced by his involvement, the film bore Zack Snyder's typical style. Despite lacking Wonder Woman, resulting in many changes, Snyder's deep-rooted personal style was unmistakable.
For hardcore comic fans, Snyder was always the best adaptation director, but for casual viewers, his adaptations were less friendly.
Upon arriving at the Lincoln Center, Murphy walked the red carpet. The premiere was grand, with an electric atmosphere. After all, it was a movie featuring Superman and Batman, naturally drawing attention.
Knowing he wasn't the main attraction tonight, Murphy quickly walked the carpet and saw Chris Evans and Ben Affleck, reprising their roles as Superman and Batman.
Before entering the theater, Murphy had to pass through the media zone set up in front, where reporters wouldn't miss a chance to question him.
A reporter shouted, "Director Stanton, why did you leave the DC superhero series?"
Murphy shrugged slightly, "I had other films to make."
Another reporter asked, "What do you think about Zack Snyder taking over the series?"
"Zack Snyder is a great director," Murphy replied diplomatically. "I'm sure he'll deliver an exciting superhero film."
Ignoring further questions, he headed toward the theater. Just before reaching the entrance, he heard the clicking of high heels behind him, someone seemingly hurrying to catch up.
"Hey, Murphy."
Recognizing the familiar voice, Murphy turned to see Margot Robbie in a yellow evening dress approaching.
As a friend and close confidante of Gal Gadot, Murphy nodded and smiled, "Didn't expect to see you here, Margot."
Linking her arm with Murphy's, Margot Robbie explained, "Didn't you hear? Warner Bros. and DC are planning to greenlight 'Suicide Squad.'"
"Interested in the project?" Murphy immediately understood her implication.
"Yes," Margot Robbie nodded. "My agent suggested I go for the role of Harley Quinn."
Murphy glanced at her, "You'd be perfect for it."
Entering the theater foyer, Margot Robbie suddenly remembered to ask, "Is Gal back yet?"
"She came back briefly in February but returned," Murphy said briefly. "She has family matters to deal with and will be in Israel for a while."
Margot Robbie, aware of Gal Gadot's situation, asked, "Not her parents trying to keep her in Tel Aviv?"
"No," Murphy shook his head, "Business matters."
As they conversed, Bruce Rosenblum, Warner Bros.' CEO, approached and greeted Murphy, "Hello, Murphy. Long time no see."
"Hello, Bruce," Murphy shook his hand. "Indeed, it's been a while."
Thinking of Margot Robbie's ambition to play Harley Quinn, Murphy introduced her, "This is my friend, Margot Robbie."
"Hello, Miss Robbie," Bruce Rosenblum shook her hand lightly. "Your performance as Sansa Stark was impressive."
Margot Robbie feigned surprise, "Thank you. It's an honor that you watched the show."
Rosenblum, courteous due to Murphy, turned back to him, "Your 'Man of Steel' set a great precedent for us. Zack Snyder's film nearly seamlessly follows it."
"Really?" Murphy replied nonchalantly. "I'll be sure to watch it closely."
"Feel free to watch it as many times as you like," Rosenblum said proudly. "Warner Bros. can give you free tickets."
Murphy shook his head, "That won't be necessary."
Rosenblum pointed to the theater entrance, "I have others to greet. Enjoy."
Seeing Murphy nod, he turned to leave, glancing back to see Murphy chatting with Margot Robbie, feeling somewhat disappointed.
Warner Bros. initially wanted Murphy Stanton as their partner, but his asking price was too high—25% of total film revenue. That was exorbitant, nearly half the profits. No one in Hollywood would pay such a high price for a director. So, they opted for a cheaper alternative, Zack Snyder, whose style closely resembled Murphy's.
So far, Snyder had done well. Warner Bros. had a test screening with nearly a thousand die-hard DC fans, receiving no negative feedback, raising high expectations for "Batman v Superman."
If successful, the film could pull the entire DC superhero series out of Murphy Stanton and "Man of Steel"'s shadow, proving their choice right.
As long as the film exploded at the box office and received praise, it wouldn't be an issue.
After greeting familiar faces, Murphy entered the theater, with Margot Robbie following. She even swapped seats to sit next to him.
"Murphy."
Before the film started, Margot Robbie asked, "What do you think of the film?"
"How would I know?" Murphy spread his hands. "I didn't attend Warner Bros.' screening. How could I know if it's good or bad without watching?"
Margot Robbie shrugged, "I thought you had seen it."
Soon, the movie began. Like in his memory, it opened from Batman's perspective, relegating Superman to a supporting role. This wasn't inherently a problem, but after watching for a while, Murphy could only shake his head.
"Batman v Superman" wasn't a bad film, far from a Hollywood disaster. However, like its predecessor, Snyder's version was a film for DC comic fans.
It wasn't a mainstream, diverse commercial film, nor an accessible one. Despite cuts, it was still overloaded with information. Even Murphy, somewhat familiar with the comics, found himself confused at times.
Films are inherently subjective. Snyder always had his distinct style, which die-hard fans might find perfect, capturing the dark tones just right.
But as an early installment laying the foundation for a series, shouldn't it aim to attract new fans rather than only please existing ones?
Moreover, the film's pace was too slow and its plot too lengthy. In today's fast-paced world, this nearly guarantees many viewers will find it hard to accept.
"Pff..."
As the final battle between Batman and Superman unfolded, Margot Robbie couldn't hold back her laughter. Soon, exaggerated laughter echoed throughout the theater.
In such a dark, serious film with no comedic elements, causing laughter meant something was seriously wrong.
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