Zack Snyder’s films always face a clash between critical and audience’s response to them. While critical reception to his films remains mixed to negative, the audience is most appreciative and optimistic after watching his films. Due to this fact, ever since #ReleaseTheSnyderCut campaign and subsequent release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, people have constantly supported Snyder’s previous films, especially his initiation with DC Extended Universe through films like Man of Steel and Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. In response to a fan’s tweet having a similar appreciating opinion to Zack Snyder’s directorial work, Greg Silverman, former President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, Warner Bros., wrote an encouraging response.
I couldn’t agree more. My suspicion always was that Zack’s kindness openness and enthusiasm created an environment for critics to undervalue his work. Because he is a decent approachable humble human, he didn’t fit the mold of an auteur. Shitty. Should be the opposite. https://t.co/3OU3NC5CzL
— Greg Silverman (@gregsilverman) January 6, 2022
A fan took to Twitter to address the negative reception to Snyder’s DCEU films, Man of Steel and Batman v. Superman, saying how these movies wouldn’t have met with such a reception. The tweet said,
If someone other than Zack Snyder had directed Man of Steel and Batman V Superman (the movies being same), these movies would have been critically acclaimed.
In response to the tweet, Greg Silverman extended his support to Snyder, claiming how his openness towards critical remarks often goes against his ways and his films. Silverman wrote,
I couldn’t agree more. My suspicion always was that Zack’s kindness openness and enthusiasm created an environment for critics to undervalue his work. Because he is a decent approachable humble human, he didn’t fit the mold of an auteur. Shitty. Should be the opposite.
The acclaimed director made his debut with the 2004 zombie movie, Dawn of the Dead. Zack Snyder then rose to further prominence with his second film 300, an adaptation of Frank Miller’s graphic novel of the same name. He then joined Warner Bros.’s DC project Watchmen, which is often regarded as one of the best films adapted from DC Comics’ storyline. In 2012, Snyder was roped in with support from Christopher Nolan to direct David S. Goyer’s Superman movie which turned into Man of Steel. Snyder then turned Man of Steel into the first installment of the proposed DC Extended Universe, followed by Batman v. Superman. He had a full lineup for the franchise planned, with films to be helmed by different directors; however, bad reception to Batman v. Superman and his ultimate departure from Justice League (2017) repurposed the entire franchise.
Since then, Snyder has become a fan-favorite figure amidst pop-culture enthusiasts and has regarded him as an auteur, thus garnering him praise and an extensively large fan base across the world. Snyder remains with DC Films as an executive producer on a lot of DCEU projects post-Justice League and even helped HBO Max with a massively positive response to Zack Snyder’s Justice League. But, distancing himself from directorial duties on DCEU, he has moved to Netflix with a multi-picture deal, that started with the Army of the Dead franchise, as well as his sci-fi project, Rebel Moon.