Justice League is a 2017 American superhero film directed by Zack Snyder, based on the DC Comics superhero team of the same name.
It serves as a follow-up to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and is part of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). The film features an ensemble cast that includes Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Gal Gadot as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, Henry Cavill as Clark Kent/Superman, Ezra Miller as Barry Allen/The Flash, Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry/Aquaman, and Ray Fisher as Victor Stone/Cyborg.
The plot follows Batman and Wonder Woman as they attempt to recruit a team of metahumans to combat a new threat to Earth. After the death of Superman, Bruce Wayne is inspired to assemble a group of heroes, including Aquaman, Cyborg, and The Flash, to face the powerful villain Steppenwolf. Steppenwolf seeks to acquire three Mother Boxes that could unleash catastrophic destruction on the planet. As the heroes unite, they must learn to work together and confront their own personal challenges to save the world from impending doom.
Justice League faced a troubled production process, with Zack Snyder departing during post-production due to a family tragedy. Joss Whedon was brought in to oversee reshoots and complete the film. The theatrical cut of the film was released in theaters on November 17, 2017, and received mixed reviews from critics. While some praised the camaraderie among the heroes and the lighter tone compared to previous DCEU films, others criticized the film for being overstuffed and lacking a cohesive vision. The film grossed approximately $657 million worldwide against a budget estimated at $300 million.
In 2021, after a significant fan campaign, Zack Snyder's original version of the film, titled Zack Snyder's Justice League, was released on HBO Max. This four-hour cut included additional scenes, character development, and a darker tone, providing a more comprehensive narrative than the theatrical release. It received a more favorable response from both critics and fans, although Warner Bros. has stated that it is considered non-canon within the DCEU.
Despite its mixed reception, Justice League marked the first live-action big-screen team-up of DC's iconic heroes and laid the groundwork for future DCEU films focusing on individual characters, such as Aquaman (2018) and Shazam! (2019). The film's behind-the-scenes drama and the contrasting cuts also sparked discussions about the influence of directors and studio interference in the production of superhero films, contributing to ongoing conversations about creative control in the industry.