← Back to Directory
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Movie

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

2016 • Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Woke Score
3
out of 10

Plot

The general public is concerned over having Superman on their planet and letting the "Dark Knight" - Batman - pursue the streets of Gotham. While this is happening, a power-phobic Batman tries to attack Superman. Meanwhile, Superman tries to settle on a decision, and Lex Luthor, the criminal mastermind and millionaire, tries to use his own advantages to fight the "Man of Steel".

Overall Series Review

The film centers on the philosophical and ideological collision between Batman and Superman, driven by fear of unchecked power and the question of accountability for god-like beings. Batman, hardened and nihilistic, views Superman as an existential threat, while Superman struggles to find acceptance and moral clarity in a world that fears him. The main conflict is masterminded by the intellectual villain Lex Luthor, who manipulates media, government institutions, and public opinion to create a culture of fear and distrust. The narrative is heavily loaded with religious allegory, framing Superman as a messianic figure whose actions and ultimate sacrifice are meant to redeem humanity. Women like Lois Lane and Wonder Woman are portrayed as highly competent, essential figures who guide the male protagonists and participate actively in the final confrontation. The movie's themes revolve around human fragility, the corruption of power, and the necessity of hope, concluding with a central act of profound selflessness.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics2/10

The narrative focuses on a struggle for power and legitimacy that transcends race or intersectional identity. Superman's status as an alien immigrant is the central issue, not his race. Characters are defined by their response to extreme power, their morality, and personal trauma. There is no focus on vilifying 'whiteness' or forced diversity; the primary cast adheres to traditional character demographics, and the main white male characters are the flawed hero, the misguided vigilante, and the philosophical, psychopathic villain.

Oikophobia4/10

The film critiques human institutions and global politics, portraying the Senate and media as flawed and easily manipulated by fear, suggesting a crisis in governance and belief. Diana, Wonder Woman, speaks of her loss of faith in humanity. However, the story ends with Superman sacrificing himself to save the world, which is framed as an act that redeems and inspires humanity, countering a final message of pure civilizational self-hatred. It suggests a deeply flawed but ultimately redeemable Western civilization.

Feminism3/10

The female leads are portrayed as crucial to the plot and powerful. Lois Lane is depicted as an aggressive, moral, and highly competent journalist who serves as Superman's primary tether to humanity. Martha Kent is given a central, indispensable role as the moral anchor of the hero's life. Wonder Woman's introduction establishes her as a peerless warrior who is instantly effective in combat. Neither Superman nor Batman is depicted as a bumbling idiot; their flaws are psychological and ideological, not matters of competence or emasculation. The central role of a mother figure counters anti-natalist messaging.

LGBTQ+1/10

The movie contains no discernible content related to centering alternative sexualities, deconstructing the nuclear family as a social structure, or lecturing on gender ideology. The focus of the relationships is the traditional male-female pairing between Clark Kent and Lois Lane, and Bruce Wayne's relationship with Diana Prince.

Anti-Theism5/10

The film is overwhelmingly preoccupied with theological themes and Christ allegory, with Superman explicitly framed as a messianic figure. The villain, Lex Luthor, is fundamentally anti-theist, with his entire plot aimed at disproving the existence of a benevolent 'God' by forcing Superman to fight for his life. The story's end—Superman's sacrifice—is a direct, positive use of the concept of transcendent morality and self-sacrificing faith, a powerful endorsement of Objective Truth through action, even if the world around him is skeptical and morally subjective.