Zack Snyder’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” Almost Received an R Rating Due to the Concept of Batman Fighting Superman
Zack Snyder’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” was on the brink of receiving an R rating from the MPAA due to its central premise: the clash between Batman and Superman in the DCEU movie. Serving as the second installment in the now-defunct DCEU, the film debuted to mixed reviews and underwhelming global box office earnings, despite surpassing $870 million.
In a recent interview with Joe Rogan, Snyder revealed that the film’s rating was contested by the ratings board, who expressed reluctance towards granting a PG-13 rating due to their discomfort with the idea of Batman and Superman engaging in combat. Despite Snyder’s inquiries about potential cuts to secure a PG-13 rating, the board continued to lean towards an R rating, citing concerns over the core conflict between the two iconic superheroes. Snyder expressed frustration, emphasizing that the confrontation between Batman and Superman was integral to the film’s narrative and identity.
Why Batman V Superman Needed A PG-13 Rating
The success of Todd Phillips’ R-rated “Joker” indeed set a new precedent for R-rated movies, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated film in history. However, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” faced different considerations and constraints that made pursuing an R rating a risky endeavor.
Firstly, “Joker” was released in 2019, three years after “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” during a time when the landscape for R-rated superhero movies had evolved. Prior to “Joker,” there was limited evidence of R-rated superhero films achieving significant commercial success. In contrast, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” was released at a time when the success of R-rated superhero movies was not well-established.
Furthermore, the characters of Batman and Superman are traditionally associated with a younger audience and are considered kid-friendly superheroes. Releasing an R-rated film featuring these iconic characters could have alienated a significant portion of their fanbase and impacted box office earnings. Additionally, maintaining continuity within the wider DCEU narrative would have been challenging if certain audiences were restricted from seeing “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.”
In summary, while “Joker” demonstrated the potential for R-rated superhero movies to succeed, the unique circumstances surrounding “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” including its characters and the state of the industry at the time of its release, made pursuing an R rating an impractical and risky choice.
Source: PowerfulJRE
Consider checking out my YouTube channel for more Pop-Culture news!
https://www.youtube.com/@reviewflicks
Comic Flick News 
Leave a comment