After years of speculation, cancellations, and passionate fan campaigns, Justice League 2: Darkseid War (2025) finally hits the big screen — and it’s nothing short of epic. Directed by Zack Snyder in a triumphant return to the DCEU, this long-awaited sequel embraces its dark mythology, cosmic scale, and mythic stakes to deliver a film that’s as visually stunning as it is emotionally weighty.
Picking up two years after the events of Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021), the film opens with a fractured world still reeling from Steppenwolf’s failed invasion. But the real war is only beginning. Darkseid (played with godlike menace by Ray Porter) finally descends upon Earth, seeking to reclaim the Anti-Life Equation and bend all of reality to his will.
With the multiverse hanging in the balance, the Justice League — now expanded to include Martian Manhunter (Harry Lennix) and Green Lantern John Stewart (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) — must reunite and face their most impossible battle yet. But as Superman (Henry Cavill) begins to fall under the influence of Darkseid’s will, Batman (Ben Affleck), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), and the others must choose: save their friend or save the world.
Snyder returns with his signature cinematic style — slow-motion battles, operatic compositions, and sweeping visual effects — but Darkseid War feels more refined and mature than any of his previous DCEU entries. The action sequences are nothing short of breathtaking, from the invasion of New Genesis to a final 30-minute showdown in a collapsing multiverse. Each hero is given a moment to shine, none more so than Cyborg (Ray Fisher), whose arc is both redemptive and heartbreaking.
Yet beneath the spectacle is real character work. Batman is older and more haunted than ever, but also more self-aware, taking on a truly sacrificial role in the film’s most emotional moment. Ezra Miller’s Flash, still processing the trauma of time travel, delivers some of the film’s most human moments, especially in scenes opposite Kiersey Clemons’ Iris West.
One of the film’s most powerful elements is its portrayal of Superman. Cavill delivers a layered performance, torn between hope and control as he grapples with visions of the Knightmare future. His eventual confrontation with Darkseid is not just physical but philosophical — a debate between freedom and domination, love and fear.
Darkseid himself is everything fans hoped for: intelligent, terrifying, and more than a match for any one hero. Snyder doesn’t overuse him, instead building tension until his full-scale invasion — and when it comes, it’s utterly devastating.
The film isn’t without its stumbles. Clocking in at nearly 3 hours, it can feel overwhelming at times, especially for those unfamiliar with the lore. Some subplots, including a teased romance between Wonder Woman and Martian Manhunter, feel underdeveloped. And while the fan service is plentiful — cameos from Nightwing, a post-credits tease of the New Gods, and a surprise return of Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) — it may alienate casual viewers.
Justice League 2: Darkseid War is not just a sequel — it’s a culmination. It rewards fans who’ve followed the DCEU through its highs and lows and dares to go bigger, darker, and more emotionally resonant than anything that came before. It's a cosmic opera wrapped in superhero spectacle — ambitious, flawed, but undeniably powerful.
Whether this is the final chapter or a new beginning, Darkseid War secures its place as one of the most impactful comic book films in recent memory.
Rating: 9/10
