Snyder's Watchmen Taught Him Why Comic Fans Get So Passionate
The acclaimed director discovered something profound about fan devotion while adapting the legendary graphic novel that changed his perspective on superhero storytelling forever.
Among all the superhero movies Zack Snyder has brought to screens, his 2009 adaptation of Watchmen stands as his greatest achievement. The director once explained to EW how creating this film opened his eyes to the intense passion of comic book enthusiasts, particularly DC followers.
"Watchmen is like the music you feel is written just for you. That's my song, no one else gets that but me," Snyder observed. "That's why the fan base is so rabid, because they feel personal about it. The difference between Watchmen and a normal comic book is this: With Batman's Gotham City, you are transported to another world where that superhero makes sense; Watchmen comes at it in a different way, it almost superimposes its heroes on your world, which then changes how you view your world through its prism."
This personal connection exists across all entertainment mediums. Books, games, movies, TV shows all create that same intimate bond. As a devoted fan himself, Snyder understood what the source material meant to people.
A Director's Personal Mission
Snyder wasn't the first filmmaker attached to Watchmen. Terry Gilliam had previously worked on the project before departing, leaving Snyder to reshape the script into his own vision. This change upset fans of both the original story and Gilliam's planned approach.
Speaking to HuffPost, Snyder addressed the controversy directly. "Yeah, the fans would have stormed the castle on that one. So, honestly, I made Watchmen for myself. It's probably my favorite movie that I've made. And I love the graphic novel and I really love everything about the movie. I love the style. I just love the movie and it was a labor of love. And I made it because I knew that the studio would have made the movie anyway and they would have made it crazy. So, finally I made it to save it from the Terry Gilliams of this world."
What Makes It Timeless
Watchmen succeeds where other superhero films don't by deconstructing rather than celebrating its heroes. Most vigilante stories show how masked crusaders improve society. This film does the opposite. It reveals how vigilantism can make social problems worse.
The characters don't grow into shining symbols of hope. They spiral deeper into madness and psychological breakdown. This creates tension between what heroes do and what they believe. Few movies explore this contradiction so thoroughly.
Snyder's signature gritty visual style fits perfectly with Watchmen's dark themes. The film tackles eternal questions about morality, society, and human nature. These topics never go out of style, which explains why the movie still feels relevant today.
The film earned $185 million worldwide and holds a 64% critics score and 71% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Jackie Earle Haley, Malin Åkerman, Billy Crudup, and Matthew Goode led the cast in this Warner Bros. production that continues streaming on HBO Max.