History TearJerker / ZackSnydersJusticeLeague

** As Hippolyta shoots the arrow of Artemis to warn Diana of the invasion, she whispers for a plea for her daughter to return to her. It's been hundred years since [[Film/WonderWoman2017 Diana left]] and Hippolyta still misses her.

->--'''Joker'''

** The real-life circumstances make the use of this song so much more poignant, considering that, like Creator/ZackSnyder working on the post-production of the film, Music/NickCave recorded this song in the aftermath of losing a child.

** As Hippolyta shoots the arrow of Artemis to warn Diana of the invasion, she whispers for plea for her daughter to return to her. It's been hundred years since [[Film/WonderWoman2017 Diana left]] and Hippolyta still misses her.
* It says something that the film can make you feel bad for ''Steppenwolf'', of all people. Sure, the guy is an unrepentant murderer and would-be conqueror, but rather than being a world destroyer just for the fun of it like in the other version, here he's been sentenced to exile and forced to conquer a number of worlds (he's got ''50,000'' more to go according to [=DeSaad=]) in order to be allowed to return to Apokolips. His weathered voice and the adoring gaze he gives to Darkseid makes it clear that beneath it all, he's just a tired old guy who wants to ''go home''. As he takes hit after hit from Superman and gets one of his horns burned off, he sees Darkseid watching from a distance, unscathed and unwilling to help. Doesn't excuse any of his actions, but it does earn him at least a little bit of sympathy.
** Desaad reminding Steppenwolf of his debt deserves further mention here. We'd just seen Steppenwolf take on the Amazons of Themyscira, which despite his physical advantage over the warrior women was still a challenge for him. He even loses several parademons before managing to get the first Motherbox. This is just a single island. Then Desaad - who is sitting pretty back in Apokolips - trivialises the whole thing by telling Steppenwolf he needs to conquer tens of thousands more planets. You can almost hear Steppenwolf's heart sink in that moment.

* Cyborg's origin. Victor had just won a football game, only to see [[DaddyDidntShow his father didn't show up]]. As his mother drives him home, she tries to reassure him that his father didn't miss the game out of negligence, but then a truck crashes into them. Cut to a hospital, where Silas is told by a nurse that his wife is dead and his son is irreparably injured to the point where he'll die too. Silas just ''shatters'' at this news. Whatever he was like as a parent before, it's clear Silas [[GoodParents really does love his son]] and will try to be there for him this time.
* Victor's first heroic deed after becoming Cyborg (helping an [[StrugglingSingleMother evicted single mother]] by enlarging her bank savings) is immediately followed by a couple on the street being scared at his appearance.
** Just the way Silas and Victor start out the movie. Silas wasn't the best father, but he clearly didn't want his son to become a ''monster'' when he used the Mother Box technology to save him. Victor clearly resents him for this, and also for his mom's death.

** What makes this scene worse is the look on Batman's face. [[ManlyTears His eyes are watery as he watches a good man give up his life for others.]] It's no wonder he is wracked with guilt in his attempts to create the Justice League.

*** First of all, it's revealed in this glimpse of the BadFuture that Harley died, with Bruce [[DiedInYourArmsTonight carrying her in her last moments]]. According to him, her last words were a plea for him to kill the Joker for her, a vow he promises to make good on when the time comes.
*** We also get a little CallBack to Robin's death as was shown back in ''Dawn of Justice''. The Joker asks Batman "why [he] sent a Boy Wonder to do a man's job", which clearly touches several nerves with Bruce, given how this was [[MyGreatestFailure his other deepest personal shame]].

[[caption-width-right:350:Cyborg cannot catch a break. ''At all.'']]

* Superman's HeroicSacrifice from ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'' is replayed here, but instead of faraway shots seen in the previous film, the camera zooms on his CrucifiedHeroShot. As he screams in sheer agony from his impalement and Kryptonite exposure, his eyes gradually become empty. From this touch of realism alone, it shows us that this hopeful superhero did '''not''' deserve to die like this: alone, and in pain.
** What makes this scene worse is the look on Batman's face. [[ManlyTears His eyes are watery as he watches a good man give up his life for others.]] It's no wonder why he is wracked with guilt in his attempts to create the Justice League.

** A later scene has Lois wake up in the middle of the night, still grieving over Clark's death. While this happens, the piano notes from "What Are You Going to Do When You Are Not Saving the World" play over a photograph of a smiling Clark and Lois.

* Arthur meets up with Vulko and Mera one more time, but apologetically tells them he needs to see his dad. Vulko leaves resigned to this, but Mera stays behind and watches Arthur ride off into the horizon, not sure when or even if they'llever meet again.

** Superman is back, but he's cradling a charred corpse and looking distraught. It's strongly implied the dead body is Lois Lane. As Darkseid places his hand on Superman's shoulder, we see something in his eyes just go out and you just know Zuperman has succumbed to Anti-Life.

* The song playing when Lois visits Superman's memorial at the start of the movie, "Distant Sky."
** The real-life circumstances make the use of this song so much more poignant, considering that, like Creator/ZackSnyder working on the post-production of the film, Music/NickCave recorded this song in the aftermath of losing a child

* Lois kept Clark's cape and still wears the engagement ring he would've proposed to her with. It becomes a sweet moment later when he's brought back from death and notices she's wearing the ring.