History Film / BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice

** [[spoiler: The opening sequence in Africa has Superman overlooking the escaping Russians and was blamed for the massacre at the compound when the victims were obviously shot. The UE includes Superman thwarting a CIA drone strike to protect the compound, and Anatoli torched the bodies with his flamethrower to implicate Superman. Secretary Swanick later notes that CI concluded rather quickly the situation was a frame job]].

* AdaptationalVillainy: In previous Batman-Superman dust-ups in comics and animated adaptations, Batman never actually goes into battle hoping to kill Superman. In ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmericaTowerOfBabel'', he even comes up with nonlethal ''albeit'' painful countermeasures and in ''The Dark Knight Returns'', Batman only wanted to beat up Clark, give him a HumiliationConga and fake his death, and not actually kill him. This version of Batman on the other hand fully goes into battle with the intention of killing Superman, likening it to hunting an animal even, and he would have done it had Lois not arrived and pleaded for Superman's life.

** Joe Morton has a bit part as the father/creator of Comicbook/{{Cyborg}}. This isn't the first time he has created a [[Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay cybernetic organism]].

** Mercy Graves is played by Japanese actress Tao Okamoto. As a bit of {{RetCanon}}, DC reintroduced Mercy as an Asian-American woman in the ComicBook/{{New 52}} ''[[Comicbook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica Justice League]]'' title to reflect this.

* WeakBossStrongUnderlings: Comicbook/LexLuthor is a young, [[GeekPhysiques skinny]] EvilGenius who uses [[HuskyRusskie Anatoli Knyazev]] and his mercenary team as muscle.

* HumanHammerThrow: Batman does this on [[spoiler:Superman ([[ManOfSteel again]]), wrapping a cable around his ankle and swinging him around (courtesy of the powered armor and some Kryptonite gas, which [[BroughtDownToNormal temporarily disables Superman]])]].

Two years after saving humanity from destruction, [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Clark Kent/Superman]] (Creator/HenryCavill) has taken his place as an [[TheCape icon and hero that makes the planet a safer place to live]]. However, many still distrust the "Man of Steel" after [[HeroInsurance the damage his battle with General Zod wrought on Metropolis]]. Fearing the destruction a godlike and now unrivaled superhuman could cause if he ever [[BewareTheSuperman turned against those he protects]], billionaire philanthropist Bruce Wayne (Creator/BenAffleck), who fights crime as the vigilante Franchise/{{Batman}}, focuses on one goal: destroy Superman and his [[TheConspiracy apparent hidden schemes]], whatever the cost.

** In one of the letters Bruce receives, it said Bruce is blind. In Affleck's first superhero role, he portrayed Film/{{Daredevil}}, a blind super hero.

* EventTitle: As suggested by the VersusTitle, it refers to the conflict between Batman and Superman. The ''Dawn of Justice'' subtitle is also an obvious reference to the budding formation of the Franchise/JusticeLeague.

-->'''Lex Luthor:''' [[DarkIsNotEvil Black]] and [[PrimaryColorChampion blue]]. [[SuperpowerLottery God]] versus [[BadassNormal man]]. ''[[PowerOfTheSun Day]]'' [[SolarAndLunar versus]] ''[[TerrorHero night]]''! [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Son of Krypton]] versus [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Bat of Gotham]]!

* TeamTitle: The "Justice" in the title refers to the ''Franchise/JusticeLeague''.

* BrokenAesop: Batman's initially portrayed as having lost his way by developing into brutal, merciless killer. However, even after he has a HeelRealization, he's still shown indulging in the same kind of behavior that was previously portrayed negatively. The fact that Zach Snyder has made comments seemingly defending his killings only further muddies up the issue.

* GutturalGrowler: This version of Batman has an added electronic filter making his voice sound deeper.

** WordOfGod says after the trauma he experienced when General Zod [[ShootTheDog forced his hand]], Superman vowed to find another way from that point on. [[spoiler: Unfortunately, with Doomsday, there isn’t another way.]]

* MetaCasting: While still [[WTHCastingAgency out of left field]], the casting of Creator/JesseEisenberg as Luthor also had its own internal logic: Eisenberg's most famous role is Mark Zuckerberg in ''Film/TheSocialNetwork'', a self-made 20-something billionaire with an arrogant God complex over his own genius. Many of his other roles follow a similar path, just not as diabolical as Luthor.

* NeverTrustATitle: [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]]. The movie is more ''Dawn of Justice'' and less ''Batman v Superman''. While Batman and Superman ''do'' fight, of course, there's less conflict spread throughout the film than your typical versus movie. More focus is given to WorldBuilding in order to set [[Film/SuicideSquad up]] [[Film/WonderWoman2017 any]] [[Film/JusticeLeague fut]][[Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague ure]] [[Film/Aquaman2018 movies]]. Creator/WarnerBros [[ExecutiveMeddling mandated]] the ''Batman v Superman'' title in order to make the movie more marketable.

* EvilLearnsOfOutsideContext: Corrupt and sociopathic businessman Lex Luthor uses Kryptonian technology and General Zod's corpse to create a monstrous abomination whose sole purpose is to kill Superman; unfortunately (and made clearer in a deleted scene), he also inadvertently attracts Darkseid's attention to Earth, leading to the events of ''Film/JusticeLeague.''