With a new studio home at Netflix, Zack Snyder is continuing his filmmaking career with his next big project, Rebel Moon. Filming of the Star Wars-inspired epic is currently underway with a release date slated for some time in 2023. Over the years Snyder has become a filmmaking franchise in his own right, delivering some of the most popular superhero films of the modern era as well as developing his own original IP.
Throughout his career, Snyder has developed his own unique filmmaking style, a large part of which is incredible action sequences. Whether he’s shooting Superman, an overpowered zombie lord, or legendary Spartans, Snyder has undeniably given cinema some of the greatest action set pieces of the last 20 years.
300 – First Battle/Leonidas long-shot
The swords-and-sandals epic 300 was the first time Zack Snyder got to showcase his signature style with more resources and a bigger budget, which elevated his prestige in the filmmaking industry. The opening battle of the Spartans versus the Persian army captures the strength of the 300 Spartans together, as well the capabilities of their commander.
Slo-mo has become a staple in Zack's career, but it is more than just slowing down the framerate. This long-shot action sequence of Leonidas is constantly changing its speed, which exudes a sense of urgency while also pushing in and out on the Spartan to intensify his actions of cutting down his enemies in bloody glory. This action flows freely in a way that feels fluid, natural, and brutal.
Army of the Dead – Samantha For The Win!
Zack Snyder makes his return to the zombie genre years later with his first film for Netflix, Army of the Dead. Not a typical zombie flick, this tale introduces a cast of highly capable characters that risk their lives for a substantial payday, and, of course, lots of action ensues. The best of which belongs to a character named Chambers.
Played by a longtime collaborator of Snyder’s, Samantha Win’s Chambers is faced with insurmountable odds as she fights off a barrage of zombies. The sequence takes place in a tightly enclosed space with countless undead all around, which makes the action tight and very in-your-face. During her battle for survival, Chambers showcases a variety of weapons, from machine guns to nothing but her bare fists and strength.
Man of Steel – “This only ends one way”
Man of Steel delivers both top-notch and over-the-top action in spades. Zack Snyder swings for the fences by showcasing the mass destruction that occurs when two god-like superbeings collide, and the results are epic.
With a character like Superman, the fighting isn’t just with feet on the ground, but includes aerial combat as well. The way the camera moves from looking over one shoulder to the other as Superman throws soaring punches at Zod gave audiences one of the most impressive visuals of Superman’s cinematic career. To date, this is still one of, if not the largest scaled action sequence in Snyder’s entire filmography.
Batman v. Superman – Warehouse Scene
Even with a sequel to The Dark Knight Returns, is menacing, brutal, and fights like a bat out of hell.
The scene isn’t just face-paced and thrilling action. It's brilliantly choreographed to showcase many of the character's iconic staples, like using his explosive gadgets from the rafters, sticking the bad guy with a thrown Batarang, and using his famous grapple gun in a number of creative tactical ways. The audience can feel the weight and power of Batman’s punches in every hit.
Watchmen – Opening fight
Watchmen is ripped from the comics and brought to life in Snyder’s signature style.
The Comedian’s demise is a fight of super quick punches and strikes, slow-motion tosses, and bloody brutality. The creative choice to pair the hyper-violent hand-to-hand combat of this fight with the gentle melodies of "Unforgettable" gives the scene a poetic and graceful rhythm to the bloodshed. It’s a special kind of juxtaposition of the visual and auditory senses that is sure to leave a lasting impact.
Batman v. Superman – The Trinity vs Doomsday
The first on-screen team-up of DC comics' Trinity (Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman) rivals the scale of the Superman versus Zod fight in the previous installment, and may even top it.
This battle is filled with visual wonders that are comparable to living splash pages of a comic book, with unique tracking shots that fix on Superman and Wonder Woman as they are sent flying through the rubble. While all three have their moments in the spotlight during the battle, Wonder Woman is the one that really shines here. From her incredible entrance to chopping off the abomination’s arm, Diana shows the boys how it’s done.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League – Wonder Woman
Zack Snyder shoots Wonder Woman as a battle-hardened and ferocious warrior, and he does it gloriously. This Wonder Woman isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty in order to save innocents. Zack has shown what Diana can do with her sword and shield, but in this scene, all she needs are her fists and iconic bracelets.
Diana’s agility and strength are on full display, using her bracelets to block bullets with lighting speed and tossing one goon with such force that he leaves blood on the walls. Not only is she taking out the bad guys, but she's also protecting the hostages from an onslaught of machinegun fire. The combination of strength, speed, iconic weaponry, and nobility is the perfect representation of the warrior princess’ fighting style.
Sucker Punch – Train Scene
While Snyder’s biggest box office success or most famous work, as it is a completely original blockbuster, it still has all the signature stylings of his more popular films, including incredible action. Similar to 300, the train action sequence in this film makes use of a lot of mixed speeds and zooming in and out on points of focus during one long shot.
The uniqueness of a samurai sword cutting through killer robots mixed with a gun-fu style similar to that of the John Wick series earns this moment extra creativity points. The incredible blend of multiple fighting styles plays well in making the scene fresh and keeping the audience on their toes, not knowing what to expect next.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League – The League Versus Steppenwolf
Zack Snyder’s Justice League was an incredible improvement on the theatrical release in a multitude of ways, one of those being the action. The final battle against Steppenwolf changes dramatically, with much more heart and a much more satisfying conclusion.
Although Superman does a lot of the heavy lifting in the battle, Snyder makes sure to highlight every character, making sure each member contributes something of worth to the action. Every member was crucial to the team’s success even if they weren’t landing blows on the New God himself. Snyder made the Justice League not only feel like a team, but made the scene an extremely rewarding and enjoyable sequence.
Dawn of the Dead – There goes the neighborhood
Snyder’s Hollywood directorial debut was in 2004’s zombie remake Dawn of the Dead, which is still highly regarded as one of the best films in the genre.
Dawn of the Dead initiated Snyder’s reputation for strong opening scenes and he hasn’t slowed down since. Starting out the movie with a terrifying attack from a zombie child sets the tone for the rest of the film, telling the audience exactly what they are getting themselves into. The opening is bloody, it’s scary, and it serves a narrative purpose, making it much more than just mindless action. It's an impactful piece of storytelling.
