Is Captain America: Civil War better than Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice?

There is no doubt that superhero movies are some of the most popular amongst audiences, with the likes of Marvel’s The Avengers being amongst the top-grossing Hollywood films ever made.

And no doubt two of the year’s most eagerly awaited blockbusters were Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Captain America: Civil War, two movies that pitted iconic superheroes against each other. In Batman v Superman, the Man of Steel took on the Capped Crusader, while in Captain America: Civil War Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) had a score to settle with Captain America.

While both movies were box-office hits though, which is actually the better movie of the two, Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman or Anthony and Joe Russo’s Captain America: Civil War? If we look at critic’s scores, the answer is clear: while Batman v Superman was almost universally panned by reviewers, Captain America: Civil War currently has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 90 %, making it one of the year’s top movies according to the critics.

But still, it is clear that Zack Snyder’s film does its plusses: it’s dark and gritty (although perhaps a bit too much for its own good) and some of the action sequences and special effects are certainly top-notch, even if the film feels slightly overlong though.

Most critics did not think Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was the best movie to feature the Man of Steel.

When it comes to almost everything else though, there is no doubt that Captain America: Civil War is clearly the better flick. Because while Batman’s and Superman’s reasons for coming to blows in Snyder’s film are dubious to say the least (Bruce Wayne thinks the Man of Steel is “dangerous” for whatever reason), the conflict between Iron Man and Captain America that is tearing the Avengers apart makes perfect sense, and even has a political subtext to it (let the UN dictate the Avengers actions or not), adding depth to the Russo’s brothers film.

Of course, no superhero movie would be complete without a big, bad villain with an evil agenda, although sadly Lex Luthor is wasted in Batman v Superman, as he simply lacks charisma and does not appear to have much of a plan (except give rambling speeches about power). Captain America: Civil War, meanwhile, does have a colourful villain, who no doubt is a man with an axe to grind and has clear reasons to want to get back at the Avengers…

In the end though, none of this may matter to you, and as I said earlier Zack Snyder’s movie does deliver when it comes to spectacle and special effects. And anyway, who could resist the allure of seeing two iconic heroes like Batman and Superman duking it out? The thing is though, Captain America: Civil War matches Batman v Superman in delivering great special effects and stunning set pieces, but does so while being more thought-provoking and intelligent than the average popcorn flick, and few would doubt that directors Anthony and Joe Russo’s film is the must-see superhero movie of the year.