Justice League

Yet despite its ambition, the film struggled to resonate in the way audiences  and Warner Bros. had hoped.

Why Justice League Failed To Make a Major Impact?

Unlike Marvel’s slow-burn approach that culminated in Avengers: Infinity War, DC attempted to fast-track its shared universe. 

Key heroes like The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg were introduced within the team-up film itself, leaving little time for audiences to form emotional connections.

Where Infinity War felt like a reward for a decade of storytelling, Justice League felt like a starting line, not a culmination.

Creative Instability

Behind-the-scenes turmoil significantly affected the final product. A shift in creative direction led to:

• Abrupt pacing

• Inconsistent tone

• Noticeable tonal clashes between darker mythic elements and forced humor

The result was a film that felt unfinished and compromised, lacking a singular vision.

Weakened Antagonist

A shared-universe event demands a compelling villain, yet Steppenwolf failed to leave a strong impression. 

Compared to Marvel’s main antagonist Thanos, the threat felt generic, underdeveloped, and emotionally hollow, diminishing the stakes of the heroes’ unity.

Emotional Payoff Without Proper Setup

Superman’s death and resurrection were intended to be powerful emotional anchors. 

However, with limited buildup and rapid resolution, these moments lacked the narrative weight they required. In contrast, Marvel allowed loss, failure, and consequences to linger - a key reason Infinity War hit so hard.

Why It Halted Sequel Development

Because Justice League underperformed both critically and commercially:

• DC pivoted toward standalone films rather than interconnected sagas

• Planned direct sequels were shelved

• The shared-universe roadmap was abandoned

This strategic reset marked a sharp contrast to Marvel, which doubled down on its long-form storytelling and delivered a cultural phenomenon with Infinity War and Endgame.