Zack Snyder’s Justice League Guide: How To Watch Like A TV Show

Zack Snyder’s Justice League is finally here and with its four-hour runtime, viewers are finding creative ways to split up the behemoth movie into episodes. After three years of coordinated effort, DCEU fans have the “Snyder Cut” that completes the director’s vision for the story encompassing the heroes Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Aquaman, Cyborg, and Superman as they team up to protect Earth from the invading forces of Steppenwolf. The new cut is an HBO Max original, streaming now.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League reviews have been positive to mixed, but what most agree on is that the four-hour movie truly represents the auteur director’s vision, and Snyder has spared no screentime to bring it to life. The movie is not just a recut and reshape of the same material that appears in Joss Whedon’s 2017 theatrical cut – only about half of that two-hour spectacle came from Snyder’s principal photography. Snyder used none of the material from Whedon’s extensive reshoots, so there are about three hours of new Snyder-shot content included in the director’s cut of Justice League, as well as altered CGI, effects, score, editing and color grading.

The new version is so long, at 242 minutes, that many viewers are working out ways to watch it in installments. The Justice League Snyder Cut has six chapters, plus a prologue and epilogue, handily shown with title cards throughout the movie, a structure that lends itself handily to being split up into sections. Here’s an episode guide for how to watch Zack Snyder’s Justice League like a TV show.

Snyder Cut: Episode 1

The Justice League Snyder Cut starts with an introductory prologue giving essential background which lasts for nine minutes. Get used to the Snyder Cut’s changed aspect ratio, it’s part of the director’s vision. Add the prologue onto the first chapter, titled “Don’t Count On It, Batman.” This first part kicks off Batman’s assembly of the Justice League, though some of those characters will first appear in later chapters. There’s lots of exposition, but also some action. Part One of Zack Snyder’s Justice League runs for 30 minutes, so add the prologue to make a neat, 40-minute episode.

Snyder Cut: Episode 2

Episode 2 of Zack Snyder’s Justice League will run a little longer, combining chapters two and three, titled “The Age of Heroes” and “Beloved Mother, Beloved Son” respectively. The first delves into the epic History Lesson section of the movie, showing huge battles of a bygone era and features Aquaman. The second focuses on Flash and Cyborg, has a fair amount of exposition, but also features some of what Snyder has called the heart of the movie: Cyborg’s introduction and story, one of the key differences in Snyder’s cut of the movie. These two parts run for 30 minutes and 40 minutes – so just over an hour together (if that’s too much, watch them individually) – and feature epic confrontations, exposition, and backstory, as well as thrilling character moments for a well-rounded episode.

Snyder Cut: Episode 3

By this point, the Justice League is united – bar one important member – and has their first real confrontation with the main antagonist of the movie: Steppenwolf. There’s also a bunch of new DC characters cut from Justice League‘s theatrical version. This “episode” combines parts four and five of the Snyder Cut: “Change Machine” and “All The King’s Horses”. Combined, they provide both the motivation and resolution of the Justice League realizing it needs Superman back and fighting alongside them. These sections are 30 minutes each, making for a well-rounded hour of television.

Snyder Cut: Episode 4

Watch the climax of the movie in one final episode of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, encompassing part six, “Something Darker”, as well as the epilogue. It features the confrontation between the league and big bad Steppenwolf. Don’t necessarily expect complete closure from the movie – this iteration keeps Snyder’s vision intact, including this being the third installment of a five-movie arc, the first two being Man of Steel and Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice. There are many teaser moments and cameos from characters who, had Snyder’s version been definitive and accepted WB and DC Films, might have had solo films or bigger appearances later on, such as Jared Leto’s Joker. Together, part six and the epilogue – titled “A Father Twice Over” – run for 65 minutes. And there you have an episode guide to the Zack Snyder’s Justice League marathon, watched like a TV series.

About The Author

Mitch Brook
(75 Articles Published)

Mitch Brook is Features Editor for film and TV at Screen Rant. He’s a writer and editor with a history in a range of media, including as editor for travel and lifestyle titles. The movies he always comes back to are Little Women (2019), Orlando, A Single Man, and The Lord of the Rings.

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