Injustice (2021 film)

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Injustice
Promotional poster
Directed by	Matt Peters
Written by	Ernie Altbacker
Based on	Injustice: Gods Among Us by NetherRealm Studios and Injustice: Gods Among Us : Year One by Tom Taylor
Produced by	Rick Morales Jim Krieg Sam Register Michael Uslan
Starring	Justin Hartley Anson Mount
Edited by	Criag Paulsen
Music by	Robert J. Kral
Production companies	Warner Bros. Animation DC Entertainment
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Release date	October 19, 2021 (2021-10-19)
Running time	78 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Injustice is a 2021 American adult animated superhero film based on the 2013 video game of the same name, developed by NetherRealm Studios and based on characters from DC Comics. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, DC Entertainment, and distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, it is the 43rd installment in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies (DCUAOM) line. The film is directed by Matt Peters from a story by Ernie Altbacker and stars Justin Hartley and Anson Mount as Superman and Batman, respectively. The film, set in a separate continuity from the main DC Universe, follows Superman’s descent into madness after being tricked by Joker into killing his pregnant wife Lois Lane and detonating a nuclear weapon that destroys Metropolis.

The film was announced in May 2021, with Altbacker writing the script. The film adapts elements from both the Injustice video game and its prequel comic book series, primarily the Year One arc, but tells an original narrative which diverges from the source material. The film received mixed reviews from critics and audiences, which were mainly directed towards its rushed plot and deviance from the source material, but some praised the animation and voice acting.

Plot[]

On Earth Twenty-Two, Superman hears a second heartbeat coming from his wife, Lois Lane, and realizes that she is pregnant. Simultaneously, Batman arrives in Metropolis in pursuit of the Joker, who has stolen Kryptonite from S.T.A.R. Labs. Alongside Harley Quinn, Joker kills Jimmy Olsen, kidnaps Lois, and steals a nuclear weapon, which they connect to a heart rate monitor surgically attached to her heart. Upon hearing of Lois' capture, Superman and Batman call upon the other members of the Justice League to find her. While searching the city, Flash finds the Scarecrow dead in his lab and his supply of fear toxin missing, before being killed by a trap laid by Joker.

Superman eventually finds the Joker and Harley hiding on a submarine, but is attacked by Doomsday upon confronting them, and flies the monster into space. As the other heroes arrive and apprehend Joker and Harley, Batman realizes that they have mixed the stolen fear toxin and Kryptonite, using it to make Superman hallucinate that he is fighting Doomsday; in reality, he has killed Lois. Before Superman can be warned, Lois' death triggers the detonation of the warhead, destroying Metropolis and killing millions of people.

Joker is apprehended and brought to Arkham Asylum where he reveals to Batman that, frustrated with being unable to break him, he turned his sights on corrupting Superman instead. A grieving Superman crashes the interrogation, killing Joker by impaling him with his fist, ripping out his heart, much to Batman's horror. Aboard the Watchtower as the world reacts to his actions, Superman resolves to take a firmer stance on preventing death, which is supported by Wonder Woman but disavowed by Batman, believing that he will throw away his and the Justice League's ideals.

While Green Arrow takes Harley to his hideout to protect her from Superman's wrath, Superman reveals his secret identity before the United Nations and announces his intentions to bring peace to Earth, by force if necessary. The Justice League is left divided over Superman's actions; with some embracing his new methods, while Green Lantern, Aquaman, Shazam, and other members refuse to support them and leave the Justice League.

Meanwhile, the United States government becomes concerned that Superman will interfere in their covert operations, and have Mirror Master and his soldiers kidnap his father, Jonathan Kent, as leverage against him. Superman begins to question his actions, but Wonder Woman reassures him that he is doing the right thing. Locating Mirror Master, Wonder Woman and Raven force him to give up Jonathan's location. Wonder Woman takes his belt, which Superman uses to find and rescue his father. In the White House, Batman confronts the President and warns him not to go after Superman's family.

Later, Superman visits Gotham City for the next stage of his plan and tries to make peace with Batman, only to fall into an argument over their ideological views, culminating in Batman rejecting Superman. Alongside Nightwing, Batman heads to Arkham to prevent Superman, Wonder Woman and Cyborg from forcefully relocating Arkham's inmates to a more secure facility, discovering that his son Robin has joined Superman. Harley, after escaping from Green Arrow and deciding to become a hero, releases the inmates to kill Superman, forcing the heroes into battle. During the fight, Robin lashes out against Nightwing, accidentally killing him with a blow to the head. A heartbroken Batman disowns Robin for his actions, leaving Arkham with Nightwing's body. Informed of what happened by Superman, Catwoman arrives at the Batcave to comfort Batman. In the afterlife, Nightwing meets Rama Kushna, who transforms him into Deadwing to restore balance to the world.

Robin introduces Superman to his grandfather, Ra's al Ghul, who offers his assistance in furthering his mission; however, he refuses to partner with a villain. Alongside other heroes who refused to join Superman, Batman forms an underground insurgency and makes plans to steal a red sun cannon from the Fortress of Solitude to defeat Superman. Realizing Batman's plan, Superman arrives at the Fortress, defeating Captain Atom and Huntress before being subdued by the Atom, who's in Superman's brain wielding a microscopic piece of Kryptonite. Before the cannon can be stolen, Ra's destroys it and kills Atom by making Superman inhale concentrated radioactive gas. Green Arrow attempts to shoot Superman with a Kryptonite arrow, only for it to be deflected into Jonathan, resulting in Superman killing Green Arrow in anger. Following his father's last words, Superman allows Batman and his team to escape with the Phantom Zone Projector, and officially partners with Ra's.

Superman publicly declares his intentions to use T-Spheres, which survey the world and prevent crime, and later kills a nightclub of teenagers for wearing the Joker's symbol. To counter this, Batman has Plastic Man break the T-Spheres' creator, Mister Terrific, out of Superman's prison in the Mariana Trench, receiving unseen help from Deadwing. Video footage of Superman attacking the nightclub is leaked, leaving Wonder Woman uneased. Superman dispatches Amazo, an indestructible learning android constructed by Ra's, for a test run in Smallville. However, Amazo quickly turns violent and attacks Superman, and Ra's announces his intentions to betray him. Able to replicate metahuman powers, Amazo overpowers the Justice League, killing Hawkman and Cyborg, but Batman and his allies arrive and help Superman and Wonder Woman destroy the android. Meanwhile, Robin, having had a change of heart, duels and defeats Ra's with Deadwing's help.

Despite their aid, Superman prepares to have the insurgents arrested and incapacitates Wonder Woman after she turns on him. However, having created an interdimensional gateway using his technology and the Phantom Zone Projector, Mister Terrific summons the Superman of Earth One to battle his counterpart. Earth Twenty-Two Superman defeats Earth One Superman as the latter was holding back, but surrenders after being talked down by Lois Lane from Earth Nine, whose universe's Superman died in a battle against Brainiac and remains pregnant with his child.

Remorseful of his actions, Superman agrees to be imprisoned as penance. Although unsure of what will happen next, Batman makes preparations to rebuild the world and his life with Catwoman.

Cast[]

Production[]

In June 2021, an animated film based on the 2013 video game Injustice: Gods Among Us was announced.^[2] The voice cast for the film was announced the following month on July 21.^[1]

Release[]

Unlike the games, which are Rated T from the ESRB, the film is Rated R for Bloody Violence, making it the first R-Rated movie based on a T-Rated video games series since Tekken.^{[citation needed]} The film was released on October 19, 2021 on Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD and in digital format.^[3][4] The DVD was exclusively released for Walmart stores.^[5] On October 9, the entire film was leaked online, ten days before its planned release date.^[6]

The Blu-ray includes the featurette titled Adventures in Storytelling: Injustice – Crisis and Conflict, where the filmmakers discuss the production and themes of the movie, in addition to both parts of the animated Justice League TV show's episode "Injustice for All".^[7]

Reception[]

Critical reception[]

Injustice received mixed reviews. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 60% of 5 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.60/10. Criticism was leveled at the unceremonious character deaths, poor character development, unfaithfulness to the source material and overstuffed plot. Some reviewers, however, praised the voice acting and animation.^[8]

Streaming and home media[]

The film debuted at the third position on the "NPD Videoscan First Alert" weekly rankings for overall home media sales and Blu-ray sales in the United States.^[5] According to The Numbers, it sold 43,317 Blu-ray units and 7,568 DVD units in its first week of release for a revenue of $1.16 million.^[9] It also ranked fifth on both Google Play and Vudu's VOD charts.^[10] In the United Kingdom, it debuted at the tenth rank on the Official Film Chart.^[11]

In the second week of its release in the United States, Injustice fell to the fifth rank on the Blu-ray sales chart and eighth rank in overall disc sales.^[12] At the end of October, it ranked tenth in overall disc sales during the month.^[13] The film re-entered Google Play's top 10 films chart in its third week, ranking fifth,^[14] falling to the tenth rank in the following week.^[15]

References[]

External links[]

• Injustice at IMDb