Zack Snyder Chooses Oscar-Nominated Brazilian Film Over ‘Man of Steel’ on TikTok’s Viral Movie Bracket Game
When presented with a viral TikTok challenge to choose between two popular movies, director Zack Snyder displayed his taste by picking the Oscar-winning drama The Imitation Game over the Thor threequel Ragnarok. Snyder, known for steering DC’s Man of Steel and Justice League, is no stranger to superhero films. But when given the choice between Chris Hemsworth’s comedic 2017 Thor installment and the Benedict Cumberbatch-led biopic, he went with the latter. The Imitation Game received the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. But at the box office, Thor: Ragnarok significantly outperformed Snyder’s own Justice League the same year. So what drew Snyder to the smaller historical drama over Marvel’s well-received franchise entry?
Does Zack Snyder Appreciate The Imitation Game’s Complexity?
The Imitation Game tackles weighty themes like the persecution of genius and the moral costs of war. Benedict Cumberbatch’s nuanced turn as codebreaker Alan Turing brings quiet intensity and pathos to the role. The film balances intellect and emotion in recounting how Turing’s brilliance cracked Nazi communication codes during World War 2. But his homosexuality later made him a tragic victim of inhumane laws.
With his penchant for visually stylistic, emotionally-driven stories, Zack Snyder likely connected more with the delicate tones of The Imitation Game over Ragnarok’s colorful superhero spectacle. The former’s strong writing and Cumberbatch’s complex performance give it an emotional edge.
While Snyder passed on Thor: Ragnarok for the TikTok challenge, the film was a major success for Marvel and director Taika Waititi. The comedic, vibrant take on the character earned over $850 million globally, reinvigorating the Thor solo franchise.
Zack Snyder plays the TikTok movie bracket game and Man of Steel pops up! pic.twitter.com/sdzahXjsMr
— Movieweb (@movieweb) December 6, 2023
While Snyder passed on Thor: Ragnarok for the TikTok challenge, the film was an undisputed smash hit for Marvel and director Taika Waititi. The vibrant, comedic take on the character earned over $850 million globally, reinvigorating the Thor solo franchise in a huge way. Critics and audiences alike embraced seeing the God of Thunder in a new light.
How Did Ragnarok Stack Up to Justice League at the Box Office?
Snyder’s own Justice League film was clouded by behind-the-scenes issues during production. The ambitious DC team-up should have earned monster returns with Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman sharing the screen for the first time.
Yet despite its bigger name ensemble cast, Justice League fell far short of expectations. It only managed to surpass $650 million worldwide a few weeks after Ragnarok’s release. The mediocre box office performance and response were seen as a disappointment.
Given Thor 3’s much stronger box office run, Snyder likely has respect for Marvel’s hit. But his TikTok selection shows when picking purely on artistic merits, he connected more with The Imitation Game’s elegant approach over the MCU’s crowd-pleasing tempo.
While many hail Ragnarok as a franchise high point, Snyder followed his instincts in response to the viral social media challenge.
