“The Suicide Squad” is it Worth the Hype?

Is “The Suicide Squad” really as great as its Rotten Tomatoes ranking? Maybe, if you like gross.

The movie has an R rating and with good reason. It’s gory and it’s bloody. Warner Bros Represents is written in brains.

The movie is in theaters and streaming on HBO Max. The box office numbers are weak despite some glowing reviews. This could be due to many people who chose to stream it at home. I was one of them.

Box Office Versus Streaming

Do box office numbers matter anymore? What weight should they be given versus streaming numbers? In a post-Covid world, will we track streaming like box office numbers? Should we?

It’s also confusing that “The Suicide Squad” is a follow-up for “Suicide Squad.” It’s not a sequel and it’s not a remake of the 2016 movie.  It’s somewhere in between. Like the first movie, it stars an outcast group of DC characters and glamorized prison labor.

Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) sends the group of disorganized anti-heroes on a mission to destroy a science facility. There are some big-name actors including Margot Robbie in her role as Harley Quinn.

I won’t spoil the ending, but if you’re looking for a twist at the end, you’ll get it. It ties into a larger conversation about the American government and the consequences of unchecked power.

Differences From “Suicide Squad”

There is a different director. James Gunn directed this film and he’s also the director of both “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies. This makes sense because it has “Guardians of the Galaxy” mixed with “Deadpool” energy. There are some well-written jokes and plenty of cursing. 

The film also has lesser known characters from DC Comics. It might be worth the watch if you’re a hardcore DC fan. If you’re not in the mood for characters getting blown up in every scene and a superhero whose power is to control rats, skip this one.