Suicide Squad (2016), directed by David Ayer, was one of the most anticipated superhero films of its year. Marketed as a darker, anarchic, and rebellious entry into the burgeoning DC Extended Universe (DCEU), it promised to turn the superhero genre on its head by placing villains — rather than heroes — in the spotlight. Featuring an ensemble cast led by Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Viola Davis, Jared Leto, and Joel Kinnaman, the film sought to explore moral ambiguity and redemption against the backdrop of explosive action and antiheroic chaos. However, while Suicide Squad was commercially successful, grossing over $746 million worldwide, its critical reception was deeply polarized. The film became emblematic of both the creative ambitions and the tonal inconsistencies that plagued early entries in the DCEU.
Origins and Production Background
The idea of adapting Suicide Squad from DC Comics had circulated for years before its eventual realization. The original comic series, created by Robert Kanigher and Ross Andru in 1959 and later reinvented by John Ostrander in the 1980s, featured a rotating team of incarcerated supervillains coerced into undertaking high-risk missions for the U.S. government in exchange for reduced sentences. This concept of “bad guys doing good for bad reasons” resonated with the antihero trend in modern cinema.
Warner Bros. officially greenlit Suicide Squad in 2014 as part of its ambitious plan to rival Marvel’s cinematic universe. David Ayer, known for gritty, character-driven dramas such as Training Day (as screenwriter) and End of Watch (as director), was brought on to give the film a raw, street-level tone. However, Suicide Squad entered production during a tumultuous time for DC films. The studio had recently received criticism for the bleakness of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), and executives reportedly pushed for a lighter, more humorous tone for Suicide Squad. This led to significant studio interference, reshoots, and competing edits — one emphasizing Ayer’s darker vision and another reflecting the more colorful, irreverent style of the marketing campaign. The resulting film, many critics argue, was a compromise between two incompatible tones.
Plot Overview
The narrative of Suicide Squad begins after Superman’s death in Batman v Superman, a turning point that leaves the world vulnerable. Intelligence officer Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) proposes a contingency plan: Task Force X, a secret government program that assembles imprisoned supervillains to carry out black-ops missions deemed too dangerous for regular forces. Should they disobey, miniature explosives implanted in their necks will be detonated.
The team includes elite marksman Deadshot (Will Smith), deranged psychiatrist-turned-criminal Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), pyrokinetic gang leader El Diablo (Jay Hernandez), genetic mutant Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), boomerang-wielding thief Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney), and the sword-wielding Katana (Karen Fukuhara). They are commanded by Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman), whose loyalty to Waller is tested when his girlfriend, Dr. June Moone (Cara Delevingne), becomes possessed by an ancient witch known as Enchantress.
When Enchantress escapes Waller’s control and summons her brother Incubus to wreak havoc on Midway City, the Squad is dispatched to contain the threat. Along the way, they face moral and personal struggles: Deadshot’s longing for his daughter, Harley’s toxic relationship with the Joker (Jared Leto), and El Diablo’s guilt over his violent past. Ultimately, the Squad bands together to defeat Enchantress, not out of duty but out of a shared sense of defiance and reluctant camaraderie. Despite saving the world, they are returned to prison, though with slightly improved privileges.
Themes and Character Dynamics
One of Suicide Squad’s most intriguing aspects lies in its thematic ambition. The film attempts to humanize villains, exploring how trauma, loss, and manipulation shape moral corruption. Deadshot, for instance, is portrayed not merely as a killer-for-hire but as a father yearning to reconnect with his daughter. Will Smith’s performance imbues the character with both menace and pathos, serving as the emotional anchor of the team.
Harley Quinn emerges as the film’s breakout star. Margot Robbie’s portrayal captures Harley’s manic energy, unpredictability, and vulnerability. Her backstory — a psychiatrist manipulated by the Joker into madness — is depicted through stylized flashbacks, highlighting the psychological abuse at the heart of their relationship. Robbie balances charm and chaos, making Harley simultaneously tragic and entertaining. Her performance was so well received that it led to a spinoff film, Birds of Prey (2020).
El Diablo provides the film’s most poignant redemption arc. Haunted by the accidental deaths of his wife and children, he initially refuses to use his powers but ultimately sacrifices himself to destroy Enchantress’s brother. His arc reinforces the film’s underlying message: even the most broken individuals can act heroically when given a chance at redemption.
Amanda Waller, by contrast, represents the moral corruption within authority. Viola Davis delivers a commanding performance, portraying Waller as ruthless and manipulative, willing to use monsters to fight monsters. Her cold pragmatism blurs the line between heroism and villainy — suggesting that the true antagonist may not be the Squad, but the government exploiting them.
Style, Music, and Visual Design
A defining feature of Suicide Squad is its bold visual and musical style. The film opens with quick-cut introductions to each character, accompanied by pop and rock tracks such as Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Eminem’s “Without Me,” and Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son.” This jukebox-like approach, clearly inspired by films such as Guardians of the Galaxy, was meant to infuse energy and humor. However, many critics argued that the rapid editing and overuse of popular music created tonal inconsistency, detracting from narrative depth.
Visually, Suicide Squad adopts a neon-soaked, punk-inspired aesthetic — graffiti, tattoos, and fluorescent colors dominate the screen. This contrasts with the dark, metallic tone of earlier DCEU films and aligns with the film’s rebellious spirit. Harley Quinn’s costumes, for instance, blend glamour and insanity, while the Joker’s metallic purple aesthetic modernizes his gangster persona. However, the CGI-heavy climax with Enchantress was criticized for being generic and visually cluttered, undermining the distinctiveness of the earlier scenes.
Jared Leto’s Joker: Experimentation and Controversy
One of the most debated elements of Suicide Squad was Jared Leto’s portrayal of the Joker. Following Heath Ledger’s iconic performance in The Dark Knight (2008), Leto faced immense pressure to reinterpret the role. His Joker is a flamboyant, gangster-like figure, covered in tattoos and gold accessories, reflecting a modern, street-level criminal aesthetic. Leto famously adopted a method-acting approach, staying in character off set and reportedly sending bizarre gifts to co-stars. Despite this, his screen time was minimal — roughly ten minutes — due to significant cuts during post-production.
Audience and critical reactions were mixed. Some praised Leto’s intensity, while others found the portrayal forced and lacking menace. Many fans expressed disappointment that the Joker-Harley dynamic, heavily featured in marketing, was largely absent from the final film. The controversy surrounding Leto’s performance became symbolic of the broader production issues — ambitious concepts hindered by studio interference.
Reception and Cultural Impact
Upon its release in August 2016, Suicide Squad received harsh reviews from critics, earning a 26% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Common criticisms targeted its disjointed editing, muddled tone, and weak villain. However, audiences were more forgiving, praising the performances of Will Smith, Margot Robbie, and Viola Davis, as well as the film’s humor and energy. Despite its critical shortcomings, Suicide Squad was a commercial success and even won an Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling — the first Oscar for a DCEU film.
The film’s legacy lies partly in its influence on DC’s cinematic direction. Its mixed reception prompted Warner Bros. to reevaluate its approach, leading to more director-driven projects such as Joker (2019) and James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad (2021), which reimagined the concept with greater creative freedom and critical acclaim. Gunn’s version retained some characters — notably Harley Quinn — while abandoning others, effectively rebooting the franchise.
Conclusion
Suicide Squad (2016) remains a paradox within modern superhero cinema: a film filled with potential, striking imagery, and charismatic performances, yet hindered by creative indecision and studio meddling. It dared to explore moral ambiguity and celebrate antiheroes, offering a chaotic alternative to traditional superhero narratives. While it faltered in execution, its characters — particularly Harley Quinn — became cultural icons, shaping the future of the DCEU and influencing popular culture.
In retrospect, Suicide Squad can be viewed as both a cautionary tale and a stepping stone. It revealed the risks of overediting and tonal compromise, but it also demonstrated audiences’ appetite for unconventional, morally complex stories within comic book universes. Despite its flaws, the film occupies a distinctive place in cinematic history — a loud, unruly, and unforgettable experiment in bringing villainy to the center stage.
