Controversial Move: HBO Max Europe Shocks Fans by Abruptly Removing Zack Snyder’s Justice League

HBO Max Europe has abruptly removed Zack Snyder's Justice League, the 2021 movie that presented a different version of the 2017 DC superhero team-up. This move comes as the parent company goes through a financial recovery period. Warner Bros. collaborated with Snyder to create a cut that incorporated both unused footage and scenes from the original theatrical release, aligning with Snyder's artistic vision. The new version of the film received positive reviews from critics and gained audience acclaim, making it one of HBO Max's top 10 premieres of all time.

After being available on the platform for just over two years, HBO Max Europe has removed Zack Snyder's Justice League from its library without warning. This news was first brought to attention by a Twitter user named @callouswayne, who expressed disappointment at the sudden unavailability of the well-received alternate cut. Sources in European countries have confirmed that the title can no longer be streamed on the platform, although it remains accessible in North America.

Why Zack Snyder’s Justice League Is Missing From HBO Max Europe

Zack Snyder's Justice League has been taken off HBO Max Europe shortly after its trailer was removed from the Max YouTube channel, despite the trailer receiving 31 million views. The streamer's PR team confirmed that the trailer was made private due to a music licensing issue, similar to an incident in November 2020 when the trailer was first released on HBO Max's YouTube channel. It is unclear at the moment if the streamer intends to resolve this issue or keep the trailer private permanently.

The removal of the entire movie from Max, not just the trailer, raises concerns among Snyder fans and makes it more difficult for audiences to ignore the situation. It also raises questions about why Zack Snyder's Justice League was removed only for European viewers and not for all regions. It could be due to the music licensing issue that affected the trailer, or it could be a result of WarnerMedia's controversial cost-cutting measures, which have led to the removal of many titles from Max and HBO Max as the studio tries to recover from its $3 billion debt.

Given that Zack Snyder's Justice League has been removed from HBO Max Europe, it appears unlikely that this decision was made due to any issues specific to the U.S. version of the platform. While it is not uncommon for projects to be removed from streaming services, it is rare for originals to be taken down unless the platform decides not to pay for streaming rights, as illustrated by Disney+'s removal of titles like Willow. The ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which involve streaming residuals, could be a potential reason for the removal of Zack Snyder's Justice League from HBO Max Europe. However, until the studio provides an official response, the exact cause remains uncertain.