The Suicide Squad (film)
A sequel to Suicide Squad (2016) and tenth DCEU film.
The eleventh film in the DC Extended Universe, *The Suicide Squad* is a 2021 American superhero movie written and directed by James Gunn. It serves as a sequel to the 2016 film *Suicide Squad* and draws from the DC Comics team of the same name. The ensemble cast includes Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, David Dastmalchian, Daniela Melchior, Michael Rooker, Jai Courtney, Peter Capaldi, Alice Braga, Pete Davidson, Sylvester Stallone, and Viola Davis. The plot follows a group of convicts who, in return for reduced sentences, join a task force called the "Suicide Squad." They are dispatched to the South American island nation of Corto Maltese to eliminate all evidence of a giant alien starfish known as Starro the Conqueror before the local government can seize it.
Warner Bros. Pictures initially hired Gavin O'Connor to direct, but he left due to creative differences. After being temporarily fired by Disney and Marvel Studios from directing *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3* (2023), James Gunn was brought on to write and direct this film. He took inspiration from war films and John Ostrander's 1980s *Suicide Squad* comics. Principal photography ran from September 2019 to February 2020, primarily in Atlanta, Georgia, with additional shooting in Colón, Panama, and Porto, Portugal. The production featured the largest sets ever built for a Warner Bros. film.
The movie premiered in theaters in the United Kingdom on July 30, 2021, and was released in the United States on August 5, 2021, simultaneously in theaters and on the streaming service HBO Max. Unlike its predecessor, it received positive reviews from critics and became the most-streamed DCEU film on HBO Max. It grossed $169 million against a production budget of $185 million. Its box office performance was attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, its availability on HBO Max, and its connection to the first *Suicide Squad*. A spin-off television series, *Peacemaker*, followed in 2022, and an animated series, *Creature Commandos*, arrived in 2024. Another television series, *Waller*, is currently in development.
**Plot**
Intelligence officer Amanda Waller assembles two Task Force X teams, known as the "Suicide Squad," made up of inmates from Belle Reve penitentiary who agree to carry out missions for commuted sentences.
Quick Facts
- Director
- James Gunn
- Producer
- Charles Roven / Peter Safran
- Based On
- Characters / from DC
- Starring
- Margot Robbie / Idris Elba / John Cena / Joel Kinnaman / Jai Courtney / Peter Capaldi / Sylvester Stallone / Viola Davis
- Cinematography
- Henry Braham
- Editing
- Fred Raskin / Christian Wagner
- Music
- John Murphy
- Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures / DC Films / Atlas Entertainment / The Safran Company
- Distributor
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- Released
- 30 July 2021 · United Kingdom · 2021 · 8 · 6 · United States
- Runtime
- 132 minutes
- Country
- United States
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Warner Bros. Pictures originally hired Gavin O'Connor to direct, but he left due to creative differences. James Gunn was hired to write and direct after being temporarily fired by Disney and Marvel Studios as director of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023). Gunn drew inspiration from war films and John Ostrander's 1980s Suicide Squad comics. Filming took place from September 2019 to February 2020, primarily in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as in Colón, Panama, and Porto, Portugal. The film had the biggest sets ever built for a Warner Bros. production.
The film premiered theatrically in the United Kingdom on July 30, 2021, and was released in the United States on August 5, simultaneously in theaters and on the streaming service HBO Max. Unlike its predecessor, the film received positive reviews from critics and became the most-streamed DCEU film on HBO Max. The Suicide Squad grossed $169 million against a $185 million production budget. Its box office performance was attributed to factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the film's availability on HBO Max, and its relationship to the first Suicide Squad.
The film was followed by a spin-off television series, Peacemaker, in 2022, and an animated series, Creature Commandos, in 2024. A further television series, Waller, is in development.
Reader's Guide
The Suicide Squad is significant as a critical and commercial corrective to its 2016 predecessor, earning positive reviews and becoming the most-streamed DCEU film on HBO Max. Its box office performance, however, was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, simultaneous streaming release, and its connection to the earlier film. The film's legacy includes launching the spin-off series Peacemaker and the animated series Creature Commandos, with a further series Waller in development. James Gunn's direction, inspired by war films and 1980s comics, and the ensemble cast's performances were widely noted. The film's plot, involving a cover-up of American ties to a secret experiment, and its mid-credits and post-credits scenes, set up future stories in the DCEU.
Did You Know?
- The film was released simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max on August 5, 2021.
- A mid-credits scene reveals that Weasel survived and runs off into the jungle.
More in African-American superhero films 1-21
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced