What Makes James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad So Much Better Than The First Movie

As “The Suicide Squad” currently in cinemas as well as on HBO Max, some could be thinking, “Did they make more of these?” “Suicide Squad” — released in August 2016 almost five years ago, is not to be mistaken with this month’s “The Suicide Squad”. Both films have the same basic plot: a team of deadly, sentenced villains who are offered the option of completing a special mission in return for a shorter jail term, or they would die.

Is the 2021 movie, however, a sequel? A reinvention? Revamping? Yes. It is, indeed. In this quest, there are returning protagonists, new faces, and a fresh director, yet “The Suicide Squad” does not seem like the predecessor. The movie‘s obvious contrasts and change in the atmosphere are, in fact, part of the reason it was created in the first place. Here are the biggest differences between “Suicide Squad” versus “The Suicide Squad.

#1 The squad itself has different members.

#2 The relationships between the characters are much stronger this time around.

#3 Bloodsport replaces Deadshot as the unlikely leader of the team.

#4 The Suicide Squad has a completely different plot from the 2016 movie, but there is still a connection between the films.

#5 The Suicide Squad’s R rating is used to its fullest extent, and it’s WAY more violent, bloody, and profane

#6 The body count is enormous, and a BUNCH of main characters die.

#7 Both movies use flashbacks for expositional purposes, but the 2021 movie just does it better.

#8 There’s no direct reference to the events of the first movie, but James Gunn takes advantage of some of the groundwork laid by David Ayers

#9 Harley wears a lot more clothes in this movie, but she continues her reign as the DCEU’s best character.

#10 The group goes on a mission together right away (within the first 10 minutes), rather than 45 minutes in like in the 2016 version.

#11 Farewell, Killer Croc — welcome, King Shark.

#12 Visually, the movies are totally different.

#13 Rick Flag is cool now.

#14 The villain is relatively less dangerous compared to Enchantress from the first movie.

#15 The new characters are unexpected but perfect additions to the story.

#16 Amanda Waller seems to have less power in this version, which can only be a good thing.

#17 She’s also, somehow, even more, evil in this version.

#18 There is little to no connection to the DCEU’s previous movies.

#19 No Joker!

#20 The soundtrack in the new movie isn’t as aggressive as its predecessor.