This year's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was not adored by critics, but it went on to make $873 million worldwide, making it one of the most successful DC Comics movie ever made. One piece of criticism of the film was its tone, which some perceived to be too serious.

Star Ben Affleck, who played Batman in the film, has now weighed in to defend the film. He explained that he thinks Batman v Superman was judged on its tone more than its execution.

"It was a huge hit movie. More people went to see that than any movie I've ever made in my career. It was the biggest hit of my career," Affleck told a local Fox affiliate TV station in Washington, D.C., as reported by Entertainment Weekly. "And then it had a lot editorial negativity."

He added: "It was interesting, that movie, because it was judged not necessarily on execution so much as on its tone. People seemed to want to have a lighter tone to the movie, and I thought that was interesting because it's subjective. Tone is not a qualitative thing. It's subjective, right? Some tones resonate with me that might not with you."

Affleck went on to say that the tone of Batman v Superman was not unlike the Frank Miller book The Dark Knight Returns, which he said he enjoyed.

Speaking generally about the reaction to Batman v Superman, Affleck said, "I'm glad that so many people went and so many people liked the movie. It worked out. I loved it."

GameSpot's Batman v Superman review noted the film's tone.

"If only the film wasn't so eager to always remind you of its stern nature," reviewer Randolph Ramsay said. "Dawn of Justice is almost oppressively downbeat. It doesn't allow a moment of joy for any of its characters, seeking to impress at every turn just how larger-than-life and mythic these characters and their struggles are."

Affleck will reprise his role as Batman in 2017's Justice League (which recently crossed a filming milestone) and the standalone Batman film, for which he's also the director. He'll be seen next in crime drama The Accountant, which comes out on October 14.