Despite the complicated history DC Studios has had over the years, the DCEU stands as a huge accomplishment for the franchise. The DCEU (DC Extended Universe) refers to the live-action films from Man of Steel and on, excluding Joker and The Batman. While the term is not exactly official or approved by Warner Bros. in any way, it has helped moviegoers and fans separate various films and connect the overarching timelines in the way the term MCU has for Marvel. If that didn't make a lot of sense, don't worry, the term will most likely be dropped out of conversation relatively soon as The Flash essentially reset everything.
It's no secret that the DCEU has had its issues in the past, but there are definite gems that have come through in the films from the story structures presented. DC Studios is constantly trying to stay relevant compared to the popularity of the MCU, but a fresh take is what is needed to redefine the DC universe and continue to create the great stories that are present in the franchise.
10 Justice League (2017)
The complicated history behind the making of Justice League definitely contributed to the scattered and seemingly incomplete version director Joss Whedon presented. Zack Snyder was the original head and director of the film and remained on the project for a majority of the shoots until a tragic family incident pulled him away from the project, being replaced by Joss Whedon. After Whedon took over, Warner Bros. drastically changed the storylines to fit a more blockbuster superhero film, resulting in a film that was as confused about its identity as the audience.
We are only including the theatrical cut of the film, as Zack Snyder has previously confirmed in an interview with Deadline that Warner Bros. considers the 2017 version of the film as canon to the DCEU instead of the Snyder Cut of the film.
9 Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
Despite the immense popularity of the first film, Wonder Woman 1984 was not received well among audiences. The majority of complaints are rooted in the story, which attempted to tackle too many comic book events and villains in one film while being riddled with plot holes that left fans questioning multiple storylines. The film was released in December 2020, forcing a release on HBO Max, and not in theaters, adding to the probability of a flop.
Sadly, the failure of the film is a strong hint to the unfortunate probability that we may not see a solo film for Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman anytime soon, which is a shame since this iteration of the character is so beloved.
8 Aquaman (2018)
Throughout its marketing, Aquaman promised an epic adventure with the likes of high-grossing superheros and action films of the past. However, the hype did not match the reality of the film. Yes, there was adventure, but there was heart missing in the plot and various actors' portrayals.
Aquaman's drastic personality change from a positive and powerful ruler like previous iterations of the character to a more negative and reluctant hero featured in the film added to the overall low fan acceptance of the film. While there are some good plot points in the film, Aquaman has an overall sense of incompleteness that lingers after each watch.
7 The Flash (2023)
Despite the various issues surrounding The Flash, there were some positives. Yes, the CGI was absurd, the film attempted to do too much and left things in the dust, the cameos were random and diminishing, and the comedy was absurdly placed and subpar. But, the overall story was relatively strong as it followed various Flash comic plot lines, most notably, the Flashpoint storyline. Of course, the addition of Michael Keaton's Batman definitely gave the film a boost in viewership and ratings.
On paper, the plot was interesting, but once it changed too much to fit the screen and DC Studios' expectations, it became muddled and attempted to tie-in too many references, resulting in a film that didn't quite connect with its comic book origins as many fans had hoped.
6 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Releasing just two months before Marvel's Captain America: Civil War, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice fell short of viewers' expectations as Marvel triumphantly defeated the film at the box office as well as the audience's preferences. While the film was still successful, there are some definite problems. Some were fixed in the Ultimate Edition of the film, which provides clarity on various storylines and improves the plot compared to the theatrical release.
The most notable issue that remains is the infamous Martha moment from the film, which many viewers criticized for being a cop-out to end the fight between Batman and Superman and bring in a higher threat, Doomsday, for the heroes to battle. Yet, the film remains memorable as the second installment of Zack Snyder's DC universe.
5 Shazam! (2019)
Shazam! was a much-needed change of pace for the DC franchise that gave audiences a fresh experience compared to previously released DC films. While it didn't directly tie into the DCEU in the long run, the film still made an impact and was fun and entertaining while balancing a light-hearted family film with heavier tones that come with a superhero plot.
It poked fun at itself while also putting heart into the story. Unfortunately, Shazam! received the same treatment as Wonder Woman when its sequel, Shazam! Fury of the Gods tanked in theaters, giving an untimely end to the once popular character.
4 Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020)
Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), or Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey, as the film was later referred to on ticketing websites due to a title change for marketing reasons, was a stellar film that surprisingly tanked in theaters. But, despite the film's release being cut short by the pandemic, it remains a popular film among DC fans for the return of Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn.
The story had a unique, overall direction and was succinct and eye-catching, with excellent performances from the entire cast. Birds of Prey surpassed expectations by being the first DCEU film to be rated R and challenged the concept of a traditional ending for a comic book film.
3 Man of Steel (2013)
Man of Steel was the first film in the now semi-established DCEU as well as the beginning of Zack Snyder's plan for an interconnected universe that didn't quite pan out as expected. The story was relatively simple, but strong performances by Henry Cavill and Amy Adams paired with Snyder's vision made the film the success it is today. There were strong connections to the comic books, and the story stood on its own while allowing room for future tie-ins.
The film recently had its 10th anniversary in tandem with The Flash's release, reminding fans of how different the DCEU turned out. While it stands as a reminder of what things could have been, Man of Steel definitely remains one of the top DCEU films, as it gave an edge to a beloved superhero and set a precedent for future DCEU projects.
2 Wonder Woman (2017)
Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman stood as a triumph for superhero films and women alike, leading to more female-centered films in a previously male-dominated genre. The film obtained high ratings at the box office and continually stands as an icon of feminism in cinema. This success was a direct result of the groundbreaking number of female cast and crew for a giant superhero film and the chosen feminist icon portrayed by actress Gal Gadot.
The story encompassed the infamous heroine's origin relatively true to the comics while adding a new and modern flare that was received well by audiences. One of the few negatives in the film were the odd and unnatural CGI effects used to bulk up an armor-clad Ares in the final battle. This isn't the first time DC has struggled with CGI, and has always been a topic of interest with various action movies as the industry continually balances ways to incorporate CGI.
1 The Suicide Squad (2021)
The Suicide Squad could be looked at as James Gunn's audition to take over DC, and he definitely succeeded, with him and Peter Safran being named co-CEO's of DC Studios in late 2022. While the confusion over the 2021 film being neither a reboot or a sequel of the original 2016 film definitely hindered viewers, it was an overall success and triumph in terms of acceptance, not box office numbers (due to COVID). Despite this, the film was well received and even led to a spinoff TV show about one of the more popular characters, Peacemaker.
The film gave the notorious and morally bankrupt crew a fresh coat of paint that it so desperately needed, proving to audiences that the Suicide Squad was a formidable team of loving and weird misfits. While there has been no confirmation of a sequel or the return of any characters, fans should keep a close watch on what Gunn and Safran have in store for the future of DC.
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