DCEU had its ups and downs. From dreadful Rotten Tomatoes scores to the colossal failure of Justice League at the 2017 box-office, DCEU survived eternal punishments from both fans and critics. But, over the course it finally found its tone and rhythm. With the standalone films featuring underrated characters finishing up with supreme box-office runs, now is a great time to be a fan of the DCEU as the future is only brighter. So, let’s rank all the movies in the universe from worst to best. Here we go!
Last Updated after Aquaman 2 Release
Related: MCU Movies Ranked from Worst to Best
Also Read: Spider-Man Movies Ranked from Worst to Best
Director – David Ayer
Starring – Margot Robbie, Will Smith
David Ayer’s Suicide Squad, unfortunately, had nothing going in its favor, except for the characters of Harley Quinn and Deadshot. With the other cast members serving little to no purpose, the narrative also suffered from multiple storytelling issues and a lackluster villain, who is just underwhelming. Suicide Squad was a forgettable film despite having good potential and massive hype surrounding before the release.
Director – Zack Snyder
Starring – Gal Gadot, Ben Affleck
[This excerpt comes from Surya’s Justice League review]
One of the main reasons why the Justice League is so far down the list is because of the re-watchability factor. I maybe watched the movie a couple of times and never had the interest to visit again. However, I have to agree that with all the controversies and the complications, the production went through, Justice League entertains as an overall film. It isn’t perfect and yes, had significant plot-holes and an uninteresting antagonist. But, with the League carrying great chemistry between them and having a ton of fun throughout the entire runtime, it made me feel delighted to watch.
Director – James Wan
Starring – Jason Momoa & Patrick Wilson
Preview Only: After failing to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta wields the power of the mythic Black Trident to unleash an ancient and malevolent force. Hoping to end his reign of terror, Aquaman forges an unlikely alliance with his brother, Orm, the former king of Atlantis. Setting aside their differences, they join forces to protect their kingdom and save the world from irreversible destruction.
Director – Zack Snyder
Starring – Ben Affleck & Henry Cavill
Dubbed as a rushed reckless film criticized for it’s scattered screenplay and uneven narrative, Dawn of Justice, didn’t win any hearts after it’s hyped up release. However, the extended cut of the film won me over. Multiple scenes were given ample time to establish themselves, and the character development was existent even for the slightest bit. Although there are a few drawbacks still impairing the narrative, Batman v Superman is not terrible, but, a poorly executed one.
Director – Patty Jenkins
Starring – Gal Gadot & Kristen Wiig
[This excerpt comes from Surya’s ‘WW84’ Review]
A sequel to the 2017 super-hit DCEU savior, Wonder Woman, WW84 stars Gal Gadot reprising the titular character as Diana Prince with Kristen Wiig and Pedro Pascal as the lead antagonists. WW84 succeeds in telling a good story, setting up characters that are delightful to watch on-screen, and is backed by some decent performances from the lead cast. Despite the consistent unjustifiable moments or the lack of unexplained events, the film is straightforward with its narrative and is a decent watch.
Director – Jaume Collet-Serra
Starring – Dwayne Johnson, Sarah Shahi
Been in development hell since the late 2000s, Black Adam, the 11th film in the DCEU is directed Jaume Collet-Serra and stars Dwayne Johnson in the lead role with Aldis Hodge, Noah Centineo, Sarah Shahi, Quintessa Swindell, Marwan Kenzari, Bodhi Sabongui, and Pierce Brosnan in the supporting roles. The storyline begins with Teth Adam, a true champion of Kahndaq, waking up after his 5000-year sleep only to find out that his hometown is not the same as he remembers.
Director – David F. Sandberg
Starring – Zachary Levi, Asher Angel
Shazam Fury of the Gods, the sequel to 2019’s Shazam, is an enjoyable film with humor and a well-done emotional core. However, it follows a familiar formula of good guys vs. bad guys, making it somewhat predictable and lacking in excitement. The film feels somewhat hollow with cameos and post-credit scenes that are unlikely to be further developed. While it’s a perfect streaming option for light entertainment, it’s still a better film than Black Adam.
Director – Cathy Yan
Starring – Margot Robbie, J. Smollett
Birds of Prey follows the storyline of Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) after she breaks up with the Joker. Well, as the film was directed by a woman, Cathy Yan, you can see how Harley Quinn is seen as a strong individual character rather than a hot side piece, it was so refreshing. Her character wasn’t overly sexualized and even though the film had issues, it was a lot better than the previous ones. – Zoha Junaid
Director – Ángel Manuel Soto
Starring – Xolo Maridueña, Bruna Marquezine
Directed by Ángel Manuel Soto, Blue Beetle delves into the emotional journey of Jaime Reyes as he discovers a scarab, setting him on a transformative path. While the film excels in portraying family dynamics and Latinx culture, its superhero narrative feels generic. Nonetheless, standout performances, captivating visuals, and a poignant score make for a compelling, albeit imperfect, cinematic experience.
Director – James Wan
Starring – Jason Momoa, Amber Heard
Aquaman, directed by James Wan serves as the origin story of Arthur Curry character in a superhero-fantasy-drama drenched in the Kingdom of Atlantis. Aquaman is a game changer with some of the most outrageous, ambitious and spectacular set designs and visuals which will ensorcel you to the fullest. Wan took a script which shouldn’t work and offered something special and monumental to watch.
Director – David F. Sandberg
Starring – Zachary Levi, Mark Strong
The latest addition to the DC Extended Universe could be one of the most entertaining and funny films when compared to the other six. Thanks to the light-hearted tone and the family film approach it maintains throughout the runtime. Shazam! directed by David F. Sandberg is the journey of a 15 yr old foster kid, Billy Batson and how he utilised his superhero powers for the greater good. Chucklesome and emotional, this movie is a must watch even for a non-superhero film fan.
Director – Andrés Muschietti
Starring – Ezra Miller, Michael Keaton
Directed by Andy Muschietti and starring Ezra Miller in the titular role, The Flash marks the 14th film in the DC Extended Universe. Serving as a poignant farewell to Zack Snyder’s “Snyderverse,” the movie cleverly utilizes the concept of the multiverse to conclude the journeys of the beloved characters we’ve grown to know over the past decade. A surprising and highly entertaining film that strikes a balance between emotional depth and nostalgic elements.
Director – Zack Snyder
Starring – Henry Cavill, Amy Adams
[This excerpt comes from Surya’s ‘Man of Steel’ Review]
Arguably, one of the most polarizing DCEU movies to date, Man of Steel is a one-hell-of-a movie only when you consider watching it multiple times. It will grow on you every single time, and you will understand what Zack Snyder is trying to showcase as a storyteller. The film is a remarkable reboot of our beloved Superhero, but, certainly is a considerate thriller with more emotional values and serious stuff established in Kal-El’s life. Tagged along with exhilarating background music and decent performances from the entire cast, Man of Steel is the most underrated and probably one of the best DCEU movies till date.
Director – Zack Snyder
Starring – Gal Gadot, Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill
Zack Snyder’s Justice League, the much-awaited and highly demanded sequel to BvS, stars the same primary cast and tells an overall narrative that is no different from the now widely criticized and commercially unsuccessful theatrical release. A completely different movie when compared to the original that is more enjoyable, digestible, and very much watchable from start to finish. The characters in Zack Snyder’s Justice League are more fleshed out, and the build-up to the climax was well-paced and executed without any rush or studio involvement.
Director – James Gunn
Starring – Idris Elba, John Cena, Margot Robbie
The 2021 rated-R edition to the DCEU is over-the-top, in-your-face, gory, and captures the absurdness of the film flawlessly without compromising for the sake of appealing to particular demographics. James Gunn, who is an expert when it comes to highlighting ridiculous and foreign characters, once again impresses with his vision, storytelling, campiness of the film, and the overall presentation. Overall, despite the underwhelming box-office results, The Suicide Squad felt like a breath of fresh air, a balsy, and a top-notch attempt that we do not often get to see these days.
Director – Patty Jenkins
Starring – Gal Gadot, Chris Pine
The throne, however, belongs to The Queen. Wonder Woman is undoubtedly the best DCEU movie to date. Starring Gal Gadot in the lead role, this film is enjoyable, inspiring and sometimes hysterical making it a wholesome entertainer. Patty Jenkins perfectly captures the innocence, fearlessness witty humor and the genuine emotion behind Diana Prince’s character and directs an almost-perfect movie. Overall, Wonder Woman stands out as a very special film in the universe and rightfully deserves the #1 spot.
Also Read: All Christopher Nolan Movies Ranked
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Wonder-woman's cast is different, I suppose.