8 Things No DC Fan Wants To Accept About The DC Extended Universe

After recently looking at the things Marvel fans are reluctant to accept about the MCU, it's time to reflect on the DCEU's failings...and what it did right (which some fans have a hard time accepting).

By JoshWilding - Apr 15, 2024 12:04 PM EST

Filed Under: DC Studios

The DC Extended Universe died with Orm eating a cockroach in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom's mid-credits scene. It was an embarrassing, albeit fitting, end to a franchise which had struggled from the start. Over a decade, there were good and bad things about the DCEU, and everyone has an opinion about them.

Unlike our recent feature looking at the things Marvel fans don't want to accept about the MCU, the DC fanbase is far more divided with vastly different takes on what does and doesn't work with these characters.

With that in mind, we anticipate many of you agreeing with some of our points but not others! Bear in mind, though, that we love all things DC here and each of the arguments listed can be viewed as either a defence or criticism of the DCEU; we'll leave it up to you to decide which side you fall on and whether you're one of the fans who just can't accept these are the case (in one writer's opinion, anyway).

So, to take a look through this feature, you just need to tap the "Next"/"View List" buttons below.

8. Copying Marvel Was The Right Move (It Just Didn't Work)

When moviegoers rejected Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice's dark tone, Warner Bros. went into panic mode and made sweeping to Suicide Squad to lighten (and brighten) up David Ayer's approach to storytelling. That's the same reason the studio ultimately turned to Joss Whedon to make Justice League less Batman v Superman, and more like The Avengers.

From that point on, attempts to replicate Marvel Studios' success continued in earnest, with Aquaman, Shazam!, and Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey basically copying and pasting their tones from the MCU. Honestly, it was the right decision...it just didn't work.

Making the DCEU the grim, borderline R-Rated world we saw from Zack Snyder and Ayer simply didn't work. There's a reason the movies above, and Blue Beetle, received positive reviews and even The Suicide Squad (which was R-Rated) clearly benefited from a filmmaker with Marvel experience. Alas, The Flash and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom proved Warner Bros. couldn't consistently pull it off.

7. Superman Sucked

There's no denying that Henry Cavill did a great job as Superman, and with the right script and director, perhaps the actor could have done amazing things with the role.

However, while sharing praise for his Clark Kent, many fans ignore the fact that this Kal-El...well, he's not exactly the selfless hero we know and love from the comics. In Man of Steel, he didn't decide to start saving people's lives until finally getting over his daddy issues (after allowing his adoptive father to sacrifice himself to keep his powers a secret), while killing Zod - even as a last resort - is massively out of character.

What led to the DCEU's most powerful hero heading down a dark path in those Knightmare flashforwards? His fiancée was killed, another sign that this Supes is one who cares more about himself than those he protects. Simply put, this Superman is no hero!

6. Warner Bros. Shouldn't #ReleaseTheAyerCut

Ever since the Snyder Cut of Justice League saw the light of day, Suicide Squad director David Ayer has been campaigning hard to get fans to rally behind a #ReleaseTheAyerCut movement.

He insists that his original version of the 2016 movie is some sort of unseen masterpiece and that the changes Warner Bros. made (a slightly different ending, some graphics, and the jumbled approach to exploring the origin stories of each Task Force X member) were somehow responsible for why it was such a disappointment. Honestly, this is very difficult to believe.

The movies Ayer made both before and after Suicide Squad was released weren't great, and it's not like Suicide Squad was heavily reshot like 2015's Fantastic Four. It's entirely possible that the filmmaker's cut was more coherent and enjoyable with better story arcs, but #ReleaseTheAyerCut stans need to get over this hashtag. And fast.

5. Birds Of Prey Wasn't A Bad Movie

Did the poorly titled Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) drop the ball on its titular team? Without a doubt, yes. The characters deserved better, shouldn't have been tied to Harley Quinn this soon, and were, in many ways, symbolic of the DCEU's failings.

However, putting that aside, this wasn't a bad movie. It's no masterpiece, but with 79% on Rotten Tomatoes, it's among the best-reviewed efforts this franchise ever delivered. Margot Robbie is fantastic - as are most of the supporting cast - and Ewan McGregor is arguably among the DCEU's greatest villains to date as the twisted Black Mask.

Again, mistakes were made, but it's laughable to see Birds of Prey often categorised alongside the likes of The Flash, Suicide Squad, and Wonder Woman 1984 as the worst the DCEU had to offer since launching with 2013's divisive Man of Steel.

4. Batman v Superman Features One Of The All-Time Great Fight Scenes

So many DC fans get bogged down in the jar of pee and that whole "Martha!" scene, they seem to forget the fact that Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice delivered one of the best fight scenes to ever grace the screen in a comic book adaptation.

The battle between the Caped Crusader and the Man of Steel is absolutely epic and does a brilliant job of showcasing what an excellent tactician Batman is as he cleverly finds ways to overpower the alien. Brutal, hard-hitting, and like watching the comics come to life, this entire sequence simply doesn't receive enough credit.

Yes, Snyder made a bunch of mistakes here; Doomsday looked terrible, Batman killed, and Lex Luthor was...weird. However, the negativity surrounding Batman v Superman has blinded some to the greatness that was occasionally on offer!

3. DC Studios Didn't Kill The DCEU; The DCEU Did

From a certain section of DC fans, James Gunn, Peter Safran, and DC Studios as a whole get a lot of hate. Why? Well, they're blamed for destroying the DC Extended Universe with a reboot which has tossed away Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck but kept Gunn's plans and family members.

While an argument can be made that announcing the DCU reboot's slate at the start of a year which saw the release of four DCEU movies was a mistake, DC Studios cannot be blamed for the demise of this franchise. Warner Bros., however, can.

There was never a cohesive vision for these characters and they've been passed around repeatedly over the years with no real idea of where to take them. Blue Beetle was fine, but one could argue that Wonder Woman is still the only truly great PG-13 DCEU movie...in a series comprised of more than a dozen titles. Don't hate DC Studios...hope they can make things right!

2. Joss Whedon Got A Lot Right In Justice League

Look, there's no getting around the fact that the version of Justice League released in cinemas was a mess, and by no means a great movie. It was, however, far from a disaster and certainly not the unbearable mess some fans describe it to be.

The hatred of the "Whedon Cut" is what birthed the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut movement, and ultimately forced Warner Bros. to go ahead and spend tens of millions of dollars finishing Zack Snyder's Justice League. That was superior, but in Whedon's version, Superman actually acted like... well, Superman!

There were some cringe-worthy jokes, sure, but when was the last time Snyder delivered anything as fan-pleasing as the Man of Steel and the Flash competing to see who's faster? Even Cavill seems to have preferred The Avengers' director's approach to a more hopeful Supes.

1. MCU > DCEU

Okay, to be more specific, we're referring to the MCU's characters being better than those in the DCEU. Like it or not, Marvel's heroes and villains are more interesting and a bigger draw, something that was evident from the box office performance of movies like Black Adam and The Flash.

There's no denying that there are heaps of incredible DC characters, with Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman all undeniable icons. However, the problem with them - and this has been the case with DC for decades- is that these Gods among men aren't relatable.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe's characters are closer to reality, with even a literal Thunder God like Thor a flawed, believable person. Because of this, fans and regular moviegoers alike will no doubt always gravitate more towards Marvel's characters, with Spider-Man and The Hulk bound to continue intriguing and exciting people more than Shazam and Aquaman ever will.

That may not bode well for the new DCU...

6 Mistakes DC Studios Has ALREADY Made With The New DCU

Recommended For You:

SUPERMAN Director James Gunn Shares New BTS Cast Photo; First Look At Kent Farm Set

DISCLAIMER: ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and... [MORE]

ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

Do you have what it takes to write for us?

Want to contribute?

Comments have been turned off for this post

Related Headlines

DC Studios

6 Mistakes DC Studios Has ALREADY Made With The New DCU

JoshWilding

3 days ago

The Boys

THE BOYS Star Antony Starr Responds To BOOSTER GOLD Speculation; Says Homelander Would "Kick Superman's Ass"

MarkCassidy

5 days ago

Man of Steel

From MAN OF STEEL To AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM, Ranking All 15 DCEU Movies Ahead Of DCU Relaunch

MarkCassidy

6 days ago

Related Headlines

DC Studios

6 Mistakes DC Studios Has ALREADY Made With The New DCU

JoshWilding

3 days ago

The Boys

THE BOYS Star Antony Starr Responds To BOOSTER GOLD Speculation; Says Homelander Would "Kick Superman's Ass"

MarkCassidy

5 days ago

Man of Steel

From MAN OF STEEL To AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM, Ranking All 15 DCEU Movies Ahead Of DCU Relaunch

MarkCassidy

6 days ago

Disney

Disney And Warner Bros. Discovery To Join Forces For New Streaming Bundle

MarkCassidy

May 09, 2024 08:05 AM

Superman

SUPERMAN: Who's Attacking Metropolis In James Gunn's First Look At The Last Son Of Krypton's Costume?

MarkJulian

May 06, 2024 06:05 PM

6 Actors Who Returned To Superhero Movie Roles They HATED (And Why)

Marvel Studios

Venom

VENOM: THE LAST DANCE Trailer Seemingly Retcons Major SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME Plot Point

JoshWilding

25 mins ago

Venom

VENOM: THE LAST DANCE Adds SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME Star Rhys Ifans - Will The Lizard Return?

JoshWilding

57 mins ago

Latest Headlines

Captain America: Civil War

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR And TFATWS Actor Daniel Brühl Is "Very Confident" Zemo Will Return To The MCU

MarkCassidy

17 mins ago

Venom

VENOM: THE LAST DANCE Trailer Seemingly Retcons Major SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME Plot Point

JoshWilding

25 mins ago

Venom

VENOM: THE LAST DANCE Adds SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME Star Rhys Ifans - Will The Lizard Return?

JoshWilding

57 mins ago

Avengers: Secret Wars

HAWKEYE Star Jeremy Renner Weighs In On Possibly Reuniting With Original AVENGERS In SECRET WARS

JoshWilding

1 hour ago

Venom

VENOM: THE LAST DANCE Trailer Finds Eddie & The Lethal Protector On The Run; Reveals Monstrous New Threat

MarkCassidy

1 hour ago

Alien

ALIEN: ROMULUS - New Still Features Rain Carradine And Her Android Brother; Full Trailer Tomorrow

MarkCassidy

2 hours ago

Hot Headlines

176 comments

CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD Set Photo Reveals First Look At Giancarlo Esposito's Villain - SPOILERS

JoshWilding

1 day ago EST

89 comments

Giancarlo Esposito Joins CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD As A [SPOILER] - Truth About Reshoots Revealed

JoshWilding

2 days ago EST

76 comments

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER - Nazanin Boniadi Will Not Return As Bronwyn For Season 2

MarkCassidy

1 day ago EST

73 comments

STAR WARS: THE ACOLYTE Episode Runtimes Revealed As TV Spot Reveals Scary New Look At Sith Villain

JoshWilding

1 day ago EST

73 comments

More Sci-Fi & Fantasy ►

SPIDER-MAN: BEYOND THE SPIDER-VERSE Producer Comments On Possibility Of AI Usage In The Threequel

More Cartoons & Animated ►

Take-Two Boss Addresses Lack Of PC Announcement For GRAND THEFT AUTO 6

More Anime & Manga ►

IN A VIOLENT NATURE: Details On Much-Discussed Yoga Kill Revealed - SPOILERS

More Horror ►

George Clooney & Brad Pitt Partner Up In Action-Packed New Trailer For Jon Watts' WOLFS

More Action Movies & TV ►

Eric Bischoff Explains What Went Wrong With His Brief Run As SMACKDOWN's Executive Director

More Pro Wrestling ►

THE ACOLYTE Showrunner On Whether Yoda Will Make An Appearance In The Latest STAR WARS TV Series

More Sci-Fi & Fantasy ►

More Cartoons & Animated ►

More Anime & Manga ►

More Horror ►

More Action Movies & TV ►

More Pro Wrestling ►

8 Things No DC Fan Wants To Accept About The DC Extended Universe

After recently looking at the things Marvel fans are reluctant to accept about the MCU, it's time to reflect on the DCEU's failings...and what it did right (which some fans have a hard time accepting).

8. Copying Marvel Was The Right Move (It Just Didn't Work)

7. Superman Sucked

6. Warner Bros. Shouldn't #ReleaseTheAyerCut

5. Birds Of Prey Wasn't A Bad Movie

4. Batman v Superman Features One Of The All-Time Great Fight Scenes

3. DC Studios Didn't Kill The DCEU; The DCEU Did

2. Joss Whedon Got A Lot Right In Justice League

1. MCU > DCEU

6 Mistakes DC Studios Has ALREADY Made With The New DCU

SUPERMAN Director James Gunn Shares New BTS Cast Photo; First Look At Kent Farm Set

6 Mistakes DC Studios Has ALREADY Made With The New DCU

THE BOYS Star Antony Starr Responds To BOOSTER GOLD Speculation; Says Homelander Would "Kick Superman's Ass"

From MAN OF STEEL To AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM, Ranking All 15 DCEU Movies Ahead Of DCU Relaunch

6 Mistakes DC Studios Has ALREADY Made With The New DCU

THE BOYS Star Antony Starr Responds To BOOSTER GOLD Speculation; Says Homelander Would "Kick Superman's Ass"

From MAN OF STEEL To AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM, Ranking All 15 DCEU Movies Ahead Of DCU Relaunch

Disney And Warner Bros. Discovery To Join Forces For New Streaming Bundle

SUPERMAN: Who's Attacking Metropolis In James Gunn's First Look At The Last Son Of Krypton's Costume?

6 Actors Who Returned To Superhero Movie Roles They HATED (And Why)

Popular Headlines

CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD Set Photo Reveals Comic-Accurate Change To Rosa Salazar's Diamondback

INHUMANS Star Anson Mount Shares Brutal Response To AVENGERS: SECRET WARS Return Rumors

CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD Set Photo Reveals First Look At Giancarlo Esposito's Villain - SPOILERS

CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD Set Photo Features Bizarre GOTG Connection - Possible SPOILERS

MULTIVERSUS Game Takes A Shot At BLACK ADAM Star Dwayne Johnson's Vows To Change The Hierarchy Of Power

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR And TFATWS Actor Daniel Brühl Is "Very Confident" Zemo Will Return To The MCU

VENOM: THE LAST DANCE Trailer Seemingly Retcons Major SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME Plot Point

VENOM: THE LAST DANCE Adds SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME Star Rhys Ifans - Will The Lizard Return?

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR And TFATWS Actor Daniel Brühl Is "Very Confident" Zemo Will Return To The MCU

VENOM: THE LAST DANCE Trailer Seemingly Retcons Major SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME Plot Point

VENOM: THE LAST DANCE Adds SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME Star Rhys Ifans - Will The Lizard Return?

HAWKEYE Star Jeremy Renner Weighs In On Possibly Reuniting With Original AVENGERS In SECRET WARS

VENOM: THE LAST DANCE Trailer Finds Eddie & The Lethal Protector On The Run; Reveals Monstrous New Threat

ALIEN: ROMULUS - New Still Features Rain Carradine And Her Android Brother; Full Trailer Tomorrow

Hot Headlines

CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD Set Photo Reveals First Look At Giancarlo Esposito's Villain - SPOILERS

Giancarlo Esposito Joins CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD As A [SPOILER] - Truth About Reshoots Revealed

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER - Nazanin Boniadi Will Not Return As Bronwyn For Season 2

STAR WARS: THE ACOLYTE Episode Runtimes Revealed As TV Spot Reveals Scary New Look At Sith Villain

CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD Set Photo Reveals Comic-Accurate Change To Rosa Salazar's Diamondback

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

THE ACOLYTE Showrunner On Whether Yoda Will Make An Appearance In The Latest STAR WARS TV Series

AHSOKA Season 2's Rumored Plans For Anakin Skywalker Revealed; Hayden Christensen Teases STAR WARS Future

New ALIEN: ROMULUS Trailer Reportedly Set For Tuesday; New Still Released

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER Series Regular Will Not Return For Season 2

300 Prequel TV Series Officially In The Works - With Zack Snyder Eyed To Direct!

STAR WARS: THE ACOLYTE TV Spot Reveals Terrifying New Look At Sith Villain; Episode Runtimes Revealed

Cartoons & Animated Features

SPIDER-MAN: BEYOND THE SPIDER-VERSE Producer Comments On Possibility Of AI Usage In The Threequel

SONIC PRIME Creators WildBrain Developing MINECRAFT Animated Series For Netflix

Pixar Executives Confirm Plans For More Sequels; Tease Plans For FINDING NEMO And THE INCREDIBLES

X-MEN '97: Beau DeMayo Explains How MAN OF STEEL "Subconsciously" Influenced Recent Season Finale

MOANA 2 Trailer And Poster Reunite Moana And Maui For Another Epic Adventure

MOANA 2 Trailer Arrives Tomorrow; Star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Shares First Official Poster

Gaming

Take-Two Boss Addresses Lack Of PC Announcement For GRAND THEFT AUTO 6

MONSTER HUNTER WILDS First Trailer Shows Off Incredible Action In An Untamed World

Free PLAYSTATION PLUS Games Coming To PS5 And PS4 In June

TOMB RAIDER: THE LEGEND OF LARA CRAFT Animated Series Coming To Netflix In October

SILENT HILL 2 Pre-Orders Available For October Release; New 13-Minute Gameplay Video Shared

First Look At ALIEN: ROGUE INCURSION VR Gameplay Is Immersive And Terrifying

Anime & Manga

Netflix's ONE PIECE Live-Action Series May Have Quietly Already Been Renewed For A Third Season

ONE-PUNCH MAN Season 3 Release Window Rumored Between Fall 2024 And Spring 2025

MY HERO ACADEMIA THE MOVIE: YOU'RE Next Reveals Two Original Characters

BLUE LOCK Season 2 Visual Teaser Released Alongside New Casting Announcements

VIZ Announces English Releases For ONE PIECE: HEROINES, KAIJU NO. 8 B-SIDE, MINECRAFT: THE MANGA, And More

SUICIDE SQUAD ISEKAI Peacemaker Trailer Puts Justice On Full Display

Horror

IN A VIOLENT NATURE: Details On Much-Discussed "Yoga Kill" Revealed - SPOILERS

WELCOME TO DERRY: Bill Skarsgård Officially Set To Return As Pennywise For IT Prequel Series

BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE Empire Magazine Covers Reveal A New Look At The Movie's Awesome Cast

THE EXORCIST Confirmed For Full Overhaul With Mike Flanagan Set To Direct New Movie

IT Star Bill Skarsgård Teases Pennywise Return And Admits He Has Issues With THE CROW Reboot's Ending

THE MUMMY Prequel Movie Rumored To Be In Development

Action Movies & TV

George Clooney & Brad Pitt Partner Up In Action-Packed New Trailer For Jon Watts' WOLFS

THE AVENGERS Star Jeremy Renner Explains Why He Left The MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE Franchise