Ranking The 9 Movies In Warner Bros.' DC Films Universe From MAN OF STEEL To BIRDS OF PREY

With Birds of Prey in theaters, we're taking look back over the 7 year history of Warner Bros.' divisive DC Films Universe and ranking the 9 installments (yes, we're counting Joker) from worst to best...

By MarkCassidy - Feb 18, 2020 09:02 AM EST

Filed Under: DC Studios

Now that Birds of Prey (and the Fanatbulous Emancipation of one Harley Quinn) is in theaters, we thought we'd look back over the 7-year history of Warner Bros.' DC Films Universe (or whatever you want to call it) and rank all 9 installments from worst to best.

Yes, we're counting Joker! Todd Philips' movie is not officially recognized as being part of this shared universe, but until it's confirmed that there will be no connections to future films in any way, it earns a spot here.

The studio's attempt to establish a shared movie world in the same vein as The MCU began with Man of Steel, and never really took flight from there. Most feel that things turned a corner with Wonder Woman, however, and many fans seem to be a lot more positive about the future of the DCEU. Of course, there are also some who believe things were better when Zack Snyder was in the picture!

This is just my personal ranking, and, like a lot of the movies themselves, it's sure to be divisive. Have a read through and let us know what you think, and please share your own lists in the comments.

Simply click on the next button below!

Aquaman

You probably weren't expecting to see this at the bottom of the list! I'm completely aware that I'm in the minority here, but James Wan's hokey farce of an Aquaman movie did nothing for me at all.

Arthur Curry's first solo film almost falls over itself in an attempt to change the perception that the DCEU was too "dark and depressing." Wan's movie is bright, colorful (garish, really), and tries to inject a sense of fun and old-fashioned adventure into pretty much every scene. Unfortunately, it forgets to include little things like compelling characters and an engaging story along the way.

The script is perfunctory, the performances range from passable to outright egregious (seriously, where did they find the kid that played teenage Arthur?), and almost every line of dialogue is either exposition, an eye-rolling cliche or some brotastic, juvenile one-liner.

I did laugh several times during this movie, but it definitely wasn't at any of the "jokes."

On the plus side, Aquaman does feature some stunning visuals and brilliantly creative creature designs, all of which come together for a pretty damn bonkers finale - though by that stage I was on my second watch check.

Suicide Squad

I actually enjoyed David Ayer's Suicide Squad to an extent, but considering the movie we got was nowhere near as good as its awesome trailers promised, it has to be considered a major disappointment.

The film begins well enough, but as it goes on it just gets messier and messier until it pretty much loses all sense of cohesiveness. Add baffling character choices, bizarre need drops, and a pair of laughable villains to the mix and it's not hard to see why so many fans and critics dismissed it entirely.

And yet, Suicide Squad does have its moments. Some individual scenes work very well (Batman's face-off with Deadshot, for example) and the cast is mostly on form, with Margot Robbie, Will Smith and Viola Davis, in particular, putting in great performances.

Not a complete washout, but man this should have been so much more.

Justice League

Like a lot of its fellow DCEU entries, I believe Justice League gets a bit of a bad rap and is a far more entertaining movie than many give it credit for. That said, there's no denying that the first big-screen team-up of DC's best and brightest should have been a lot better.

What went wrong? It's probably quicker to list off what didn't, but it's clear that Zack Snyder being replaced by Joss Whedon had a major impact on the finished product. Would it have been a better movie if one or the other had been able to direct the whole thing? We'll probably never know (the "Snyder Cut" is possible, but unlikely), but it certainly would have been a more tonally consistent one.

As it stands, Justice League is loud, brash, campy, exciting, funny, and... kind of a mess. Most of the characters are well served, though, and there is fun to be had - it's just a shame this wasn't the cinematic event DC fans were hoping for.

Shazam!

Shazam! was envisioned as a more family-friendly DC movie with the focus placed on heart over grit, and in that respect, David F. Sandberg delivered. It's endearing, funny and engaging (at least until it overstays its welcome), but it's also overlong, a little too twee, and ultimately just not particularly memorable.

That said, it's never less than entertaining thanks to a terrific cast, a genuinely warm and funny script (take note, Aquaman) and some exciting, if slightly iffy CGI-heavy, action sequences.

At the end of the day, Kids seemed to love Shazam!, and that's really all that matters.

Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice

It really wouldn't be accurate to call the reviews for Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice mixed, because the majority of critics hated the movie with a passion.

To be fair, Zack Snyder's follow up to Man of Steel does have a lot of problems. It's messy, disjointed, over-long by a good 20 minutes or so, and - most crucially for purists - offers radically different takes on the iconic DC heroes of its title. But despite all of this, I believe BVS is quite a bit better than its reputation would suggest.

I'm not one of these Snyder die-hards that thinks it's some kind of misunderstood masterpiece, but I do believe many critics - and fans - chose to focus on what the movie did wrong while completely disregarding everything it did right.

The first big-screen meeting of DC's Trinity was definitely not the cinematic event it could (or should) have been, and that "Martha" scene is probably destined to be ridiculed and misunderstood in equal measure for many years to come, but give it another watch some cold, rainy night and you might be surprised by how well it holds up.

Wonder Woman

For many, Wonder Woman will take the top spot here, and that's completely understandable. Not only was it the first solo big screen outing for one of the most popular superheroes in history, but it was also the first female-led comic book movie from any major studio since Elektra back in 2005. Oh yes, there was also the small matter of a lot of people pinning their hopes on Patty Jenkins' film to be the one that "saved" The DCEU.

While I wasn't necessarily of the opinion that The DCEU needed saving, there's no denying that Jenkins knocked it out of the park.

If you were of the belief that WB desperately needed to inject a bit more heart into The DCEU, then Wonder Woman must have been a breath of fresh air. It's funny, engaging and action-packed, with a strong emotional core and a star-making turn from Gal Gadot. It does have some problems (the third act flounders a little and lays on the cheese), but overall, Jenkins' old-school adventure served as a terrific setup for Diana's cinematic future.

Birds of Prey

Birds of Prey better than Wonder Woman? There wasn't much in it, but Cathy Yan's bonkers girl-gang flick is simply more my cup of tea. The movie is currently struggling at the box office despite highly positive reviews, and that's a real shame because BOP is an absolute blast.

If you've seen the trailers, you'll have a pretty good idea how things play out. The film isn't really concerned with clever twists or major surprises and the plot is very straightforward, even a little cliched. That's not to say things ever get boring (one thing this movie definitely is not, is boring) or that there's no creativity on display, and the cornucopia of colorful characters are more than enough to keep us engaged.

Sure, it's a little uneven and maybe not quite as subversive as it'd like to be, but, for my money, The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn is still the most purely entertaining movie on this list.

Man of Steel

Just like many will scoff at Aquaman placing so low, Man of Steel coming in second (first if you don't count Joker as a DCEU film) is bound to be a controversial choice. But, I honestly believe Zack Snyder's Superman reboot remains one of the most underrated and underappreciated comic book movies of all time.

Highly divisive upon its release and panned by many critics, Snyder's take on the iconic DC hero was widely criticized for being too "grimdark," but look beyond the visual aesthetics and more somber tone (when compared to the Richard Donner movies, at least) and the brighter themes most closely associated with the character do shine through.

The movie also features some incredible action sequences, a career-best performance from Henry Cavill in the lead, and a stunning score from Hans Zimmer.

There are some problems, but, for the most part, Snyder succeeded in rebooting Superman for the modern era, and laid the groundwork for Warner Bros.' shared DC movie universe. Granted, things didn't quite work out moving forward - but Man of Steel was a stellar start.

Joker

Joker isn't technically considered part of the DC Films Universe because of its standalone nature, but until Warner Bros. officially confirms that it won't tie into its wider universe in any way, it earns a spot in this list. If you disagree that's no prolem... simply count Man of Steel as #1!

All of the hullabaloo surrounding Joker in the buildup to its release proved to be totally unfounded, but the movie still remains a controversial and highly divisive film. While I certainly understand some of the criticism that has been leveled at it, I believe Todd Philips' Joker is a stunning achievement overall and the best DC Comics adaptation WB has produced in the modern era.

It is not an easy watch, there's no doubt about that. If you're looking for some comic book movie escapism this is not the movie for you. It's violent, disturbing, and pretty much unrelentingly bleak. But it's also a stunningly shot, haunting character piece with a mesmerizing score from Hildur Gudnadottir and a truly outstanding central performance.

It definitely won't be for everyone and one could argue that Phillips does revel in nihilism to some extent, but at the end of the day this is an R-rated origin story for one of the most deranged, murderous villains in fiction, and the film reflects that. It may not make you feel good, but it will make you feel something, and sometimes that's enough.

DC Studios Co-CEO James Gunn Responds To Zack Snyder's Recent Comments About The DCU

Recommended For You:

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

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?

136 Comments

1 2 3 4

regularmovieguy - 2/18/2020, 9:01 AM

regularmovieguy - 2/18/2020, 9:02 AM

(Before anyone gets their jimmies rustled, this is a joke😂)

regularmovieguy - 2/18/2020, 9:11 AM

@tmp3

From r/moviescirclejerk

Titled “Maybe now Hollywood will stop forcing their liberal agenda on us”

😂😭 the comments are even funnier

HannibalLecter - 2/18/2020, 9:03 AM

The war between Sonic and Harley Quinn rages on:

https://mobile.twitter.com/reggiegotlag/status/1229540985241292801

GhostDog - 2/18/2020, 9:12 AM

@HannibalLecter - a grown ass woman worrying how other grown ups spend their money on a movie...

johnnymarr - 2/18/2020, 9:07 AM

Suicide Squad is unsalvageable crap. The WORST film of the shared DCU. Period.

Batman91 - 2/18/2020, 9:09 AM

For me it's best to worst:

Aquaman
Birds of Prey
Wonder Woman
Man of Steel
Shazam!
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Suicide Squad
Justice League

Joker is obviously not a part of this universe.

OmegaDaGrodd - 2/18/2020, 9:10 AM

Haven't seen BOP yet but based on what I've heard I'm still shocked that we're now 7 years into a 9 (edit, 8) film franchise and only.....maybe three of those films are worthwhile (and one of those 3 are apparently Shazam, a made for TV movie they somehow released in theaters)

I know they're doubling/tripling output going forward but it's crazy to step back and think about it

1 2 3 4

Related Headlines

Superman: Legacy

James Gunn Explains Why He Took DC Studios Job While Responding To Henry Cavill/SUPERMAN Conspiracy Theory

JoshWilding

9 hours ago

Green Lantern

SUPERMAN: Nathan Fillion On Why He's Perfectly Suited To Play GREEN LANTERN Guy Gardner

MarkJulian

4 days ago

DC Studios

DC Studios Co-CEO James Gunn Responds To Zack Snyder's Recent Comments About The DCU

MarkCassidy

Apr 21, 2024 09:04 AM

Related Headlines

Superman: Legacy

James Gunn Explains Why He Took DC Studios Job While Responding To Henry Cavill/SUPERMAN Conspiracy Theory

JoshWilding

9 hours ago

Green Lantern

SUPERMAN: Nathan Fillion On Why He's Perfectly Suited To Play GREEN LANTERN Guy Gardner

MarkJulian

4 days ago

DC Studios

DC Studios Co-CEO James Gunn Responds To Zack Snyder's Recent Comments About The DCU

MarkCassidy

Apr 21, 2024 09:04 AM

Justice League

JUSTICE LEAGUE Director Zack Snyder Says He's "Pretty Excited" About James Gunn's DCU Plans

JoshWilding

Apr 18, 2024 06:04 AM

DC Studios

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

JoshWilding

Apr 15, 2024 12:04 PM

The DCU's SUPERGIRL Movie Eyes Craig Gillespie To Direct; Here's When It Will Start Filming

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow

Superman: Legacy

James Gunn Explains Why He Took DC Studios Job While Responding To Henry Cavill/SUPERMAN Conspiracy Theory

JoshWilding

9 hours ago

Deadpool & Wolverine

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Reshoots Are Reportedly Taking Place; Shawn Levy Says Movie Is "Exactly As We Dreamed"

JoshWilding

10 hours ago

Latest Headlines

Disney

AVENGERS: ENDGAME Directors The Russo Brothers Reveal What's Happening With Live-Action HERCULES Remake

JoshWilding

4 hours ago

Superman: Legacy

James Gunn Explains Why He Took DC Studios Job While Responding To Henry Cavill/SUPERMAN Conspiracy Theory

JoshWilding

9 hours ago

Deadpool & Wolverine

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Reshoots Are Reportedly Taking Place; Shawn Levy Says Movie Is "Exactly As We Dreamed"

JoshWilding

10 hours ago

Lanterns

LANTERNS News Could Be Imminent As DC Studios' James Gunn Posts Cryptic GREEN LANTERN Tease

JoshWilding

10 hours ago

Justice League (Animated)

Will JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED Get An X-MEN '97-Style Revival? DC Studios Boss James Gunn Weighs In

JoshWilding

10 hours ago

Video Games

NetEase Announces MARVEL RIVALS Closed Alpha Test Start Date And Details

MattIsForReal

19 hours ago

Hot Headlines

74 comments

AVENGERS: ENDGAME Directors On Potential Robert Downey Jr. MCU Return: "We Closed That Book"

MarkCassidy

1 day ago EST

63 comments

KRAVEN THE HUNTER's Theatrical Release Has Been Pushed Back Yet Again

MarkCassidy

1 day ago EST

52 comments

AVENGERS: ENDGAME Directors Joe & Anthony Russo On Why They Don't Buy Into Superhero Fatigue Claims

JoshWilding

1 day ago EST

45 comments

James Gunn Explains Why He Took DC Studios Job While Responding To Henry Cavill/SUPERMAN Conspiracy Theory

JoshWilding

9 hours ago EST

42 comments

More Sci-Fi & Fantasy ►

DC Studios Boss James Gunn Reponds To Demands For A JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED Revival

More Cartoons & Animated ►

STAR WARS OUTLAWS Reveals All-New Details About The Ashiga Clan

More Anime & Manga ►

DEAD BOY DETECTIVES Features A Cameo From ANOTHER Member Of THE SANDMAN's Family - SPOILERS

More Horror ►

MONKEY MAN Exclusive Interview With Mask Designer Eddie Yang; Dev Patel Film Now Available On Digital HD

More Action Movies & TV ►

The Rock Reveals That Drew McIntyre Has Signed A New Multi-Year Contract With WWE

More Pro Wrestling ►

HERCULES: Disney's Live-Action Remake Gets An Update From Executive Producers The Russo Brothers

More Sci-Fi & Fantasy ►

More Cartoons & Animated ►

More Anime & Manga ►

More Horror ►

More Action Movies & TV ►

More Pro Wrestling ►

Ranking The 9 Movies In Warner Bros.' DC Films Universe From MAN OF STEEL To BIRDS OF PREY

With Birds of Prey in theaters, we're taking look back over the 7 year history of Warner Bros.' divisive DC Films Universe and ranking the 9 installments (yes, we're counting Joker) from worst to best...

Aquaman

Suicide Squad

Justice League

Shazam!

Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice

Wonder Woman

Birds of Prey

Man of Steel

Joker

DC Studios Co-CEO James Gunn Responds To Zack Snyder's Recent Comments About The DCU

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

James Gunn Explains Why He Took DC Studios Job While Responding To Henry Cavill/SUPERMAN Conspiracy Theory

SUPERMAN: Nathan Fillion On Why He's Perfectly Suited To Play GREEN LANTERN Guy Gardner

DC Studios Co-CEO James Gunn Responds To Zack Snyder's Recent Comments About The DCU

James Gunn Explains Why He Took DC Studios Job While Responding To Henry Cavill/SUPERMAN Conspiracy Theory

SUPERMAN: Nathan Fillion On Why He's Perfectly Suited To Play GREEN LANTERN Guy Gardner

DC Studios Co-CEO James Gunn Responds To Zack Snyder's Recent Comments About The DCU

JUSTICE LEAGUE Director Zack Snyder Says He's "Pretty Excited" About James Gunn's DCU Plans

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

The DCU's SUPERGIRL Movie Eyes Craig Gillespie To Direct; Here's When It Will Start Filming

Popular Headlines

James Gunn Explains Why He Took DC Studios Job While Responding To Henry Cavill/SUPERMAN Conspiracy Theory

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Rumor Reveals Variant Who WON'T Appear As More Post-Credits Scene Details Emerge

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Reshoots Are Reportedly Taking Place; Shawn Levy Says Movie Is "Exactly As We Dreamed"

X-MEN '97 Showrunner Beau DeMayo Tells Fans To Watch These X-MEN: THE ANIMATED SERIES Episodes Before Finale

DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE Merchandise Reveals New Promo Art With Logan Fully Suited-Up

AVENGERS: ENDGAME Directors The Russo Brothers Reveal What's Happening With Live-Action HERCULES Remake

James Gunn Explains Why He Took DC Studios Job While Responding To Henry Cavill/SUPERMAN Conspiracy Theory

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Reshoots Are Reportedly Taking Place; Shawn Levy Says Movie Is "Exactly As We Dreamed"

AVENGERS: ENDGAME Directors The Russo Brothers Reveal What's Happening With Live-Action HERCULES Remake

James Gunn Explains Why He Took DC Studios Job While Responding To Henry Cavill/SUPERMAN Conspiracy Theory

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Reshoots Are Reportedly Taking Place; Shawn Levy Says Movie Is "Exactly As We Dreamed"

LANTERNS News Could Be Imminent As DC Studios' James Gunn Posts Cryptic GREEN LANTERN Tease

Will JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED Get An X-MEN '97-Style Revival? DC Studios Boss James Gunn Weighs In

NetEase Announces MARVEL RIVALS Closed Alpha Test Start Date And Details

Hot Headlines

AVENGERS: ENDGAME Directors On Potential Robert Downey Jr. MCU Return: "We Closed That Book"

KRAVEN THE HUNTER's Theatrical Release Has Been Pushed Back Yet Again

AVENGERS: ENDGAME Directors Joe & Anthony Russo On Why They Don't Buy Into Superhero Fatigue Claims

James Gunn Explains Why He Took DC Studios Job While Responding To Henry Cavill/SUPERMAN Conspiracy Theory

RUMOR: Marvel Studios Interested In NOPE Star Keke Palmer For A Major MCU Role

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

HERCULES: Disney's Live-Action Remake Gets An Update From Executive Producers The Russo Brothers

THE ACOLYTE Stills Highlight The Show's Lead Characters As Leslye Headland Teases An Epic STAR WARS Mystery

REBEL MOON 2 Is Netflix's No. 1 Movie Worldwide Despite Abysmal Rotten Tomatoes Critics AND Audience Scores

STAR WARS: THE ACOLYTE Star Explains How Vernestra Rwoh Will Differ From Books; New Still Released

REBEL MOON Director Zack Snyder Shares First Official Look At TWILIGHT OF THE GODS Animated Series

THE LITTLE MERMAID: Ariel Gets An R-Rated Makeover In First Trailer For New Live-Action Adaptation

Cartoons & Animated Features

DC Studios Boss James Gunn Reponds To Demands For A JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED Revival

HERCULES Producers The Russo Brothers Reveal Where Things Stand With The Live-Action Musical

X-MEN '97 Showrunner Reveals Which X-MEN: THE ANIMATED SERIES Episodes Fans Should Watch Before Finale

X-MEN '97: Original Voice Actor May Have Just Spoiled Major Character Return In Three-Part Finale

TALES OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Teaser Trailer Hypes Up Return Of Heroes In A Half Shell

X-MEN '97: Beau DeMayo Hints At Possible Appearances From BLACK PANTHER And SPIDER-MAN

Gaming

STAR WARS OUTLAWS Reveals All-New Details About The Ashiga Clan

ASSASSIN'S CREED CODENAME HEXE Rumored For 2026 Release

SPIDER-MAN 2 Concept Art Reveals A Closer Look At The Game's Monstrous Take On Venom

MARVEL RIVALS Closed Alpha Test Start Date And Details Revealed

New VR Game ALIEN: ROGUE INCURSION Announced For Holiday 2024 Release

KINGDOM HEARTS 4 Could Release Next Year, According To Insider

Anime & Manga

MY HERO ACADEMIA: YOU'RE NEXT Sound Director Shares Promising Update On Upcoming Film

Next FORTNITE X MY HERO ACADEMIA Collab Could Add The League Of Villains

KAIJU NO. 8: RELAX Manga Spin-Off Announced; Set To Debut This June

BLACK BUTLER -PUBLIC SCHOOL ARC- English Dub Hits Crunchyroll Tomorrow

Classic Anime Sci-Fi Series GENESIS CLIMBER MOSPEADA Now Streaming On Crunchyroll

Bandai Namco Announces THAT TIME I GOT REINCARNATED AS A SLIME Video Game Adaptation

Horror

DEAD BOY DETECTIVES Features A Cameo From ANOTHER Member Of THE SANDMAN's Family - SPOILERS

First Look At Michael B. Jordan On The Set Of Ryan Coogler's Untitled Jim Crow-Era VAMPIRE Movie

THEM: THE SCARE Exclusive Interview With Star Deborah Ayorinde On The Bone-Chilling New Season

THEM: THE SCARE Exclusive Interview With Singer/Actor Luke James On His Terrifying New Character

THE LITTLE MERMAID Attacks In First Trailer For New R-Rated Live-Action Adaptation

28 YEARS LATER: Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson & Ralph Fiennes Officially Join Cast

Action Movies & TV

MONKEY MAN Exclusive Interview With Mask Designer Eddie Yang; Dev Patel Film Now Available On Digital HD