From MAN OF STEEL To THE FLASH: How Every DCEU Movie Compares According To Rotten Tomatoes

With The Flash struggling to live up to claims it's the "greatest superhero movie ever," we're seeing how the latest DCEU blockbuster compares compared to the rest of this franchise on Rotten Tomatoes...

By JoshWilding - Jun 22, 2023 12:06 PM EST

Filed Under: The Flash

No matter how you feel about Rotten Tomatoes, it's now more important than ever when it comes to whether moviegoers decide to check out the latest releases in theaters, and it's not uncommon for studios to tout scores as proudly as they do star ratings.

Since its launch in 2013 with Man of Steel, Warner Bros.' DC Extended Universe has delivered a vast array of movies, not all of which have really resonated with critics. Most have their fair share of fans, though, and these scores have more often than not been dismissed by the DCEU faithful over the years.

It goes without saying that looking back at how these movies fared on the review aggregator makes for interesting reading, and we think you'll agree after seeing how they stack up against each other. The DCEU hasn't always received much in the way of praise from critics, and despite being hailed as the best this genre has to offer, The Flash has also been met with a tepid response.

In the wake of a similarly "meh" response to Black Adam and Shazam! Fury of the Gods, this doesn't bode well for 2023's remaining DC Comics adaptations, but The Flash...well, it's fared better than you might expect.

So, to see how that - and all the DCEU movies - compare, simply click on the "Next" button below!

13. Suicide Squad

Score: 26%

Rotten or Fresh? Rotten

Critics Consensus: Suicide Squad boasts a talented cast and a little more humor than previous DCEU efforts, but they aren't enough to save the disappointing end result from a muddled plot, thinly written characters, and choppy directing.

Task Force X's debut was a box office hit, but issues behind the scenes meant that the finished product was something of a mess. There was a lot here that worked, and it's a shame critics mostly focused on what didn't, especially as the dynamic between these villains was a blast to follow.

Ultimately, it was Harley Quinn and Deadshot who stole the show thanks to Margot Robbie and Will Smith.

12. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Score: 29%

Rotten or Fresh? Rotten

Critics Consensus: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice smothers a potentially powerful story -- and some of America's most iconic superheroes -- in a grim whirlwind of effects-driven action.

It may have been vastly different from what Marvel Studios delivered in terms of tone, but Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice didn't deserve the negative reviews it received, even if there were some questionable creative decisions (Batman should never kill).

Seeing the Man of Steel go to war with the Dark Knight was a blast, and from a visual standpoint, Zack Snyder delivered a stunning, must-see epic movie.

11. Black Adam

Score: 38%

Rotten or Fresh? Rotten

Critics Consensus: Black Adam may end up pointing the way to an exciting future for DC films, but as a standalone experience, it's a wildly uneven letdown.

Dwayne Johnson promised that the hierarchy of power in the DCEU would change with Black Adam, and while the character is certainly formidable, this wasn't the fresh start this franchise needed.

A mediocre movie, it hits far too many familiar plot beats and fails to do its characters justice, with a forgettable take on the Justice Society and a lot of annoying supporting players. Still, we can't fault the badass action scenes.

10. Justice League (2017)

Score: 9%

Rotten or Fresh? Rotten

Critics Consensus: Justice League leaps over a number of DC movies, but its single bound isn't enough to shed the murky aesthetic, thin characters, and chaotic action that continue to dog the franchise.

Justice League was a mixture of two competing visions (Zack Snyder's original movie and Joss Whedon's extensive reshoots), but it certainly wasn't the worst superhero movie ever released!

Whedon's hopeful take on Superman was welcomed, but the cheesy humour was not, and Steppenwolf proved to be a major disappointment. Needless to say, the "Snyder Cut" - while overlong - blew this effort away.

9. Shazam! Fury of the Gods

Score: 49%

Rotten or Fresh? Rotten

Critics Consensus: More unfocused and less satisfying than its predecessor, Shazam! Fury of the Gods still retains enough of the source material's silly charm to save the day.

There will be those among you who feel critics were too harsh towards Shazam! Fury of the Gods, criticising much of what they loved about its predecessor. It's the fact it doesn't break much in the way of new ground which may be the problem.

There's fun to be had and it certainly doesn't play like a "Rotten" movie, but making use of newly created villains and spoiling the sequel's biggest cameo in a TV spot did nothing to help its box office prospects and the sequel was largely forgettable.

8. Man Of Steel

Score: 56%

Rotten or Fresh? Rotten

Critics Consensus: Man of Steel's exhilarating action and spectacle can't fully overcome its detours into generic blockbuster territory.

Considered the best big screen take on Superman by many fans, critics weren't quite what to make of a darker take on this character in Man of Steel (General Zod's death remains a huge talking point even seven years later).

There was a tonne of iconic moments, though, including Superman taking flight for the first time and that memorable final reveal that he'd donned a pair of glasses to work at The Daily Planet.

7. Wonder Woman 1984

Score: 58%

Rotten or Fresh? Rotten

Critics Consensus: Wonder Woman 1984 struggles with sequel overload, but still offers enough vibrant escapism to satisfy fans of the franchise and its classic central character.

When the review embargo first lifted, Wonder Woman 1984 had a score in the high 80s and a completely different Critics Consensus to the one you've read above...oh, and it was "Certified Fresh" as well!

That all changed in the weeks which followed, hence why this sequel is now considered "Rotten." Why the response so drastically altered is hard to say, but this take on Diana Prince was not embraced by fans.

6. Aquaman

Score: 65%

Rotten or Fresh? Fresh

Critics Consensus: Aquaman swims with its entertainingly ludicrous tide, offering up CGI superhero spectacle that delivers energetic action with an emphasis on good old-fashioned fun.

Aquaman was definitely a step in the right direction for the DC Extended Universe, but not even that made many critics happy! There were heaps of incredible visuals, lots of groundbreaking technology, some legitimately funny jokes, and the action was definitely strong.

It sometimes tried a little too hard to be a Marvel movie, though, so that could explain why it wasn't ultimately "Certified Fresh" (which we'd say did this entertaining effort a disservice).

5. The Flash

Score: 66%

Rotten or Fresh? Fresh

Critics Consensus: The Flash is funny, fittingly fast-paced, and overall ranks as one of the best DC movies in recent years.

Warner Bros. spent months hyping The Flash up as the "greatest superhero movie ever" and ultimately overpromised and underdelivered. A serviceable effort, expectations were set so high that there was no way it could do anything other than disappoint.

Batman and Supergirl were the undeniable highlights, but abysmal VFX, a muddled story, and changes from DC Studios which left fans scratching their heads left us with a movie that may be in the top 5 but is still vastly inferior to many of the efforts listed above.

4. Zack Snyder's Justice League

Score: 71%

Rotten or Fresh? Fresh

Critics Consensus: Zack Snyder's Justice League lives up to its title with a sprawling cut that expands to fit the director's vision -- and should satisfy the fans who willed it into existence.

Zack Snyder's Justice League has been embraced by fans (and many critics!), but ended up falling just short of being "Certified Fresh." It's too late for that to happen now, of course, but this four-hour epic has been embraced by most, even if it does nothing to change the minds of those who don't like the filmmaker's work.

The #RestoreTheSnyderVerse movement continues to demand a sequel, though it won't ever happen under DC Studios' watch.

3. Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)

Score: 79%

Rotten or Fresh? Certified Fresh

Critics Consensus: With a fresh perspective, some new friends, and loads of fast-paced action, Birds of Prey captures the colorfully anarchic spirit of Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn.

Birds of Prey flopped at the box office, but was exactly the movie critics were looking for...well, mostly! While not quite a critical darling, Cathy Yan's unique take on the vibrant world of Harley Quinn was positively received, even if comic book fans were disappointed (and many will be angry to see it rank above the Snyder Cut).

After all, the Birds of Prey were an afterthought in their own movie, but this still pretty good fun.

2. Shazam! (TIE)

Score: 90%

Rotten or Fresh? Certified Fresh

Critics Consensus: An effortlessly entertaining blend of humor and heart, Shazam! is a superhero movie that never forgets the genre's real power: joyous wish fulfillment.

The most Marvel-style DCEU movie to date, Shazam! was a legitimately very funny origin story for this character, but also one that featured a lot of heart.

Given how weak the Seven Deadly Sins were as villains - and how rushed the introduction of the Shazam Family was - this score seems a little too high, but there's no getting around the fact that David F. Sandberg delivered an awesome take on this fan-favourite superhero...it's just a shame the sequel couldn't live up to that.

2. The Suicide Squad (TIE)

Score: 90%

Rotten or Fresh? Certified Fresh

Critics Consensus: Enlivened by writer-director James Gunn's singularly skewed vision, The Suicide Squad marks a funny, fast-paced rebound that plays to the source material's violent, anarchic strengths

Thanks to COVID, the odds were always going to be stacked against The Suicide Squad, but the way it underperformed was still a surprise. Despite that, it felt like a step in the right direction for the DCEU given the positive response, and the story Gunn told was funny, heart-warming, and action-packed in equal measure.

The box office may be too low for a sequel, but Peacemaker was a worthy follow-up and we can't wait for both season 2 and Waller.

1. Wonder Woman

Score: 93%

Rotten or Fresh? Certified Fresh

Critics Consensus: Thrilling, earnest, and buoyed by Gal Gadot's charismatic performance, Wonder Woman succeeds in spectacular fashion.

Still considered the best DCEU movie by many, Patty Jenkins definitely exceeded expectations with Wonder Woman, but obviously failed to do the same with Wonder Woman 1984 (which might be why Wonder Woman 3 has been benched).

Making it clear that female-led superhero blockbusters can work, the 2017 release was a lot of fun, features a great cast, and an unforgettable - and now iconic scene courtesy of that "No Man's Land" sequence set during WWI.

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54 Comments

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FireandBlood - 6/22/2023, 12:08 PM

Top two were the best, so makes sense

AllsGood - 6/22/2023, 12:14 PM

Didn't WB/DC just get busted for paying for positive reviews in China? My gut tells me they did the same in America. We know they paid Tom Cruise for his review.

ThorArms - 6/22/2023, 12:16 PM

Batman V. Superman wasn't good, but it definitely wasn't THAT bad. WW1984 and JL were worse

FireandBlood - 6/22/2023, 12:20 PM

Still want that Green Arrow Supermax movie. Could be John Wick meets Escape from NY. Instead we’re getting The Authority, a Justice League pastiche. I hate being a DC fan.

WakandaTech - 6/22/2023, 12:25 PM

Is the DCEU the biggest franchise failure of all time

I say yes

It destroyed the hype for Iconic DC characters
It lost billions of dollars
It was destroyed financially and by Marvel

FireandBlood - 6/22/2023, 12:44 PM

@WakandaTech - Without a doubt. Even looking past all the money left on the table, 6 tentpoles bombing in a row for has gotta be a record

WakandanQueen - 6/22/2023, 12:26 PM

Not reading this list. This is how I rank those I've seen:
The Suicide Squad
Wonder Woman
Shazam!
Aquaman
Birds of Prey
Man of Steel
Wonder Woman 1984
Batman v Superman
Suicide Squad

CLTMAN29 - 6/22/2023, 12:28 PM

You know what I've never seen any article about Wonder Woman mention? And why is completely falls flat and isn't worth the 93%? It's that the entire concept of the film is that 'sometimes people are just bad, there isn't a reason, there's nothing you can just punch in the face, we're just shitty - oh wait until THERE is something you can punch in the face that's responsible for all the evil in human kind.' So dumb

TyrantBossMedia - 6/23/2023, 3:13 AM

@CLTMAN29 - They would never ever give Wonder Woman a bad review after all of the "first female comic book movie" Brouhaha, even though Supergirl was the first back in 1984.

If they dared criticize Wonder Woman they would be branded a sexist.

n1ghtw1ng2832 - 6/22/2023, 12:38 PM

And there Wilding goes again posting crap nobody asked for.

MyCoolYoung - 6/22/2023, 12:38 PM

Looking at this list and man has DC had some critical bombs. I'll stand on this though josstice league and the first suicide squad are my guilty pleasures.

Wonder woman was good but they have no knockouts. I'll never watch the snydercut again. The flash has a case to be DC's best movie

IcePyke - 6/22/2023, 1:00 PM

OptimusCrime - 6/22/2023, 1:25 PM

Justice League at 9%

MrDandy - 6/22/2023, 1:30 PM

Looking at this franchise as a whole really puts it into perspective how rough this all is.

I think the only ones I really like are Wonder Woman, The Suicide Squad, and SHAZAM.

The rest are mixed or outright duds imo

ObserverIO - 6/22/2023, 3:34 PM

@MrDandy - I can't believe it took them so long to reboot.

This is where successful films like Aquaman can be a double-edged sword.

Blergh - 6/22/2023, 1:45 PM

1. Shazam (7/10)
2. Aquaman (6/10)
3. Man of Steel (5/10)
4. Wonder Woman (5/10)
5. The Suicide Squad (4/10)
6. The Flash (4/10)
7. Shazam 2 (4/10)
8. Black Adam (3/10)
9. Wonder Woman 84 (3/10)
10. Birds of Prey (3/10)
12. Suicide Squad (both Cuts; 3/10)
13. Justice League (both Cuts; 2/10)
14. Batman v Superman (both Cuts; 2/10)

ossie85 - 6/22/2023, 2:24 PM

If two things are tied for 2nd, the next is 4th, not 3rd. Sorry, just a pet hate!

You can't say your the 2nd best in the world if two people beat you but tied for first.....

Forthas - 6/22/2023, 3:14 PM

I have to say..the critic reviews of the DCEU are way off. In a rare defense of Warner Brothers (The world must be ending) the early films in the DCEU were measured against Marvel. That is when quippy dialogue and comedy was all the rage. Now that the new car smell has worn off the comedy has not held up well. The films that took the subject matter seriously are to me the best ones with Man of Steel not just the best DCEU film but one of the best CBMs made. I rank it #1 against other DCEU films and 4th among ALL DC films...yes even above the Donner Superman. It is a film that was way ahead of its time and all of the people crying about how it is not their Superman and longing for red underwear and clumsy Clark Kent are living in a dying past that has already failed with Superman Returns and will fail again with similar efforts.

TheWalkingCuban - 6/22/2023, 3:20 PM

@Forthas - thanks for the history rewrite, it was funny because it was funny. It stopped being funny because it stopped being funny. And then to say that that non-fact makes the DCEU better, I mean, you might as well say the one should have tanked and not the other. That’s preposterous. “New car smell” what the DCEU never had that? It did. It was simply a wrecked car, and they kept piling up, with a handful swerving out of the way of the pile-up.

Anyway, I respect your opinion. So don’t take any of this personally. I simply disagree.

Baf - 6/22/2023, 4:41 PM

@TheWalkingCuban - @TheWalkingCuban - I agree with @Forthas- on this one. Not necessarily about MOS being the best ever, but he makes a good argument for those "taking the subject matter seriously". MOS does that well. I would even dare to say (since the world is ending) Marvel wins at the box office (and I get that's what counts) but DC is much more re-watchable. Once the initial hype wears down, Marvels second viewings are very bland. On the other hand, I find DC re-watches way more interesting. They at least show the artistic perspective of the directors that made them. Not so cookie cutter (with exception of course). I do agree with you that the DC "New car smell" was put in a lemon. But I do think the DC/Warner movies are aging better...respectfully.

Forthas - 6/22/2023, 5:04 PM

@Baf -
@TheWalkingCuban

I think if you look historically, the first Keaton Batman film and the first Reeve Superman film happen to be the most serious of their respective series. They are also the most fondly remembered. As both franchises descended into ever more camp, the audience lost interest. In a sense history is repeating itself.

TheWalkingCuban - 6/22/2023, 6:07 PM

@Forthas - yes but the scale does allow the MCU some leeway. 700’s, 800’s, and 900’s is respectable non RDJ or Avengers box office. But look man. I’m talking consensus here: I don’t hear bout nobody rewatching dceu stuff, same as they don’t talk about upcoming stuff. Yes the excitement has lessened for the MCU: it was only in spurts for the DCEU. I like BVS, I mos and BvS but to say either one is as rewatchable as avengers, or IW, or EG, or civil war or iron man or black Panther or guardians or homecoming or Ragnarok, etc, for the consensus of folks, no. That’s not evident.

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