DC Movies List: How to Watch all DC Movies in Chronological Order

DC Comics Inc is a renowned American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, which is part of Warner Bros Discovery. It is one of the oldest and largest comic book companies in the United States, with its first comic published in 1937. The company’s publications primarily revolve around the fictional DC Universe, featuring various culturally iconic characters, such as Batman, Superman, Flash, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and Cyborg. Additionally, the DC Universe boasts of several fictional teams, including the Justice League, the Justice Society of America, the Justice League Dark, and the Teen Titans, and also has an assortment of infamous villains, such as Lex Luthor, the Cheetah, the Reverse-Flash, Deathstroke, Sinestro, Black Adam, Captain Cold, Black Manta, and Darkseid.

DC movies are adaptations of the company’s iconic comic books. Over the years, several DC movies have been released, with some of the most iconic ones being Black Adam, Batman, The Suicide Squad, and many more. DC movies are known for their slick production, action sequences, and strict adherence to the comic book storyline, which is crucial for making sense of the narrative. Many prominent actors have played memorable characters in DC movies, such as Jared Leto as the iconic Joker, Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam, and more. If you want to know the ranking of DC movies, read our list below.

All DC Movies in Order of Ranking

Man of Steel – June 14, 2013

Man of Steel is a popular superhero movie based on the DC Comics character Superman. It was directed by Zack Snyder and adapted from a screenplay by David S Goyer, who collaborated with Christopher Nolan, also serving as co-producer. This movie is the first instalment in the DC Extended Universe, presenting a new version of the Superman film series that depicts the character’s origin story. The story follows Clark Kent, who discovers that he is a superpowered alien from Krypton and assumes the role of mankind’s protector. Clark confronts General Zod, who wants to destroy humanity. Along the way, the story introduces us to the planet Krypton, which has been destabilized due to mining of its core. The chief advisor of the supreme council infuses Kal-El, the first naturally born Kryptonian child in centuries, with the genetic codex and sends him in a spacecraft to Earth. The spacecraft lands in Kansas, and Kal-El is adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent, who name him Clark. As Clark grows older, he develops superhuman powers. Unfortunately, Jonathan dies in a tornado, and this causes Clark to travel the world under different aliases to seek his life’s purpose. The story shows how Clark eventually transforms into Superman, which forms the rest of the story.

Cast- Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, and Russell Crowe.

Release Date –14 June 2014

Where to watch online – Netflix

Also Read: All Marvel Movies in Chronological Order: From Captain America: The First Avenger to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – March 25, 2016

This 2016 superhero film is based on Batman and Superman and serves as a sequel to the 2013 film Man of Steel. It is also the second movie in the DC Extended Universe, directed once again by Zack Snyder, with Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer writing the screenplay. The film features the first live-action portrayal of Batman and Superman together, as well as the first cinematic depiction of Wonder Woman. The story revolves around Lex Luthor, a criminal mastermind who manipulates Batman into fighting Superman, whom Luthor wants to destroy. The film begins with a flashback from Bruce Wayne’s childhood where he runs from his parent’s funeral and falls into a cave, only to be saved by a swarm of bats. Fast forward to the present, and 18 months after Superman’s battle with General Zod in Metropolis, Superman has become a controversial figure. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne, who has been operating as the masked vigilante Batman in Gotham City for 20 years, views Superman as a threat to humanity after witnessing the devastation caused by their previous battle. Clark Kent, who works for the Daily Planet, wants to expose Batman’s methods of justice. Wayne discovers that Lex Luthor, CEO of LexCorp, has been in contact with Russian weapons trafficker Anatoli Knyazev, who is attempting to persuade Senator June Finch for his own agenda. When she refuses, Luthor finds an alternative way to achieve his goals. The movie is known for its spectacular action sequences and the outstanding performances of its cast.

Cast-Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter, and Gal Gadot

Release date – 25 March 2016

Where to watch – Netflix

Suicide Squad – August 5, 2016

This American superhero movie, based on the DC Comics supervillain/anti-hero team of the same name, is the production of Warner Bros Pictures, RatPac-Dune Entertainment, Atlas Entertainment and DC Films. This movie happens to be the third instalment in the DC Extended Universe, and has been written and directed by David Ayer. The movie has an ensemble cast, and the story deals with a secret government agency that recruits imprisoned supervillains to executive dicey black ops missions and save the world from a dangerous threat in return for reduced sentences. The cast comprises Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ike Barinholtz, Scott Eastwood, and Cara Delevingne. The story begins in the aftermath of Superman’s death, when an intelligence officer Amanda Waller, convinces the US Government to give the green signal for Task Force X, a response team of supervillains and criminals, that will combat metahuman threats, via nanite bombs implanted in each criminal’s neck, which can be remotely set off in case they rebel or escape. If they are successful in their mission, their sentences will be truncated. We meet Dr June Moone, an American archeologist who gets possessed by Enchantress. She can control this Enchantress by seizing her magical heart. With its strange plot, great action and intense storyline, Suicide Squad is a must watch for DC fans.

Cast-Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ike Barinholtz, Scott Eastwood, and Cara Delevingne

Release Date –5 August 2016

Where to watch – Amazon Prime Video

Wonder Woman – June 2, 2017

This 2017 superhero movie is based on the DC Comics character of the same name. Production duties have been shared by Warner Bros Pictures, Atlas Entertainment, DC Films, and Cruel and Unusual Films, with Warner Bros Pictures handling distribution duties. This movie is the fourth instalment of the DC Extended Universe and a spin-off to Batman vs Superman-Dawn of Justice. Patty Jenkins has worn the director’s cap while Allan Heinberg has written the story with Zack Snyder and Jason Fuchs. Gal Gadot has played the titular role while Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Connie Nielsen and Elena Anaya have played the supporting cast. In this movie the Amazon princess Diana sets out to cease World War 1, thinking that the longtime foe of the Amazons started the war, the Ares, after US Pilot and spy Steve Trevor crash-lands on Themyscira and tells her about it. Living in present-day Paris, Diana Prince gets a photographic plate from Wayne Enterprises of herself and 4 men taken during WW1, forcing her to recall her past. Queen Hippolyta’s daughter, Diana has been raised on the hidden island of Themyscira, inhabited by the Amazons, women warriors made by the Olympian gods to safeguard mankind. Learning about the Amazons’ history, Diana discovers how Ares, jealous of humanity, wanted to destroy it. When the other gods tried to stop him, Ares killed everyone but Zeus. How did Zeus survive? And what fate awaits the queen?

Cast- Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Connie Nielsen and Elena Anaya

Release Date – 2 June 2017

Where to watch – Amazon Prime Video

Justice League – November 17, 2017

This 2017 American superhero movie is based on the DC Comics superhero team of the same name. RatPac Dune Entertainment, Warner Bros Pictures, Atlas Entertainment, DC Films and Cruel and Unusual Films have all shared production duties, while Warner Bros Pictures has marketed the movie. This is the 5th instalment in the DC Extended Universe. Zack Snyder has directed this, while Chris Terrio and Joss Whedon have penned the script. The movie has an ensemble cast including Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane, Connie Nielsen, and J. K. Simmons. The movie picks up where Batman Vs Superman Dawn of Justice left off. Batman and Wonder Woman recruit The Flash, Cyborg and Aquaman after the death of Superman, to save the world from the threat of Steppenwolf and his army of Parademons, who attempt to take over the Earth using the combined energies of the three Mother Boxes. This attempt gets foiled by a unified alliance including the Olympian Gods, Atlanteans, Amazons, extraterrestrial beings and humanity. After Steppenwolf’s army gets repelled, the Mother Boxes get separated and hidden in different locations. Humanity, still in mourning 2 years after Superman’s death, triggers the Mother Boxes’ reactivation and Steppenwolf’s return to Earth. Steppenwolf wants to gather the boxes to form “The Unity” which will ruin Earth’s ecology, terraforming it just like Steppenwolf’s homeworld.

Cast- Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane, Connie Nielsen, and J. K. Simmons

Release Date-17 November 2017

Where to watch – Netflix

Also Read: Most Powerful Marvel Character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – Ranked

Aquaman – December 21, 2018

This 2018 American superhero movie is based on the DC character of the same name. Production duties have been shared by DC Entertainment and Peter Safran Productions, with Warner Bros Pictures overseeing production duties. It is the 6th movie in the DC Extended Universe. James Wan has directed this movie from a screenplay by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Will Beall. Jason Momoa plays the role of Arthur Curry/Aquaman who ventures out to lead the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, and stop King Orm, his half brother, from uniting the 7 underwater kingdoms to destroy the surface world. Supporting cast includes Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Nicole Kidman appear in supporting roles. The story opens in 1985 when lighthouse keeper Thoms Curry rescues Atlanna, the queen of the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, during a storm. They marry and have a son named Arthur, who can communicate with sea creatures. Atlantean soldiers sent by King Orvax come looking for Atlanna, face off with Atlanna, who defeats them but is forced to leave her family to protect them from her people. Promising to return when it is safe, she goes back to Atlantis, entrusting her advisor Nuidis Vulko to train Arthur. His journey and subsequent encounters form the basis of this story.

Cast-Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Nicole Kidman

Release Date-21 December 2018

Where to watch – Amazon Prime Video

Shazam! – April 5, 2019

This 2019 superhero movie is based on the DC Comics character of the same name. DC Films, Seven Bucks Productions, New Line Cinema and the Safran company have produced this movie which is the seventh instalment in the DC Extended Universe. David F Sandberg has directed this movie from a screenplay by Henry Garden who co-authored the story with Darren Lenke. The movie stars Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Djimon Hounsou. In this movie we are introduced to a teenager Billy Batson as he is chosen by the ancient wizard Shazam to be his new champion by uttering the name “Shazam”, allowing him to transform into an adult superhero with various superpowers. Billy together with his foster brother Freddy Freeman must discover Billy’s new powers to stop the evil Dr Thaddeus Sivana and the Seven Deadly Sins. The movie opens in 1974 in Upstate New York, where a young Thaddeus Sivan is riding in a car with his abusive father and brother Sid during a snowstorm. The two keep harassing Sivan. He suddenly gets transported to the Rock of Eternity, a mystic temple located in another dimension. What happens in that temple in that portal is anyone’s guess. The Seven Deadly Sins also come into play here. How does the movie progress? Watch it and find out!

Cast- Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Djimon Hounsou.

Release Date – 5 April 2019

Where to watch – Amazon Prime Video

Birds of Prey – February 7, 2020

This 2020 American superhero movie is based on the DC Comics team – the Birds of Prey. The movie is a joint production effort by Warner Bros Pictures, LuckyChap Entertainment, DC Films, Clubhouse Pictures and Kroll and Co Entertainment, distributed by Warner Bros Pictures. This movie is the eighth instalment in the DC Extended Universe, serving as a spin-off and sequel to Suicide Squad. Cathy Yan has taken care of direction while Christina Hodson has penned the story. Margot Robbie has essayed the titular role of Harley Quinn, with supporting cast including Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Rosie Perez, Chris Messina, Ella Jay Basco, Ali Wong, and Ewan McGregor. In this story, we follow Quinn, who, after breaking up with the Joker, is threatened by the crime boss of Gotham City Roman Sionis. Quinn joins forces with Renee Montoya, Dinah Lance and Helena Bertinelli, to form the Birds of Prey, to save Cassandra Cain. Four years after the Enchantress is defeated, the Joker breaks up with Quinn, casting her out on the city streets of Gotham. Doc, the owner of a Taiwanese restaurant takes her in. Quinn cuts her hair, adopts a spotted hyena and takes up roller derby to recover from her relationship. What happens beyond that, is what forms the majority of the plot.

Cast- Margot Robbie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Rosie Perez, Chris Messina, Ella Jay Basco, Ali Wong, and Ewan McGregor.

Release Date-7 February 2020

Where to watch – Amazon Prime Video

Wonder Woman 1984 — December 25, 2020

Often abridged as WW84, this 2020 American superhero movie is based on the DC character Wonder Woman. Warner Bros Pictures, Atlas Entertainment, DC Films and The Stone Quarry have shared production duties, with Warner Bros Pictures taking care of distribution. You may say this movie is a follow-up of the 2017 movie Wonder Woman, and the 9th film in the DC Extended Universe. Patty Jenkins has overseen direction while writing the story with Geoff Johns and Dave Callaham, adapted from a story by Jenkins and Johns. The movie stars Gal Gadot as Diana Prince / Wonder Woman and has a supporting cast of Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal, Robin Wright, and Connie Nielsen. The movie opens with Diana participating in an athletic competition on Themyscira as a child, against adult Amazons. She gets knocked off her horse, but takes a shortcut, remounts yet misses a checkpoint. Antiope throws her out of the race for cheating, while her mother dishes out some advice. Cut to 1984, and Diana is working at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, while clandestinely performing heroic deeds as Wonder Woman. Enter new museum employee Barbara Minerva, a reserved geologist and cryptozoologist, who isn’t getting noticed by her coworkers but quickly finds a confidante in Diana. This way, the movie follows Diana, even covering her time with past love Steve Trevor, as they face off against Cheetah and Maxwell Lord.

Cast- Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal, Robin Wright, and Connie Nielsen

Release Date-25 December 2020

Where to watch – Netflix

Zack Snyder’s Justice League — March 18, 2021

Colloquially referred to as the Snyder Cut, this movie is the 2021 director’s cut of the 2017 American superhero film Justice League, the 5th movie in the DC Extended Universe, based on the team of the same name. This movie is meant to match Zack Snyder’s original vision for Justice League, before his departure of the original production and studio interference. In this movie we follow the DC heroes Batman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, Aquaman, The Flash and a revived Superman, as they come together to stop the extradimensional conqueror Steppenwolf and his army of Parademons from conquering Earth for Darkseid, his overlord. Thousands of years ago, Darkseid and his Parademon try to conquer the Earth using three devices called Mother Boxes, but his attempt is foiled by an alliance of the “Old Gods’, Amazons, humans, Atlanteans and a Green Lantern. Darkseid retreats, and leaves the Boxes behind, left to be guarded by the Amazons, humans and Atlanteans. Cut to the present, the death of Superman at the hands of Doomsday triggers the reactivation of the boxes, attracting Steppenwolf, the disgraced lieutenant of Darkseid. Steppenwolf wants to regain Darkseid’s favour by gathering all the Boxes to form The Unity which would terraform our Earth into a copy of their homeland.

Cast-Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Henry Cavill, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher, Amy Adams, Ciarán Hinds, Jeremy Adams, Connie Nielsen, Diane Lane, Joe Morton, JK Simmons, Willem Dafoe, Joe Manganiello, Harry Lenix, Jared Leto, Kiersey Clemons.

Release Date- 18 March 2021

Where to watch – Amazon Prime Video

The Suicide Squad — August 6, 2021

This 2021 American superhero movie is based on the DC Comics team Suicide Squad. Production duties have been shared by DC Films, The Safran Company and Atlas Entertainment. Warner Bros Pictures has taken care of distribution. This movie is a standalone sequel to the 2016 hit Suicide Squad, and the 10th film in the DC Extended Universe. This movie has been written and directed by James Gunn, and has an ensemble cast that includes Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, Sylvester Stallone, Viola Davis, David Dastmalchian, Daniela Melchior, Michael Rooker, Jai Courtney, Peter Capaldi, Alice Braga, and Pete Davidson. In this story, several convicts come together to form a task force named “Suicide Squad” in exchange for lighter sentences. They are dispatched to Corto Maltese, a South American island nation, to remove all traces of the giant alien starfish Starro the Conqueror before it falls into the control of the local government. The movie opens with intelligence officer Amanda Waller assembling two Task Force X teams, commonly known as the Suicide Squad, comprised of inmates from Belle Reve penitentiary, who agree to carry out a mission in return for truncated sentences. One team doesn’t know the other exists. The teams have to destroy the Nazi-era lab in Corto Maltese, and overthrow the Anti-America regime. Will they be able to restore order? Or will chaos reign supreme? Watch this movie and find out.

Cast- Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, Sylvester Stallone, Viola Davis, David Dastmalchian, Daniela Melchior, Michael Rooker, Jai Courtney, Peter Capaldi, Alice Braga, and Pete Davidson.

Release Date- 6 August 2021

Where to watch – Netflix

The Batman — March 4, 2022

This 2022 American superhero movie is based on the DC Comics character Batman. DC Films, Dylan Clark Productions and 6th & Idaho have jointly produced this movie while Warner Bros Pictures has handled distribution. This is a reboot of the Batman film franchise. Matt Reeves has handled direction and aso written the screenplay with Peter Craig. Robert Pattinson essays the titular role of Bruce Wayne/Batman, while the supporting cast includes Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard, Andy Serkis, and Colin Farrell. In the movie, Batman has been fighting crime in Gotham City for two years, and uncovers corruption while chasing the Riddler, a serial killer whose main targets are Gotham’s elite. The movie opens with a murder- that of Gotham City Mayor Don Mitchell Junior. Reclusive billionaire Bruce Wayne, who for two years has been operating as Batman, investigates this murder alongside the Gotham City Police Department. Lieutenant James Gordon finds a message that the Riddler has left for Batman. The Riddler’s next victim is Commissioner Pete Savage and this time he leaves another message for Batman. Does the Riddler get caught? Or will his murderous spree go unchecked? Watch the movie and find out.

Cast-Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard, Andy Serkis, and Colin Farrell.

Release Date – 4 March 2022

Where to watch – Amazon Prime Video

Black Adam — October 21, 2022

This 2022 American superhero movie stars Dwayne Johnson as the DC Comics character. This movie is a spin-off to Shazam! And is the 11th movie in the DC Extended Universe. This movie has been directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, while Adam Sztykiel, Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani have penned it. The supporting cast includes Aldis Hodge, Noah Centineo, Sarah Shahi, Marwan Kenzari, Quintessa Swindell and Pierce Brosnan. New Line Cinema, Seven Bucks Productions and DC Films have produced it in association with Flynn Picture Co. The story follows an ancient superhuman as he gets released from his magical imprisonment by a group of archaeologists to free the nation of Khandaq from the crime syndicate.

Cast-Dwayne Johnson, Aldis Hodge, Noah Centineo, Sarah Shahi, Marwan Kenzari, Quintessa Swindell and Pierce Brosnan.

Release Date-21 October 2022

Where to watch – Amazon Prime Video

FAQs

1) Should I watch DC movies in chronological or release order?

If you’re inclined to watch the DCEU movies in the order they were released in theaters, regardless of how convoluted it may make the storyline, then here is a guide to planning some truly remarkable movie nights.

2) Are there any post-credit scenes in DC movies that I should watch?

The DC Extended Universe’s feature films often feature post-credits scenes, which involve one or more clips shown during or after the closing credits. These scenes typically serve to tease upcoming films, tie up loose ends from the movie’s plot, or provide comedic relief.

3) Can I skip any DC movies in the recommended viewing order?

You can watch the DC movies in any sequence you prefer. It should be noted that watching them in chronological order differs from the experience of watching the Marvel movies in a particular order.

4) How many DC movies are there in total?

14 DCEU Movies

5) Will there be any new DC movies released in the future?

In January 2023, Gunn and Safran made an official announcement regarding DC’s new ten-year plan, which aims to release two movies and two HBO Max series every year. The first project to launch this plan is “Superman: Legacy,” the inaugural film in DCU’s “Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters,” as stated by Gunn and Safran.

Also Read: All Marvel Movies in Chronological Order: From Captain America: The First Avenger to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

That does it for all the DC movies. So which one is your favourite? Start watching them right away!