Finding a clean list of DC films used to be easy. You had the Chris Reeve classics, the Burton years, and then the Nolan trilogy. Simple. But then things got messy with the "Snyderverse" and a dozen different spin-offs that didn't always talk to each other. Now that we’ve hit 2026, the board has been wiped mostly clean. James Gunn and Peter Safran are running the show at DC Studios, and honestly, it’s a lot to keep track of if you aren't living on Reddit 24/7.
The old DCEU is officially in the rearview mirror. After Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom wrapped things up in late 2023, the studio hit the giant reset button. We are now firmly in the era of the "DCU," a connected world that actually tries to make sense across movies, TV, and even games.
But wait. There's a catch. Not every movie coming out is part of that main story. Matt Reeves is still doing his own thing with Robert Pattinson’s Batman, which they’re calling "Elseworlds." It’s basically DC’s way of saying, "This is a cool story, but it doesn't affect the other ones." Kinda confusing? Yeah. But once you see the breakdown, it actually makes a weird sort of sense.
The New Era: DC Studios Chapter One
We finally saw the big launch with Superman in 2025. David Corenswet took over the cape, and the vibe was way more hopeful than the moody stuff we got for the last decade. It set the stage for a massive list of DC films that are currently in various stages of "almost done" or "just getting started."
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What’s Hitting Theaters Next?
The next couple of years are looking pretty stacked.
- Supergirl (June 26, 2026): This isn't your typical bubbly hero story. It’s based on the Woman of Tomorrow comic by Tom King. Milly Alcock is starring, and from what the producers are saying, it’s more of a sci-fi epic than a standard cape movie. Kara was raised on a floating fragment of Krypton watching everyone die, so she’s got a bit of an edge.
- Clayface (September 11, 2026): This one came out of nowhere. It’s being described as a "body-horror" film, which is a wild choice for a major superhero brand. James Watkins is directing, and Mike Flanagan (the guy behind The Haunting of Hill House) helped write it. Expect something creepy and tragic, not a punch-fest.
- Man of Tomorrow (July 9, 2027): James Gunn is back in the writer-director chair for this one. It’s not exactly Superman 2, but it follows Clark and Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) as they apparently have to team up against a bigger threat. Rumors are swirling about Brainiac, but nothing's set in stone yet.
The Batman Epic Crime Saga (Elseworlds)
While the main DCU is building its world, Matt Reeves is still playing in his own sandbox. This is where The Batman lives. It’s gritty, it’s dirty, and it’s definitely not going to have Superman flying through the background.
The Batman Part II is currently scheduled for October 1, 2027. They pushed it back a few times because, well, that's just how movies go these days. Robert Pattinson is back, and we’re all just waiting to see if Barry Keoghan’s Joker is going to be the main headache this time around or if they'll dive deeper into the Court of Owls.
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A Look Back: The DCEU (2013-2023)
You can't really talk about the current list of DC films without acknowledging the mountain of movies that came before. This was the "Extended Universe" era. Some of these were massive hits, others... not so much.
- Man of Steel (2013)
- Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
- Suicide Squad (2016)
- Wonder Woman (2017)
- Justice League (2017) – The one Joss Whedon finished.
- Aquaman (2018) – Still the highest-grossing DC movie ever.
- Shazam! (2019)
- Birds of Prey (2020)
- Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
- Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) – The four-hour "Snyder Cut."
- The Suicide Squad (2021) – James Gunn’s first DC project.
- Black Adam (2022)
- Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)
- The Flash (2023)
- Blue Beetle (2023)
- Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)
It was a wild ride. The tone shifted from "super serious" to "talking sharks" in the span of a few years. While this continuity is basically done, some actors might pop up again. Xolo Maridueña is still playing Blue Beetle in the new universe, for example. It’s a "soft reboot," so they’re keeping the parts that worked and tossing the rest.
Why the Animation Matters Now
One thing James Gunn made very clear is that the list of DC films now includes animated projects that actually count toward the story.
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Creature Commandos was the first real taste of this. It’s a show, but the characters are expected to show up in live-action movies later. Then there’s Dynamic Duo, which is an animated film about Dick Grayson and Jason Todd (the first two Robins) coming in 2028. If you want the full story, you sort of have to watch the cartoons now too. It’s a lot of homework, but at least the quality has been pretty high lately.
What’s Still "In Development"?
There are a bunch of titles that have been announced but don't have hard dates yet. These are the ones where you probably shouldn't hold your breath just yet, as scripts are still being polished.
- The Authority: A movie about a group of superheroes who think the ends always justify the means. They’re basically "anti-Justice League."
- The Brave and the Bold: This will be the DCU’s version of Batman. It’ll feature Bruce Wayne and his son, Damian Wayne, who is a literal child assassin. Andy Muschietti (who did The Flash and IT) is attached to direct.
- Swamp Thing: James Mangold is supposedly doing a gothic horror take on this.
- Teen Titans: A live-action movie was recently greenlit with Ana Nogueira writing the script.
The Actionable Takeaway for Fans
If you're trying to stay current, the best thing you can do is focus on the DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters slate. Everything from 2025 onwards (starting with Superman) is the main narrative.
To keep your watch list straight, prioritize the theatrical releases like Supergirl and Clayface in 2026. If you see a movie labeled Elseworlds, like The Batman sequels or the Joker films, just remember they are standalone "what if" stories. They won't affect the main Justice League build-up. Keep an eye on official social media from James Gunn—he’s surprisingly transparent about which scripts are actually moving and which are still just ideas on a whiteboard.
Start by catching up on Superman (2025) if you missed it, as that’s the literal foundation for everything coming in the next decade.