Finding a clean, simple list of movies based on DC comics is harder than it should be. Why? Because DC doesn’t just have one "universe." It has about five of them, plus a bunch of weird outliers that don't fit anywhere. If you’re trying to figure out which Batman belongs to which timeline, or why there are two different Suicide Squad movies that look almost the same but feel totally different, you aren't alone.
The history of DC on film is basically a series of "fresh starts" that never quite stayed fresh.
Honestly, we’ve come a long way from the 1940s serials. Back then, Superman was just a guy in a baggy suit jumping over cardboard sets. Today, we’re looking at a massive 2026 slate that’s trying to wipe the slate clean again.
The New Era: James Gunn’s DCU (2025–Beyond)
The biggest mistake people make right now is thinking everything coming out is connected to the old Justice League movies. It’s not. James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios and basically hit the giant reset button. They're calling this "Chapter One: Gods and Monsters."
Superman (2025)
This is the real starting line. David Corenswet is the new Man of Steel. It isn't an origin story—thank god—but it follows a younger Clark Kent trying to balance his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. It actually beat out Marvel’s 2025 slate at the box office, raking in about $615 million and proving people still want hopeful superhero stories.
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Supergirl (2026)
Scheduled for June 26, 2026, this one stars Milly Alcock. It’s based on the "Woman of Tomorrow" comic run by Tom King. If you’ve read that, you know it’s more of a sci-fi space epic than a standard "girl in a cape" story.
Clayface (2026)
This is a bit of a curveball. Most people know Clayface as a Batman villain, but this is a standalone horror-leaning project. It's meant to show the diversity of the new DCU.
Man of Tomorrow (2027)
The sequel to the 2025 Superman film. Early buzz suggests Brainiac will be the main antagonist here.
The DCEU: The "Snyderverse" and Its Aftermath (2013–2023)
For ten years, this was the main list of movies based on DC comics. It started with Zack Snyder's Man of Steel and ended with a bit of a whimper in 2023. This is where you find the Henry Cavill Superman and the Ben Affleck Batman.
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- Man of Steel (2013) – The grim, grounded start.
- Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) – The "Martha" moment heard 'round the world.
- Suicide Squad (2016) – Massive box office, but critics absolutely hated it.
- Wonder Woman (2017) – Easily one of the best in this era. Gal Gadot basically saved the brand for a few years.
- Justice League (2017) – The "theatrical" version that was a mess.
- Aquaman (2018) – Somehow, the movie about the guy who talks to fish became DC's only billion-dollar hit in this universe.
- Shazam! (2019) – A fun, lighthearted change of pace.
- Birds of Prey (2020) – Harley Quinn’s solo-ish adventure.
- Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) – A weirdly divisive sequel that didn't land like the first one.
- The Suicide Squad (2021) – James Gunn’s R-rated soft reboot. Much better than the 2016 version.
- Black Adam (2022) – The Rock tried to "change the hierarchy," but it didn't really happen.
- Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) – The beginning of the end for the old regime.
- The Flash (2023) – Meant to reset the timeline, but ended up being more of a multiverse cameo-fest.
- Blue Beetle (2023) – Great heart, but it was released right as the universe was closing down.
- Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023) – The final nail in the DCEU coffin.
Note: Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) exists as a 4-hour director's cut. It's technically the "true" version for fans, but the studio never officially moved forward with its story beats.
The Outsiders: DC Elseworlds
Not everything fits in a neat box. DC uses the "Elseworlds" label for movies that take place in their own separate bubbles. This is where the best filmmaking usually happens because the directors aren't worried about setting up a sequel for five years from now.
The Joker Series
Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker (2019) was a massive psychological drama that didn't need a Batman to work. Its sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux (2024), added Lady Gaga and a musical element that... let's just say it was a bold choice.
The Batman Epic Crime Saga
Robert Pattinson’s The Batman (2022) is its own thing. It spawned The Penguin TV series and will continue with The Batman Part II in October 2027. If you want a gritty detective story, this is your corner of the DC world.
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Going Way Back: The Classics
You can't talk about a list of movies based on DC comics without the originals. Before everyone was obsessed with shared universes, we just had good movies.
- Superman: The Movie (1978): Christopher Reeve. The gold standard. You'll believe a man can fly.
- Batman (1989): Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson. This changed how the world saw superheroes—no more "Biff!" and "Pow!" like the 60s TV show.
- The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005–2012): Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece. The Dark Knight (2008) is still widely considered the best superhero movie ever made. It’s the reason the Academy started nominating ten movies for Best Picture.
What You Should Actually Watch First
If you’re a newcomer, don’t try to watch everything chronologically. You’ll get a headache.
Start with The Dark Knight if you want a crime thriller. Watch Wonder Woman (2017) if you want a classic hero's journey. If you want to be ready for the new stuff, honestly, you can just wait for Superman (2025) and start there.
The most important thing to remember is that DC is currently in a state of flux. The 2025-2026 period is the first time in history that a single creative team (Gunn and Safran) is overseeing the movies, TV, and games under one "bible."
Practical Next Steps for Fans
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, check out the comic book Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King. It is the direct source material for the 2026 film and gives you a much better idea of the tone James Gunn is going for than any old trailer will. Also, keep an eye on the "Elseworlds" branding—if a movie has that label, you don't need to watch 20 other films to understand what's happening.