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Summary
DChas a long account of successful big - projection screen adaptations spanning over half a century , and the brand ’s biggest names have repeatedly done well at the box office . Though on - concealment adaptations of DC Comics character bulge out way back in 1948 with Kirk Alyn ’s Superman series , it was Adam West’sBatmanthat put DC bouncy - action task on the map . However , despiteBatman ( 1966 ) blend in on to become an important part of pop - culture history , the modern DC moving-picture show landscape was born with Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson’sBatman(1989 ) .
In one way or another , every modern DC movieowes something to this darker reinvention of the Caped Crusader . Of of course , from that Book of Genesis , The Dark Knighttrilogy re - invent superhero movies once again , finding immense financial success in the process . From Batman to Superman and everything in between , DC movies may be a narrative of especial highschool and confusing lows , but they ’re also the story of the superhero movie genre itself .
The DCEU ’s timeline may be about to be boot in the DC Universe , but here ’s how to look on the DCEU in release order or chronological order .
10Batman Remains Iconic Decades Later
$251,188,924 Lifetime Domestic Gross
Cast
Batman(1989 ) was n’t the first time the Dark Knight appeared on the adult blind , but it redefine the character , his baddie , and Gotham for a unexampled generation of moviegoers . Michael Keaton may have been an unexpected choice give his previous condition as a comedic role player , but he nail the part of Batman / Bruce Wayne . Furthermore , Jack Nicholson turns in an undeniably iconic Joker carrying out . Perhaps the movie ’s most telling feat is thatBatmanremains the 4th highest - grossing DC movie of all time even without answer for for puffiness .
9Man Of Steel Kick-Started The DCEU With Promise
$291,045,518 Lifetime Domestic Gross
Man of Steelhad the difficult task of kicking off an entire new cinematic universe , and despite its fault , it largely succeeded . The film is anchored by Henry Cavill ’s marvellous performanceas Clark Kent / Superman , and the weighty , barbarous battle scenes help set it apart from other on - screen adaptation of the Heron . alas , Man of Steelwas never followed up on with a subsequence , butMan of Steelworks dead well as a stand - alone story with visual burden that still maintain up well years later .
8Suicide Squad Performed Well Despite Disappointing Reviews
$325,100,054 Lifetime Domestic Gross
Despite the superhero genre being loaded with content , Suicide Squadfound a unequalled angle - instead of focusing on hoagie , this movie shopping mall on current and reformed villains on a rescue mission against their will . The movie failed to land with critics , but the mold , anchor by memorable performance from Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn , Will Smith as Deadshot , and Viola Davis as Amanda Waller , led it to exceptional financial achiever . While the team was soft - rebooted with James Gunn’sThe Suicide Squad , Waller and Harley Quinn seem poised tocontinue on to the new , rebooted DC Universe .
7Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Brings DC’s Two Biggest Names Together
$330,360,194 Lifetime Domestic Gross
yield the tenner - long cinematic history of Batman and Superman , it ’s a bit of a surprisal that it took until 2016 for the span to forgather . Batman v Supermanwas meet with middling to pathetic critical receipt , butthe premise alone ensured that it pulled a very respectable box post take . WhileBatman v Supermanmay not beone of the best DCEU moviesdue to two bland villains and a controversial end to the titular fight , it still features a fantastic Batman debut by Ben Affleck and is the closest thing the DCEU ever got to aMan of Steelsequel .
6Aquaman Is A Wonderful Global Adventure
$335,061,807 Lifetime Domestic Gross
Aquaman has a farsighted story as a bit of a joke in DC spiritualist , but Jason Momoa ’s take on the character in the DCEU turned the King of Atlantis into a striking . While the DCEU overall suffered from uneven quality and reception , Aquamandelivered a fun globe - trotting risky venture with the perfect mix of levity and high - octane action . Momoa ’s Arthur Curry may have little in common with his comic strip counterpart , butAquamanis validation thatreinvention can be a unspoilt thingwhen transition from the page to the great screen .
5Joker’s Bold Reinvention Paid Off
$335,451,311 Lifetime Domestic Gross
It seems to be a running style that Batman ’s more grounded adjustment do well at the box office , andJokeris no exception . It was a bold move to make a Joker source story movie without Batman and almost no traditionally " comic - booky " constituent , but the movie , which plays out more like aTaxi Driverhomage than a Batman story , does wonders with its reserved take on the DC Universe . The movie is anchor by Joaquin Phoenix ’s expectedly excellent playacting as Arthur Fleck , who is joined by a talented cast of supporting chartacters .
4The Batman Is The Most Grounded Adaptation Yet
$369,345,583 Lifetime Domestic Gross
Matt Reeve’sThe Batmanmay have evolved from Ben Affleck ’s scrapped Batman solo labor , but it has carved a recession among DC movies by beingthe most grounded take on the Caped Crusader to date . The Batmanfollowing a younger Bruce Wayne allows the pic to explore the insecurities and mistakes the hero makes in his early twelvemonth , and Paul Dano ’s Riddler is a haunting reinvention of a traditionally cheesy Batman baddie . With a twirl - off show for Colin Farrell ’s Penguin on the way andThe Batman - Part IIreleasing in former 2025 , there ’s more on the way from this attractively dark translation of Gotham .
3Wonder Woman Is The High Point Of The DCEU
$412,563,408 Lifetime Domestic Gross
WhileWonder Woman found success in unrecorded - action mechanism with Linda Carter ’s 1976 series , Diana Prince made her bighearted - budget movie first appearance with 2017’sWonder Woman . Gal Gadot perfectly captured Diana ’s " fish out of water " personality , and the brilliant alternative to set the film at the height of World War I helped set the undertaking aside . Wonder Woman has always been one of DC ’s most popular Heron , but it ’s still a welcome surprise that her first DCEU solo task remains the total shared creation ’s highest - grossing moving-picture show .
$448,139,099 Lifetime Domestic Gross
Given the immense success ofThe Dark Knight , The Dark Knight Riseslikely would have performed well at the corner office regardless of its quality . fortuitously , while the movie does n’t quite polish off the same high as its forerunner , The Dark Knight Risesis a worthy trilogy closer . Notably , Nolan ’s third Batman movie does what few mirthful book movies can - deliver actual closure . This combines with a memorable scoundrel in Tom Hardy ’s Bane and the return of Catwoman 20 years after her last grown - concealment show to lead in a huge box office take for Warner Bros.
1The Dark Knight Remains DC’s Biggest Hit
$533,345,358 Lifetime Domestic Gross
Batman Beginswas a marvellous return to phase for the Caped Crusader , but Christopher Nolan , Christian Bale , and the remainder of the plaster bandage and bunch upped the ante with its continuation , The Dark Knight . The movie fervency on all cylinders , delivering a fantastical Batman floor , a complex version of Bruce Wayne , stunning cinematography , anda show - stopping version of the Joker courtesy of the late Heath Ledger . It all comes together to equalthe best Batman movie of all clock time , andThe Dark KnightpulledDC ’s most impressive boxful place telephone number to escort to match .
