DCEU has had a very rocky start. It tried to start its own cinematic universe, just like Marvel’s. But they started their cinematic universe when Marvel was crushing at the box office and everyone were loving their films.
So DC got a little desperate to jump on the money-making train that Marvel was already riding, and due to this desperate jump DC’s films weren’t as good as Marvel’s and they started to lose.
After learning from their experiences DC decided to have its own take on a cinematic universe and not just follow what Marvel is doing, where they focussed more on their films rather than worrying about building a cinematic universe where each film needs to feel connected to the bigger story.
While they finally achieved success with this take, this also made their timelines extremely confusing and many new DC moviegoers can be very confused by it.
That’s why for that reason I have listed the best possible DCEU Movies Watch Order that would make it easy for you to enjoy all their films but also keep you on track with the DCEU timeline as well.
Contents
DCEU Movies Watch Order
| Name | Available on | Our Rating |
| Wonder Woman | Amazon Prime, HBO Max, and Blu-Ray | 4/5 |
| Wonder Woman 1984 | Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max and Blu-Ray | 3/5 |
| Man Of Steel | Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max and Blu-Ray | 3.5/5 |
| Batman V Superman | Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max and Blu-Ray | 3/5 |
| Suicide Squad | HBO Max and Blu-Ray | 2/5 |
| Justice League | Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max and Blu-Ray | 2.5/5 |
| Aquaman | Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max and Blu-Ray | 3.5/5 |
| Shazam! | Netflix, HBO Max, and Blu-Ray | 3/5 |
| Birds Of Prey | Amazon Prime, HBO Max, and Blu-Ray | 3/5 |
| The Suicide Squad | HBO Max and Blu-Ray | 4/5 |
| Joker | Netflix, HBO Max, and Blu-Ray | 3.5/5 |
| Zack Snyder’s Justice League | HBO Max | 3.5/5 |
1. Wonder Woman (2017)
Set in World War II, Wonder Woman tells the story of Princess Diana who is a part of an all-female Amazonians. They fight to save their home Themyscira. One day a World War II US pilot, Steve lands in Themyscira and informs Diana about the World War.
Fearing this might be the act of God Of War, Zeus, to end mankind, Diana leaves her home and goes into the world of Men to stop Zeus.
Available On:- Amazon Prime, HBO Max, and Blu-Ray
Review on Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman was a really good film that had impressed a lot of critics and fans alike. It somehow managed the sensitivity of World War II but also told a great fictional story about Zeus and Themyscira and more.
Diana is a fish out of water in the world of Men as she has never stood outside Themyscira and her chemistry with Steve has been beautifully portrayed. It’s a great film that potentially saved the DCEU while its other films were not doing so critically or financially well.
Rating on Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman gets a rating of 4/5 stars
2. Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
After the events of Wonder Woman, Diana works as a museum curator. But she comes across a wishing stone that lends her the ability to get anything she wants, in return for her powers.
A lot of people have their eyes on this stone including Maxwell Lord, a struggling businessman and Barbara Minerva, an employee who everyone seems to ignore.
Through the stone both Maxwell and Barabara create havoc in the world, now Diana has to stop them but also have to deal with what she wished for and her own consequences.
Available On:- Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max and Blu-Ray
Review on Wonder Woman 1984
Wonder Woman 1984 was an alright movie. It’s certainly not as good as the first one but it has its fair moments of charm. It’s a film about the theme “be careful what you wish for” which we have seen many times in the movie.
It’s a good time but nothing very special.
Rating on Wonder Woman 1984
Wonder Woman 1984 gets a rating of 3/5 stars.
3. Man Of Steel (2013)
This was the beginning of the DCEU. Clark Kent or Superman is from Krypton and is sent to Earth after his planet is destroyed. There he learns about his true origins and learns that he is more powerful than he had thought.
An old enemy, General Zod, from Krypton, finally finds Clark, bringing destruction to his land as he blames Clark for the end of his world Krypton.
Available On:- Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max and Blu-Ray
Review on Man Of Steel
Man Of Steel was Zack Snyder’s first film in a 3 film contract that he had signed with DC. It was the beginning of the DCEU’s cinematic universe and was a retelling of Superman’s origin story.
The film was met with mixed reviews, just like all Snyder movies, and had a bit divided audience. Most of the people loved that this film truly explored the true range of Superman’s power.
But many were also quick to point out how dark and grim Superman was in this film, which was a stark difference from the comic’s version. Because in the comics Superman is portrayed as someone who is the best of us and is a source of hope and joy.
Whereas some scenes in this film were the total opposite. There have been many debates about this, so I won’t start one either. It’s a good film with great special effects but after some time the effects are put in more focus than the story and that kinda bugged me.
Rating on Man Of Steel
Man Of Steel gets a rating of 3.5/5 stars
4. Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016)
After the last battle at Man Of Steel, the government and the whole world has two opinions about Superman. They are either afraid of him or feel protected by him. Bruce Wayne a.k.a Batman also agrees with the former opinion.
Clark Kent, on the other hand, does his research about Batman’s treatment of the criminals of Gotham City, he feels that Batman feels he is above the law. On the other hand, Lex Luthor is doing his own nefarious plans.
Available On:- Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max and Blu-Ray
Review on Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice
Batman V Superman was the most hyped movie of 2016 because it’s DC’s two ultimate heroes clashing on the big screen for the first time and when it came out it was received with mixed reactions from critics and fans alike.
And no, I am not rating the Ultimate Edition because that is not the theatrical cut and I don’t care if it has better scenes. I will review the film that they released worldwide for everyone to see on the big screen and not a Blu-Ray edition to boost up the Blu-Ray sales.
There have been TOOOOOO MANYYY debates where the DC fans truly support and debate why the film is great and too many people disagree upon it. I am not a big Batman or Superman kind of a guy but I’ll rate the movie as it is: it’s an alright film.
Remember I mentioned at the beginning of the article that the DCEU had a rocky start, well this was their rocky start. It just felt that this film was crammed with so many things other than Batman Vs Superman, the main title of the movie, to start a cinematic universe like Marvel.
And everything they put in to set up a Justice League movie felt unnecessary and bogged the film. That being said, this film is actually interesting and would keep you guessing where it goes. But when Batman and Superman fight in this movie, it is just 8 minutes long and that’s not even the main battle sequence of the movie!
Look, BVS is an alright movie, it’s not as bad as some people say but it certainly is not as good as some DC fans claim it to be. It puts too much into its story and if it just would have had fixed on Batman and Superman, just like the title states, the film would have been way better.
Rating on Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice
Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice gets a rating of 3/5 stars.
5. Sucide Squad (2016)
Amanda Wallers makes a team of the worst superheroes ever, that’s not me saying, it’s the trailers. After the end of Batman V Superman, Amanda Wallers has the idea of paring up supervillains in the prison and sending them off to do black ops missions.
When an evil witch is let loose she sends the Suicide Squad to stop her, in return she reduces their prison life sentences.
Available On:- HBO Max and Blu-Ray
Review on Suicide Squad
Suicide Squad was disappointing for even DC’s standards at that time. So far DC had released above-average films but Suicide Squad was ridiculously cliche and by the numbers. The same old story about bad guys getting good, terrible CGI, dark color grading, and a boring villain.
Suicide Squad had a great marketing campaign with colorful posters but the film was bland and boring as anything.
Rating on Suicide Squad
Suicide Squad gets a rating of 2/5 stars.
6. Justice League (2017)
After the events of Batman V Superman, Bruce Wayne decides to form a team of superheroes to fight a looming threat called “Steppenwolf”.
Together with Diana, Bruce goes on a journey to bring the Justice League together before Steppenwolf gets hold of three mother boxes and destroys Earth as we know it.
Available On:- Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max and Blu-Ray
Review on Justice League
The first thought that had come to my mind when I had just finished watching Justice League was “THIS is the Justice League?”. I was so disappointed with the film. To be fair, Justice League did have a lot of troubles to go through.
The film had to change directors from Zack Snyder to Joss Whedon (who also had directed The Avengers and Avengers: Age Of Ultron), it went through several reshoots and all that showed.
Justice League was a very disappointing film, it just didn’t feel like an epic team-up crossover movie, partly also cause so far we had only been introduced to 1 main hero properly i.e Superman, who was dead during this movie’s timeline. So basically you were seeing everyone for the first time.
Rating on Justice League
Justice League gets a rating of 2.5/5 stars
7. Aquaman (2018)
After Justice League, Arthur Curry goes back to Atlanta where he discovers that to protect Atlanta from his brother King Orm, Arthur has to go search for a trident that would bring all the Water world together.
He is accompanied by Mera along this journey and together they explore the vast world of Aquaman.
Available On:- Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max and Blu-Ray
Review on Aquaman
Aquaman is really the film where the DCEU ditched the entire tone and them that Zack Snyder had built for DCEU at the moment and it also stopped worrying about building up the cinematic universe and started concentrating on individual films.
This move really worked for the DCEU because Aquaman is a good adventure film. It’s fun, light-hearted, and VERY colorful, something that you really didn’t get to see in Zack Snyder’s DCEU films.
Aquaman fully embraces the sheer absurdity of its superhero and celebrates it. It’s a fun movie that surprisingly holds up and became one of the most successful DC movies to date.
Rating on Aquaman
Aquaman gets a rating of 3.5/5 stars.
8. Shazam! (2019)
Billy, a foster kid finds it troublesome to fit in with kids. He was lost in a fair and ever since have had a devil-may-care attitude to him. His life completely changes when one day he meets a wizard who grants him the power of Shazam, a god-like being.
But Shazam isn’t the only person blessed with powers, Dr. Savaan is also gifted with powers like Shazam and is on a hunt for Shazam.
Available On:- Netflix, HBO Max, and Blu-Ray
Review on Shazam!
Shazam is a sweet light-hearted film. It feels like a superhero film from the 2010 era and that’s fine seriously. I personally had a good time with the film but its final battle just stretched on for a really long duration and I started to look at my watch.
Nonetheless, it’s a good family film and again a film that totally ditches the tone that early DCEU films had.
Rating on Shazam!
Shazam gets a rating of 3/5 stars
9. Birds Of Prey (2020)
After the Joker and Harley have broken up, Harley goes on a period of depression. To get out of this, she slowly starts to group with women of her likes and finds out about this gang who has kidnapped a girl.
Together Harley and the Birds Of Prey try to take down this gang.
Available On:- Amazon Prime, HBO Max, and Blu-Ray
Review on Birds Of Prey
Birds Of Prey is the film 2016 Suicide Squad was trying to be, it’s fun, vibrant, colorful, has some not-so-great characters joining together to stop something even eviler. Birds Of Prey is mostly a Harley Quinn movie and then a Birds Of Prey movie.
Harley Quin is the front and center of this film, so if you are a fan of her’s then this movie is for you.
But the funny thing is, apart from all DCEU movies, Birds Of Prey is the one that made very less impact in the audience’s mind and that shows why. It’s an alright fun film. It’s nothing groundbreaking (granted, not all movies have to be groundbreaking) but you quickly forget about it once you finish watching it.
Rating on Birds Of Prey
Birds Of Prey gets a rating of 3/5 stars.
10 . The Suicide Squad (2021)
After Amanda Wallers has made her Suicide Squad, she now finds a new villain for her team of supervillains. Now with mostly a new team with a few familiar faces, The Suicide Squad goes to Corto Maltese where they have to deal with something known as “Project Starfish”.
Available On:- HBO Max and Blu-Ray
Review on The Suicide Squad
The great thing about The Suicide Squad is that you don’t have to watch 2016 Suicide Squad understand this film, again a prime example of DC just ditching the timeline and cinematic universe as a whole and just focusing on the movies.
The Suicide Squad is just bizarre and is not for everyone. There is no Comic book movie like it, and that’s a compliment for the film. DC gave director James Gunn all the creative freedom he had asked for and he delivers probably his best film.
The thing about The Suicide Squad that really surprised me was how grounded it felt, even though it has a giant 100-foot starfish as a villain. It’s a film that isn’t looking for the big CGI fights but is looking at ground-level supervillains and I loved that about it.
Rating on The Suicide Squad
The Suicide Squad gets a rating of 4/5 stars.
11. Joker (2019)
Arthur Fleck is a low-time party clown who lives with his ailing mother. He is badly treated by society every day and feels a sense of chaos inside of him. One day he decides to embrace this chaos and turn himself into the Joker.
Available On:- Netflix, HBO Max, and Blu-Ray
Review on Joker
Joker is not a film for everyone and is probably DC’s first film that doesn’t take place in the current timeline. It’s its own standalone film and Joker is a creepy film. It tells about the famous supervillain and mass murderer, Joker, and makes the audience sympathize with him.
It’s a really weird film that will leave you uncomfortable and I liked that about it. Is the best DCEU film, I don’t think so. But it really is something. Joaquin Phoenix won an Oscar for Best Actor for this film and he totally deserves it, he acted so wonderfully in this film.
Rating on Joker
Joker gets a rating of 3.5/5 stars.
12 . Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
The unedited version of Zack Snyder’s vision for the 2017 Justice League movie.
Available On:- HBO Max
Review on Zack Snyder’s Justice League
Warner Brothers have openly said that Zack Snyder’s Justice League is not a part of DCEU but it still deserves a shot. This film is quite remarkable because the fans made this happen. Ever since 2017 fans had been demanding Zack Snyder’s vision of the film and they finally got it.
Is it better than the 2017 film? Yes. Is it a great film on its own? Maybe. Zack Snyder’s Justice League feels like a great film because we had an extremely disappointing film in the first place but if you just judge the film as its own and don’t compare it to its 2017 version, it’s an alright film.
Zack Snyder’s films have never made me feel that I have seen a really great film, they always feel like “okay, that was good” and that’s an opinion of a lot of people and I can see why studios are hard on him because his films aren’t universally pleased and appreciated.
The film as a whole really shows where the DCEU would have gone if they followed what Zack had planned and a part of me really wants to see it.
Rating on Zack Snyder’s Justice League
Zack Snyder’s Justice League gets a rating of 3.5/5 stars.
Final note
I think the great thing about DCEU is that they were quick enough to learn from their failures. I think they made a bad move by giving the entire reign of DCEU to Zack Snyder at the beginning.
What they should have done was give Zack total control over just his films and the heads of DCEU decide where they want to take this cinematic universe. But I am glad that they have now gone away from it and are just making films that are good on their own and don’t really worry about the cinematic continuity.
I think that they are on the right path now and have gained some really good success with this move.
