Love it or hate it, the DC Extended Universe was a unique creation in the history of Hollywood: An ongoing series of interconnected franchises overseen, at least at its inception, not by an executive but a filmmaker: Zack Snyder, who launched the DCEU with his Man of Steel in 2013, and wound up directing three films in the franchise — four if you count his Zack Snyder’s Justice League director’s cut separately.
Snyder left the DC Extended Universe after that, and now that the franchise has given way to a new DC movie and TV universe overseen by James Gunn and Peter Safran, it’s fair to say that the DCEU never lived up to its full potential. The highs were high, but the lows were low. (Who could have predicted a movie called Wonder Woman 1984 would turn out feeling so dystopian?!?)
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The final year of the DCEU featured a trilogy of movies: The Flash, Blue Beetle, and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The Flash really felt like the true farewell to the DCEU, but — in true DCEU fashion — they sort of bungled that and released two additional DCEU movies after that, which only vaguely nodded to the wider universe beyond their stories. Sigh.
While we wait for Gunn to fully unveil his own DC universe, let’s take stock of all 16 DCEU movies to date, which encompasses 11 different DC franchises and no less than five sequels and one director’s (Snyder) cut. I’m not sure I would say I will miss this cinematic universe now that is totally done. But I’ll give it this much: Through all the ups and downs, it was never boring.
Every DCEU Movie Ranked From Worst to Best
From Man of Steel to Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, we ranked every movie in the DC Extended Universe.
Actors Who Turned Down DC Roles
These major stars could have played some of your favorite DC Comics’ heroes onscreen. But they all said no for one reason or another.
Gallery Credit: Matt Singer
