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The Very Best DC Comics Movies

Updated March 17, 2020 48.2k votes 4.6k voters 45.0k views92 items

List RulesFilms from DC and its imprints (Vertigo, Wildstorm, and Paradox Press included). Vote up your favs!

(If you're looking for the new films, check out the best DC Extended Universe movies here!) DC Comics is one of the two mainstream comic distributors in the world (the other, of course, being Marvel Comics). They publish dozens of titles and have invented thousands of characters. Warner Brothers acquired DC and strengthened their film department. Unlike Marvel Studios, Warners has all the DC characters legally under one umbrella. This allows them to (theoretically) assemble a film universe encompassing all DC heroes, from the fan favorites to the obscure, with ease.

Christopher Nolan was certainly an asset in rebuilding the DC film-verse after those Joel Schumacher Batman films happened, and below we celebrate Nolan's films, along with all of the others that gave us faith in DC's larger than life heroes once again. They taught us that a man could fly, that bats really were frickin' scary, and that we really should remember, remember the fifth of November.

These are the best movies from DC Comics, both live-action and best DC animated movies. Vote up the greatest DC Comics flicks!

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The Dark Knight
Christian Bale, Michael Caine
Released: 2008
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
The Dark Knight is a 2008 superhero film directed by Christopher Nolan, based on the DC Comics... more
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Wonder Woman
Gal Gadot, Chris Pine
Released: 2017
Directed by: Patty Jenkins
Wonder Woman is a 2017 American superhero film directed by Patty Jenkins, based on the DC... more
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Batman
Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger
Released: 1989
Directed by: Tim Burton
Batman is a 1989 American superhero film directed by Tim Burton, based on the DC Comics... more
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Shazam!
Zachary Levi, Mark Strong
Released: 2019
Directed by: David F. Sandberg
Shazam! is a 2019 superhero film directed by David F. Sandberg, based on the DC Comics... more
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Justice League: the Flashpoint Paradox
Dana Delany, Nathan Fillion
Released: 2013
Directed by: Jay Oliva
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox is a direct-to-video animated film adaptation of the... more
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#491 of 575 The Best Animated Films Ever#13 of 42 Every Single Batman Movie, Ranked Best to Worst
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Batman Returns
Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken
Released: 1992
Directed by: Tim Burton
Batman Returns is a 1992 American superhero film, directed and produced by Tim Burton, based... more
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Batman: Under the Red Hood
Neil Patrick Harris, Jensen Ackles
Released: 2010
Directed by: Brandon Vietti
Batman: Under the Red Hood is a 2010 American superhero film produced by Warner Bros.... more
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The Dark Knight Rises
Christian Bale, Michael Caine
Released: 2012
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
The Dark Knight Rises is a 2012 superhero film directed by Christopher Nolan, based on the DC... more
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Batman Begins
Christian Bale, Michael Caine
Released: 2005
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Batman Begins is a 2005 superhero film directed by Christopher Nolan, based on the DC Comics... more
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Man of Steel
Henry Cavill, Amy Adams
Released: 2013
Directed by: Zack Snyder
Man of Steel is a 2013 superhero film directed by Zack Snyder, based on the DC Comics... more
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Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
Mark Hamill, Dana Delany
Released: 1993
Directed by: Bruce Timm, Eric Radomski
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Superman II
Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve
Released: 1980
Directed by: Richard Lester, Richard Donner
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Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
Angie Harmon, Mark Hamill
Released: 2000
Directed by: Curt Geda
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker is a 2000 direct-to-video animated film featuring the comic... more

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Superman
Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman
Released: 1978
Directed by: Richard Donner
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Aquaman
Jason Momoa, Amber Heard
Released: 2018
Directed by: James Wan
Aquaman is a 2018 American superhero film, based on the DC Comics character, directed by James... more
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Batman: Assault on Arkham
Matthew Gray Gubler, Neal McDonough
Released: 2014
Directed by: Jay Oliva, Ethan Spaulding
Batman: Assault on Arkham is a 2014 direct-to-video animated superhero film that is part of... more
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V for Vendetta
Natalie Portman, John Hurt
Released: 2006
Directed by: James McTeigue
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Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
Ariel Winter, Michael Emerson
Released: 2012 - 2013
Directed by: Jay Oliva
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Superman/Batman: Apocalypse
Summer Glau, Ed Asner
Released: 2010
Directed by: Lauren Montgomery
Superman/Batman: Apocalypse is a 2010 direct-to-video animated superhero film based on the... more
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Superman and the Mole Men
George Reeves, Jeff Corey
Released: 1951
Directed by: Lee Sholem
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Justice League: Doom
Nathan Fillion, Olivia d'Abo
Released: 2012
Directed by: Lauren Montgomery
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Justice League: War
Michelle Monaghan, Shemar Moore
Released: 2014
Directed by: Jay Oliva
Justice League: War is an upcoming direct-to-video animated superhero film, an adaptation of... more
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Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2
Conan O'Brien, Ariel Winter
Released: 2013
Directed by: Jay Oliva
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 is an animated film.... more

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The Lego Batman Movie
Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis
Released: 2017
Directed by: Chris McKay
The Lego Batman Movie is a 2017 3D computer-animated superhero comedy film directed by Chris... more
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Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths
James Woods, Mark Harmon
Released: 2010
Directed by: Sam Liu, Lauren Montgomery
A good version of Lex Luthor from a parallel Earth comes to the Justice League's dimension for... more