In what order should you watch dc comics?

Want to watch the DC movies in the right order? Start with Wonder Woman (World War I) and Wonder Woman 1984, then Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, Suicide Squad and finally Justice League.

This chronological order focuses on the narrative rather than release dates. As a result, you get a much better understanding of the connections between Batman, Superman and the others superheroes from the DC Universe.

The Ideal Order for Watching DC Comics Movies

Chronological order or order of release: which should you choose?

In the DCEU, the output order, and the’chronological order do not always follow one another. Watching the movies in the order they were released can therefore confuse the story the saga is trying to tell.

Take Harley Quinn in Birds of Prey, Where Black Adam : These films are part of a larger narrative, much like the MCU at Marvel. Each film adds a brick to the same structure.

In practical terms, by following the order in which they appear, you’ll discover Wonder Woman (2017) after Batman v Superman : *The Dawn of Justice* (2016), even though its story takes place during the World War I, nearly a century earlier.

You also run the risk of miss a key post-credits scene or the thread of an important connection. It’s therefore best to stick to the timeline of the universe.

The Ideal Order for Watching DC Comics Movies

The table below shows the viewing sequence Recommended. It follows the chronology of the universe, with a few adjustments only when necessary. You’re free to skip some of the movies, especially the ones that come next Justice League.

Why this order?

You start by Wonder Woman because the story takes place during the World War I. It’s the logical starting point before the films set in the 21st century. Its sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, takes place in 1984.

Next come Man of Steel, then Batman v Superman : The Dawn of Justice, which follow one right after the other.

Suicide Squad comes right after and prepares Justice League thanks to its post-credits scene.

After *Justice League*, what's next? Aquaman in his solo adventures, and then Shazam!, which took place during the same period.

Birds of Prey picks up a few years later Suicide Squad : It's the natural continuation of the adventures of Harley, which you discovered in the first movie.

You continue with The Suicide Squad, series Peacemaker which takes place right after that, and then Black Adam and its ties to the Justice Society. Shazam! The Wrath of the Gods follows right away.

Finally, The Flash serves as transition and reboot toward the future DC Universe of James Gunn.

Blue Beetle marks this transition, while *Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom*, released on December 20, 2023, in France, officially brings the DCEU to a close.

The version of Zack Snyder‘s Justice League offers a more comprehensive look at the events surrounding the Justice League: if you want to understand everything, this is the one to check out.

What is the DC Extended Universe (DCEU)?

the DCEU (DC Extended Universe) is the cinematic universe launched by Warner Bros with Man of Steel. The idea: to bring together Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the other superheroes in the same universe, where the movies share a common storyline.

The principle is similar to that of the MCU at Marvel, but with one significant difference. Whereas The Avengers While other franchises move forward in highly structured phases, the DCEU has long relied on films that are more independent of one another.

The backbone of this universe rests on a few key titles:

• Man of Steel
• Batman v Superman : The Dawn of Justice
• Wonder Woman
• Suicide Squad
• Justice League

Surrounding them are Aquaman, Shazam or Black Adam.

Please note: the so-called films Elseworlds, as Joker Where The Batman of Matt Reeves, are independent from the DCEU. You can watch them in any order without missing anything from the main timeline.

Since 2025, the landscape of cinema has changed. James Gunn restart everything with the DCU, whose first film, Superman, was released on July 9, 2025, in France.

These new movies form a distinct arc within the DCEU: you don't need to have seen them all to dive right in.

Who are the main characters in DC Comics?

Getting to know the characters ahead of time helps you follow the connections between each movie. Here are the must-know heroes and villains in the DC timeline:

• Superman : Clark Kent, the Kryptonian introduced in Man of Steel, a pillar of the Justice League
• Batman : Bruce Wayne, Gotham's vigilante, from Batman v Superman to Justice League
• Wonder Woman : Diana, the Amazon who kicks off the timeline during the World War I
• Aquaman : Arthur Curry, the King of Atlantis, hero of several solo adventures
• Flash : Barry Allen, the speedster who’s shaking up the DC Universe timeline
• Cyborg : Victor Stone, a member of the Justice League, whose role is explored in Zack Snyder‘s Justice League
• Shazam : Billy Batson, the teenager who becomes an adult hero with a single word
• Black Adam : the antihero played by Dwayne Johnson, Shazam's longtime enemy
• Joker : the iconic villain, Batman's number one enemy
• Harley Quinn : the Joker's accomplice, revealed in Suicide Squad and then *Birds of Prey*
• Lex Luthor : the billionaire genius, Superman's arch-enemy
• Darkseid : the cosmic tyrant, a major threat to Zack Snyder‘s Justice League

Recent and Upcoming DC Comics Movies

Here are the DC movies that have already been released recently and those coming soon, including the new one DCU of James Gunn and independent projects.

Joker : Madness for Two

This film is part of the independent film scene DC Elseworlds, separate from the rest of the timeline. It includes Joaquin Phoenix in the role of Arthur Fleck, aka the Joker, alongside Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn.

Directed by Todd Phillips, who co-wrote it with Scott Silver, this installment takes the form of a psychological musical. It was released on October 2, 2024 in France.

Superman

Released on July 9, 2025 in France, Superman is the first film in the new DC Universe created by James Gunn. This isn't an origin story: the film shows Clark Kent already active, torn between his destiny as a superhero and his life on Earth.

The title role goes to David Corenswet, with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult in the role of Lex Luthor. This Superman marks the beginning of a story arc that is completely separate from the old DCEU.

Supergirl

Released on July 1, 2026 In France, this film is an adaptation of the work by Tom King and follows Kara Zor-El, Superman's cousin, who grew up on a fragment of Krypton drifting through space. Milly Alcock, as seen in House of the Dragon, plays the superheroine.

Written by Ana Nogueira, the film has been described by James Gunn like a grand, epic science-fiction movie. It's the the second film in the new DCU, after Superman.

The Batman Part II

Like *Joker*, this sequel takes place outside the DCEU, set in the independent universe of the trilogy The Batman signed Matt Reeves.

Robert Pattinson resumes the the role of Bruce Wayne, with the return of Colin Farrell as the Penguin.

The release, originally scheduled for October 2025, has been postponed several times: it is now scheduled for February 18, 2028.

Swamp Thing

Here is a a true DC gothic horror film, based on the comics created by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson, and popularized by the run of’Alan Moore.

The project will be carried out by James Mangold. No official release date has been announced yet.

The Authority

This project is one of the First Films Announced to Gods and Monsters, the first chapter of the DCU.

The members of The Authority use brutal methods, in a vein similar to the series The Boys, and one of them, The Engineer, already appears in the new Superman movie.

In April 2026, James Gunn However, he announced that the film had been put on hold, with no immediate plans to resume production.

Batman : The Brave and the Bold

This is a Batman reboot incorporated into the DCU, with a new actor in the role. The plot follows Damian Wayne, Bruce Wayne's son, and is inspired by the comics by Grant Morrison published between 2006 and 2013.

No release date has been set. Please note: Robert Pattinson maintains its own take on the trilogy The Batman, which is completely separate from this reboot.

the DCU of James Gunn It's just getting started, and many DC movies are coming out in the next few years.

In the meantime, if you want to explore other superhero universes, check out the order of the movies X-Men or to Spider-Man movies, and also check out the most-watched films in the world.