The best order to watch the Harley Quinn movies

Created in 1992 by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm, Harley Quinn is one of the best-loved, most enduring Batman villains. The character was originally envisioned as a background player in a few episodes of Batman: The Animated Series, but quickly developed a loyal following that saw Quinn transported to comics, toys, games and movies.

In this post, I am presenting the viewing orders for all of the movies that feature Harley Quinn. The character has appeared in a string of films – sometimes as its star, sometimes in a cameo – but what is the best order to watch the Harley Quinn movies?

Read on to find out…

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Bruce Timm Universe

OK, let’s start with the universe that birthed Harley Quinn – the Bruce Timm Universe.

As noted above, Harley Quinn made her debut in Batman: The Animated Series, where she quickly became one of the show’s most popular characters. The series – part of the Bruce Timm Universe – produced four movie spin-offs, of which Harley appeared in one.

If you wish to watch Harley’s film appearance in the Bruce Timm Universe, then check out:

• Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000)

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DC Extended Universe

Moving over to live-action now, to mark the first appearance of Harley Quinn in a live-action movie, via the DC Extended Universe.

Harley first appeared in the DCEU in the 2016 ensemble adventure, Suicide Squad, where she was played by Margot Robbie. From here, Robbie continued in the role for 2020’s Birds of Prey and 2021’s The Suicide Squad.

If you wish to watch Harley’s DCEU appearances in order, then follow this list:

• Suicide Squad (2016)
• Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020)
• The Suicide Squad (2021)

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DC Universe Animated Original Movies

Back to animation, for a run of Harley Quinn appearances set within Warner Bros.’ long-running series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies. These films tend to focus heavily on Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and the Justice League, but that hasn’t stopped Harley from popping up from time-to-time.

If you wish to watch Harley’s appearances in the DCUAOM collection, then follow this list:

• Batman: Assault on Arkham (2014)
• Batman and Harley Quinn (2017)*
• Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay (2018)
• Batman Hush (2019)
• Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020)

*Please note: 2017’s Batman and Harley Quinn shares the same animation style and (some) voice actors from the Bruce Timm Batman Universe, but it is not part of that world. The film contains enough continuity errors to suggest it is a separate entity, merely produced in the spirit of that universe.

In addition to the above list of films, Harley receives a blink-and-you’ll miss her cameo in Justice League: The New Frontier (2008). She also pops up in Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2011) an alternate version of Harley, called Yo-Yo.

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Lego Batman

Lego has produced a number of animated short films based on DC Comics characters. Harley Quinn has appeared a selection of these, including:

• Lego Batman: The Movie – DC Super Heroes Unite (2013)
• Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Gotham City Breakout (2016)

As well as the direct-to-video movies, Lego went to the big screen and took Batman along for the ride. These movies were box office hits and so far, Harley has appeared in:

• The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
• The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019)

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Batman ‘66

Between 2016 and 2017, Warner Bros. produced two animated movies based on the ‘60s-era of Batman (aka Batman ’66). Harley Quinn appears in one of these films:

• Batman vs. Two-Face (2017)

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Batman Ninja

In 2018, Warner Bros. released Batman Ninja, a direct-to-video Batman anime movie. The film –largely set during Feudal Japan – featured various iconic Batman villains, including Harley Quinn.

Two different versions of Batman Ninja exist – one for Japanese audiences and one for Western audiences.  

• Batman Ninja (2018) – The original Japanese version
• Batman Ninja (2018) – The American version

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Scooby-Doo

Over the years, Batman has joined forces with Scooby-Doo for adventures on TV and in film. Harley Quinn has popped up in one of the film adventures:

• Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2018)

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Teen Titans

In 2018, Harley Quinn appeared in a very brief cameo in Teen Titans Go! To the Movies (2018). I’ve included this appearance in this post for general information only, but it is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment.

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TMNT

In 2019, Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles came together to fight evil in an animated offering. And guess what? Yep – Harley Quinn appeared in the movie too.

• Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2019)

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Harley Quinn movies in production order

And finally, should you simply want to watch all of the movies which feature Harley Quinn (minus those very brief cameos mentioned above), then here is a list of Harley’s film appearances in production order. Work your way through this list and you will witness Harley’s movie debut, followed by various turns in live-action and animation.

• Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000)
• Lego Batman: The Movie – DC Super Heroes Unite (2013)
• Batman: Assault on Arkham (2014)
• Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Gotham City Breakout (2016)
• Suicide Squad (2016)
• The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
• Batman and Harley Quinn (2017)
• Batman vs. Two-Face (2017)
• Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay (2018)
• Batman Ninja (2018) – The original Japanese version
• Batman Ninja (2018) – The American version
• Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2018)
• The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019)
• Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2019)
• Batman Hush (2019)
• Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020)
• Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020)
• The Suicide Squad (2021)

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If you would like further information about Batman movie villains, such as ‘What are the Riddler’s riddles in Batman Forever?‘ or ‘Who is Bane in the Batman movies?‘ then click on the highlighted links. Alternatively, check out one of the recommended reads below for more Batman movie-related posts.

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