What is the best order to watch the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) movies?

In 2013, comic book action movie, Man of Steel made its debut. The film – starring Henry Cavill – was conceived as an origin tale, focused around DC Comics character, Superman.

In the movie, Kryptonian infant Kal-El arrives on Earth where he is raised by adoptive parents, the Kents. After coming of age, the now adult Kal-El – known on Earth as Clark – learns more about his alien heritage and adopts the persona, Superman.

Due to the success of Man of Steel, the film was positioned as the first entry in a sprawling world known as the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). This cinematic universe would grow to include a collection of interconnected films featuring Batman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman amongst others.

But with so many movies available within the DCEU it can often be difficult to keep track. This leads to the inevitable questions: What films are part of the series and in which order should they be watched?

This post answers these questions and more, with a run-through of the DCEU. Below you will find all the details you need about each movie.

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What are the movies in the DCEU?

Man of Steel (2013)

As noted above, the first entry in the DC Extended Universe was 2013’s Man of Steel. The film followed the story of Kal-El/Clark Kent, from his arrival on Earth to his transformation into the superhero, Superman.

In the movie, when the planet Krypton is on the verge of destruction, baby Kal-El is sent to Earth where he is adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent and given the name Clark. Although Clark is brought up as a human, he begins to display unique abilities and when the time is right, he sets off on a journey of self-discovery to learn more about his heritage.

But soon Clark’s past comes back to cause problems, when a fleet of Kryptonians arrive on Earth and threaten the planet. The Kryptonians – led by General Zod – plan to terraform the planet, prompting Clark to stand against them as Earth’s new champion. (143 mins)

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

With Man of Steel establishing Superman’s origin, and setting him up as a hero, the next entry in the DCEU began to expand the universe with the introduction of new characters. The film – titled Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – was conceived as a team-up picture, whereby the two title characters would begin as enemies, before joining forces to battle a new threat.

Set directly after the events of Man of Steel, the world has come to question Superman’s role. Is he the planet’s new saviour or could he be a dangerous force?

Batman is mistrustful of Superman, having witnessed the destruction caused by his battle with General Zod. Batman believes Superman poses a threat to humanity and wants to learn more about him.

Meanwhile, LexCorp owner, Lex Luthor also has his eye on Superman, as well as other super-powered beings. Luthor is tracking various ‘metahumans’ around the world, including a mysterious antiques dealer named Diana Prince.

However, this is not the only project Lex is working on. After attempting to turn Superman and Batman against each other, he unleashes a monstrous creature known as Doomsday on the city of Metropolis. (152 mins)

Suicide Squad (2016)

Set shortly after the events of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, with Superman deceased following the battle with Doomsday, the US government has set up a secret department to protect the world against powerful threats. The department – overseen by intelligence officer, Amanda Waller – creates the team Task Force X to carry out special missions.

The team – comprised of various imprisoned supervillains, including Captain Boomerang and Harley Quinn – have nanite bombs implanted into their necks. These bombs will be deonated if they refuse to carry out their missions, but if they toe the line and succeed, they will have their prison sentences shortened. (123 mins)

Wonder Woman (2017)

For the fourth entry in the DCEU, the focus switches back to Diana Prince, who made her debut in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Diana appeared at multiple points throughout the film, before joining Batman and Superman at the conclusion of the movie, in their epic battle against Doomsday.

Although Diana made it clear she was a force to be reckoned with, little was revealed about her story. This movie – titled Wonder Woman – fills in the details, providing key information about Diana’s origin.

Set mostly during the events of World War I, Wonder Woman follows Diana’s story from her early years on the secret paradise island of Themyscira, through to her decision to fight in the war. (141 mins)

Justice League (2017)

With Superman dead, and an extra-terrestrial threat looming, Batman and Wonder Woman assemble a team of metahumans including The Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg to act as the planet’s best line of defence. Their role is to protect Earth from an invader named Steppenwolf, who is in search of three ‘Mother Box’ devices which are scattered across the planet.

But realising they may be out of their depth, the team attempt to resurrect Superman in the hopes he will be able to defeat Steppenwolf. However, can a seemingly deceased Kryptonian truly turn the tide?

Conceived as a team-up film, Justice League was designed to pull together all of the heroes in one story and be a huge box-office success at the same time. However, due to some backstage issues, which resulted in director Zack Snyder having to step down from the film and new director Joss Whedon taking over, the end result was a mish-mash of ideas which was not well-received. (120 mins)

Aquaman (2018)

Onto film number six now, which is set a year after the events of Justice League, and is another origin tale, this time set around Arthur Curry, aka Aquaman. The film fills in the backstory on the half-human/half-Atlantean hero, while detailing his underwater conflict with his brother, King Orm. (143 mins)

Shazam! (2019)

For movie number seven, the DCEU moves away from established characters to focus on the introduction of a new hero, in the shape of a 14-year-old foster child Billy Batson. In this movie, Billy is granted super powers by an ancient wizard, which allow him to transform into a muscle-bound adult whenever he utters the phrase ‘Shazam!’. (132 mins)

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020)

Four years after the events of Suicide Squad, Harley Quinn has broken up with her boyfriend, the Joker, and has decided to go solo. However, when the criminal underworld discover she is no longer under the protection of the Joker, she quickly becomes a target. (109 mins)

Wonder Woman 1984 (2021)

For this next movie, the clock is rewound to 1984 to tell another story involving Diana Prince. In the film, Diana has made a life for herself in Washington D.C. and is keeping her super abilities under cover (as best as she can).

However, trouble soon begins to brew when failing businessman, Maxwell Lord, steals a Dreamstone and is able to make wishes come true. This soon puts the world in danger, prompting Diana to intervene. (151 mins)

Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)

This next movie on the list is a bit of an oddity. It’s an oddity, because it is an extended cut of 2017’s Justice League.

As noted above, the original version of Justice League encountered problems during production. Original director Zack Snyder had a family bereavement, forcing him to step down, with Joss Whedon taking his place to complete the movie.

Under Joss Whedon’s leadership, parts of Justice League were reshot, characters and story beats were abandoned, and the overall tone was altered to make it lighter. These tweaks were designed to create a slicker, faster movie than what Snyder was set to deliver, but the end result was not good.

According to die-hard fans, Justice League was bad. The fanbase believed the film would have been stronger had Zack Snyder remained on board the project (without Joss Whedon getting involved), and they wanted to see Snyder’s version of the film.

After campaigning online for a number of years, to get Warner Bros. to revisit the film and give Snyder the opportunity to finish what he started, the studio agreed and gave the director a small budget to complete his original vision for Justice League. This new, alternate take – titled Zack Snyder’s Justice League – was released direct-to-streaming and on home video in 2021, and would include expanded scenes, new footage, and a more serious tone. (242 mins)

The Suicide Squad (2021)

For this next movie, Task Force X is still in operation and are required to go on a new mission. The goal is to destroy a Nazi-era laboratory which houses a dark secret, and will take the combined forces of Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, King Shark, and Peacemaker to complete the job. (132 mins)

Black Adam (2022)

In Black Adam, an ancient superhuman known as Teth-Adam is released from years of imprisonment. After going on a killing spree, the Justice Society – comprised of Hawkman, Doctor Fate, Cyclone, and Atom Smasher – are sent to apprehend Adam. (125 mins)

Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)

Set four years after the events of Shazam!, Shazam! Fury of the Gods picks up the story with Billy Batson nearing the age of 18, and coming to the conclusion he will no longer be eligible for fostering.

However, while Billy worries about his future, a new threat arises in the form of the Daughters of Atlas – a powerful trio of sisters, who could endanger the world. (130 mins)

The Flash (2023)

After joining forces with Batman and Wonder Woman to stop a robbery in Gotham City, Barry Allen, aka the Flash, returns to his childhood home where he lived with his parents Nora and Henry. The home was once a place of love, but it was also a place filled with tragedy, because his mother Nora was murdered in the property when Barry was a child.

Filled with a range of emotions while thinking about the tragic event, Barry accidentally uses his speed abilities to travel back in time to an earlier point in the day. Realising he can use this ability to go back even further, he turns back the clock in order to prevent his mother’s death.

But Barry’s time travelling alters the timeline, removing Superman from the world, and leaving Earth at the mercy of General Zod. In order for Barry to save the world, he needs help from new allies. (144 mins)

Blue Beetle (2023)

Onto the penultimate entry in the DCEU now, which is the stand-alone film, Blue Beetle. Containing minimal links to the rest of the DCEU, the movie follows the story of college graduate Jaime Reyes and his transformation into a super hero. (127 mins)

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)

And finally, the DCEU comes to an abrupt end with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Set several years after the events of 2018’s Aquaman, Arthur Curry is forced to team up with his estranged brother, when Black Manta threatens the safety of the planet. (124 mins)

The DC Extended Universe in production order

If you wish to watch the DC Extended Universe movies in production order, then follow this list:

• Man of Steel (2013)
• Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
• Suicide Squad (2016)
• Wonder Woman (2017)
• Justice League (2017)
• Aquaman (2018)
• Shazam! (2019)
• Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020)
• Wonder Woman 1984 (2021)
• Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
• The Suicide Squad (2021)
• Black Adam (2022)
• Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)
• The Flash (2023)
• Blue Beetle (2023)
• Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)

Please note: As Justice League (2017) and Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021) are essentially different cuts of the same film, you may wish to pick one film to watch over the other. Depending on which movie you choose, watch the films as follows:

• Man of Steel (2013)
• Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
• Suicide Squad (2016)
• Wonder Woman (2017)
• Justice League (2017) OR Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
• Aquaman (2018)
• Shazam! (2019)
• Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020)
• Wonder Woman 1984 (2021)
• The Suicide Squad (2021)
• Black Adam (2022)
• Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)
• The Flash (2023)
• Blue Beetle (2023)
• Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)

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Who are the cast of the DC Extended Universe and are the movies the work of the same director?

The key cast members of the DCEU include Henry Cavil, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Ezra Miller, Amy Adams, Zachary Levi, Margot Robbie, Viola Davis, Dwayne Johnson, and Xolo Maridueña.

Additional cast members include Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Russell Crowe, Harry Lennix, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lauren Cohan, Joel Kinnaman, Jai Courtney, Jared Leto, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Will Smith, Cara Delevigne, Jay Hernandez, David Harbour, Karen Fukuhara, Robin Wright, David Thewlis, Lucy Davis, Connie Nielsen, Danny Huston, Billy Crudup, J. K. Simmons, Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Joe Manganiello, Nicole Kidman, John Rhys-Davies, Temuera Morrison, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Djimon Hounsou, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Mark Strong, John Glover, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett, Ewan McGregor, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal, Lynda Carter, Ron Livingston, Flula Borg, Sean Gunn, Idris Elba, Michael Rooker, Peter Capaldi, Jennifer Holland, Pete Davidson, David Dastmalchian, Sylvester Stallone, Nathan Fillion, Taika Waititi, John Cena, Alice Braga, Aldis Hodge, Pierce Brosnan, Noah Centineo, Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu, Rachel Zegler, Michael Keaton, Sasha Calle, and Susan Sarandon.

In terms of directors, the DC Extended Universe is the work of the following:

• Zack Snyder directed Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, and parts of 2017’s Justice League
• David Ayer directed Suicide Squad
• Patty Jenkins directed Wonder Woman and Wonder Woman 1984
• Joss Whedon directed parts of 2017’s Justice League
• James Wan directed Aquaman and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
• David F. Sandberg directed Shazam! and Shazam! Fury of the Gods
• Cathy Yan directed Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)
• James Gunn directed The Suicide Squad
• Jaume Collet-Serra directed Black Adam
• Andy Muschietti directed The Flash
• Ángel Manuel Soto directed Blue Beetle

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Which is the best DC Extended Universe movie?

According to IMDb, the DCEU movies are rated as follows:

• Man of Steel (2013) – 7.1/10
• Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) – 6.5/10
• Suicide Squad (2016) – 5.9/10
• Wonder Woman (2017) 7.3/10
• Justice League (2017) – 6.1/0
• Aquaman (2018) – 6.8/10
• Shazam! (2019) – 7.0/10
• Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020) – 6.1/10
• Wonder Woman 1984 (2021) – 5.4/10
• Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021) – 7.9/10
• The Suicide Squad (2021) – 7.2/10
• Black Adam (2022) – 6.2/10
• Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) – 6.0/10
• The Flash (2023) – 6.7/10
• Blue Beetle (2023) – 6.0/10
• Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023) – 5.8/10

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Thank you for stopping by I’ll Get Drive-Thru to read this post about the order of the DCEU movies. For more posts, be sure to check out the recommended reads below.

Alex is the editor and writer of I’ll Get Drive-Thru – a blog which specialises in all things related to Batman and DC Comics. After graduating with a degree in film & television studies, Alex studied journalism, before acquiring NCTJ accreditation. Prior to creating I’ll Get Drive-Thru, Alex was a magazine editor, a senior copywriter, and a freelance writer. He is now, and always has been, a Bat-fan!