Determining how to watch the DC movies in order doesn't require a PhD in comic book film studies. Sure, DC Comics' big screen history seems pretty messy from the outside looking in, but it's actually not as difficult to solve – especially with the aid of TechRadar's entertainment experts.
In this guide, we'll tell you how to watch the DC movies in chronological and release date order, and which method is best for first-time viewers. We'll also walk you through the two cinematic universes – the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) and DC Universe (DCU) – and which DC comic book films and HBO Max shows are housed in each one.
There's plenty more to learn about below, too, including what the best-rated DC movies are and what's on the horizon for James Gunn and Peter Safran's new-look DCU. So, throw on your favorite superhero costume and let's dive in.
How to watch the DCEU movies in release date order
Best for: newcomers to the DCEU.
Want to know how to watch the DCEU movies in release date order? Here's how.
You'll start with 2013's Man of Steel, i.e. the DCEU's first film, and end with its final entry, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, which debuted in theaters in December 2023.
A couple of things to note before you dive in. First, there are two versions of Justice League: one is the theatrical cut, which Joss Whedon helmed after original director Zack Snyder stepped away following the death of his daughter and aired in theaters in 2017. The other is Zack Snyder's Justice League, the director's original four-hour cut that debuted on HBO Max in 2021 after a years-long fan campaign.
The same is true of the similarly titled Suicide Squid movies. The 2016 version was directed by David Ayer, while the 2021 edition was helmed by Gunn. However, despite The Suicide Squid's inclusion of a couple of characters from the 2016 flick, it isn't a sequel to the former. I know, not confusing at all!
You'll also find season 1 of Peacemaker listed below. This HBO TV Original will become part of the DCU when its second season arrives in late August – I'll explain why later – but it was originally part of the DCEU, hence its inclusion in the list that follows.
- 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 (2020)
- Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
- Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)
- The Suicide Squad (2021)
- Peacemaker (HBO Max TV show, 2022)
- Black Adam (2022)
- Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)
- The Flash (2023)
- Blue Beetle (2023)
- Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)
How to watch the DCEU movies in chronological order
Best for: viewers looking for a new way to stream the DCEU movies.
Want to know how to watch the DCEU movies in order of chronology? Follow this guide.
Admittedly, most DC films are set in the modern era, and even Wonder Woman features some framing scenes set in the present. In that sense, there isn't much difference between watching them in chronological or release date order. However, with the events of some films – e.g. Wonder Woman, which is predominantly set during World War I – this method spices things up a bit for anyone who wants to view the DCEU timeline in another way.
- Wonder Woman – predominantly set during World War I, aka 1914 to 1918
- Wonder Woman 1984 – takes place in 1984
- Man of Steel – set in 2013
- Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – occurs in 2016
- Suicide Squad – similarly takes place in 2016
- Justice League / Zack Snyder's Justice League – takes place in 2017
- Aquaman – flashbacks to 1985 notwithstanding, it's set in 2017
- Shazam! – again, 1974 flashbacks aside, it takes place in 2018
- Birds of Prey: and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn - seems to be set in 2020
- The Suicide Squad – occurs in 2021
- Peacemaker (TV show) – takes place after the aforementioned film, so in the year 2022
- Black Adam – appears to be set in 2022
- Shazam! Fury of the Gods – also seems to take place in 2022
- The Flash – primarily set in 2023, but also features moments from 2013
- Blue Beetle – occurs in 2023
- Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom – also takes places in 2023
How to watch the DCU movies and TV shows in order
This new section was introduced to our DC movies in order guide following the debut of new DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Universe, otherwise known as the DCU.
It represents a hard reset of DC Comics' shared cinematic universe and effectively replaces the now-defunct DCEU. Aside from Peacemaker, which we'll get to, there's no crossover between DCEU and DCU projects, so this really is a clean slate for the comic giant's answer to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
So, how do you go about watching the DCU movies and TV shows in order? As of July 2025, only two projects have been released: season 1 of adult animated series Creature Commandos and the DCU's first silver screen offering in James Gunn's Superman movie. Right now, then, it's very easy to determine how to watch these DC movies and shows in order.
- Creature Commandos season 1 – occurs in 2024
- Superman – currently thought to take place in the modern day, aka 2025
Future DCU movies and TV shows: what's coming next?
There are many more DCU projects, all of whom currently fall under the DCU Chapter One umbrella, that are due out over the next few years. Here's a quick rundown of the films and TV series you'll see as part of the phase collectively known as 'Gods and Monsters', including any known launch dates:
- Peacemaker season 2 (TV show, August 21, 2025)
- Lanterns (TV show, expected early 2026 (date TBC))
- Supergirl (movie, June 26, 2026)
- Clayface (movie, September 11, 2026)
- The Authority (movie, TBC)
- The Brave and the Bold (movie, TBC)
- Booster Gold (TV show, TBC)
- Creature Commandos season 2 (TV show, TBC)
- Paradise Lost (TV show, TBC)
- Sgt Rock (movie, TBC)
- Superman sequel (movie, TBC)
- Swamp Thing (movie, TBC)
- Waller (TV show, TBC)
- Wonder Woman (movie, TBC)
Now, you might be wondering why Peacemaker season 2 is part of the DCU. After all, it'll pick up events that transpired in The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker's debut season. So, how can a project that was originally set in the DCEU be part of the DCU?
Curently, we're not completely sure. DC Studios co-chief James Gunn has said we'll find out for sure as part of Peacemaker 2's plot and that the anti-hero's Quantum Unfolding Chamber is key to him making the leap to this new DC cinematic universe. Once more information is provided by way of the show's next chapter, we'll update this DC movies in order guide to provide answers, and reflect any subsequent changes to the DCEU and/or DCU.
The DC movies ranked: from best to worst
Any self-respecting DC movies in order article wouldn't be complete without a ranking of the best DC projects.
To that end, then, we've compiled a list of every DCEU and DCU film and TV series, and ranked them based on their Rotten Tomatoes critical score. That way, you can direct your annoyance at other critics rather than us!
- Creature Commandos (2024) – 95%
- Peacemaker (2022) – 93%
- Wonder Woman (2017) – 93%
- The Suicide Squad (2021) – 90%
- Shazam! (2019) – 90%
- Superman (2025) – 83%
- Birds of Prey (2020) – 79%
- Blue Beetle (2023) – 78%
- Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) – 71%
- Aquaman (2018) – 66%
- The Flash (2023) – 63%
- Man of Steel (2013) – 57%
- Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) – 57%
- Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) – 49%
- Black Adam (2022) – 39%
- Justice League (2017) – 39%
- Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023) – 33%
- Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) – 28%
- Suicide Squad (2016) – 26%
For more DC Comics coverage, read our guides on The Batman Part II, how to watch the Superman movies in order, and how to watch the Batman movies in order. Then, see if you agree with our ranking of the best Batman movies.
