DCEU Film Marathon: How to Watch the DC Movies in Order

Who is your favorite superhero? Fans of Spider-Man and the Avengers have Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe, with its 30+ films and a dozen series. But if you’re a fan of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, they’re part of the DC Extended Universe streaming on HBO Max.

Starting with 2013 man of Steel, Warner Bros. took a different approach to the formula of the cinematic universe by giving control to the director. Instead of building the brand around an all-powerful producer (like Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige), DC Films recruited the likes of Zack Snyder, Patty Jenkins, James Wan and James Gunn.

The results are mixed. Aquaman raised over $1 billion during wonder woman was a critical favorite. However, much of the output was not well received by fans or critics. In addition, there are financial commitments from Wonder Woman 1984 and The Suicide Squad have been severely hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Superhero movies are meant to be our comfort, but the future of the DCEU is in doubt. New leadership at Warner Bros. Discovery has already scrapped that bat girl Movie. HBO Max is also expected to merge with Discovery+ in 2023, so we don’t know where you’ll be streaming those movies a year from now.

Despite the uncertain future, DC Films has found success lately joker and The Batman. Several films set in the DCEU are also slated for release by Dwayne Johnson’s in the near future Black Adam in October to Shazam! wrath of the gods In December. When you’re ready to watch again, or finally want to watch all the movies at once, here’s how to watch them all in order.

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Order at the cinema release

The Suicide Squad (2021) (Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

The easiest way to watch these movies is to simply watch them in release order. That way you don’t have to complicate things or show anything in the order you intended. You start with man of Steelgo inside Batman vs Supermanand then hit suicide squad and wonder woman.

From here you have the choice. You can either watch the original justice league released in 2017 or skip it and watch the four hour Director’s Cut Zack Snyder’s Justice Leaguewhich was released in 2021. (I’d recommend checking out the re-release.) You can also go back and check out the black and white version justice is grey Output when you’re feeling freaked out.

After the Justice League crossover, it comes Aquamanthen Shazam!followed by the suicide squad spin off birds of prey, starring Harley Quinn. You can then complete with Wonder Woman 1984 and The Suicide Squadthis is a different (and better) movie than the one that released in 2016. Here is your clock order:

man of Steel (2013)

Batman vs Superman Dawn of Justice (2016)

suicide squad (2016)

wonder woman (2017)

justice league (2017) / Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)

Aquaman (2018)

Shazam! (2019)

birds of prey (2020)

Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

The Suicide Squad (2021)

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Chronological order

Birds of Prey (Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

Unfortunately, for those wanting to try an alternate clock order, the DC Extended Universe doesn’t have that much to offer chronologically. Your clock would start with 2017 wonder womanwhich takes place during the First World War. You would then switch Wonder Woman 1984which, you guessed it, is set in 1984.

After that, it’s the same order as when it was released, as the events of those films feed straight into the next. Superman’s death in Batman vs Superman is referenced therein suicide squad and is an integral plot point in justice league. Then you have Aquaman and Shazam!which take place after the Justice League fight against Darkseid.

birds of prey takes place afterwards suicide squadBut before The Suicide Squad, although the continuity there is intentionally ambiguous. Then you could add that peacemaker TV show to the end, which serves as a sequel to the second Suicide Squad film.

wonder woman (2017)

Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

man of Steel (2013)

Batman vs Superman Dawn of Justice (2016)

suicide squad (2016)

justice league (2017) / Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)

Aquaman (2018)

Shazam! (2019)

birds of prey (2020)

The Suicide Squad (2021)

peacemaker (2022)

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Where are Joker and Batman?

Joker (Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

You wonder where joker and The Batman match all of this? While there is a Joker and Batman in the DC Extended Universe, these films focus on wildly different versions of these characters unrelated to DCEU continuity.

in the joker, Joaquin Phoenix plays a middle-aged version of the character alongside a live Thomas Wayne and young Bruce Wayne. and The Batman Stars Robert Pattinson as the younger Batman instead of Ben Affleck’s older version of the character. It should also be noted that these films are not related; joker is not a prequel to The Batman.

Feel free to watch these films in any order you want, although you should probably watch them separately from your DCEU binge watch if you want to keep things tidy in your head.

joker (2019)

The Batman (2022)

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Everything is yet to come

Despite Warner-Discovery’s uncertainty, DC Films still has several films on schedule for release. Black Adamstarring Dwayne Johnson, is a spin-off of Shazam! this revolves around the former champion of the wizard. Shazam! wrath of the gods will see Billy Batson and his superhero family take on the daughters of Atlas.

Based on the Flashpoint Comics storyline, The Lightning will see Barry Allen messing around with the DCEU’s timeline as he travels back in time to prevent his mother’s murder. In light of star Ezra Miller’s legal troubles(Opens in a new window)it’s hard to say what will ultimately happen with this film.

Not much is known about the story yet Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, but in the sequel, Arthur and his brother Orm are expected to join forces to save Atlantis. Also on the schedule Blue Beetleabout a teenager who has an alien artifact attached to his spine, granting him a superpowered exosuit.

As for DC movies set outside of the DCEU, Joker: Folie a Deux will be a musical sequel to the 2019 film, which stars Joaquin Phoenix alongside Lady Gaga. You can also expect a sequel to The Batman and a TV spin-off series starring Colin Farrell as Penguin.

• Black Adam – October 21, 2022

• Shazam! wrath of the gods – December 21, 2022

• The Lightning – June 23, 2023

• Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom – March 17, 2023

• Blue Beetle – August 18, 2023

• Joker: Folie a Deux – October 4, 2024

• The Batman Consequence – open

• The Penguin series – open