The action-packed spectacle of superhero blockbusters has taken center stage in the cinematic landscape for almost two decades now, with everything fromChristopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knight Trilogyto more recent iterations of the caped crusader like 2022’sThe Batman, and, of course, the ongoing Marvel Cinematic Universe dominating the box office. While the DCEU has worked tirelessly to launch its own extended live-action franchise,the very best connected universe DC Comics' fans have seen so far is undoubtedly the DC Animated Movies Universe(DCAMU).
This probably shouldn’t come as a huge surprise as DC has a history of converting their superhero stories to animation with dazzling results, with the early 1990s seriesBatman: The Animated Seriesa standout in this regard. With stories ranging from origin tales to major crossover events, and even stunning realizations of famous comic book arcs like Flashpoint, the animated movie franchise boasts an astounding array of films perfect for lovers of superhero stories.
30’Legion of Super-Heroes' (2023)
Directed by Jeff Wamester
Not every movie on this list will be great, but with over 30 films, that is inevitable and unfortunately the case forLegion of Super-Heroes. This recent entry in the Tomorrowverse follows Supergirl and her group of superpowered friends who must take on the mysterious Dark Circle organization.
The best part about the film was seeing these characters andthe group get their own movie presented with such heart and fun. Even though the stakes weren’t high, anyone could have fun with this animated superhero flick. Still, there’s not much else special aboutLegion of Super-Heroesthat warrants specific praise. —Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck
Legion of Super-Heroes
29’Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part Two' (2024)
Multi-part superhero movies are always a treat, so when DC announced a three-part event adaptingJustice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, one of the best comics, fans went wild.Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part Twofollows Kara and her quest to help the world band together to defeat the Anti-Monitor’s minions.
Crisis Part Twomay not hold the same weight and entertainment as the first one, but it is still a pretty good movie despite its measly Rotten Tomatoes score of 14%. This shouldn’t dissuade fans from watching it, as theunification of some of thestrongest Justice League membersprovides another worthy entry to the animated universe. —Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck
Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part Two
28’Batman: Assault on Arkham' (2014)
Directed by Jay Oliva and Ethan Spaulding
The Arkham franchise is one of the most respected superhero video games, andBatman: Assault on Arkhamis a movie set in the acclaimed universe. The Riddler holds valuable information, but behind the bars of Arkham, only the Suicide Squad can break in and extract what they need under the command of Amanda Waller.
While it may have Batman in the title, this is a Suicide Squad movie through and through from the gritty action, crass humor, and bright immaturity.Assault on Arkhamis a fun film thatexplores the lore of the universe while also offering clever character dynamics and a unique art style, separating it from other DC animated projects. —Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck
Batman: Assault on Arkham
27’Son of Batman' (2014)
Directed by Ethan Spaulding
Anything Batman is almost guaranteed to be good, andSon of Batmanis no exception, introducing this duo into the DCAMU. After an attack on the League of Assassins, Talia takes Damian Wayne to his biological father, Bruce Wayne. However, the child’s reckless and dangerous tendencies make Batman’s job a lot harder.
This film is an iconic staple of Batman and Robin, delivering the blueprint for a story introducing Damian. It holds the darkness expected from Batman movies, but also has some family aspects that ground the film and make it more relatable.Thefather-son dynamic is the heart of the film, and projects it into a phenomenal watchthat arguably should be higher on this list. —Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck
Son of Batman
26’Superman: Red Son' (2020)
Directed by Sam Liu
There have been countlessevil Superman renditions, but none have been more nuanced thanSuperman: Red Son, which places Kal-El in Soviet Russia. Raised in a collective farm, Superman fights for the working class but is forced into serving the government, creating a fascinating take on the Man of Steel.
The brilliance of this film lies in its ability to preserve Superman’s character while challenging himthrough oppressive treatment and a flawed regime.Superman: Red Sonmay lose the depth and meaning of the comic, but it is still a fun and fascinating watch that deserves to be one of the best DC animated universe films. —Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck
Superman: Red Son
25’Watchmen Chapter 2' (2024)
Directed by Brandon Vietti
Alan Mooreis one of the most influential comic authors of all time, andWatchmenis a legendary series that has produced multiple adaptations. This time, DC attempts to animate the iconic series into two chapters, with the second one being worse than the first.Watchmen Chapter 2continues the ensemble cast’s quest for answers.
Thebiggest strength ofWatchmen Chapter 2is its cast, made up of top-tier voice actors to carry this production. The animation style is distracting, but works best in this movie by delivering good larger setpieces, but is still overall unwelcome. Overall, this adaptation isn’t perfect, but itdoes enough to fully adapt the story and its iconic moments. —Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck
Watchmen: Chapter II
24’Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham' (2023)
Directed by Sam Liu and Chris Berkeley
Animated Batman films are some of the medium’s most popular, making the prospect of him fighting Lovecraftian horrors an interesting premise.Batman: The Doom That Came to Gothamis set in the 1920s and follows Batman after he reawakens, only to find a doomsday cult summoning the wrath of the Old Gods on Gotham.
This is an interesting idea that mostly pays off and adapts the comic well. It features distracting cameos and some confusing moments, but it is overall another worthy Batman animated film. The animation, Lovecraftian elements, and horror blend to create adistinct dark Batman moviethat uses a modern touch to create a classic feel. —Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck
Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham
23’Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons' (2022)
Directed by Matt Peters
The world’s finest hasn’t appeared together recently, but while fans wait for the DCU to bring them into live action,Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sonsis a great starting place. Jonathan Kent and Damian Wayne may be sidekicks, but they get their chance to prove their skills by reducing their parents from impending doom.
Battle of the Super Sonsis an interesting adaptation that falters and excels in many ways. The fully CGI animation can get annoying, but it is overall a step in the right direction. The plot may be predictable and cliché, butthe action and dynamics more than make up for it. The characters were full of life, and the messages were motivational, making it another great animated DC movie. —Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck
Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons
22’Watchmen Chapter 1' (2024)
As previously mentioned, they adapted theWatchmeninto a two-part animated film, aiming to capture the most out of the comic as possible.Watchmen Chapter 1is set in an alternate 1985 where a retired group of superheroes investigate the mysterious deaths of their comrades.
While it is difficult to pick one over the other,Watchmen Chapter 1is arguably the better film of the two-part event. The art style and animation are still distracting, but the film allows for the subtleties and quieter moments to excel more. The voice cast is still excellent, and the worldbuilding is phenomenal, makingWatchmen Chapter1 a good adaptation. —Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck
Watchmen: Chapter 1
21’Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part 1' (2024)
Warner Brothers seems to like the idea of multi-part animated movies since they adapted one of the most iconic DC comics into three movies.Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part 1is the first of three movies in this multiversal event. When the Anti-Monitor begins destroying multiple universes, the Monitor recruits heroes from across the multiverse to stop it.
This three-part event was one of the biggest in DC animated history. Unfortunately, the two sequels weren’t nearly as good as the first. Still, part one was a phenomenal movie that had fan service, great animation, unexpected twists, and intriguing developments. It has its fair share of flaws, butCrisis on Infinite Earthsis an overwhelming experience that willdeliver all the superhero goodness fans could want. —Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck
