DC Extended Universe - Watch Order: Release Order

2013 - 202316 Films37h 18m3.8 Average

The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) was DC's ambitious attempt to create a shared cinematic universe, launching with Man of Steel in 2013. This complete release order allows you to experience the DCEU as audiences did, following the evolution of DC's cinematic ambitions and the gradual assembly of the Justice League across a full decade of interconnected storytelling.

While the DCEU faced creative challenges and mixed reception, this order captures the full scope of DC's attempt to establish iconic versions of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman within a shared universe that delivered memorable superhero spectacles and ambitious storytelling.

1
Man of Steel poster

Man of Steel

20132h 23m3.7
Director: Zack Snyder
Cast: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Russell Crowe, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner

A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind.

ActionAdventureScience Fiction
2
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice poster

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

20162h 32m3.2
Director: Zack Snyder
Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Jesse Eisenberg, Gal Gadot, Amy Adams

Fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before.

ActionAdventureFantasy
3
Suicide Squad poster

Suicide Squad

20162h 2m3.2
Director: David Ayer
Cast: Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis

From DC Comics comes the Suicide Squad, an antihero team of incarcerated supervillains who act as deniable assets for the United States government, undertaking high-risk black ops missions in exchange for commuted prison sentences.

ActionAdventureFantasy
4
Wonder Woman poster

Wonder Woman

20172h 21m4.2
Director: Patty Jenkins
Cast: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, Danny Huston

An Amazon princess comes to the world of Man in the grips of the First World War to confront the forces of evil and bring an end to human conflict.

ActionAdventureFantasy
5
Justice League poster

Justice League

20172h3.3
Director: Zack Snyder
Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller

Fuelled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman's selfless act, Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince assemble a team of metahumans consisting of Barry Allen, Arthur Curry and Victor Stone to face the catastrophic threat of Steppenwolf and the Parademons who are on the hunt for three Mother Boxes on Earth.

ActionAdventureScience Fiction
6
Aquaman poster

Aquaman

20182h 23m4
Director: James Wan
Cast: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Nicole Kidman

Half-human, half-Atlantean Arthur Curry is taken on the journey of his lifetime to discover if he is worth of being a king.

ActionAdventureFantasy
7
Shazam! poster

Shazam!

20192h 12m4
Director: David F. Sandberg
Cast: Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Adam Brody

A boy is given the ability to become an adult superhero in times of need with a single magic word.

ActionComedyFantasy
8
Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) poster

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

20201h 49m4
Director: Cathy Yan
Cast: Margot Robbie, Rosie Perez, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett, Ewan McGregor

Harley Quinn joins forces with a singer, an assassin and a police detective to help a young girl who had a hit placed on her after she stole a rare diamond from a crime lord.

ActionCrime
9
Wonder Woman 1984 poster

Wonder Woman 1984

20202h 31m3.6
Director: Patty Jenkins
Cast: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal, Robin Wright

A botched store robbery places Wonder Woman in a global battle against a powerful and mysterious ancient force that puts her powers in jeopardy.

ActionAdventureFantasy
10
Zack Snyder's Justice League poster

Zack Snyder's Justice League

20214h 2m4.9
Director: Zack Snyder
Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Ray Fisher, Jason Momoa

Determined to ensure Superman's ultimate sacrifice was not in vain, Bruce Wayne aligns forces with Diana Prince with plans to recruit a team of metahumans to protect the world from an approaching threat of catastrophic proportions.

ActionAdventureFantasy
11
The Suicide Squad poster

The Suicide Squad

20212h 12m4.4
Director: James Gunn
Cast: Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, Sylvester Stallone

Supervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Peacemaker and a collection of nutty cons at Belle Reve prison join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X as they are dropped off at the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese.

ActionComedyAdventure
12
Black Adam poster

Black Adam

20222h 5m3.9
Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Aldis Hodge, Noah Centineo, Sarah Shahi, Quintessa Swindell

Nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the Egyptian gods—and imprisoned just as quickly—Black Adam is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of justice on the modern world.

ActionAdventureScience Fiction
13
Shazam! Fury of the Gods poster

Shazam! Fury of the Gods

20232h 10m3.6
Director: David F. Sandberg
Cast: Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Rachel Zegler, Adam Brody

Billy Batson and his foster siblings, who transform into superheroes by saying "Shazam!", are forced to get back into action and fight the Daughters of Atlas, who they must stop from using a weapon that could destroy the world.

ComedyActionFantasy
14
The Flash poster

The Flash

20232h 24m3.8
Director: Andy Muschietti
Cast: Ezra Miller, Sasha Calle, Michael Keaton, Michael Shannon, Ron Livingston

When his attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, Barry Allen becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod has returned and there are no Super Heroes to turn to. In order to save the world that he is in and return to the future that he knows, Barry's only hope is to race for his life. But will making the ultimate sacrifice be enough to reset the universe?

AdventureActionScience Fiction
15
Blue Beetle poster

Blue Beetle

20232h 8m3.8
Director: Ángel Manuel Soto
Cast: Xolo Mariduena, Bruna Marquezine, Susan Sarandon, Raoul Max Trujillo, Belissa Escobedo

Recent college grad Jaime Reyes returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it. As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the Scarab.

ActionScience FictionAdventure
16
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom poster

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

20232h 4m3.7
Director: James Wan
Cast: Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Randall Park, Amber Heard

Black Manta seeks revenge on Aquaman for his father's death. Wielding the Black Trident's power, he becomes a formidable foe. To defend Atlantis, Arthur (Aquaman) forges an alliance with his imprisoned brother. They must protect the kingdom.

ActionAdventureFantasy