Order of release and chronology of events for all of the DC movies
Watching the DC movies in chronological sequence is as simple as a single bound over lofty skyscrapers. You don’t have to stream them like a racing bullet or live in a Bat-Cave to keep an eye on them since most of them stay there, but there is one that has escaped.
Aside from WarnerMedia’s own mega-service HBO Max (unlike Disney Plus, which makes it easy to access all the Marvel movies in sequence), no other streaming service has the DCEU movies featuring Batman, Superman, Wonder Man, and the rest of the cast available.
Shazam! and Wonder Woman 1984 have both returned to theatres recently. Michael Keaton will reprise his role as Batman opposite Ben Affleck in the forthcoming The Flash movie, making things even more complicated. As long as you don’t mind seeing DC movies in chronological sequence, the method is rather simple. At DC Fandome in 2021, we expect to learn more about how these movies tie together.
DC Extended Universe films are the centre of this guide, which started with Man of Steel in 2013. However, there have been several DC Comics-based films, starting with Superman and the Mole Men in 1951. Those films, as well as more recent releases like Joker, which will star Joaquin Phoenix, and The Batman, which will star Robert Pattinson, are not included in this list. The most recent release is The Suicide Squad, however it isn’t available on streaming sites just yet. Until then, we’ll be patiently awaiting its return on HBO Max.
Despite the fact that DC and Warner Bros. have been creating Batman and Superman movies for decades, DCEU is the first shared cinematic universe including many superhero characters.
DC movies in release order
There are already 11 DC films that take place in the extended world as of January 2022.
Henry Cavill is Superman, Ben Affleck is Batman, Gal Gadot is Wonder Woman, Jason Momoa is Aquaman, Zachary Levi is Shazam, and Margot Robbie is Harley Quinn, and they all play major roles in the storey.
Listed below are the DC films in chronological sequence and where they may be streamed online.
1. Man of Steel (2013)
starring Henry Cavill as Clark Kent, Amy Adams as Lois Lane and Michael Shannon as General Zod. Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent, Laurence Fishburne as Perry White and Russell Crowe as Jor-El may be purchased or rented on Apple, Amazon, Vudu and other streaming services.
2. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
In the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman, Ben Affleck stars with Henry Cavill and Gal Gadot, while Amy Adams plays Lois Lane.
3. Suicide Squad (2016)
Cast: Will Smith as Deadshot, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Jared Leto as the Joker, Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, and Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag are among the stars.
4. Wonder Woman (2017)
Wonder Woman is portrayed by Gal Gadot with Chris Pine and David Thewlis in the lead roles.
In Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot portrays Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, the fourth DC film to be released in chronological sequence.
5. Justice League (2017)
Actors: Ben Affleck as Batman, Henry Cavill as Superman Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry/Aquaman, Ezra Miller as Barry Allen/The Flash and Ray Fisher as Victor Stone/Cyborg are the main characters in Wonder Woman: The Animated Series.
6. Aquaman (2018)
Willem Dafoe portrays Nuidis Vulko in the film; Patrick Wilson portrays Orm Marius; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II portrays David Kane/Black Manta; and Nicole Kidman portrays Atlanna.
7. Birds of Prey (2020)
starring Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as The Huntress, Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Dinah Lance/Black Canary, Rosie Perez as Renee Montoya, Chris Messina as Victor Zsasz, and Ewan McGregor as Roman Sionis / Black Mask: HBO Max Streaming
Birds of Prey, the eighth DC film in sequence of release, stars Rosie Perez, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Margot Robie, Ella Jay Basco, and Jurnee Smollett-Bell.
8. Shazam! (2019)
Djimon Hounsou and Zachary Levi play Shazam and Billy Batson and Dr. Thaddeus Silvana and Jack Dylan plays Freddy Freeman.
HBO’s premium streaming service, HBO Max.
9. Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
Chris Pine as Steve Trevor, Kristen Wiig as Barbara Minerva/Cheetah, Pedro Pascal as Max Lord, Robin Wright as General Antiope and Connie Nielsen as Queen Hippolyta make up the rest of the Wonder Woman cast, which also includes Connie Nielsen as the Queen.
10. Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
J. K. Simmons and Diane Lanee star with Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck in this action-thriller from Warner Bros. Pictures. Ray Fisher and Jason Momoa round out the ensemble cast.
Streaming on HBO Max (together with the black and white “Justice Is Gray” version) (along with the black and white “Justice Is Gray” edition)
11. The Suicide Squad (2021)
Members of the cast include: Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, Joel Kinnaman, Sylvester Stallone, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, and the always-excellent Peter Capaldi
HBO has the film available for viewing. Max
Also see Sling TV: How to watch Super Bowl
DC movies in chronological order
If you want to watch the DC movies in chronological order, you’ll find it’s very different than the release order. You start with …
1. Wonder Woman
Set mostly 1918 during World War I; flashbacks to ancient era of the gods
2. Wonder Woman 1984
Set in 1984; prologue during indeterminate time period on the island of Themyscira
3. Man of Steel
Set circa 2013; prologue on Krypton about 20 years prior; flashbacks to Clark Kent’s childhood in Smallville
4. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
As Bruce Wayne/Batman in Batman v Superman Dawn of Justice, Ben Affleck plays the role of Batman/Ben Affleck.
5. Suicide Squad
Flashbacks of pre-Man of Steel events are interspersed with present-day happenings.
6a. Justice League
Flashbacks of Steppenwolf’s attempt to take over the world thousands of years ago are included in the 2017 setting, two years after Batman v Superman and one year after Suicide Squad.
6b. Zack Snyder’s Justice League
Director’s Cut & Alternate Version of Justice League by Zack Snyder
7. Aquaman
Flashbacks to 1985 and Arthur Curry’s boyhood are interspersed with present-day scenes.
8. Shazam!
Set in 2018, with a flashback to 1974 to tell the genesis tale of Thaddeus Sivana
9. Birds of Prey
Suicide Squad is set in the year 2020, four years after the events of the first film.
10. The Suicide Squad
Director James Gunn has revealed the year is 2021 for the film.
DC movies in order: Coming soon
Here are the next few DCEU movies hitting theaters. Check out our full list of upcoming DC movies for more
Black Adam (July 29, 2022)
Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Cast: Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam, Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher, Aldis Hodg as Hawkman, Quintessa Swindell as Cyclone and Marwan Kenzari
The Flash (Nov. 4, 2022)
Director: Andy Muschietti
Cast: Ezra Miller as Barry Allen/The Flash, Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Sasha Calle as Supergirl
Aquaman 2 (Dec. 16, 2022)
Director: TBD
Cast: Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry/Aquaman, Amber Heard as Mera, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as David Kane/Black Manta
Shazam! Fury of the Gods (June 2, 2023)
Director: TBD
Cast: Zachary Levi as Shazam, Michelle Borth as Mary Marvel