DC movies only — 1/5

DC movies only — 1/5 DC movies watch orders Separate continuity routes and release history Current through October 26 2026 Eastern Choose a continuity below and follow its numbered route. Use the separate release-era index when you want release history instead. Different Batman, Superman and Justice League film worlds do not form one continuous timeline. Coverage at the cutoff: 232 catalogue records, comprising 145 main-catalogue entries, 28 Supplemental Viewing entries, 18 compilation or alternate-cut options and 41 shorts or specials. These are mixed-format records, not 232 distinct feature films. General DC television series are outside this movies-only guide. Contents • How to use the orders • Main catalogue • Supplemental Viewing • Compilation and version appendix • Shorts and specials appendix • Release era index • Release exclusions and unresolved cases • Coverage and source notes • Dated changelog • Sources How to use the orders • Numbers restart within each continuity; they do not create a global DC chronology. Standalone collections use release-led order only for navigation. • DCEU chronology places the main Wonder Woman adventures early but keeps The Flash late to preserve its setup. DCU release order is Superman, Supergirl, Clayface; the chronology-first route below places Clayface first with an uncertain in-world year. • Justice League and Zack Snyder’s Justice League are alternative versions, not consecutive sequels. Compilation films can replace their component episodes or parts rather than adding new events. • Dates are release years unless a full date is supplied. A year-only entry does not claim a verified worldwide first-release day. Release-era labels are editorial, not official DC phases. Main catalogue Reeve Superman original branch 1. Superman (1978); Live-action feature: Start with Clark becoming Superman. [1] 2. Superman II (1980); Live-action feature: Continue the original Superman story; its first international release preceded the 1981 US run. [1] 3. Superman III (1983); Live-action feature: The third Reeve film stays on this branch. [1] 4. Supergirl (1984); Live-action feature: Kara gets her own adventure in the same film family. [1] 5. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987); Live-action feature: Finish the original Reeve run here. [1] Superman Returns branch Branch from Superman and Superman II into Returns; do not treat Returns as a continuation of Superman III and IV. 1. Superman Returns (2006); Live-action feature: Watch after Superman and Superman II instead of treating it as a sequel to III and IV. [1] Batman 1966 1. Batman: The Movie (1966); Live-action feature: The Adam West and Burt Ward film sits alongside the television series. [2] Burton Schumacher Batman 1. Batman (1989); Live-action feature: Start this four-film Batman run with Michael Keaton. [2] 2. Batman Returns (1992); Live-action feature: Continue Keaton’s Gotham before the cast and tone change. [2] 3. Batman Forever (1995); Live-action feature: Val Kilmer takes over in the same broad film series. [2] 4. Batman & Robin (1997); Live-action feature: George Clooney closes the original four-film run. [2] Nolan Batman 1. Batman Begins (2005); Live-action feature: Bruce builds his identity as Batman. [2] 2. The Dark Knight (2008); Live-action feature: Continue after Begins. [2] 3. The Dark Knight Rises (2012); Live-action feature: Finish Nolan’s trilogy here. [2] Swamp Thing films 1. Swamp Thing (1982); Live-action feature: Alec Holland’s film origin starts this pair. [2] 2. The Return of Swamp Thing (1989); Live-action feature: Follow the original with its lighter sequel. [2] Standalone live action worlds Each film below has its own world. The list is release-led, not one shared story route. 1. Superman and the Mole Men (1951); Live-action feature: George Reeves’ feature introduces the screen world later used by Adventures of Superman. [2] 2. Steel (1997); Live-action feature: This is John Henry Irons in a separate screen continuity. [2] 3. Catwoman (2004); Live-action feature: Patience Phillips has a standalone story, not a sequel to Batman Returns. [2] 4. Constantine (2005); Live-action feature: The Hellblazer adaptation has its own continuity. [2] 5. Watchmen (2009); Live-action feature: Watch this as its own alternate-history adaptation. [2] 6. Jonah Hex (2010); Live-action feature: This Western has no required superhero-film lead-in. [2] 7. Green Lantern (2011); Live-action feature: Hal Jordan’s film is separate from the later shared universes. [2] DCEU 1. Wonder Woman (2017); Live-action feature: The main adventure belongs in World War I; its framing scenes occur later. [3] 2. Wonder Woman 1984 (2020); Live-action feature: Diana’s next historical adventure is set in 1984. [3] 3. Man of Steel (2013); Live-action feature: Start the modern shared-universe story here. [3] 4. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016); Live-action feature: Its present-day story follows the fallout of Man of Steel. [3] 5. Suicide Squad (2016); Live-action feature: Watch after Batman v Superman because it builds on that world’s situation. [3] 6. Justice League (2017); Live-action feature: The theatrical team-up follows Batman v Superman; the Snyder version is an alternate viewing option. [3] 7. Aquaman (2018); Live-action feature: Arthur’s solo story follows the team-up. [3] 8. Shazam! (2019); Live-action feature: Billy’s first film introduces the Shazam family. [3] 9. Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020); Live-action feature: Harley’s solo adventure follows Suicide Squad. [3] 10. The Suicide Squad (2021); Live-action feature: A later Task Force X mission, not a remake of the 2016 film. [3] 11. Black Adam (2022); Live-action feature: This introduces Kahndaq and the Justice Society in the late DCEU. [3] 12. Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023); Live-action feature: Return to Billy’s family after Shazam!. [3] 13. The Flash (2023); Live-action feature: Keep this late despite time travel so earlier films retain their reveals. [3] 14. Blue Beetle (2023); Live-action feature: Jaime’s origin is largely self-contained; do not assume the entire film becomes DCU canon. [3] 15. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023); Live-action feature: Finish Arthur’s DCEU story after Aquaman. [3] Joker films 1. Joker (2019); Live-action feature: Arthur’s origin belongs to its own Gotham. [3] 2. Joker: Folie à Deux (2024); Live-action feature: Continue Arthur’s story after Joker. [3] Reeves Batman 1. The Batman (2022); Live-action feature: This Batman has his own continuity, separate from Joker and the DCEU. [3] DCU Chapter One Release route: Superman, Supergirl, Clayface. The chronology-first route below uses contemporary story-context reporting for Clayface, not a firmly established official calendar year. 1. Clayface (2026-10-23); Live-action feature: Chronology-first option: this origin precedes the established DCU present; exact year is not fixed here. [4] 2. Superman (2025-07-11); Live-action feature: The first released DCU feature introduces its present-day Superman. [5] 3. Supergirl (2026-06-26); Live-action feature: Continue the DCU film run after Superman. [6] DCAU and later DCAU style films This film-only route moves from Bruce Wayne’s era to Batman Beyond. Later DCAU-style films have qualified continuity status; the television series are not catalogued here. 1. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993); Animated feature: Start the DCAU film branch during Batman’s early animated-series period. [7] 2. Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero (1998); Animated feature: Watch after Phantasm in the original animated-series period. [7] 3. Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (2003); Animated feature: This belongs to the later New Batman Adventures period. [7] 4. Batman and Harley Quinn (2017); Animated feature: A later DCAU-style adventure; placement and strict canon are treated cautiously. [7] 5. Justice League vs. the Fatal Five (2019); Animated feature: A later DCAU-style Justice League adventure, before Batman Beyond in a chronology-first film route. [7] 6. Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000); Animated feature: End this film-only route in Terry McGinnis’ future. [7] DCAMU Flashpoint is the viewing entry point to this linked animated cycle. Keep The Death of Superman and Reign of the Supermen together; City of Demons is placed before that pair for uninterrupted viewing, not an exact calendar claim. 1. Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013); Animated feature: Use this timeline-reset story as the viewing entry point. [8] 2. Justice League: War (2014); Animated feature: The new League’s origin starts the main shared timeline. [8] 3. Son of Batman (2014); Animated feature: Damian’s introduction follows the new-universe setup. [8] 4. Justice League: Throne of Atlantis (2015); Animated feature: Arthur’s introduction expands the League. [8] 5. Batman vs. Robin (2015); Animated feature: Continue Damian’s story after Son of Batman. [8] 6. Batman: Bad Blood (2016); Animated feature: Continue the Bat-family thread after Batman vs. Robin. [8] 7. Justice League vs. Teen Titans (2016); Animated feature: Damian’s path connects the Bat-family and Titans stories. [8] 8. Justice League Dark (2017); Animated feature: The supernatural team joins this shared film world. [8] 9. Teen Titans: The Judas Contract (2017); Animated feature: Continue the Titans story after their League crossover. [8] 10. Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay (2018); Animated feature: A later Task Force X adventure with a Flashpoint connection. [8] 11. Constantine: City of Demons - The Movie (2018); Animated feature: The expanded movie version belongs to this supernatural continuity; this slot is release-based, not a claim of exact calendar placement. [8] 12. The Death of Superman (2018); Animated feature: Start the two-film Superman event. [8] 13. Reign of the Supermen (2019); Animated feature: Watch directly after The Death of Superman. [8] 14. Batman: Hush (2019); Animated feature: Return to Batman after the Superman event. [8] 15. Wonder Woman: Bloodlines (2019); Animated feature: Diana’s film includes earlier events but is best kept near its release position. [8] 16. Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020); Animated feature: Finish the main DCAMU feature arc here. [8] Tomorrowverse