How to Watch DC Movies in Order and More

The DC Universe is so rich and full of great characters, from Superman to Batman, to Wonder Woman, and Aquaman. It's also been going on for decades, so there's a lot of content to unpack here. Nonetheless, we're going to dive into things and see what's the best way to watch DC movies in order. 

The DC Universe started back in 1939, bringing us a slew of superheroes, supervillains, and impressive plotlines. While comic books are the base for both series and movies, there are far too many of those to talk about. 

So, let's see what's the best way to watch DC movies in order. This article will focus on discussing the films, including their star cast, ratings, and more. It’s important to note that the chronological order to watch the films almost coincides with the release order, making the process easier. 

DC Movies in Chronological Order

Watching the DC movies in Chronological order would give you a more streamlined experience and understanding of more references. 

Wonder Woman (2017)

Critique	This is a thrilling and earnest effort that succeeds due to Gal Gadot's charismatic performance.
Rating	93% (Rotten Tomatoes) and 7.3 (IMDb)
Starring	Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright
Director	Patty Jenkins

In Wonder Woman, Diana, the princess of the Amazons, is trained to be the best warrior on an island hidden from mankind. When an American pilot, Steve Trevor, crash lands on Themyscira, her worldview is shattered, and she embarks on a mission to stop the war that’s raging in the outside world. On her quest, she will discover her own destiny and history. 

Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

Critique	Wonder Woman 1984 is vibrant but is let down due to sequel struggles and fails to satisfy fans of the character.
Rating	58% (Rotten Tomatoes) and 5.4 (IMDb)
Starring	Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal
Director	Patty Jenkins

After the events of Wonder Woman, Diana Prince has opted to live a low-key life among humans. It’s now the 1980s and the heroine has come into her full powers, but she maintains a low profile and shows up to save people only when needed. But when Maxwell Lord and Cheetah wreck havoc, Diana will have to stop them. But in the process, she might have to sacrifice something dear to her. 

Man of Steel (2013)

Critique	Man of Steel brings a new take on the legendary hero. But the exhilarating action and spectacle can't save it from succumbing to a subpar plot and cliches.
Rating	57% (Rotten Tomatoes) and 7.1 (IMDb)
Starring	Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Diane Lane
Director	Zack Snyder

With the planet Krypton’s destruction imminent, Jor-El and his wife Lara send their infant son, Kal-El, to Earth on a spaceship. He lands on the farm of Jonathan and Martha Kent who raise him as their own and name him Clark. However, his extraordinary abilities leave him an outcast. Yet, when General Zod comes to take over Earth, Clark will have to choose between his Kryptonian heritage and his Earth one. 

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Critique	Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice fails to deliver a story best suited to two of the most influential superheroes of America.
Rating	29% (Rotten Tomatoes) and 6.5 (IMDb)
Starring	Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg
Director	Zack Snyder

Crime-fighting billionaire Bruce Wayne feels helpless after Superman's battle with Zod ruins Metropolis. Convinced that Superman is a threat to humanity, Batman pulls out all the stops to stop him while Lex Luthor embarks on his own quest to take out Superman. 

Suicide Squad (2016)

Critique	Suicide Squad’s muddled plot and poorly written characters let down its star cast as even special effects fail to save the day.
Rating	26% (Rotten Tomatoes) and 5.9 (IMDb)
Starring	Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman
Director	David Ayer

Deadshot, Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, Killer Croc, and other inmates are brought together by a U.S. intelligence officer who decides to assemble a team of expendable supervillains for a top-secret mission. Dubbed Task Force X, the team unites to fight a powerful entity as the Joker launches his own agenda. 

Justice League (2017)

Critique	Justice League fails to do justice to its iconic characters due to thin character-writing and plot along with dodgy aesthetics and special effects.
Rating	39% (Rotten Tomatoes) and 6 (IMDb)
Starring	Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Amy Adams
Director	Zack Snyder

Inspired by Superman’s sacrifice, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of Diana Prince in a quest to stop a threat that can enslave Earth. Joining them are Aquaman, Cyborg, and the Flash. Yet, this team might not be enough to stave off an attack that can end the planet. 

Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)

Critique	Zack Snyder's Justice League is a fan-willed, indulgent cut that adds to the characters and plot.
Rating	71% (Rotten Tomatoes) and 7.9 (IMDb)
Starring	Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Henry Cavill, Jason Momoa
Director	Zack Snyder

Zack Snyder's Justice League follows Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince as they recruit a group of superheroes- Aquaman, The Flash, and Cyborg to save the planet from the might of Steppenwolf, DeSaad, and Darkseid. But along the way, this group will have to face their own demons. Also, the return of a superhero might complicate matters for the newly formed team. 

Aquaman (2018)

Critique	Aquaman’s old-school CGI superhero spectacle works because of Jason Momoa’s charm and energetic action.
Rating	66% (Rotten Tomatoes) and 6.8 (IMDb)
Starring	Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson
Director	James Wan

The city of Atlantis was once an advanced civilization, but now it is an underwater kingdom ruled by the despotic King Orm, who wants to conquer the rest of the ocean’s kingdoms and then the surface world. The only one who can stop Orm is the true heir to the throne- Aquaman, Orm's half-human, half-Atlantean brother.

Shazam! (2019)

Critique	Shazam! brings the heart and joy to remind everyone that superhero films are essentially fantasy wish fulfillment for children.
Rating	90% (Rotten Tomatoes) and 7 (IMDb)
Starring	Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer
Director	David F. Sandberg

14-year-old Billy Batson is blessed by a wizard with powers beyond belief. All he has to do to transform into an adult superhero is yell the word, Shazam! Initially, Billy loves being a superhero and having fun. But soon he finds out that he will have to master his powers fast, or the evil Dr. Thaddeus Sivana will wreck havoc. 

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020)

Critique	Birds of Prey brings a fresh perspective, good action, and fun to the colorful spirit of Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn.
Rating	79% (Rotten Tomatoes) and 6.1 (IMDb)
Starring	Margot Robbie, Rosie Perez, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett
Director	Cathy Yan

Harley Quinn is on the run after her breakup with the Joker, and crime boss Black Mask, and his right-hand man, Victor Zsasz, are on her tail. However, when Huntress, Black Canary, and Renee Montoya decide to help Quinn, the odds become a bit more balanced in her favor. 

The Suicide Squad (2021)

Critique	The Suicide Squad brings James Gunn’s wacky vision to life with a plot that does justice to the source material's violent, anarchic strengths.
Rating	90% (Rotten Tomatoes) and 7.2 (IMDb)
Starring	Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Viola Davis
Director	James Gunn

Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Captain Boomerang, Peacemaker, Savant, Ratcatcher 2, King Shark, Javelin, and Blackguard have been recruited for a top-secret mission. They are dropped into the island of Corto Maltese to take out a target. Amanda Waller and her team keep them in check thanks to a tracker that can kill them if they make one wrong move, But the team soon discovers that the island holds secrets they can't even imagine. 

Peacemaker (2022)

Critique	In Peacemaker, John Cena does justice to a great and wacky plot from James Gunn that lets his freak flag fly.
Rating	93% (Rotten Tomatoes) and 8.3 (IMDb)
Starring	John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma, Chukwudi Iwuji
Director	James Gunn

Picking up where The Suicide Squad (2021) left off, John Cena’s Peacemaker returns home and is determined to get peace at any cost, no matter how many people he has to kill for it. But his new mission isn’t easy as along the way, he realizes that killing comes at a cost. 

Black Adam (2022)

Critique	Wildly uneven with an old-fashioned by-the-beats plot, Black Adam, fails to impress.
Rating	39% (Rotten Tomatoes) and 6.2 (IMDb)
Starring	Dwayne Johnson, Aldis Hodge, Noah Centineo, Sarah Shahi
Director	Jaume Collet-Serra

When a group of rebels free Black Adam from his tomb, 5000 years after he was imprisoned, it’s upto the Justice Society to stop his madness. However, containing Black Adam isn’t as easy when he is determined to unleash his form of justice on the modern world. 

Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)

Critique	Shazam! Fury of the Gods still has the silly charm of its predecessor, but it is a less focused and less satisfying attempt.
Rating	49% (Rotten Tomatoes) and 5.9 (IMDb)
Starring	Zachary Levi, Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu, Asher Angel
Director	David F. Sandberg

Shazam! Fury of the Gods continues the story of Billy Batson and his Shazam family who now have to fight Hespera and Kalypso, the two daughters of the Titan Atlas as they are hellbent on getting the Wizard’s staff. To make matters worse, the heroes are all grappling with their own issues of growing up and aging out of the foster care system.

The Flash (2023)

Critique	The Flash is fast-paced, funny, and is one of the best DC offerings in recent years despite dodgy CGI.
Rating	63% (Rotten Tomatoes) and 6.6 (IMDb)
Starring	Ezra Miller, Michael Keaton, Sasha Calle, Michael Shannon
Director	Andy Muschietti

Barry uses his powers to travel back in time and change the events of the past to save a family member. But his attempt backfires when he ends up trapped in a horrendous alternate reality where General Zod has returned and there’s no Superman to turn to. 

With his doppelganger from that reality, Barry will have to convince the Batman of that Earth and a long-imprisoned Kryptonian being to help him save the world. But will that be enough to reset everything? 

Blue Beetle (2023)

Critique	Blue Beetle shines with Xolo Maridueña's magnetic performance and its family-focused plot comes with plenty of humor and heart.
Rating	63% (Rotten Tomatoes) and 5.9 (IMDb)
Starring	Xolo Maridueña, Adriana Barraza, Damián Alcázar, Elpidia Carrillo
Director	Angel Manuel Soto

Jaime Reyes is looking for a purpose in his life and finds it when a piece of ancient biotechnology, the Scarab, chooses him to be its host. In turn, the Scarab bestows him with a powerful suit of armor. Jaime will now have to use his newfound powers to save his city and the Earth from foes so powerful that even an alien biotech might not be enough. 

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023) 

Critique	Jason Momoa does his best to charm in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, but it lacks its predecessor’s earnestness and whimsy.
Rating	33% (Rotten Tomatoes) and 5.6 (IMDb)
Starring	Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Amber Heard, and Nicole Kidman
Director	James Wan

In the sequel to Aquaman, Black Manta finds a Black Trident that he uses to unleash an ancient evil force on the world. To stop him, Aquaman teams up with the former King of Atlantis and his half-brother, Orm. Together, they will have to keep their differences aside to save the world. 

Obviously, you're going to need a lot of time to go through all the DC Movies in order. We can suggest you take a look at DC Universe, the streaming service - you'll find a ton of them there, including some that are not available on other streaming platforms. HBO Max also holds quite a few of these titles, especially the movies.