(Photo by Warner Bros/courtesy Everett Collection)

All DC Comics Movies Ranked

Superman. Batman. Wonder Woman. These are some of the staple titans of DC Comics the world has come to adore over the past 80 years, especially as they made the leap from page panel to silver screen and TV in the ’50s and ’60s. (And well before those upstart punks Marvel Comics to boot!) You’ll find them all in in our guide to every DC Comics movie ranked by Tomatometer, along with other significant greats like Swamp Thing, Green Lantern, and Shazam.

But the world of comic book publishing is nothing if not vast, a constellation of multiverses, retcons, annuals, and imprints. Moving beyond the strictly superhero element of DC Comics, this guide will also feature the adapated works from DC imprints Vertigo (V for Vendetta, The Losers), Paradox Press (Road to Perdition, A History of Violence), and WildStorm (Red, Red 2).

We’ve limited the movies to theatrical releases only, which does keep out the home animated fare that’s been giving DC adaptations a good name whenever the DCEU stumbled. But to that end, you will find The Killing Joke and Return of the Caped Crusaders here, both of which got a one-day theatrical release.

Great leaping catfish! This introduction is now over! Hurry, to Rotten Tomatoes and the list of every DC movie ranked by Tomatometer!

#42

Catwoman (2004)
9%

#42

Adjusted Score: 14.528%

Critics Consensus: Halle Berry is the lone bright spot, but even she can't save this laughable action thriller.

Synopsis: Patience Philips is a woman who can't seem to stop apologizing for her own existence. She works as a graphic... [More]

Starring: Halle Berry, Benjamin Bratt, Sharon Stone, Lambert Wilson

Directed By: Pitof, Jean-Christopher Comar

#41

Supergirl (1984)
9%

#41

Adjusted Score: 10.986%

Critics Consensus: The effects are cheesy and Supergirl's wide-eyed, cheery heroine simply isn't interesting to watch for an hour and a half.

Synopsis: A big-budget spin-off from the series of three successful Superman movies, this film stars Helen Slater as the counterpart to... [More]

Starring: Helen Slater, Faye Dunaway, Peter O'Toole, Mia Farrow

Directed By: Jeannot Szwarc

#40

Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)
11%

#40

Adjusted Score: 14.324%

Critics Consensus: The Superman series bottoms out here: the action is boring, the special effects look cheaper, and none of the actors appear interested in where the plot's going.

Synopsis: Superman (Christopher Reeve) tries to save the world from nuclear destruction at the hands of Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) in... [More]

Starring: Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Mark Pillow, Margot Kidder

Directed By: Sidney J. Furie

#39

Batman & Robin (1997)
11%

#39

Adjusted Score: 16.677%

Critics Consensus: Joel Schumacher's tongue-in-cheek attitude hits an unbearable limit in Batman & Robin resulting in a frantic and mindless movie that's too jokey to care much for.

Synopsis: Batman & Robin try to keep their relationship together even as they must stop Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy from... [More]

Starring: George Clooney, Chris O'Donnell, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Uma Thurman

Directed By: Joel Schumacher

#38

Steel (1997)
12%

#38

Adjusted Score: 12.867%

Critics Consensus: Steel is a badly-acted movie that indulges not only in superhero cliches, but also the sappy TV-movie-of-the-week ones.

Synopsis: Low-rent, poorly-lit superhero action is the order of the day in this film from television director Kenneth Johnson -- who... [More]

Starring: Shaquille O'Neal, Annabeth Gish, Richard Roundtree, Irma P. Hall

Directed By: Kenneth Johnson (I)

#37

Jonah Hex (2010)
12%

#37

Adjusted Score: 16.219%

Critics Consensus: Josh Brolin gives it his best shot, but he can't keep the short, unfocused Jonah Hex from collapsing on the screen.

Synopsis: 1970s-era DC antihero Jonah Hex makes his way to the big screen as co-screenwriters Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (Crank,... [More]

Starring: Josh Brolin, John Malkovich, Megan Fox, Michael Fassbender

Directed By: Jimmy Hayward

#36

The Kitchen (2019)
24%

#36

Adjusted Score: 33.565%

Critics Consensus: With three talented leads struggling to prop up a sagging story, The Kitchen is a jumbled crime thriller in urgent need of some heavy-duty renovation.

Synopsis: Based on the Vertigo comic book series from DC Entertainment, the film stars Oscar nominee Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish and... [More]

Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish, Elisabeth Moss, Domhnall Gleeson

Directed By: Andrea Berloff

#35

Superman III (1983)
29%

#35

Adjusted Score: 33.369%

Critics Consensus: When not overusing sight gags, slapstick, and Richard Pryor, Superman III resorts to plot points rehashed from the previous Superman flicks.

Synopsis: The Man of Steel (Christopher Reeve) takes on a megalomaniacal businessman (Robert Vaughn) who is using a dopey hacker (Richard... [More]

Starring: Christopher Reeve, Richard Pryor, Robert Vaughn, Annette O'Toole

Directed By: Richard Lester

#34

Green Lantern (2011)
26%

#34

Adjusted Score: 33.79%

Critics Consensus: Noisy, overproduced, and thinly written, Green Lantern squanders an impressive budget and decades of comics mythology.

Synopsis: In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, a small but powerful force has existed for centuries. Protectors of... [More]

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong (II)

Directed By: Martin Campbell

#33

Suicide Squad (2016)
26%

#33

Adjusted Score: 41.239%

Critics Consensus: Suicide Squad boasts a talented cast and a little more humor than previous DCEU efforts, but they aren't enough to save the disappointing end result from a muddled plot, thinly written characters, and choppy directing.

Synopsis: From director David Ayer ("Fury," "End of Watch") comes "Suicide Squad," starring Oscar nominee Will Smith ("Ali," "The Pursuit of... [More]

Starring: Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman

Directed By: David Ayer

#32

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
28%

#32

Adjusted Score: 45.172%

Critics Consensus: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice smothers a potentially powerful story -- and some of America's most iconic superheroes -- in a grim whirlwind of effects-driven action.

Synopsis: Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill) share the screen in this Warner Bros./DC Entertainment co-production penned by David S.... [More]

Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Diane Lane

Directed By: Zack Snyder

#31

Batman Forever (1995)
39%

#31

Adjusted Score: 43.294%

Critics Consensus: Loud, excessively busy, and often boring, Batman Forever nonetheless has the charisma of Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones to offer mild relief.

Synopsis: Director Joel Schumacher inherited the Batman franchise from Tim Burton and began steering it in the campier direction of the... [More]

Starring: Corey Jacoby, Maurice Lamont, Jim Palmer, Mike Smith

Directed By:

#30

Batman: The Killing Joke (2016)
40%

#30

Adjusted Score: 40.718%

Critics Consensus: This stilted retelling of the Joker's origin adds little to its iconic source material, further diminished by some questionable story additions that will have fans demanding justice for Barbara Gordon.

Synopsis: Fathom Events, Warner Bros. and DC Comics invite you to a premiere event when Batman: The Killing Joke comes to... [More]

Starring: Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Ray Wise, Tara Strong

Directed By: Sam Liu

#29

Justice League (2017)
40%

#29

Adjusted Score: 57.165%

Critics Consensus: Justice League leaps over a number of DC movies, but its single bound isn't enough to shed the murky aesthetic, thin characters, and chaotic action that continue to dog the franchise.

Synopsis: Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman's selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his... [More]

Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot

Directed By: Zack Snyder

#28

The Return of Swamp Thing (1989)
44%

#28

Adjusted Score: 35.875%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: A beautiful horticulturist visits her stepfather to discover the mystery behind her mother's untimely death. Her stepfather wants to kill... [More]

Starring: Dick Durock, Heather Locklear, Louis Jourdan, Sarah Douglas

Directed By: Jim Wynorski

#27

Red 2 (2013)
44%

#27

Adjusted Score: 49.547%

Critics Consensus: While it's still hard to argue with its impeccable cast or the fun they often seem to be having, Red 2 replaces much of the goofy fun of its predecessor with empty, over-the-top bombast.

Synopsis: In RED 2, the high-octane action-comedy sequel to the worldwide sleeper hit, retired black-ops CIA agent Frank Moses reunites his... [More]

Starring: Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker, Helen Mirren

Directed By: Dean Parisot

#26

Batman and Harley Quinn (2017)
45%

#26

Adjusted Score: 22.763%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: From an original story by animation icon Bruce Timm, comes an all-new DC Universe animated movie. Poison Ivy and Jason... [More]

Starring: Melissa Rauch, Kevin Conroy, Paget Brewster, John DiMaggio

Directed By: Sam Liu

#25

Constantine (2005)
46%

#25

Adjusted Score: 53.851%

Critics Consensus: Despite solid production values and an intriguing premise, Constantine lacks the focus of another spiritual shoot-em-up: The Matrix.

Synopsis: An ordinary man with an extraordinary gift must save the planet from evil in this action-packed fantasy. Unknown to most... [More]

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, Shia LaBeouf, Djimon Hounsou

Directed By: Francis Lawrence

#24

The Losers (2010)
48%

#24

Adjusted Score: 52.737%

Critics Consensus: The Losers is loud, fast, and unrelentingly violent -- but it's also funny and well-acted, which will make all the difference for some action fans.

Synopsis: Director Sylvain White adapts the Vertigo comic about a team of mercenaries who wage war on the CIA after they're... [More]

Starring: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana, Chris Evans, Idris Elba

Directed By: Sylvain White

#23

Man of Steel (2013)
56%

#23

Adjusted Score: 69.482%

Critics Consensus: Man of Steel's exhilarating action and spectacle can't fully overcome its detours into generic blockbuster territory.

Synopsis: A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this Earth. As a young man, he... [More]

Starring: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Diane Lane

Directed By: Zack Snyder

#22

Watchmen (2009)
65%

#22

Adjusted Score: 75.397%

Critics Consensus: Gritty and visually striking, Watchmen is a faithful adaptation of Alan Moore's graphic novel, but its complex narrative structure may make it difficult for it to appeal to viewers not already familiar with the source material.

Synopsis: 300's Zack Snyder brings Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' critically acclaimed comic book Watchmen to the big screen, courtesy of... [More]

Starring: Billy Crudup, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Malin Akerman, Matthew Goode

Directed By: Zack Snyder

#21

Aquaman (2018)
65%

#21

Adjusted Score: 82.576%

Critics Consensus: Aquaman swims with its entertainingly ludicrous tide, offering up CGI superhero spectacle that delivers energetic action with an emphasis on good old-fashioned fun.

Synopsis: From Warner Bros. Pictures and director James Wan comes an action-packed adventure that spans the vast, visually breathtaking underwater world... [More]

Starring: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Nicole Kidman, Willem Dafoe

Directed By: James Wan

#20

Swamp Thing (1982)
65%

#20

Adjusted Score: 67.896%

Critics Consensus: Unabashedly campy -- often to its detriment -- Swamp Thing is not without its charms, among them Adrienne Barbeau as the damsel in distress.

Synopsis: Historia de suspenso escrita y dirigida por Wes Craven sobre el resultado monstruoso de un experimento fracasado. Louis Jourdan, Adrienne... [More]

Starring: Adrienne Barbeau, Ray Wise, Louis Jourdan, David Hess

Directed By: Wes Craven

#19

Batman (1989)
71%

#19

Adjusted Score: 76.976%

Critics Consensus: An eerie, haunting spectacle, Batman succeeds as dark entertainment, even if Jack Nicholson's Joker too often overshadows the title character.

Synopsis: Jack Nicholson is the Joker, who emerged from a horrible accident as a maniacal criminal. Michael Keaton is the Caped... [More]

Starring: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl

Directed By: Tim Burton

#18

Red (2010)
72%

#18

Adjusted Score: 78.258%

Critics Consensus: It may not be the killer thrill ride you'd expect from an action movie with a cast of this caliber, but Red still thoroughly outshines most of its big-budget counterparts with its wit and style.

Synopsis: Frank, Joe, Marvin and Victoria used to be the CIA's top agents, but the secrets they know just made them... [More]

Starring: Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren

Directed By: Robert Schwentke

#17

V for Vendetta (2006)
73%

#17

Adjusted Score: 81.711%

Critics Consensus: Visually stunning and thought-provoking, V For Vendetta's political pronouncements may rile some, but its story and impressive set pieces will nevertheless entertain.

Synopsis: Based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore, V for Vendetta takes place in an alternate vision of Britain in... [More]

Starring: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, John Hurt

Directed By: James McTeigue

#16

Superman Returns (2006)
75%

#16

Adjusted Score: 84.374%

Critics Consensus: Bryan Singer's reverent and visually decadent adaptation gives the Man of Steel welcome emotional complexity. The result: a satisfying stick-to-your-ribs adaptation.

Synopsis: Following a mysterious absence of several years, Superman comes back to Earth -- but things have changed. While an old... [More]

Starring: Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, James Marsden

Directed By: Bryan Singer

#15

Batman: The Movie (1966)
78%

#15

Adjusted Score: 81.505%

Critics Consensus: Batman: The Movie elevates camp to an art form -- and has a blast doing it, every gloriously tongue-in-cheek inch of the way.

Synopsis: Tongue-in-cheek humor prevails in Batman, a witty homage to the Dynamic Duo's exaggerated exploits. The Caped Crusaders (Adam West and... [More]

Starring: Adam West, Burt Ward, Lee Meriwether, Burgess Meredith

Directed By: Leslie H. Martinson

#14

Batman Returns (1992)
80%

#14

Adjusted Score: 86.25%

Critics Consensus: Director Tim Burton's dark, brooding atmosphere, Michael Keaton's work as the tormented hero, and the flawless casting of Danny DeVito as The Penguin and Christopher Walken as, well, Christopher Walken make the sequel better than the first.

Synopsis: In the second of the blockbuster Batman films, the legendary hero does battle against the mysterious Cat Woman and the... [More]

Starring: Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken

Directed By: Tim Burton

#13

Road to Perdition (2002)
81%

#13

Adjusted Score: 87.19%

Critics Consensus: Somber, stately, and beautifully mounted, Sam Mendes' Road to Perdition is a well-crafted mob movie that explores the ties between fathers and sons.

Synopsis: A hit man for an Irish gang in the Depression-era Midwest, hit man Michael Sullivan is known to friends and... [More]

Starring: Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jude Law

Directed By: Sam Mendes

#12

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
84%

#12

Adjusted Score: 85.929%

Critics Consensus: Stylish and admirably respectful of the source material, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm succeeds where many of the live-action Batman adaptations have failed.

Synopsis: This stylish animated adventure is based on the '90s animated television series, which in turn is based on the original... [More]

Starring: Kevin Conroy, Stacy Keach, Dana Delany, Hart Bochner

Directed By: Eric Radomski, Bruce Timm

#11

Batman Begins (2005)
84%

#11

Adjusted Score: 94.006%

Critics Consensus: Brooding and dark, but also exciting and smart, Batman Begins is a film that understands the essence of one of the definitive superheroes.

Synopsis: The origins of the Caped Crusader of Gotham City are finally brought to the big screen in this new adaptation... [More]

Starring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes

Directed By: Christopher Nolan

#10

Superman II (1981)
87%

#10

Adjusted Score: 90.861%

Critics Consensus: The humor occasionally stumbles into slapstick territory, and the special effects are dated, but Superman II meets, if not exceeds, the standard set by its predecessor.

Synopsis: Between giving up his super powers, confronting criminals from outer space, and having problems with his girlfriend, it's a bad... [More]

Starring: Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, Ned Beatty

Directed By: Richard Lester, Richard Donner

#9

A History of Violence (2005)
87%

#9

Adjusted Score: 94.312%

Critics Consensus: A History of Violence raises compelling and thoughtful questions about the nature of violence, while representing a return to form for director David Cronenberg in one of his more uncharacteristic pieces.

Synopsis: Tom Stall is living a happy and quiet life with his lawyer wife and their two children in the small... [More]

Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, Ed Harris, William Hurt

Directed By: David Cronenberg

#8

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
87%

#8

Adjusted Score: 101.362%

Critics Consensus: The Dark Knight Rises is an ambitious, thoughtful, and potent action film that concludes Christopher Nolan's franchise in spectacular fashion.

Synopsis: It has been eight years since Batman vanished into the night, turning, in that instant, from hero to fugitive. Assuming... [More]

Starring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway

Directed By: Christopher Nolan

#7

The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
90%

#7

Adjusted Score: 103.256%

Critics Consensus: The Lego Batman Movie continues its block-buster franchise's winning streak with another round of dizzyingly funny -- and beautifully animated -- family-friendly mayhem.

Synopsis: In the irreverent spirit of fun that made "The LEGO (R) Movie" a worldwide phenomenon, the self-described leading man of... [More]

Starring: Michael Cera, Mariah Carey, Siri, Conan O'Brien

Directed By: Chris McKay

#6

Teen Titans Go! To the Movies (2018)
91%

#6

Adjusted Score: 96.13%

Critics Consensus: Teen Titans Go! To the Movies distills the enduring appeal of its colorful characters into a charmingly light-hearted adventure whose wacky humor fuels its infectious fun -- and belies a surprising level of intelligence.

Synopsis: When the Teen Titans go to the big screen, they go big! "Teen Titans GO! to the Movies" finds our... [More]

Starring: Greg Cipes, Scott Menville, Khary Payton, Tara Strong

Directed By: Aaron Horvath, Peter Rida Michail

#5

Shazam! (2019)
90%

#5

Adjusted Score: 108.055%

Critics Consensus: An effortlessly entertaining blend of humor and heart, Shazam! is a superhero movie that never forgets the genre's real power: joyous wish fulfillment.

Synopsis: We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy... [More]

Starring: Zachary Levi, Mark Strong (II), Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer

Directed By: David F. Sandberg

#4

Wonder Woman (2017)
93%

#4

Adjusted Score: 113.062%

Critics Consensus: Thrilling, earnest, and buoyed by Gal Gadot's charismatic performance, Wonder Woman succeeds in spectacular fashion.

Synopsis: An Amazon princess (Gal Gadot) finds her idyllic life on an island occupied only by female warriors interrupted when a... [More]

Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright

Directed By: Patty Jenkins

#3

Batman: Return Of The Caped Crusaders (2016)
94%

#3

Adjusted Score: 72.689%

Critics Consensus: Adam West's groovy interpretation of the The Caped Crusader returns in a new medium, popping in the realm of animation with the irascible energy of an exclamation-accented onomatopoeia.

Synopsis: It's back to the 1960s as Batman and Robin spring into action when Gotham City is threatened by a quartet... [More]

Starring: Adam West, Steven Weber, Burt Ward, Julie Newmar

Directed By: Rick Morales

#2

Superman (1978)
94%

#2

Adjusted Score: 101.241%

Critics Consensus: Superman deftly blends humor and gravitas, taking advantage of the perfectly cast Christopher Reeve to craft a loving, nostalgic tribute to an American pop culture icon.

Synopsis: Christopher Reeve as the Man of Steel in a big-budget epic with Oscar-winning effects. Marlon Brando, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman,... [More]

Starring: Marlon Brando, Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Ned Beatty

Directed By: Richard Donner

#1

The Dark Knight (2008)
94%

#1

Adjusted Score: 107.441%

Critics Consensus: Dark, complex, and unforgettable, The Dark Knight succeeds not just as an entertaining comic book film, but as a richly thrilling crime saga.

Synopsis: Christopher Nolan steps back into the director's chair for this sequel to Batman Begins, which finds the titular superhero coming... [More]

Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal

Directed By: Christopher Nolan