(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!

#47

Supergirl (1984)
9%

#47

Adjusted Score: 10783%

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: Kara (Helen Slater) of Argo City poses as Clark Kent's cousin, Linda Lee, to recover the Omegahedron from a witch... [More]

Starring: Helen Slater, Faye Dunaway, Peter O'Toole, Peter Cook

Directed By: Jeannot Szwarc

#46

Catwoman (2004)
9%

#46

Adjusted Score: 14272%

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

Synopsis: A shy artist (Halle Berry) acquires feline speed, agility and keen senses following a brush with death.... [More]

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

Directed By: Pitof

#45

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

#45

Adjusted Score: 14099%

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: The Man of Steel (Christopher Reeve) crusades for nuclear disarmament and meets Lex Luthor's (Gene Hackman) latest creation, Nuclear Man.... [More]

Starring: Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Mariel Hemingway, Jackie Cooper

Directed By: Sidney J. Furie

#44

Steel (1997)
12%

#44

Adjusted Score: 12130%

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: Former Army scientists (Shaquille O'Neal, Annabeth Gish), one in a steel suit, team up in Los Angeles against another (Judd... [More]

Starring: Shaquille O'Neal, Annabeth Gish, Judd Nelson, Richard Roundtree

Directed By: Kenneth Johnson

#43

Batman & Robin (1997)
12%

#43

Adjusted Score: 17609%

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: Batgirl joins the caped crusaders (George Clooney, Chris O'Donnell) to stop Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Poison Ivy from wreaking... [More]

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

Directed By: Joel Schumacher

#42

Jonah Hex (2010)
12%

#42

Adjusted Score: 16112%

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: The Army hires a supernatural gunslinger (Josh Brolin) to hunt down and stop a man (John Malkovich) who plans to... [More]

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

Directed By: Jimmy Hayward

#41

The Kitchen (2019)
24%

#41

Adjusted Score: 35145%

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: When the FBI sends three women's gangster husbands to prison, the women take business into their own hands by running... [More]

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

Directed By: Andrea Berloff

#40

Green Lantern (2011)
26%

#40

Adjusted Score: 35500%

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

Synopsis: A test pilot (Ryan Reynolds) becomes the first human to join a band of warriors sworn to preserve peace and... [More]

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong

Directed By: Martin Campbell

#39

Suicide Squad (2016)
26%

#39

Adjusted Score: 44979%

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: Deadshot (Will Smith), Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Captain Boomerang, Killer Croc and other armed supervillains unite to battle a mysterious... [More]

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

Directed By: David Ayer

#38

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
29%

#38

Adjusted Score: 49457%

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: Convinced that Superman (Henry Cavill) is now a threat to humanity, Batman (Ben Affleck) embarks on a personal vendetta to... [More]

Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg

Directed By: Zack Snyder

#37

Superman III (1983)
30%

#37

Adjusted Score: 35864%

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

Synopsis: Ersatz kryptonite laced with tobacco tar splits Superman (Christopher Reeve) in two: good Clark Kent and bad Man of Steel.... [More]

Starring: Christopher Reeve, Richard Pryor, Robert Vaughn, Jackie Cooper

Directed By: Richard Lester

#36

Batman Forever (1995)
38%

#36

Adjusted Score: 42925%

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: The Caped Crusader (Val Kilmer) woos a criminal psychologist, takes on a sidekick and battles Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones) and... [More]

Starring: Val Kilmer, Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey, Nicole Kidman

Directed By: Joel Schumacher

#35

Batman: The Killing Joke (2016)
39%

#35

Adjusted Score: 40117%

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: Batman (Kevin Conroy) must save Commissioner Gordon (Ray Wise) from the Joker's (Mark Hamill) twisted quest to drive him insane.... [More]

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

Directed By: Sam Liu

#34

Justice League (2017)
40%

#34

Adjusted Score: 59346%

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, Batman and his new ally Wonder Woman... [More]

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

Directed By: Zack Snyder

#33

The Return of Swamp Thing (1989)
44%

#33

Adjusted Score: 42485%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: A mad scientist's (Louis Jourdan) vegetarian stepdaughter (Heather Locklear) falls in love with one of his leafy failures.... [More]

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

Directed By: Jim Wynorski

#32

Red 2 (2013)
44%

#32

Adjusted Score: 50939%

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: Former CIA black-ops agent Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) and his team battle assassins, terrorists and power-hungry government officials as they... [More]

Starring: Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker, Anthony Hopkins

Directed By: Dean Parisot

#31

Batman and Harley Quinn (2017)
45%

#31

Adjusted Score: 26029%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Batman and Nightwing join forces with Harley Quinn to stop a global threat brought about by Poison Ivy and the... [More]

Starring: Melissa Rauch, Kevin Conroy, Paget Brewster, Robin Atkin Downes

Directed By: Sam Liu

#30

Constantine (2005)
46%

#30

Adjusted Score: 54700%

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

Synopsis: A man (Keanu Reeves) who can see demons helps a skeptical policewoman (Rachel Weisz) investigate her twin sister's mysterious death.... [More]

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

Directed By: Francis Lawrence

#29

The Losers (2010)
48%

#29

Adjusted Score: 53714%

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: A mysterious operative (Zoe Saldana) joins forces with a group of elite commandos (Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chris Evans), as they... [More]

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

Directed By: Sylvain White

#28

Man of Steel (2013)
56%

#28

Adjusted Score: 72477%

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

Synopsis: Though struggling with the ramifications of his extraordinary origin and abilities, young Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) must become a hero... [More]

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

Directed By: Zack Snyder

#27

Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
59%

#27

Adjusted Score: 81311%

Critics Consensus: Wonder Woman 1984 struggles with sequel overload, but still offers enough vibrant escapism to satisfy fans of the franchise and its classic central character.

Synopsis: Wonder Woman musters all of her strength, wisdom and courage as she finds herself squaring off against Maxwell Lord and... [More]

Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal

Directed By: Patty Jenkins

#26

Swamp Thing (1982)
63%

#26

Adjusted Score: 66849%

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: A government agent (Adrienne Barbeau) seeks a bayou scientist (Ray Wise) and finds a big, green monster who likes her.... [More]

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

Directed By: Wes Craven

#25

Watchmen (2009)
65%

#25

Adjusted Score: 75753%

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: After his former colleague is murdered, a masked vigilante (Jackie Earle Haley) uncovers a plot to discredit and destroy the... [More]

Starring: Billy Crudup, Malin Akerman, Jackie Earle Haley, Matthew Goode

Directed By: Zack Snyder

#24

Aquaman (2018)
65%

#24

Adjusted Score: 87083%

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: Aquaman must retrieve the legendary Trident of Atlan to save the underwater city of Atlantis -- and the surface world... [More]

Starring: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson

Directed By: James Wan

#23

Joker (2019)
68%

#23

Adjusted Score: 100694%

Critics Consensus: Joker gives its infamous central character a chillingly plausible origin story that serves as a brilliant showcase for its star -- and a dark evolution for comics-inspired cinema.

Synopsis: Isolated, bullied and disregarded by society, failed comedian Arthur Fleck begins a slow descent into madness as he transforms into... [More]

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy

Directed By: Todd Phillips

#22

Batman (1989)
71%

#22

Adjusted Score: 78267%

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

Synopsis: The Caped Crusader (Michael Keaton) saves dismal Gotham City and gorgeous Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger) from the freaky Joker (Jack... [More]

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

Directed By: Tim Burton

#21

Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)
71%

#21

Adjusted Score: 91957%

Critics Consensus: Zack Snyder's Justice League lives up to its title with a sprawling cut that expands to fit the director's vision -- and should satisfy the fans who willed it into existence.

Synopsis: Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman's selfless act, Batman and his new ally Wonder Woman... [More]

Starring: Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Henry Cavill, Jason Momoa

Directed By: Zack Snyder

#20

Red (2010)
72%

#20

Adjusted Score: 78472%

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: Retired CIA agents (Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich) reassemble for survival after the agency sends assassins to silence them... [More]

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

Directed By: Robert Schwentke

#19

V for Vendetta (2006)
73%

#19

Adjusted Score: 83247%

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: After world war leads to a fascist government, a vigilante known as V (Hugo Weaving) uses terrorist tactics to fight... [More]

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

Directed By: James McTeigue

#18

Superman Returns (2006)
75%

#18

Adjusted Score: 84730%

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: While Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) plots against him, the Man of Steel (Brandon Routh) tries to reconnect with Lois Lane... [More]

Starring: Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, James Marsden, Frank Langella

Directed By: Bryan Singer

#17

Batman (1966)
79%

#17

Adjusted Score: 82180%

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: Batman (Adam West) and Robin (Burt Ward) save Gotham City from the Catwoman, Joker (Cesar Romero), Penguin and Riddler.... [More]

Starring: Adam West, Burt Ward, Cesar Romero, Lee Meriwether

Directed By: Leslie H. Martinson

#16

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020)
79%

#16

Adjusted Score: 100695%

Critics Consensus: With a fresh perspective, some new friends, and loads of fast-paced action, Birds of Prey captures the colorfully anarchic spirit of Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn.

Synopsis: Harley Quinn faces the wrath of narcissistic crime boss Black Mask and every other thug in Gotham. But things soon... [More]

Starring: Margot Robbie, Rosie Perez, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell

Directed By: Cathy Yan

#15

Batman Returns (1992)
80%

#15

Adjusted Score: 87080%

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: The Caped Crusader (Michael Keaton) clashes with Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer) and saves gloomy Gotham City from the foul Penguin's (Danny... [More]

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

Directed By: Tim Burton

#14

Road to Perdition (2002)
81%

#14

Adjusted Score: 87402%

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: Accompanied by his eldest son, a Depression-era mob enforcer (Tom Hanks) seeks revenge after the rest of his family are... [More]

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

Directed By: Sam Mendes

#13

Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm (1993)
84%

#13

Adjusted Score: 86572%

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: ... [More]

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

Directed By: Eric Radomski

#12

Batman Begins (2005)
84%

#12

Adjusted Score: 95134%

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: Following the death of his parents, young heir Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) becomes a masked avenger who fights the forces... [More]

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

Directed By: Christopher Nolan

#11

Superman II (1980)
86%

#11

Adjusted Score: 90909%

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: The Man of Steel (Christopher Reeve) gets serious with Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) and fights three Krypton outcasts in league... [More]

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

Directed By: Richard Lester

#10

A History of Violence (2005)
87%

#10

Adjusted Score: 95141%

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: Vicious criminals continue to harass a man (Viggo Mortensen) and his wife (Maria Bello) after he thwarts a robbery attempt... [More]

Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, William Hurt, Ashton Holmes

Directed By: David Cronenberg

#9

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
87%

#9

Adjusted Score: 104633%

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

Synopsis: Eight years after he took the blame for Harvey Dent's death and vanished into the night, Batman (Christian Bale) is... [More]

Starring: Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard

Directed By: Christopher Nolan

#8

The LEGO Batman Movie (2017)
90%

#8

Adjusted Score: 104456%

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: There are big changes brewing in Gotham, but if Batman (Will Arnett) wants to save the city from the Joker's... [More]

Starring: Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, Ralph Fiennes

Directed By: Chris McKay

#7

Shazam! (2019)
90%

#7

Adjusted Score: 111775%

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: Billy Batson is a streetwise 14-year-old who can magically transform into the adult superhero Shazam simply by shouting out one... [More]

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

Directed By: David F. Sandberg

#6

Teen Titans GO! to the Movies (2018)
91%

#6

Adjusted Score: 96512%

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: With a few madcap ideas and a song in their hearts, the Teen Titans head to Hollywood to fulfill their... [More]

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

Directed By: Peter Rida Michail, Aaron Horvath

#5

The Suicide Squad (2021)
90%

#5

Adjusted Score: 114153%

Critics Consensus: Enlivened by writer-director James Gunn's singularly skewed vision, The Suicide Squad marks a funny, fast-paced rebound that plays to the source material's violent, anarchic strengths.

Synopsis: The government sends the most dangerous supervillains in the world to the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese. Armed with... [More]

Starring: Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Viola Davis

Directed By: James Gunn

#4

Wonder Woman (2017)
93%

#4

Adjusted Score: 115764%

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

Synopsis: After leaving her all-female island for the first time, Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) discovers her full powers and true destiny... [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: 87363%

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: Batman and Robin have their hands full when Penguin, The Joker, Riddler and Catwoman combine their nefarious talents to threaten... [More]

Starring: Adam West, Burt Ward, Julie Newmar, Wally Wingert

Directed By: Rick Morales

#2

Superman: The Movie (1978)
94%

#2

Adjusted Score: 102487%

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: Jor-El (Marlon Brando) of Krypton sends his baby to Earth, where he grows up as Clark Kent (Christopher Reeve) and... [More]

Starring: Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Marlon Brando, Margot Kidder

Directed By: Richard Donner

#1

The Dark Knight (2008)
94%

#1

Adjusted Score: 108485%

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: Batman (Christian Bale) has to keep a balance between heroism and vigilantism to fight a vile criminal known as the... [More]

Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine

Directed By: Christopher Nolan