Summary
It’s another great year for superhero movies, as the passion for the genre isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. In 2025, most eyes are on DC, though, as its recentSupermanserves as a new entry point to the upcomingand ambitious superhero universe with a shared narrative. Judging from the first movie’s reception so far, it’s certainly a blast, with more to come, asSupergirlandClayfaceare both slated for a 2026 release, not counting several additional TV shows.
The official start of the new DC superhero universe is a great time to sit back and reflect on some of the biggest wins for its iconic characters over the years. Looking back, there have been many great DC live-action superhero films, but which are considered the best of the best, and how does the newSupermanrank among them?
While everyone is bound to have their personal favorites, to ensure the best possible accuracy for this ranking, scores from critics and viewers on each major web resource or platform are included. As such, the movies below are ranked by calculated scores (out of 100) consisting of ratings taken from Rotten Tomatoes (RT), Metacritic, IMDb, and Letterboxd, each carrying equal weight for the final average scoring.
Evenwithout his acclaimed work in the MCUwith theGuardians of the Galaxytrilogy, it’s easy to see why James Gunn was appointed as CEO of DC Studios just by looking atThe Suicide Squad. Leagues better than David Ayer’s film in every regard,The Suicide Squadinstantly established itself as one of the best-received DC superhero films ever made, blending style with substance, action with humor, and backing it all up with Gunn’s signature emotional stakes.
InThe Suicide Squad, like in any other Gunn superhero movie, the director’s love and passion for the beloved comic book characters are evident, as each one gets just the right amount of screen time to shine, tons of memorable moments, and distinct chemistry with other members for that special squad dynamic. WhileThe Suicide Squadwas unlucky to be released shortly after the pandemic thatmassively reduced its box office, it’s apparent that the movie was a big win for DC overall, showing a new potential direction for the entire rebooted DC superhero universe.
Simply the best from the entirety of the Zack Snyder-led DC Extended Universe (DCEU),Wonder Womanbrought back the forgotten simplicity, elegance, and timeless superhero themes to a genre that had started to become nothing but a reminder of its former heights. This resulted in a huge win for the DCEU and a rare superhero blockbuster that won over critics, viewers, and the box office, showing the potential of the Extended Universe that never truly was.
Unlike the much less beloved sequelWonder Woman 1984, Patty Jenkins' original take on Diana of Themyscira accepting her strength, role, and place as a true hero hits all the right notes throughout almost the entire runtime, with just a slight misstep, overstuffed with action and CGI in the third act. Despite this,Wonder Womanis a rare gem in the DC portfolioand one of its few universally beloved movies that doesn’t feature Batman or Superman.
Oh, there it is – the second-best Superman movie yet! Many doubted James Gunn’s new vision forSuperman, yet the director proved once again thathe truly loves, understands, and can makecomic book characters, be it DC or Marvel, endlessly fun to watch on screen. Bringing Superman back to the character’s (and overall superhero) roots of giving hope and doing good was the right call to make, and so was the decision to largely skip the origin story in favor of instantly getting to the good parts and fun character dynamics. Plus, there’s Krypto – something Gunn’s predecessors wouldn’t even have considered.
Brimming with fresh casting choices (David Corenswet being a more than decent fit) and sprinkled with relevant themes and conflicts, this colorful and punchySupermanmight just become a new poster child for the superhero genre. Even ifSuperman’s average scores inevitably drop a bit over time, it’s safe to assume that the movie has already ended up as a new major milestone for the revived DC vision, with some strongindications of a great box office run.
An ambitious new direction for DC’s most iconic caped hero, with the world grittier than ever before, Matt Reeves isyet to fulfill the potentialof his Batman saga, but the first chapter has already shown enough promise to come as close as possible to the iconic Nolan trilogy, and even paved the way for the exceptionalPenguinTV show. Robert Pattinson proved a perfect fit for this younger Bruce Wayne, haunted by his lifestyle and still making his first steps as Gotham’s vigilante.
First and foremost,The Batmanis a triumph of style and a visual feast, with its moody locations, spectacular costumes and sets, and intense action set pieces – all with carefully planned, stunning cinematography by Greig Fraser. It’s an unmistakably prestigious, immersive cinematic work, even if some characters appear a bit sketchy and the overall plot lacks real tension. In short, it’s more for the eyes rather than for viewers' minds or hearts.
The only legacy movie here that’s impossible to do justice by modern standards, Richard Donner’s originalSuperman(1978), perfectly fit for Christopher Reeve, is anostalgic tribute to American pop culture. Back in the day, the movie set the gold standard for superhero origin stories, presenting a combination of timeless elements like more-than-human heroes, witty adventures, and warm romance in a soaring fantasy ride.
Even ifSuperman: The Moviemight look a bit quaint or overly simplistic today, it somehow managed to capture and bring the spirit of the early comic books to the screen almost flawlessly. A charming blast from the past, with generations of viewers growing up alongside the character, never being outshone by newer iterations like Brandon Routh, Henry Cavill, or Tyler Hoechlin.
Under Christopher Nolan, Batman began really strong, paving the way for arguably the best superhero trilogy that DC comic book fans have gotten so far, and serving as an important stepping stone for the director’s own rise. No one before had dared to make a superhero film on such a level of self-seriousness, entirely built around story and characters rather than action, unearthing all-new facets that the genre is capable of. It essentially unleashed this signature, mature, and grounded vision for countless followers.
There’s so much to admire aboutBatman Begins, from its stellar cast led by Christian Bale to the confident direction and lean plot that makes thetypical origin story feel fresh and intriguing. A true milestone for the entire genre, and a truly engrossing chapter for one of the most beloved costumed heroes.
Christopher Nolan himself is very proud ofThe Dark Knight Rises, and has even said that it’s his most underrated movie, which is somewhat amusing given that it’s widely considered among the best DC comic book films ever, and universally praised by various audiences. While it doesn’t fly as high as its predecessor, that’s only because it’s hardly ever possible to top it at all. It’s also the second-highest-grossing DC movie of all time, behind onlyAquaman.
The Dark Knight Risesbrings closure to Bruce Wayne’s journeyin a spectacular and satisfying way, even if the movie might seem a bit overlong and overstuffed for its own good, revealing twist after twist as it nears its finish line. Of course, it’s a Nolan film we’re talking about, so everything about the craftsmanship here is top-notch.
The one and only DC superhero movie to be considered a true masterpiece, no matter how one would approach it,The Dark Knightremains one of the best-received and most iconic movies by Christopher Nolan, evenamong all the director’s acclaimed works that followed. A flawless movie constantly topping charts of the best films – be it action, superhero, thriller, or drama – with a runtime and box office as colossal asThe Dark Knight Rises,The Dark Knightwas bold enough to even drop Batman from its title for the first time, showcasing the prowess of Nolan’s confidence and his willingness to try something entirely fresh.
From screenplay, score, cinematography, and direction, to spectacular and grounded action, relatable emotional stakes, and outstanding performances, including Heath Ledger’s deranged take on Joker yet to be surpassed,The Dark Knightis genuinely great and absorbing cinema that almost everyone can enjoy, no matter their passion for costumed heroes.
