TheDCEUbegan withMan of Steelin 2013 and ended withAquaman and the Lost Kingdomin 2023, providing audiences with 10 years and 16 movies of ups and downs. No matter what audiences think of theDCEU, it’s hard to deny that it had its moments, but why wasn’t it able to capture the same box office and reception as the MCU? Despite not being the most successful withDC’s heroes, there are still some things to commend the DCEU for over the MCU.
As the DC Universe officially comes back to the silver screen withJames Gunn’sSupermanon June 29, 2025, to usher in a new DCU, why not look back at the DCEU and see how this 10-year cinematic universe tried to hold strong and compete with the MCU?
7Unique Tone Between Movies
The DCEU Can Get Dark, But It Can Also Be Fun
Zack Snyder’svision for Supermanwas a tad darker than some might have hoped, but there was something rather interesting and enthralling about this darkness. Being able to manage a darker tone meant that the DCEU felt more serious and adult, allowing those who grew up with DC Comics to feel bolder and more mature than the fun and colorful antics of the MCU. With the DCEU featuring immense darkness that shadows over future DC movies, it doesn’t prevent a tonal shift with fun action comedies likeThe Suicide Squadand light-hearted fun withShazam!These separate tones for each movie show that the DCEU balances its direction well while the MCU sticks to a tried and tested formula.
6Beautiful Visuals and Aesthetics
Cinematography is a Win for the DCEU
Visuals are just as important as the action and dialogue of a comic book movie, and there are some noticeable standouts when it comes to the DCEU. The cinematography and framing of nearly every scene for Zack Snyder’s trilogy are beautiful, like an artist painting come to life. Even future DCEU movies have a greater focus on visual style and aesthetics to showcasethese heroes as gods, whereas the MCU focuses more on other things than the visual fidelity and beauty of a scene.
5Greater Risk
Movies for Lesser-Known Characters/Different Universes and An Ambitious Slate
The DCEU Even outside of the central DCEU, DC has experimented with risk by providing audiences with Elseworlds, separated from the central cinematic universe. Movies likeJoker(2019) andThe Batman(2022) provide lenses into fresh and new takes on familiar characters, which is a risk that Marvel has yet to take outside of their cinematic universe, even with the opportunities provided byWhat If?on Disney+. The DCEU was even overly ambitious, with projects that would never see the light of day outside of rumors and announcements, but that doesn’t mean the DCEU hasn’t tried its hand at solo projects forcharacters like Peacemaker, the Suicide Squad, and even a solo movie for Harley Quinn.
4A Diverse Cast Off the Bat
Women and People of Color Led the DCEU Far Faster Than the MCU
The DCEU may have rushed its way to a team-up movie with its second and fourth movies, but that doesn’t mean it rushed its way to something that’s necessary. The DCEU’s third movie was a woman-led movie withWonder Woman, whereas it took the MCU 11 years for their first female movie withCaptain Marvelin 2019. The DCEU made strides with greater diversity for people of color, women, and LGBTQ+ characters, whereas the MCU has taken a few more years to try and push tothese standards.
3Great Casting That Deserved Better
The DCEU Has Noticeable Talent, Underutilized
The MCU and DCEU have some great casting involved, but the DCEU is certainly filled with more A-listers. The talent from these A-list castings certainly shines with every movie that they feature in, with the likes of Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn,Michael Shannon as General Zod, and Ben Affleck as Batman. Those are just three pivotal castings that work so well for the DCEU to provide audiences with actors with gravitas, providing life, maturity, and incredible performance to established characters. While there are somewasted castings in the DCEU, and a desire to see more of these actors in these roles, it’s hard to deny the stellar work of the DCEU’s cast, even if underutilized.
2A Director’s Vision
Zack Snyder Provides A Distinct Vision, Followed by Other Directors
Zack Snyder began the DCEU withMan of Steelin 2013, and if his movies proved anything, it’s that a director’s vision should come first. While Snyder’s trilogy is seen as divisive for fans of Superman and Batman, among other DC characters, a director’s vision should always be first and foremost when it comes to making a movie. Studio interference can lead to a choppy movie in the editing room, or playing it far too safe when it comes to movies feeling the same. While theDCEU allowed its directors to have their own style, the MCU often decides to stick with a formula of identical vibrancy and humor that the DCEU was able to withstand for a few movies.
1Hans Zimmer’s Music
Incredible Music That Carries a Franchise
Hans Zimmer is a surefire winnerwhen it comes to capturing incredible sound. From his work on Interstellar and beyond, Hans Zimmer captivates ears and provides incredible emotion to aid the visuals ahead. While the MCU does have its fair share of decent tracks, Hans Zimmer’s work onMan of SteelandBatman v Supermanis truly incredible. Providing Wonder Woman with an epic electric cello melody to be forever ingrained with the character’s DNA, and creating a different sound to Superman without John Williams, Hans Zimmer knows how to make these stoic and large characters feel like titans and gods.
