With Justice League right around the corner, we thought it might be fun to take a look back at some of our favorite films based on DC comics, and here they are – the 10 Best DC Movies.
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Notice we didn’t say DCEU. While those can be included, we’re talking about everything that’s ever been made that’s been based on a DC property, harkening all the back to 1951’s Superman and the Mole Men. If it’s a movie based off of a DC comic, then it could land on this list. Spoiler alert:Superman and the Mole Men didn’t make the cut. Sorry, grandpa.
What are your favorite DC movies? Check out our video at the top of this article to see where they landed, or simply scroll on down to check out our choices.
10. Man of Steel
Kicking off No. 10 is Man of Steel. While the movie has its critics, and for good reason in some cases, Zack Snyder’s film still successfully managed to jumpstart the DC Extended Universe. For the most part, Henry Cavill does an excellent job as a modern day Superman. In fact, the entire cast is terrific. Really, the only negative issue most people took up with this film is the fact that a lot of people felt the darker tone Snyder was going for didn’t mesh well with the lighter tone for which Superman had been previously known.
9. A History of Violence
At No. 9 is A History of Violence. “But that’s not a DC comic!” someone reading this might have thought. Oh, but it is – David Cronenberg’s film was based off a graphic novel with the same name released in 1997 under DC imprint Paradox Press. The movie garnered great reviews, with even star Viggo Mortensen was quoted as saying that A History of Violence is one of the best movies he’s ever been in, if not the best. So take that, Lord of the Rings.
8. Watchmen
For the most part Watchmen stayed fairly faithful to the dark, dystopian themes of the limited series it was based on, even if there was a little too much blue nudity for some viewers. Directed by Zack Snyder, this was the movie that convinced higher-ups at Warner Bros that he was the man to bring a shared DC universe to life on the big screen.
7. V for Vendetta
Starring Hugo Weaving as V and Natalie Portman as Evey in a role that saw her shave her head, V for Vendetta was so well received as a political allegory that the Guy Fawkes mask V wears in the film is still seen by some as a symbol of opposition against government oppression. Overall, it’s probably the best Alan Moore film adaptation to date.
6. Superman
In the sixth spot is 1978’s Superman. At the time it was made, Superman featured groundbreaking special effects and a performance by Christopher Reeve that turned him into a pop culture icon. In fact, the special effects were SO good for the time, that the Academy Awards gave the film a “Special Achievement Award for Visual Effects.”
5. Batman
At No. 5, we’re going with 1989’s Batman. Nevermind the fact that this movie was the first movie one particular writer saw for the first time ever in theater. That bias had nothing to do with this decision. The fact is that director Tim Burton successfully pulled Batman away from the campiness of the 60’s show and return him to his darker comic book roots where he belongs.
4. Wonder Woman
To date, Wonder Woman is easily the best movie in the DCEU canon. Sorry all of you who loved Suicide Squad. Gal Gadot received praise for her performance as Princess Diana of Themyscira and the film broke all kinds of records, including becoming the highest grossing movie of all time directed by a female director.
3. Batman Begins
Following the abysmal disappointment that was Batman and Robin, the prospect of a live action Batman looked quite bleak. Thankfully, eight years later, Christopher Nolan would come along with a new critically acclaimed take on the World’s Greatest Detective. The biggest complaint about the previous Batman films was that Batman would often serve as an afterthought in his own movies with his villains stealing the show. But here, Batman took center stage and Christian Bale knocked it out of the park.
2. Superman 2
And in the second spot is Superman 2. Somehow the sequel to Superman survived a very troubled production and turned into one of the greatest superhero films of all time. For everything to first movie did right, the second one seems to deliver on in a bigger way. Plus, Terence Stamp as General Zod is, to this day, one of the best on screen villains there will ever be.
1. The Dark Knight
And finally, the best DC movie of all time belongs to The Dark Knight. Don’t even try to argue, you know deep down in your heart, it’s true. The sequel to Batman Begins will long be remembered for Heath Ledger’s chilling portrayal of The Joker, an outstanding performance that earned him a posthumous Oscar in the wake of his unexpected death before the film’s release. It’s been rumored that Heath Ledger was set to reprise the role in what became The Dark Knight Rises, and the fact that fans will never get an opportunity to see what the Clown Prince of Crime was going to have up his sleeve will always be a little disheartening.
