Every DC Movie Ranked

     While Marvel thrived off of the whole cinematic universe idea, Detective Comics (DC) has tried and failed to replicate Marvel's perfectly constructed plans. It could be argued that prior to 2008, DC was ahead of marvel, with a collection of more recognizable heroes, villains, and story lines. Fast forward 11 years and they are very much living in Marvel's shadow. With a couple exceptions, most DC films have underwhelmed and left audiences disappointed, leaving Warner Bros. in a hot mess. Is the DCU temporarily on hold, or being rebooted, are we going to have two DCU's, are they still just going to keep pressing along with the first one started back in 2013's Man of Steel? Warner Bros recently signed JJ Abrams and James Gunn to huge deals to help stop the bleeding and turn things around. 

    For this article the criteria is a little different. Basically in addition to the 7 DCU films, everything made in or after 2005 will be included. This means the Dark Knight Trilogy, Green Lantern, Superman Returns, and 2019's Joker are all included, bringing out total to 13. 

#13. Suicide Squad (2016)

This was DC's attempt to create something similar to Guardians of the Galaxy and it was an absolute mess. I had higher hopes for this film largely due to big castings like Will Smith and Margot Robbie but there were just too many characters that the filmmakers did not know what to do with. Jared Leto's joker was more of a Hot Topic employee/punk rock star than villain and doesn't come close to comparing to some of the better portrayals of the character. In my Marvel article it was hard to separate the best films, for DC it's difficult to separate the worst. I.e., it speaks volumes that this film finished dead last. 

#12. Green Lantern (2011)

This movie has been mocked ever since it was made, and you know it's bad when it' star is leading the charge of the mockery. Green Lantern was just bad, stealing this quote from another write but the villain looks like "a penis meshed with a brussel sprout". the CGI and animation is horrible, and it's just too cheesy for a legitimate super hero film from start to finish. I place it ahead of Suicide Squad ever so slightly due to Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively but it isn't good by any stretch. 

#11. Justice League (2017)

In my entire 25 year history of watching movies, I think this was the most disappointed I have ever been. For years myself and many others longed to see Justice League brought to the big screen and could only hope it was right on par with Marvel's The Avengers, but we were so let down. I will cut it some slack, largely because the film had to switch directors midway through production due to the death of original director Zack Snyder's daughter. That being said it's time to air my grievances with the rest of the film. Firstly, the introductions of Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg are very rushed and give hardly any back story. I would have rather seen solo films for these three first, or at the very least a bit more background. Secondly, Steppenwolf is such a shit villain with no personality or motive other than wanting to enslave the universe (I think? they don't even make this super clear).  And I disagree with the decision to leave out Green Lantern, who was an original JL member. While Avengers had a cast that had such great chemistry and was so in sync, Justice League's seem to have no true identity and the members of the team just sort of seem clustered together and don't mesh well. In it's defense, Aquaman and Flash provided humor that the previous DCU films lacked and Gal Gadot was once again great as Wonder Woman. Unfortunately, as is the case with many DC films, it left many of us walking out of the theater saying "hopefully they get it right next time".

#10. Batman vs. Superman (2016)

I'll admit I do enjoy the last hour when we're introduced to Wonder Woman and the trio fights Doomsday, unfortunately prior to that the film is a little boring and slow moving. At least the plot makes sense, Batman sees Superman as a controversial figure and overpowered threat to society, and Superman isn't down with Batman's vigilante lifestyle. These are the positives. On the contrary, the two bonding over their mothers having the same name was a terrible solution to their differences, Ben Affleck's Batman is a poor man's version of Christian Bale's, and Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor is a much more annoying and less powerful and clever version of the way the character is portrayed in the comics and other films. Overall, BVS didn't live up to the hype but it could have been worse. 

#9. Superman Returns (2006)

While it wasn't the worst attempt, this Superman film (as many of them are) was a bit lackluster. A cast of relatively unknown actors (outside Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor), did an alright job and the film does a good job of emphasizing Superman's struggle to repair past mistakes with Lois Lane. Unfortunately it is a bit long winded (2.5 hours), and for a film of such length there needed to be more and better action sequences. Overall this was an incredibly mediocre film, one that wasn't a complete flop but left most of us wanting more.

#8. Joker (2019)

An original take on the most iconic movie villain of all time that gave us a new back story on the character's origins and provided an ending open to audience interpretation and debate. Joaquin Phoenix gives a strong performance as a troubled and mentally ill Arthur Fleck, one that didn't live up to Heath Ledger or Jack Nicholson's adaptions but was far superior to Jared Leto's. Director Todd Phillips does a great job of creating a dark, unique, but realistic back story for the villain while simultaneously leaving many portions of the plot ambiguous. There were some creative elements of Batman lore uitilized, for example the murder of Bruce Wayne's parents being a result of the riots inspired by the Joker. If Thomas Wayne was lying and Joker's mother was telling the truth, the thought of Joker and Bruce Wayne being half-brothers would add another wrinkle to the iconic hero/villain relationship as well. The film was a huge risk as it greatly deviated from the comics and attempted to recreate a villain who has been portrayed so stupendously in prior films but the end result was a film that inspired debate, conversation, and controversy.

#7. Man of Steel (2013)

While the world still craves a truly great modern Superman film, this was the best attempt in almost 40 years since 1980's Superman II. We finally saw a hard hitting Superman that was faster than a speeding bullet, but one who also was authentic and struggled to fit in with society and uncover his true roots. I enjoyed Amy Adams' portrayal of Lois Lane, who is much more active and much less of a damsel in distress than all other versions of the character, and I thought Michael Shannon made a decent General Zod as well. The filmmakers did a good job with the origin story and giving the film a melancholy feel that at times tapped into the heartbreak Clark Kent experiences. Unfortunately, Superman films are meant to inspire and provide hope, truth, and justice, and this one fails to do so. This wasn't below average, but hopefully someday the world gets the home run Superman film it deserves.

#6. Aquaman (2018)

Finally, a DC movie that actually had a pulse, sought adventure, and got away from the DCU's morbid and gloomy tone. I loved the whole concept of going on a quest to locate the Trident of Poseidon and the theme of fighting one's sibling for the right to the throne has always made for good films also. The filmmakers did a great job of making life underwater something that was visually exciting and filled with unique kingdoms and creatures, and who can blame them, 95% of the ocean remains unexplored. And Jason Momoa did a fantastic job making Aquaman his own, one who was both a badass but also a grizzly, goofy, ill-tempered, beer-guzzling individual. In terms of adventure films, it definitely falls short of classics like Raiders of the Lost Arc and Curse of the Black Pearl but it at least sought to be similar and did enough to where I would look forward to a sequel. 

#5. Batman Begins

A worthy film that would kick off an epic trilogy that put all previous and future Batman film to shame. The film gives Bruce Wayne a fitting origin story and Christian Bale gives us what almost every other rendition of the character lacked, a Batman with emotion. The beginning is a bit disorganized and confusing when Wayne travels up the mountains to train with the League of Shadows, but upon returning to Gotham and introducing characters who would become beloved throughout the trilogy, such as Michael Caine as Alfred, Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon, and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox the film begins to take off. Throw in Liam Neeson as the film's villain and we had a true origin story, and we all know Christopher Nolan was just getting started.

#4. Shazam! (2019)

In a collection of dark, emotionless, DC films, Shazam is an outlier that works because it feels like a Marvel film. It's goofy, it's light, it's full of color, and it is fun, while to a smaller degree still keeping true to some of DC's roots of heartbreak and darkness. Zachary Levi is fun-loving in his portrayal of a teenage boy trapped inside the body of an adult superhero, a transformation that occurs every time he yells "Shazam!". The movie thrives off humor but also has a nice sincerity to it that taps into the good parts of humanity. Shazam! was a good ride that gave the DCU a much needed shot of adrenaline with it's light and fun tone rather than the serious and brooding one we are used to.

#3. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

A true blockbuster that gave the character and the story a fitting ending that almost all of us could be at peace with, even though deep down we all wanted more Batman films with Christopher Nolan/Christian Bale. Once again Nolan does a great job with creating a villain who poses both a physical and mental threat to Batman, this time he elects to go with Bane, played by Tom Hardy, a venom injected terrorist threat who wants to be Gotham's reckoning. This film is full Hollywood, lots of explosions, car chases, and gadgets and the climax of the film is attempting to locate and diffuse a nuke with a countdown clock on it, which never gets old. Adding Anne Hathaway at Catwoman and Joseph Gordon-Levitt to the mix as..well we won't spoil it...further added to an already star studded cast. It's a little long-winded at 2 hours and 45 minutes and maybe a tad bit overkill with all the explosions and visual effects but it's still a terrific film and a fitting ending to an awesome trilogy.

#2. Wonder Woman (2017)

If there's one thing DC can hold over Marvel's head it's that they were the first to make a female-driven super hero movie in the modern era and they absolutely crushed it. Oh and it happened to be directed by a woman as well. The action sequences are amazingly done and the old school World War I setting adds to the film's charm. Furthermore, the movie actually has a wry sense of humor as Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman doesn't understand societal norms and is always baffled at how "weird" mortals are as she attempts to fit in. What Wonder Woman does best though is not take a feminist approach, but rather highlight how the characters maternal instincts of love and compassion intertwine perfectly with her also being a bad ass. Chris Pine was perfect casting for an early 1900's romantic interest that further added to the movie's appeal. After this movie fans were no longer chirping about more Batman or Superman films, they all wanted more Wonder Woman.

#1. The Dark Knight (2008)

Was there ever any doubt? This film was so beautifully constructed, from the cast that was so in sync to the ever twisting plot lines to the epic score by Hans Zimmer to all the memorable quotes:
"You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become a villain"
"He's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now....he's a silent guardian, a watchful protector, a Dark Knight."
"If you're good at something, never do it for free"
"Some men just want to watch the world burn".
"Madness is like gravity, all it takes is a little push"
and then of course the less meaningful but still iconic staples like "Why so serious?", and "wanna know how I got these scars?".
While many superhero movies showcase great physical battles, the battle between Batman and the Joker is one that is mental, with the Joker constantly scheming to create chaos and Batman using his detective skills to keep up. And of course we have to mention Heath Ledger's out of this world performance which earned him a posthumous Oscar, which were further supported by great performances once again from Bale, Oldman, Caine, Freeman, and Aaron Eckhart's two-face. DC has stumbled a lot since the creation of this film, but they'll always have this gem that maybe, just maybe, was the best superhero movie made by any studio.

Every Marvel Movie Ranked

The past 11 years have been quite the ride, with the Marvel Cinematic Universe becoming the biggest force in Hollywood and gifting us 23 feature films, dating all the way back to 2008's Iron Man, all of which are intertwined in some way. I have attempted to rank them all from worst to best, though this was very difficult. With a few exception (some amazing films and some lack luster ones), most of these films were extremely close and difficult to separate.

One quick note, this list is NOT ranking all movies based on a Marvel Comic, only those included in the MCU. That means no X-Men, no Fantastic 4, no Deadpool, no Blade, no Daredevil, no Elektra, and no pre-Tom Holland Spidermans. Got it? Great. Without further to do:

#23. The Incredible Hulk (2008)

This seems a bit unfair, as the film was not originally going to be a part of the MCU and just doesn't seem to fit well with the others. That being said, it was by far the most boring and emotionless of the 23 films and it's the only Marvel film I have 0 interest in rewatching. Edward Norton portrayed this lackluster version of the Hulk before Mark Ruffalo replaced him and made the character a fan favorite in all other MCU films. No storylines from this movie really carry over and outside Bruce Banner himself no other characters from the film ever appear again. It's an incredible franchise to finish last in, but somebody still has to be last.

#22. Iron Man 2 (2010)

Marvel's third film ranks just ahead of it's second, which makes sense considering the studio was still trying to figure out how to set the stage for the Avengers and how everything was going to tie together. The Iron Man trilogy was great, but the middle film was not of the same caliber as it's predecessor nor its sequel. Still, the usual Tony Stark antics puts this film way above Hulk and we're introduced to Black Widow in it. However the villain is made up and the film is trying to do a lot at once (again because they are building for what's coming) and thus is a bit messy and one of the lesser installments in the universe.

#21. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

The Ant-Man films aren't bad films, they're a charming mixture of weird and funny, but I preferred the original. This one has an overabundance of quantum physics, a forgettable villain, and plain and simply we just don't have the same attachment to these characters as some of Marvel's more quintessential ones. Still, Paul Rudd and Michael Cena keep the movie fun and funny and the quantum realm ended up being a major factor in the events of Endgame.

#20. Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Another example where the middle movie in a trilogy just isn't as strong as it's beginning or ending. There's a reason Marvel had to pump the brakes for Thor 3 for four years and the finger is pointed at Thor 2. It wasn't terrible, the cliffhanger ending was clever and Tom Hiddleston's Loki stirring up chaos is always worth watching, but once again: middle movie, forgettable villain, messy plot lines, not Marvel's best.

#19. Ant-Man (2015)

It's tough to bump Ant-Man higher on the list when both films seem like more of comedies than traditional super hero films. Still, this movie does a nice job on the origin story and making the most of Scott Lang's size shifting abilities. It's a lightweight in a universe of heavy weights but it's one of the funnier films and not as lame as the hero sounds.

#18. Doctor Strange (2016)

If I wasn't taking into consideration the visual effects of this film it may rank even lower but the best part of this film has nothing to do with the plot or characters but rather the trippy imagery where we see things like bending matter and solid buildings being folded up and spun on top of one another. The sorcery aspect of this film is cool but Bennedict Cumberpatch's Strange lacks personality and this is another film with a very forgettable villain. Still, it was something different with it's themes of wizardry and stunning footage and for that squeaks just outside the bottom 5.

#17. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

The only Avengers film I did not love. I remember being so excited for this movie after the success of the first Avengers film but this one left my high expectations and I disappointing. This film tried to do something more, warning humanity of the dangers we face as a species against technology and AI, but I'm not sure a Marvel film was the right time or place. This film has it's moments, we begin to see a more human side of Tony Stark, and the introductions of Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, and Vision. Ultron gets a bid tiresome as a villain with all the monologues and it just seems like the studio needed a movie that would bridge the gap between the Avengers and the events of Infinity War/End Game.

#16. Thor (2011)

This was Marvel's next big introduction after Iron Man and it was alright. The theme of an entitled and arrogant Norse god being sent to earth, where he is humbled and cares for the people, is a good one but also made the film more boring than some originally hoped. The fantasy and mythology mix works and Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston became instant fan favorites so it could have been worse and served as an appropriate intro to the characters of Asgard.

#15. Captain Marvel (2019)

My biggest issue with this film is its all-too-familiar feminist approach, but this was Marvel's only stab at a movie with a female lead (for now, Black Widow coming in the future) so I can cut them some slack. Once you get past that and its super generic 90's approach it's an enjoyable film. Brie Larson's Carol Danvers is a strong character who can go toe to toe with the boys and this film gave a promising debut of the character's future potential.

#14 Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

A fitting origin story for the MCU's most honorable hero. Meeting pre-serum Steve Rodgers and the undersized kid who has the heart of a lion and is a true patriot just makes you appreciate him so much more in the grand scheme of things. Adding in a World Wor II era setting and Nazi's as the villains gives almost any film a boost as well. We see one of the better romance stories between Steve and Peggy Carter and Bucky Barnes also goes on to become one of the important players in the MCU. It's a nice blend between a war film and a superhero film only mirrored by DC's Wonder Woman. While I love the beginning, the film has some lackluster moments in the middle and towards the end but it's still a perfectly serviceable origin story for the Avengers' fearless leader.

#13. Iron Man 3 (2013)

Marvel's first film following the events of The Avengers was a fitting ending to it's first film trilogy. This film was a very different take on Stark then we saw in all other films, we see authentic scenes with him in small-town America helping out a little kid and we see Stark trying to get his mojo back throughout the film after the PTSD from the first Avengers. I wasn't a huge fan of the twist of the presumed terrorist villain being an actor and the plot is a bit convoluted, but this film is a nice change of pace and a turning point for RDJ's character.

#12. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

It didn't live up to the original, but Guardians 2 was still a worthy sequel that re-used many of elements that made the first one so special such as belly-deep laughs and a killer greatest-hits soundtrack. It also explores many family themes, like the biological father/son relationship between Star Lord and Ego versus the non-biological one between Star Lord and Yondu, as well as the sister relationship between Gamora and Nebula, who have their own daddy issues being daughters of Thanos. Factor in Bradley Cooper's Rocket and the adorable baby groot and this was indeed a worthy sequel.

#11. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

Spider-Man has been attempted many times but Marvel and Tom Holland's version is my favorite by a country mile. Far From Home is both the most recent Marvel Film and the first one setting a new stage of storylines following the events of Endgame. Zendaya is by far the best MJ we've had and Jake Gyllenhall gives a memorable performance as Mysterio. This film did a great job of carrying over what made the first one great, Peter Parker's struggle to balance his super hero responsibilities with those that come with being a high school teenager. The twist in the post-credit scene was a juicy cliffhanger and gives the Spider-Man story a direction it hasn't gone before, but I'm not going to spoil it here.

#10. Iron Man (2008)

It hurts my heart a bit to leave the OG that got this whole franchise started barely inside the top 10 but there were just too many good candidates to choose from. It was a bold choice to pass up opening with Captain America in favor of Iron Man, but Robert Downey Jr. was absolute perfect casting for everyone's favorite billionaire/genius/playboy/philanthropist. The world instantly fell in love with Stark, they loved his quick wit, his high tech suit, and the fact that he was a bad ass who rolled around to an AC/DC soundtrack. This movie set the precedent for the large character development Stark would then undergo as he matured and his heart grew and it will always score points for being the cornerstone of this 11 year journey.

#9. Black Panther (2018)

Some are going to bark at me and insist this should be #1, and while I think it was a terrific film I do think some of its Oscar worthy acclaim was due to political reasons. Politics aside, this film had so much going for it. The costumes, the set design, the culture, the performances of Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan, and the final product of a film that intertwined elements similar to Lion King like sibling rivalry over the rightful heir to a kingdom following the death of a parent, with elements similar to James Bond like high speed car chases and slick gadgets. No it isn't a black superhero film, it's a Marvel superhero film and a damn good one. Wakanda Forever, Wakanda Forever indeed.

#8. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Marvel took a huge risk on launching Guardians of the Galaxy, which featured questionable and largely unknown characters like a tree and a talking Raccoon, but sometimes big risks pay off and that was the case with GOTG. This was largely helped by a star-studded cast that included Chris Pratt, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, and Dave Bautista. The summer blockbuster was hilarious but also had surprising emotional depth as a group of space criminals with troubles pasts came together to change their ways and be the good guys. This movie really allowed Marvel to flex their skills a bit and prove they could take unpopular characters and make audiences fall in love with them on the big screen. And of course the famous "Awesome-Mix" soundtrack is the icing on the cake.

#7. Thor Ragnarok

After a lackluster first 2 films, Thor's third film finally got it right and gave the character the breath of fresh air it needed. It traded out all the norse mythology for humor and it worked like a charm. Similar to Guardians, this film is less of a plot driven superhero film as much as it is an ensemble comedy. In addition to Hemsworth and Hiddleston being at their very best, we get Jeff Goldblum in his Goldbloom element as the Grandmaster, Korg the rock alien with a New Zealand accent, and Mark Ruffalo's unrestrained Hulk. Furthermore, Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie gave the MCU another bad ass female to add to its collection. This film may not have added too much to the bigger picture, but gosh was it fun.

#6. Spider-Man: Homecoming

This was the best Spider-Man movie ever made. It wasn't just about the origin story of the webslinger and fighting bad guys, it really tapped into the struggles of being a high school teenager trying to figure things out. Watching Tom Holland portray the awkward wide eyed teen trying to live up to Tony Stark's expectations while also juggling things like decathalon team, his middle-school like crush on Zendaya's MJ, being picked on by Flash Thompson, his relationship with his Aunt, dealing with cheesy teachers, and his friendship with fellow socially awkward nerd Ned. Marvel's adaption also does an excellent job of letting Tony Stark be the father figure Peter Parker never had and the plot twist towards the end where Peter picks up MJ for the homecoming dance is a fun one. In a franchise of fighting OP supervillains from other worlds this film succeeds just from sticking to the roots of friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

#5. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

This is my highest ranking stand alone film because it just does so much right. The film addresses Cap's struggles of adjusting to the modern world after being frozen under the ocean since WWII. His antagonist ends up being Bucky Barnes, his childhood best friend and war buddy who had his memory wiped by HYDRA (the bad guys) who molded him into a bloodthirsty assasin. Those two go on to have one of the most complex friendships seen in film. We're also introduced to Sam Wilson's Falcon, who becomes Cap's loyal sidekick. Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow also has a huge role in this film as her and Cap bond over the course of their mission over the fact that both feel so isolated and alone in society due to their unique backgrounds. The movie is shaken up further later on when we find out HYDRA has infiltrated SHIELD which further taps into the themes of identity and trust issues. Cap's largest struggle isn't the physical battles, but the internal ramification of wanting to protect humanity but also cause no harm to his childhood friend.

#4. The Avengers (2012)

This was the team-up film that set the standard for all other team up films, and it was the culmination of the first 4 years of the MCU's efforts to interconnect many solo movies and provide fans screen moments they had long dreamed of. Things such as Iron Man fighting thor, Cap working alongside the Hulk, and then all 6 of them being dropped in the middle of an alien invation in New York spearheaded by Loki. And they hit a home run with it. The film beautifully interconnected all the heroes who prior to this movie were only in stand-alone films. They struggled to work together at first, but once they did they were unstoppable and even greater than the sum of their parts. This movie could have been a complete mess and utter failure, instead it was perfectly scripted and executed and set the stage for many future films.

#3. Civil War (2016)

This film was loads of fun but also emotionally stressful all at the same time. Perhaps the only thing more fun than seeing the Avengers fight bad guys was seeing them fight each other. The 6v6 fight at the airport between Tony's team and Cap's team arguably the most fun battle in the entire MCU, one that combined great action sequences with fun banter between the heroes. But then the film also has a very serious and realistic tone, as what sparks the civil war is disagreement between government involvement in super hero activity, and it's done so in a way where neither party is completely right or completely wrong. You can cut the tension with a knife between Tony and Cap, who truly get under each other's skin, and watching them beat the crap out of each other at the very end is somewhat heart breaking, largely fueled by a big twist including Bucky and Tony's parents. If all that wasn't enough this film is where Spider Man and Black Panther made their debuts in the MCU and their introductions were done perfectly.

#2. Infinity War (2018)

Another huge risk/huge reward for Marvel was casting the mad titan Thanos, it's biggest baddest villain, as the protagonist of Infinity War. Yes, it's essentially part 1 of a two-part movie, but the story that needed to be told could not have been squished into a few hours time. There is a good blend of humor and genuine heartfelt interactions between characters who hadn't met before, but the ending is what made this movie what it is. Seeing half the characters that we have loved and supported for many years just vanish to dust was a cliffhanger that left the entire theatre in shocked silence while simultaneously setting up Endgame perfectly. It just cut so deep and was a generation defining cliff hanger, even knowing that another movie was coming.

#1. Avengers: Endgame

Marvel's culmination of 11 years of work was so beautifully concluded. It was done so in a way that did right by it's central characters and gave everyone an ending viewers could accept and be at peace with. We knew the climax and the battle scenes would be beyond epic, but the emotion, man, made my eyes water at multiple scenes. We see the humanity of so many characters we love when they hit their lowest points , we take nostalgic trips down memory lane when the surviving Avengers time travel to retrieve the stones, and we want to cheer, cry, laugh, and yell all at the same time in ways that our soul only experiences few times throughout life. It was a film that brought people together and beautifully wrapped and put a bow on one heck of an 11 year ride, one that I can't wait to share with my children someday.