DC Watch Order

DC movies and shows span many different universes — from the DCEU to stand-alone Elseworlds projects, the Arrowverse on TV, and the brand-new DCU. Below you’ll find every major live-action film and series, organized by release date and then chronological order.

Release Order (Films & TV):

  1. Superman: The Movie (1978) [Original Superman]
  2. Superman II (1980) [Original Superman]
  3. Superman III (1983) [Original Superman]
  4. Supergirl (1984) [Original Superman]
  5. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) [Original Superman]
  6. Batman (1989) [Burtonverse]
  7. Batman Returns (1992) [Burtonverse]
  8. Batman: The Animated Series (1992–1995) [Animated]
  9. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993) [Animated]
  10. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993–1997) [TV]
  11. Batman Forever (1995) [Schumacherverse]
  12. Batman & Robin (1997) [Schumacherverse]
  13. Smallville (2001–2011) [TV]
  14. Catwoman (2004) [Standalone]
  15. Batman Begins (2005) [Nolanverse]
  16. Superman Returns (2006) [Standalone / Reeves continuation]
  17. The Dark Knight (2008) [Nolanverse]
  18. Watchmen (2009) [Standalone]
  19. Jonah Hex (2010) [Standalone]
  20. Green Lantern (2011) [Standalone]
  21. The Dark Knight Rises (2012) [Nolanverse]
  22. Man of Steel (2013) [DCEU]
  23. Arrow (2012–2020) [Arrowverse]
  24. The Flash (2014–2023) [Arrowverse]
  25. Gotham (2014–2019) [TV]
  26. Constantine (2014–2015) [TV]
  27. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) [DCEU]
  28. Suicide Squad (2016) [DCEU]
  29. Supergirl (2015–2021) [Arrowverse]
  30. Legends of Tomorrow (2016–2022) [Arrowverse]
  31. Wonder Woman (2017) [DCEU]
  32. Justice League (2017) [DCEU]
  33. Krypton (2018–2019) [TV]
  34. Titans (2018–2023) [TV]
  35. Doom Patrol (2019–2023) [TV]
  36. Aquaman (2018) [DCEU]
  37. Shazam! (2019) [DCEU]
  38. Joker (2019) [Elseworlds]
  39. Batwoman (2019–2022) [Arrowverse]
  40. Birds of Prey (2020) [DCEU]
  41. Stargirl (2020–2022) [TV]
  42. Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) [DCEU]
  43. Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021) [DCEU]
  44. Superman & Lois (2021–present) [Arrowverse / Elseworlds spin]
  45. The Suicide Squad (2021) [DCEU]
  46. Peacemaker (2022–present) [DCEU]
  47. The Batman (2022) [Elseworlds]
  48. Black Adam (2022) [DCEU]
  49. Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) [DCEU]
  50. The Flash (2023) [DCEU]
  51. Blue Beetle (2023) [DCEU / soft-reboot into DCU]
  52. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023) [DCEU]
  53. Joker: Folie à Deux (2024) [Elseworlds]
  54. Creature Commandos (2024, animated) [DCU]
  55. Superman (2025) [DCU]

Chronological Order (Simplified Timeline Placement):

  1. Wonder Woman (2017) [WWI]
  2. Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) [1980s]
  3. Joker (2019) [1970s Gotham]
  4. Joker: Folie à Deux (2024) [Sequel to Joker]
  5. Superman: The Movie → Superman IV (1978–1987) [Original Superman saga]
  6. Batman (1989) → Batman & Robin (1997) [Burton/Schumacher era]
  7. Batman Begins → The Dark Knight Rises (2005–2012) [Nolanverse]
  8. Man of Steel → Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2013–2023) [DCEU mainline]
  9. The Batman (2022) [Standalone Elseworlds]
  10. Superman (2025) [Start of DCU]

TV series fit into their own timelines (Arrowverse, Smallville, Titans, Doom Patrol, etc.) — best watched separately in release order.

Back