DC Comics (USA): 41

Justice League: War (2014) is an American animated superhero film based on the DC Comics team. Adapted from the storyline of Justice League: Origin by Geoff Johns and Jim Lee, it follows a series of abductions in Gotham City. When video footage links Batman to the incidents, Green Lantern intervenes and nearly gets defeated by a Parademon. However, Batman arrives to help and they both chase the alien creature into the sewers. After it explodes, they find a Mother Box and realize it’s from another world. To uncover more information, they turn to Superman for ...

Gotham (2014–2019) is an American superhero crime drama television series based on characters from the Batman comics published by DC Comics. Developed by Bruno Heller and produced by Warner Bros. Television, it originally aired on Fox from September 22, 2014 to April 25, 2019, for five seasons totaling 100 episodes. In the first season, GCPD Detective James Gordon teams up with his corrupt partner Harvey Bullock to solve various crimes in Gotham City, including the murder of Bruce Wayne’s parents. The city is also plagued by a gang war between crime families led by Carmine Falcone, Sal Maroni, and Fish ...

An animated superhero film, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013), was directed by Jay Oliva and written by Jim Krieg. Based on the 2011 comic book crossover Flashpoint by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert, it follows the story of Barry Allen (aka the Flash). While visiting his mother’s grave, he is interrupted by a break-in at the Flash Museum. Involved in a battle with his enemies – Captain Cold, Captain Boomerang, Heat Wave, Mirror Master, and Top ...

The superhero film Man of Steel (2013) is based on the DC Comics character Superman. The planet Krypton is in turmoil due to the mining of its core. In a desperate attempt to save their race, Krypton’s leading scientist, Jor-El, infuses the genetics codex into his newborn son, Kal-El – the first naturally born Kryptonian in centuries. Tragically, Jor-El is killed by General Zod during a coup. Kal-El is sent to Earth and adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent in Kansas, where he goes by the name Clark. As he grows up, his Kryptonian biology and exposure to Earth’s sun give him extraordinary powers that Jonathan urges him to keep secret. However, when ...

The superhero film, The Dark Knight Rises (2012), was helmed by director Christopher Nolan, who co-wrote the screenplay with his brother Jonathan Nolan and the story with David S. Goyer. Bane, a former member of the League of Shadows, leads an attack on a CIA plane over Uzbekistan to abduct nuclear physicist Dr. Leonid Pavel and deceives observers by making it appear that Pavel died in the crash. Meanwhile, eight years have passed since district attorney Harvey Dent’s death in Gotham City. Thanks to the Dent Act, ...

An American animated film Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (2009) is based on the DC Comics story arc of the same name from the Superman/Batman comic series. Written by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness, the film follows Superman and Batman as they team up to stop a meteorite from hitting Earth. This also involves taking down Lex Luthor, who has been elected President during a nationwide economic depression. Despite Luthor’s success in reviving the economy and forming a team of government-employed superheroes, including Captain Atom, Katana, Black Lightning, Power ...

Green Lantern: First Flight (2009) is an American animated film based on the DC Comics superhero mythology. It was written by Alan Burnett, produced by Bruce Timm and directed by Lauren Montgomery. This film is the fifth installment of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies series released by Warner Premiere and Warner Bros. Animation. In ancient times, the first sentient beings known as the Guardians of the Universe used green energy to create the powerful Green Lantern battery. However, they were aware that ...

An American animated superhero film Wonder Woman (2009) centers on the titular superheroine. It draws inspiration from George Pérez’s reinterpretation of the character, specifically his Gods and Mortals arc featured in the character’s second volume in 1987. The story follows a fierce race of warrior women known as the Amazons, who engage in a battle against Ares, the god of war, and his army. During the confrontation, Queen Hippolyta of the Amazons kills Ares’ soldier Thrax, whom he had forced her to conceive with him. However, before she can deliver the final blow to Ares himself, Zeus intervenes and ...

The American superhero film Watchmen (2009) is based on the series of the same name created by Dave Gibbons and published by DC Comics from 1986 to 1987. Set in 1985, it follows a man living in a Manhattan apartment as he watches news about escalating Cold War tensions and the response from President Richard Nixon when an unknown assailant attacks him and throws him to the street below. As the opening credits roll, a montage explores the history of costumed crime-fighters from 1939 to 1977, leading up to public backlash and the enactment of an anti-vigilante act. One vigilante detective, Rorschach, who operates outside ...

Batman: Gotham Knight (2008) is an animated superhero anthology film featuring the iconic DC Comics character. The production involved collaboration between American and Japanese animation studios, including Studio 4°C, Madhouse, Bee Train, and Production I.G. Set in between Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008), the segments depict Batman’s ongoing fight against the city’s corrupt underworld and various villains. While the anthology is set within The Dark Knight trilogy, its plot has been acknowledged by producers as not essential to the main story told in the films. 1. Have ...

The superhero film, The Dark Knight (2008), was directed by Christopher Nolan and co-written with his brother Jonathan. It serves as the sequel to Batman Begins (2005) and is the second installment in The Dark Knight Trilogy. In Gotham City, a group of masked criminals stages a robbery at a mafia-owned bank. Amid betrayals and killings, the mastermind behind the heist is revealed to be none other than the Joker, who escapes with the stolen money. To combat organized crime in Gotham, Batman teams up with district attorney Harvey Dent and police lieutenant ...

The American superhero horror film, Constantine (2005), marked Francis Lawrence’s directorial debut. In Mexico, a scavenger discovers the tip of the spear that pierced Jesus Christ in a ruined church, but becomes possessed after taking it to Los Angeles. John Constantine, a cynical occult expert, helps exorcise a demon from a young girl and learns about a treaty between Heaven and Hell that should prevent this type of possession. With terminal lung cancer, Constantine seeks an extension to his life by working with the half-breed angel, Gabriel, to deport Hell’s forces. However, Gabriel reminds him that ...

Directed by Christopher Nolan, Batman Begins (2005) is a superhero film co-written by Nolan and David S. Goyer. After an incident involving bats in his childhood, Bruce Wayne develops a fear of them. Years later, at the opera with his parents, he becomes unsettled by performers dressed as bats and asks to leave. Tragically, they are killed in front of him by Joe Chill, a mugger. Bruce is then taken in and cared for by Alfred Pennyworth, the family’s loyal butler. As an adult, when Chill is released from prison after ...

Justice League Unlimited (2004–2006) is an American superhero animated television series produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Cartoon Network. Boasting a diverse cast of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, it serves as a direct sequel to the previous Justice League series, picking up two years later. As the eighth and final installment of the DC Animated Universe, it brings this shared universe to a close, which began with Batman: The Animated Series. Impressively, JLU is the most continuity-heavy show in this universe, seamlessly combining characters and storylines from previous series. Similar to its second season ...

The American animated TV show Justice League (2001–2004) aired on Cartoon Network from November 17, 2001, to May 29, 2004, and was produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It is based on characters from DC Comics’ Justice League of America and serves as both a sequel to Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series, as well as a prequel to Batman Beyond. The show is the seventh in the DC Animated Universe. While most characters remained true to their comic book origins, there were some changes. For example, in the premiere story arc ‘Secret Origins’, Diana competes against her fellow Amazons for ...

The Zeta Project (2001–2002), an American science fiction animated series by Warner Bros. Animation, debuted on Kids’ WB in January 2001. It’s the sixth installment in the DC Animated Universe and is centered around the character Zeta from a Batman Beyond episode of the same name. Drawing inspiration from Frankenstein, Blade Runner, and The Fugitive, the show follows Zeta and Ro as they work to clear his name. Hunted by NSA agents who believe he has been reprogrammed by terrorists, Zeta and Ro search for his elusive creator, Dr. Selig. Originally imagined as a darker series, The Zeta Project was instead ...

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000), an American superhero film, was produced and distributed by Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment respectively. As the third installment in the DC Animated Universe, it draws from the animated series Batman Beyond and also resolves plot points left open in The New Batman Adventures. A new faction of the Jokerz gang – including Bonk, Woof, Ghoul, Chucko, and the Dee-Dee twins – tries to steal advanced technology but is stopped by Terry McGinnis, who has taken on the role of Batman under the guidance of his predecessor Bruce Wayne. The gang reports back to their ...

Batman Beyond (1999–2001) is an American superhero animated television series based on the DC Comics character of Batman. The story takes place in the then-distant year of 2019. An aging Bruce Wayne, despite being in his 50s, continues to fight crime as Batman in a new high-tech Batsuit. However, he now struggles with criminals who were once easily subdued and no longer fear him due to his loss of mystique. During what was meant to be a routine mission to rescue heiress Bunny Vreeland, daughter of Veronica Vreeland, Batman suffers a mild heart attack. He is then forced to defend himself against one of the kidnappers by using a gun, causing him great shame. Knowing his ...

The New Batman Adventures (1997–1999) is an American animated superhero TV series based on DC Comics’ Batman, which aired on Kids’ WB from September 13, 1997 to January 16, 1999. Created by Warner Bros. Animation, it serves as a continuation of Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995) and the third installment in the DC Animated Universe. It was succeeded by Batman Beyond (1999-2001). The show underwent a revamp, featuring a new streamlined art style to ensure consistent animation and maintain consistency with Superman: The Animated Series (1996-2000). This also resulted in changes to Batman’s appearance – he ...

Superman: The Animated Series (1996–2000) is a well-known American animated show based on the iconic DC Comics character. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, it first aired on Kids’ WB from 1996 to 2000. This series was part of the larger DC Animated Universe, along with other beloved shows like Batman: The Animated Series. It has received high praise for its exceptional writing, voice work, maturity, and fresh take on Superman’s comic-book world. Honoring both the classic Superman we all know and love and the revamped version introduced in the 1986 comics reboot, this animated series beautifully blended old and new elements. For example, ...