{"id":11290,"date":"2022-02-17T15:35:12","date_gmt":"2022-02-17T14:35:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=802770"},"modified":"2022-02-17T15:35:12","modified_gmt":"2022-02-17T14:35:12","slug":"how-to-watch-dc-movies-in-order-dceu-in-chronological-and-release-date-order","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/how-to-watch-dc-movies-in-order-dceu-in-chronological-and-release-date-order\/","title":{"rendered":"How to watch DC movies in order \u2013 DCEU in chronological and release date order"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By David Craig\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 17 February 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

While it hasn\u2019t seen quite the same levels of success as the Marvel Cinematic Universe<\/a>, rival publisher DC Comics has been building its own rich world of blockbuster films over the past decade or so.<\/p>\n

Nicknamed the DC Extended Universe, these films share a broader continuity, but don\u2019t have quite as many links and crossovers as the MCU, nor are they as consistent with their overarching story.<\/p>\n

Still, viewers will definitely benefit from watching the films in order, allowing them to follow as major characters are introduced and status quo shake-ups change the face of the universe.<\/p>\n

However, the release of The Flash<\/a> later this year will also see the DCEU welcome previous franchises into the same continuity \u2013 including previous Batman movies.<\/p>\n

So, if you\u2019re wondering how best to watch these films, here are two methods of watching the DC Extended Universe movies in order \u2013 by release or chronologically.<\/p>

How to watch DCEU movies and series in release order<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The simplest method of watching the DC Extended Universe movies is by following the order they were released in cinemas. The story kicks off with the introduction of arguably the publisher\u2019s most iconic hero, Superman, in 2013\u2019s Man of Steel, followed by other comic book greats like Batman and Wonder Woman in later instalments\u2026<\/p>\n

1. Man of Steel (2013)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""superman\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Warner Bros.<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Man of Steel retells Superman\u2019s iconic origin story for the first time in a generation, chronicling his arrival on Earth from the doomed planet Krypton and his adoption by a kind couple living in Kansas, as well as his first major test at the hands of the villainous General Zod. Henry Cavill (The Witcher<\/a>), Michael Shannon (Knives Out<\/a>), Russell Crowe (The Loudest Voice<\/a>) and Amy Adams (Arrival) lead an all-star cast.<\/p>\n

Watch now on Prime Video, or rent and buy<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Watch now on Netflix\u00a0<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

2. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Batfleck"\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne\/Batman in Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice (WB)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

This long-awaited sequel to Man of Steel expands the universe significantly, uniting the so-called DC Trinity and laying the groundwork for the formation of the Justice League. Following the events of Man of Steel, billionaire vigilante Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) has become convinced that Superman is a threat to the human race and strives to eliminate him. Jesse Eisenberg co-stars as arch-nemesis Lex Luthor, while Gal Gadot makes her debut as Diana Prince \u2013 also known as Wonder Woman.<\/p>\n

Watch on NOW<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Rent or Buy on Prime Video<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

3. Suicide Squad (2016)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""suicide\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
SEAC<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Viola Davis takes on the role of cold and calculating strategist Amanda Waller, who assembles a team of despicable super criminals to send on suicide missions around the world. Will Smith (Bad Boys for Life<\/a>) and Margot Robbie (Bombshell<\/a>) shine brightest as sharpshooting assassin Deadshot and the Joker\u2019s insane associate Harley Quinn, leading the charge against Cara Delevingne\u2019s powerful Enchantress.<\/p>\n

Watch now on NOW<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Rent or buy on Prime Video<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

4. Wonder Woman (2017)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Warner\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
SEAC<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

This prequel heads all the way back to World War I to tell Wonder Woman\u2019s epic origin story, which had previously been hinted at in Batman v Superman. The movie depicts Diana\u2019s childhood among her fellow Amazonians on the beautiful island of Themyscira, where US fighter pilot Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) suddenly crash lands. They team up and head for the frontlines, as Wonder Woman seeks out her longtime rival Ares, the God of War.<\/p>\n

Watch now on Netflix<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Rent or buy on Prime Video<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

5. Justice League (2017)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Ezra\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Warner Bros<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

DC\u2019s premier team of super heroes unites! Justice League sees Batman (Ben Affleck), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), The Flash (Ezra Miller), Aquaman (Jason Momoa) and Cyborg (Ray Fisher) team up to fight Steppenwolf, an extraterrestrial being who plans to launch a devastating assault on Earth.<\/p>\n

Watch now on Netflix<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Watch now on Prime Video, or rent and buy\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

6. Aquaman (2018)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Jason\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n

Set after the events of Justice League, Aquaman focuses on Jason Momoa\u2019s Atlantean hero, who must retrieve a legendary trident to stop his half-brother, King Orm (Patrick Wilson), from unleashing a terrible attack on the surface world. Warrior princess Mera (Amber Heard) joins him on a globe-trotting adventure, with the vengeful Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) hot on their trail.<\/p>\n

Rent or buy on Prime Video<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

7. Shazam! (2019)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Zachary\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Warner Bros<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

A lighter chapter in the DC Extended Universe, Shazam sees orphaned teen Billy Batson (Asher Angel) granted incredible powers by an ancient wizard, who entrusts him to be the champion needed to save mankind from an imminent threat. He and his foster brother Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer) have a great time getting to grips with the new abilities, which transform Billy into an older, stronger alter ego portrayed by Zachary Levi (Chuck). But it isn\u2019t long before they come face-to-face with unhinged power-hungry scientist Dr Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong)\u2026<\/p>\n

Watch now on Netflix<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Buy on Prime Video<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

8. Birds of Prey (2020)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Rosie\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n

A follow-up of sorts to 2016\u2019s Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey follows Harley Quinn after she liberates herself from the Joker\u2019s grasp and sets off on a new path in life. When she is targeted by the psychopathic crime boss Black Mask (Ewan McGregor), she forms an alliance with fellow Gotham City badasses Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and no-nonsense cop Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez).<\/p>\n

Rent or buy on Prime Video<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

9. Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)<\/h2>\n
\""Wonder\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Twiter\/ Warner Bros<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Gal Gadot reprised her role as Diana Prince for this sequel film Wonder Woman 1984, which follows the superheroine in the 1980s as she is unexpectedly reunited with dead lover Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) and comes up against two foes in the form of Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal) and Cheetah (Kristen Wiig). Warner Bros released the film during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic on HBO Max in the US and in cinemas and later on digital in the UK. The film was the most-watched straight-to-streaming film of 2020 but received mixed critical reviews and was a box office flop due to the pandemic. However, a sequel and spin-off are in development.<\/p>\n

Watch now on NOW<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Buy on Prime Video<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

10. The Suicide Squad (2021)<\/h2>\n
\""The\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n

Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn brought his comic book movie sensibilities to DC in this sequel and soft-reboot of Suicide Squad, which follows the team of villains\/anti-heroes on a new mission for the ruthless Amanda Waller (Viola Davis). In addition to the return of characters such as Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) and Rick Flagg (Joel Kinnaman), we also met new characters such as Peacemaker (John Cena) and Bloodsport (Idris Elba). Released in cinemas and on HBO Max in the US, The Suicide Squad was a box office failure amid the Covid-19 pandemic but was critically acclaimed, spawning the HBO Max series spin-off Peacemaker.<\/p>\n

Watch now on NOW<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Buy on Prime Video<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

11. Peacemaker (2022)<\/h2>\n
\""John\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
HBO Max<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

A spin-off HBO Max series following The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker follows the eponymous anti-hero after he recovers from his injuries and joins the enigmatic A.R.G.U.S. black ops squad dubbed \u201cProject Butterfly\u201d. Peacemaker sets off to fight this threat with the aid of his A.R.G.U.S. colleagues and faces down a powerful threat taking unpredictable forms. The series has already been renewed for a second season on HBO Max, but the first has not been shown in the UK.<\/p>\n