The DC Extended Universe of films had a tougher start than the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the fact remains that there is a timeline of events that takes place over the course of a series of DC Comics films released over the last seven years.
There is a chronological chronology to the DC movies for a period of about five movies. Crossovers and cameos abound as events from one film are referenced and expanded upon in others. So, if you’re wondering how to watch the DC films in chronological order, we’ve got you covered. We’ve compiled a list of how to watch all of the DC movies in chronological order, as well as how to watch them in order of release, below. We’re only considering movies on this list that are part of the “DC Extended Universe” — that is, films that are explicitly linked through events and characters.
1. Man Of Steel (June, 2013)
Director- Zack Snyder
Kal-El, the son of Jor-El and Lara, is sent to Earth after the destruction of his home planet Krypton. He now goes by the name “Clark Kent,” and as he is guided to become Superman, he realises his true identity. A hero dedicated to protecting Earth’s fate and the danger that threatens it. General Zod, a Kryptonian and the planet’s military commander, sees Earth’s fate differently. He decides to use it in exchange for a human sacrifice. Superman forms an alliance with the current military and news reporter Lois Lane. In order to prevent Zod from annihilating humanity.
2. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (March, 2016)
Director- Zack Snyder
When humanity, the residents of Metropolis, and billionaire Bruce Wayne witnessed Superman’s incredible power, the world changed forever. Now, two years later, the love story appears to be over when Superman becomes embroiled in the complications of world politics, with lives lost in the midst of terrorists and rebels. As journalist Lois Lane tries to clear Superman’s record, Senate Hearings and the media force him to operate inside the system. Batman intensifies his war on crime in search of a way to eliminate Superman’s menace. Lex Luthor appears to be pulling strings behind the scenes.
3. Suicide Squad (August, 2016)
Director- David Ayer
Amanda Waller, a smart, merciless Intelligence Division operative, intends to form an elite team of meta-humans. The covert Task Force X, out of fear that the next superhero saviour may become terrorist. As a result, Waller hand-picks the worst of the worst from the country’s maximum-security jails. Hence, creating a circus of crazy, antisocial super-villains kept on a leash to execute the government’s dirty work. Of course, the Federals will deny everything if something goes wrong. The team will have to prepare for WWIII when the Enchantress, an all-powerful shape-shifting sorcerer, goes rogue and sets her sights on developing a lethal machine.
4. Wonder Woman (June, 2017)
Director- Patty Jenkins
Diana of the magical Themyscira, a highly trained pacifist and majestic Amazon warrior-princess. She lives a disciplined but serene and safe life in the bosom of her formidable clan of expert fighters. All free of men and the entire human species. Diana’s cocooned existence will be turned upside down. However, as Steve Trevor, an intrepid American pilot and the first man to set foot on the lovely island. Also, reveals a horrifying reality, as a devastating great war threatens to engulf humanity. At the height of World War I, the odd duo sets out on a risky mission to combat an all-powerful foe in an all-out war to end all battles.
5. Justice League (November, 2017)
Director- Zack Snyder
After Superman’s death, the evil and mighty Steppenwolf returns to Earth with his demons and retrieves the Mother Box from The Paradise Island. Wonder Woman meets Batman to discuss ways to defend Earth. After Queen Hippolyta alerts her daughter Diana Prince about the threat to the planet. Meanwhile, Steppenwolf retrieves the second Mother Box from Atlantis. Along with Batman and Wonder Woman join forces with The Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg. In order to preserve the last Mother Box given to mankind. With the help of Alfred. However, Batman determines that they lack the necessary power to restore the planet and recommends. Despite the dangers, that they use the power of the Box to resurrect Superman.
6. Aquaman (December, 2018)
Director- James Wan
Arthur Curry is the son of a poor lighthouse keeper and the powerful queen of Atlantis, Atlanna. He reluctantly goes on a perilous quest to discover his beginnings. With his mother missing, Arthur, who believes he has mastered his limitless Atlantean skills, finds himself in a fight with his vengeful half-brother, King Orm. As Orm tries to incite a deadly war with the surface dwellers in order to crown himself Master of the Ocean after uniting the seven undersea kingdoms, strife is escalating. Now, Arthur and his companion, the valiant Atlantean Princess Mera, must follow a thin trail of clues to find the Trident of Atlantis. A magical weapon that belonged to Atlantis’ first ruler, Atlan. Also avert a cataclysmic final battle between the two realms that would kill billions.
7. Shazam! (April, 2019)
Director- David F. Sandberg
Billy Batson is an abandoned boy in Philadelphia who is causing problems for Child Services. Also the authorities with his tenacious hunt for his mother. Billy, on the other hand, acquires a new friend in his latest foster home, Freddy. He is chosen by the Wizard Shazam to be his next champion. He happily explores his new powers with Freddy, now that he has the capacity to transform into an adult superhero by simply pronouncing the wizard’s name.
Billy quickly discovers, however, that he has a terrible adversary in the form of Dr. Thaddeus Sivana, who was previously rejected by the wizard and has instead acquired the power of the Seven Deadly Sins. Billy must now confront the duties of his calling while discovering the power of a rare magic with his true family. That Sivana will never understand, all while being chased by this crazy scientist for his own power.
8. Harley Quinn: Birds Of Prey (February, 2020)
Director- Cathy Yan
Harley Quinn is left alone following her terrible breakup with Joker, which occurred immediately after the confrontation with the Enchantress in Suicide Squad (2016). With her mentor gone and a massive mark on her behind, Harley teams up with Roman Sionis, a vicious criminal lord in Gotham City on the hunt for a valuable diamond, and Cassandra Cain, an audacious thief. Quinn crosses encounters with singer Dinah Lance, Detective Renee Montoya, and a strange crossbow-wielding murderess on the hunt for the teen street hustler and the gemstone, as Roman’s top assassin, Victor Zsasz, is hell-bent on killing Cain first.
9. Wonder Woman 1984 (December, 2020)
Director- Patty Jenkins
Princess Diana of Themyscira, after saving the world in Wonder Woman (2017), finds herself working as an archaeologist at the Smithsonian Museum in 1984, trying to keep under the radar. Diana Prince becomes embroiled in a sinister conspiracy of global proportions when a transparent, golden-yellow citrine gemstone catches the eye of the power-hungry entrepreneur, Maxwell Lord. With the memory of the brave U.S. pilot, Captain Steve Trevor, etched on her mind, Diana Prince becomes embroiled in a sinister conspiracy of global proportions.
When a transparent, golden-yellow citrine gemstone catches the eye of the power-hungry entrepreneur, Maxwell Lord Deception, avarice, and false promises rocket Maxwell into the limelight as a dear old acquaintance from the past miraculously enters the picture, and Barbara Minerva, Diana’s insecure gemologist colleague, gives in to want. Cataclysmic events are increasingly pushing the planet to the brink, and Diana, who is emotionally fragile, is forced to confront a horrible dilemma.
10. Zack Snyder’s Justice League (March, 2021)
Director- Zack Snyder
Bruce Wayne joins forces with Diana Prince to create a band of metahumans to protect the world from a looming menace of cataclysmic proportions, determined to ensure Superman’s ultimate sacrifice was not in vain. The mission proves to be more difficult than Bruce anticipated, as each of the recruits must confront the demons of their own pasts in order to overcome the obstacles that have kept them apart, allowing them to eventually unite and form an extraordinary league of heroes. Now that Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg, and The Flash have joined forces, it may be too late to save the globe from Steppenwolf, DeSaad, and Darkseid’s evil plans.
11. The Suicide Squad (August, 2021)
Director- James Gunn
A new batch of Belle Reve’s meta-humans strikes a deal with Amanda Waller, the chilly head of Task Force X, in exchange for lesser sentences, similar to the anti-hero team in Suicide Squad (2016). This time, she and her ragtag band of super-powered convicts—Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Peacemaker, King Shark, Polka-Dot Man, and Ratcatcher 2–set out to find the Thinker, the evil scientist in charge of the mysterious Project Starfish, on the perilous South American island nation of Corto Maltese. Humanity is on the point of destruction as the band joins forces with an old leader of the infamous gang.
12. The Batman (2022)
Director- Matt Reeves
When a vicious killer leaves a trail of cryptic clues, Batman travels into Gotham City’s underground. He must develop new contacts, unmask the offender, and deliver justice to the misuse of power and corruption that has long plagued the metropolis as the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the enormity of the perpetrator’s ambitions become obvious.
Latest Trailer | Latest Movies
Let’s also look at DC Movies in Chronological Order of Events.
- Wonder Woman
- Wonder Woman 1984
- Man Of Steel
- Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
- Suicide Squad
- Justice League
- Zack Snyder’s Justice League
- Aquaman
- Shazam!
- Harley Quinn: Birds Of Prey
- The Suicide Squad
- The Batman
