Ranking the Complete DCEU

[bat39]

Well, for better or worse, the DCEU has more or less ended after an (almost exactly!) 10 year run. Technically, there's still Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, but right now it's a bit ambiguous which continuity it specifically slots into - anyway, once it's out, we can consider it a coda. But The Flash did seem like an ending to the DCEU, so I felt this would be a good time to do a ranking.

I've ranked everything apart from Peacemaker, which I haven't watched yet. Once I get around to doing so, I might edit this post to include it.

From Best to Worst

Man of Steel

The first is still the best. Honestly, I don't think any other DCEU film really topped the sheer potential of MOS. Love it or hate it, this movie redefined (or at least tried to redefine) Superman for a new generation and too date is part of some rather heated discourse. Long after the rest of the DCEU is forgotten, MOS will continue to be the subject of furious debates. It has truly earned its place in cinematic history in my book.

Wonder Woman

Also a serious contender for best DCEU film. The movie, and Gal Gadot's performance, will no doubt define Wonder Woman for generations the way Donner's movie defined Superman. The WW1 setting really made this movie, which could otherwise have been a pretty generic superhero origin story, stand out. The scene of Wonder Woman walking across No Man's Land alone is an iconic cinematic moment.

Aquaman

The film was part of the DCEU's 'MCU-lite' era, but as far as that goes, it was pretty darn good. It showed that the DCEU could have had a future beyond Snyder's original (admittedly polarizing) vision. And Momoa's Aquaman is always a joy to watch.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

It's not a perfect film by any means, but it had ambition - even if that ambition was a bit too lofty for vast sections of the audience to handle. Moreso than even MOS, this felt like DC heroes in a grown-up world.

The Flash

Despite all the baggage it carries, this is truly a solid film - one that perfectly balances a light-hearted tone with some serious world-ending (and multiversal) stakes. It's a nostalgia-fest for sure, but it also is a character study with some serious emotional depth to be found amidst the CGI. Plus, Michael Keaton as Batman...Nuff said!

Zack Snyder's Justice League

I wish I could rank this higher, but frankly it's really more a post-mortem on what could have been (much like the Superman II Donner Cut). It's not as though Snyder could seriously have released a 4 hour film in the theatres, so this isn't what we would have got had he stayed at the helm of the theatrical cu. But still, it's a highly ambitious film...one that admittedly crumbles a little under the weight of that ambition.

Shazam!

A nice fun film. Again, it showed a potential path for the DCEU post-Snyder, one that they never really capitalized on.

The Suicide Squad

Pretty solid effort by James Gunn, and a definite improvement over the first (the theatrical version we've all seen anyway). It remains the only DCEU film to have spawned a spin-off TV show, so there's that too!

Black Adam

It does feel like a generic "would have been great if it released in the 2000's" kinda film, but a pretty good one at that. I mainly love it for the JSA, and that cameo at the end. But yeah, it ended up changing the hierarchy of f#ck all!

Birds of Prey

A lot of people dislike this film, but I found it fun and loved its vibe. Harley Quinn is totally on point here but so are the other characters (admittedly, I totally understand why Cassandra Cain fans would be p#ssed though!)

Wonder Woman 1984

Another film I'll defend to the death (okay maybe not that much). A neat and fun throwback to the Lynda Carter show, the crazy Silver Age comics, and the Lester Superman films.

Justice League

It's not that in isolation the theatrical JL is a bad film. But it totally betrays the potential of Snyder's original vision and feels pretty overtly like Avengers-lite. I mean, there's a reason why fans spent years passionately campaigning for the Snyder Cut. As someone who spent most of my life waiting to see a JL film on the big-screen, it was one big disappointment.

Suicide Squad

The film had a great vibe and some neat characters, but not much of a narrative. Joker was totally wasted. So unfortunately it ranks pretty low...maybe someday an 'Ayer Cut' could rank higher?

Shazam! Fury of the Gods

I honestly didn't think this would end up ranking as the worst of the DCEU for me, since I actually kinda enjoyed it in the theatre. It was a fun watch, but lacking in even the semblance of any substance. That's okay I guess...you need Fury of the Gods in order to be able to appreciate an MOS!

[HsssH]

I haven't watched all of them:

Man of Steel
Snyder's Justice League
Wonder Woman
Batman vs Superman directors cut
Shazam
Suicide Squad

[Rightoya]

Good films =

1. Wonder Woman
2. Shazam
3. The Suicide Squad
4. Aquaman

Mediocre but still entertaining films =

1. Black Adam
2. Man of Steel
3. Shazam 2
4. Birds of Prey

Bad films =

1. Justice League Snyder cut/Batman vs Superman
2. Wonder Woman 1984
3. Suicide Squad
4. Justice League Whedon cut

Even Wonder Woman had still enough flaws, but it also was the only movie that ever truly made me feel like the DCEU has a chance.

[Last Son of Krypton]

The good ones are Wonder Woman, The Flash, Shazam!, TSS, Man of Steel, Znyder's JL and BoP.

Mediocre but fun to watch: Aquaman, Suicide Squad, Black Adam, Shazam! 2

Bad: Whedon's JL, BvS, WW84

[Kaijudo]

1. The Suicide Squad
2. Wonder Woman
3. Aquaman
4. Shazam! Fury of the Gods
5. Shazam!
6. The Flash
7. Black Adam
8. Man of Steel
9. Birds of Prey
10. Suicide Squad
11. Zack Snyder's Justice League
12. Wonder Woman 1984
13. Justice League
14. Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice

[Multiverse]

1. Zack Snyder's Justice League
2. Man of Steel
3. The Suicide Squad
4. Aquaman
5. Wonder Woman
6. Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice UE
7. Shazam!
8. The Flash
9. Black Adam
10. Wonder Woman 84
11. Shazam! Fury of the Gods
12. Birds of Prey
13. Justice League
14. Suicide Squad EE

[Air Wave]

Just FYI--here is the ranking according to RottenTomatoes.

Wonder Woman 93%
Shazam! 90%
The Suicide Squad 90%
Birds of Prey 79%
Zack Snyder's Justice League 72%
The Flash 66%
Aquaman 65%
Wonder Woman 1984 58%
Man of Steel 56%
Shazam! Fury of the Gods 49%
Justice League 39%
Black Adam 38%
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice 29%
Suicide Squad 26%

[Guy_McNichts]

Best to worst:

- Wonder Woman
- Aquaman
- the rest
- stabbing myself with a fork
- Justice League (both of them)

[bat39]

Just FYI--here is the ranking according to RottenTomatoes.

Wonder Woman 93%
Shazam! 90%
The Suicide Squad 90%
Birds of Prey 79%
Zack Snyder's Justice League 72%
The Flash 66%
Aquaman 65%
Wonder Woman 1984 58%
Man of Steel 56%
Shazam! Fury of the Gods 49%
Justice League 39%
Black Adam 38%
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice 29%
Suicide Squad 26%

Thought I'd share IMDB as well.

Zack Snyder's Justice League - 8
Wonder Woman - 7.4
The Flash - 7.3
The Suicide Squad - 7.2
Man of Steel - 7.1
Shazam! - 7
Aquaman - 6.8
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - 6.4
Black Adam - 6.3
Justice League - 6.1
Birds of Prey - 6.1
Shazam! Fury of the Gods - 6
Suicide Squad - 5.9
Wonder Woman 1984 - 5.4

[Lightning Rider]

Probably the only one with this ranking:

Man of Steel
ZSJL
BvS
Wonder Woman
The Flash
Shazam
Justice League
Wonder Woman 1984
Shazam: Fury of the Gods
Suicide Squad
Black Adam
The Suicide Squad
Aquaman
Birds of Prey

[Gaius]

Wonder Woman
Aquaman
Shazam
Man of Steel

Bad:
The rest

[Lightning Rider]

The good ones are Wonder Woman, The Flash, Shazam!, TSS, Man of Steel, Znyder's JL and BoP.

What makes you like that one as much as the other ones?

[Last Son of Krypton]

What makes you like that one as much as the other ones?

Because it was crazy and fun?

[Odd Rödney]

The first Wonder Woman was good, the Suicide Squad film by James Gunn was good, Man of Steel and Snyder's JL were alright, I haven't seen the new Flash movie so I can't speak to that. Everything else is hot garbage.

[James Cameron]

good:
Zack Snyder's Justice League
Man of Steel
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Birds of Prey
Wonder Woman
ok/watchable:
Shazam
Shazam: Fury of the Gods
The Suicide Squad
bad
Wonder Woman 1984
Black Adam
The Flash
Suicide Squad
Justice League