DCAMU Films, Ranked

From 2013 to 2020, the DC Animated Movie Universe told the complete story of a DC universe – right from its literal beginning to its literal end.  The epic finale has been out for a while already, so I thought it would be now appropriate to share my ranking of the franchise’s 16 movies.

Here’s how I personally arrange them from worst to best…

CLICK HERE for my full review.

‘Justice League Dark: Apokolips War’ Brings the DCAMU to an Epic Close

It came as a shock to me when it was reported that the newest DC Animated Movie Universe (DCAMU) installment, Justice League Dark: Apokolips War, was going to be its final one.  For seven years, the DCAMU has maintained an effective shared universe, and has been a quality source of adult-oriented DC animated content.  I don’t necessarily love all of its installments, but having followed it from day one, I’ve come to love the franchise in general.  Thus, it ending has kinda gotten me a bit emotional.

Wonder Woman Deserves a Better First Solo Movie in the DCAMU Than 'Wonder Woman: Bloodlines', Which Is the Worst in the Series

Wonder Woman: Bloodlines is the just the second Wonder Woman direct-to-video animated film in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies franchise – coming 10 years after 2009’s Wonder Woman – and the very first solo Wonder Woman film set in the DC Animated Movie Universe (DCAMU).  It explores the origins of Wonder Woman a.k.a. Princess Diana of Themyscira in the DCAMU, and then tells an adventure presumably set in the present time of DCAMU continuity that pits her against Villainy Inc, paving the way for her to go back to Themyscira for the first time since she left it.

'Batman: Hush' Is a Solid DCAMU Adaptation of an Acclaimed Comic Book Story Arc

The 13^th installment (14^th, if we count 2013’s Justice League: Flashpoint Paradox as the first installment instead of Justice League: War) of the DC Animated Movie Universe series is an adaptation of the comic book story arc “Hush.”  The film pits Batman against a mysterious new villain named Hush, who appears to be aware of Batman’s secrets, allowing him to be a step ahead of the World’s Greatest Detective.  The Dark Knight also has to deal with several notable members of his rogue gallery – Bane (performing the role that Killer Croc played in the comics), Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, Joker, Scarecrow, Riddler, and Clayface – whom Hush has manipulated into carrying out his schemes.  Meanwhile, the film also explores the love triangle between Batman, Catwoman, and Bruce Wayne as well as Bruce Wayne’s friendship with the renowned brain surgeon Thomas Elliot.

Batman: Hush is a pretty solid adaptation.  It gives justice to its source material, which is widely regarded as one of the best Batman storylines ever.  It condenses the plot into its runtime without turning it into a sloppy and rushed translation.  It’s well-paced and well-scripted.

'Reign of the Supermen' Is an Underwhelming Followup

Reign of the Supermen is the sequel to last year’s The Death of Superman, continuing the DCAMU’s take on the 90’s Superman comic book storyline.  (Warning: the following synopsis is a bit spoiler-y, but not really; considering that the source material is at least two-and-a-half decades old, the following information is basically out there already.)  Six months after Superman gave up his life to stop Doomsday, four different heroes have emerged claiming to be Superman – Superboy, Steel, Eradicator, and Cyborg Superman.  However, when one of them turns out to be working secretly with a vengeful alien invader, the remaining three “Supermen” must put aside their differences, and work together with the revived Superman – the real Superman – to save the world.

'Constantine: City of Demons – The Movie' Is a Quintessential John Constantine Tale

Constantine: City of Demons, in its initial form, was a CW Seed web series that was somewhat connected to the Arrowverse.  Each of its first season’s five episodes is just 6-7 minutes long, and collectively, the episodes essentially covered the first act.  In my review for it, my bottomline asserts that it would have been much better if it had been released as a DC Animated Movie Universe (DCAMU) installment instead.  Well, the powers that be probably realized this as well.  Thus, instead of releasing further seasons in such format, they repackaged the series and released it as a feature-length animated movie instead.  And since it’s a standalone story in the first place, whose only connection to the Arrowverse is that its John Constantine is voiced by the same actor that plays the Arrowverse’s live-action version (Matt Ryan), and since its character design for Constantine is the same as Justice League Dark’s (and who is also voiced by Matt Ryan), it was easy to be retconned as part of the DCAMU.

'The Death of Superman' Is DCAMU's Best Installment Yet

I described both of the past two DC Animated Movie Universe (DCAMU) films as “the best DCAMU installment yet” – meaning the franchise succeeded in outdoing itself in succession.  And with its latest movie, The Death of Superman, I’m once again going to state it: it’s the best DCAMU installment yet.  Yep.  That’s three in a row now.

'Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay' Is DCAMU's Best Installment Yet

In Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay, the 10^th movie of the DC Animated Movie Universe, Amanda Waller sends Task Force X – composed of Deadshot, Harley Quinn, Bronze Tiger, Captain Boomerang, Killer Frost, and Copperhead – to retrieve a supernatural item that holds power over the afterlife, as other interested parties are in pursuit of this McGuffin as well.

'Teen Titans: The Judas Contract' Doesn't Need Batman to Become the Best Film in the DC Animated Movie Universe So Far

It has been a long time since we had a film from DC Universe Animate Original Movies (DCAOM) that doesn’t have Batman in it.  Don’t get me wrong.  I love Batman.  Thus, I always enjoy his presence in a movie.  But it’s also now time for DCUAOM to trust their non-Batman properties.  It has been four years since Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox’s ending established this new, New 52-inspired DC Animated Movie Universe, and three years since it had its first feature with Justice League: War, and all movies set in this universe all have had Batman in it.  Even in Justice League Dark, which is about a team that doesn’t have Batman as a member in the comics, the character is shoehorned in with a prominent role (which I didn’t mind much because I thought it was brilliant).

The latest DCAOM movie, Teen Titans: The Judas Contract, is the first time in the DC Animated Movie Universe in which Batman doesn’t make an appearance (though Batman protégés Dick Grayson [ex-Robin and current Nightwing] and Damien Wayne [a.k.a. Robin] are among the central characters).  This could be a sign that DCAOM is going to do more non-Batman projects now (I would love to see a few Superman movies).  Or maybe not, since the next DCAOM feature is a Batman and Harley Quinn movie (note: not all DCAOM movies are set in the DC Animated Movie Universe).

'Justice League Dark' Is, Well, Dark... but Doesn't Do Anything Special from Being Such

Despite the current Justice League animated film series being mediocre so far, I was actually hyped for Justice League Dark.  The first reason is because Matt Ryan, who was fantastic as a live-action John Constantine in the short-lived Constantine TV series, is reprising the role, though through voice acting.  Secondly, though Batman isn’t a member of the actual Justice League Dark team in the comics, I thought that his seemingly de facto addition (as implied by the trailer and promo art) to this animated version of the team is brilliant.  Yes, DC tends to overexpose Batman, and he’s clearly only in this team so that the audience could see a more traditional face in this movie made up of second-tier DC characters.  But think about it.  He’s the Dark Knight.  He’s a grim, tortured character.  Though he’s not a supernatural-type of character like the other members of the Justice League Dark, he definitely has the “dark” vibes.  He thematically fits in the Justice League Dark.  As one joke from Justice League Action goes (in the episode, “Speed Demon”), Goblins tell each other Batman stories to scare each other.  I love the idea of him on the team.

'Justice League vs. Teen Titans' Isn't as Fantastic as the Title Suggests

After the disappointing, cluttered Batman: Bad Blood, DC Animated’s second feature in 2016 is Justice League vs. Teen Titans.  Having these two teams duke it out is a fantastic idea for a DC animated film.  Unfortunately, the execution isn’t satisfactory at all.  And yet, I still pick it over Batman v Sup – uh, on second thought, not really.  This movie is as equally problematic and underwhelming as BvS.

A Terrific Concept Is Wasted on 'Batman: Bad Blood'

Batman: Bad Blood is the sequel to last year’s Batman vs. Robin, and completes the trilogy that started with Son of Batman.  Here’s what it’s about in a nutshell:

• Bruce Wayne a.k.a. Batman goes missing after saving Batwoman from a group of supervillains led by the enigmatic Heretic.
• Batwoman investigates on Heretic.
• Unsure of whether Bruce is alive or dead, Dick Grayson a.k.a. Nightwing decides to take up the cowl of Batman to fill up the void left in Gotham by Bruce’s absence.
• Damien Wayne a.k.a. Robin cuts his Himalayan sabbatical and returns to Gotham after learning of his father’s disappearance.
• Talia al Ghul is plotting to take over the world which involves the use of mind control, and it’s up to the Bat family to stop her.
• The son of Lucius Fox, Luke Fox, is drawn to the conflict and becomes Batwing.

In ‘Batman vs. Robin’, Batman Faces One of His Biggest Challenges Yet – Being a Father

Batman vs. Robin is set months after the events of 2014’s Son of Batman.  Damien Wayne – now permanently staying with his father, Bruce Wayne a.k.a. Batman, and serving as his Robin – is struggling with the paradigm change.  Raised and trained by his grandfather Ra’s al Ghul to kill without hesitation but is now being taught by Batman to avoid it – “Justice, not vengeance,” as Batman constantly reminds him – Damien has a difficult time keeping his grim, murderous instincts in check when dealing with criminals, but overcomes the temptation because of a sincere desire to honor his father. 

However, with both Bruce and Damien suffering from flawed and damaged personalities, friction between them is inevitable.  Bruce, concerned for Damien’s safety as well as the chance of him succumbing to the darkness inside him, wants to keep him in a tight leash.  On the other hand, Damien is deeply frustrated of his father’s lack of trust.

Batman and Robin’s strained, “powder-keg” relationship is inevitably set to explode.  All it takes is a spark.  And that spark came in the form of the Court of Owls – a sinister, secret society of Gotham’s rich and elite, who has manipulated the city from the shadows for generations to advance their agendas and preserve their power.  A part of their plans involves recruiting the rich Bruce Wayne into their ranks, but, ironically, also involves destroying his alter-ego, Batman, who they consider a great threat to their operations (I have no idea, though, why they didn’t do it sooner in Batman’s career).  The Court of Owls plans to attack Batman by exploiting the rift between him and Robin, and create conflict between the two (hence, the “Batman vs. Robin” title).  They intend to do this by sending their lead henchman, Talon, to win over Robin and manipulate him into joining their side. 

Batman vs. Robin’s plot made it possible for a compelling father-and-son drama unfold in its storytelling. And I believe the movie has successfully fleshed out what I think is the most powerfully unique thing about the whole “Damien Wayne as Robin”: the father-and-son drama it brings to the “Batman and Robin” dynamic – Batman struggling to be a father, Robin struggling to be a son.  Sure, Bruce Wayne also served as a father figure to Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, and Tim Drake.  But it’s different with Damien because he’s his biological son.  The connection between them is much significant – as well as any chemistry and conflict that can develop – due to being their own flesh-and-blood with each other.  Batman’s struggles as a father put additional depth to the unique “humanized” charm that makes him stand out in the DC superhero pantheon.  And Damien being tormented in his search for identity, acceptance, and redemption makes him distinctive above all the Robins that came before him.  Above its enjoyable action and beautiful animation, this aspect, for me, is what makes Batman vs. Robin a great film. 

Miscellaneous musings:

• Observation: Batman animated films > Justice League animated films.  So far, I haven’t disliked a Batman animated movie yet.     
• I would love to see Grant Morrison’s “Batman and Robin” – wherein Dick Grayson was Batman with Damien Wayne as his Robin – adapted into an animated film.  But since that happened pre-New 52 and DC is seemingly adapting New 52 concepts exclusively for their current direct-to-video animated features, I don’t see this a likely thing happening.  Bummer.
• I like Damien Wayne as a character.  The fantastic development of the character made him my choice as favorite Robin.  Yes, he’s an arrogant brat, but he’s a lovable arrogant brat.  However, I noticed that some annoyance was being provoked by the quality of the voicing of Damien in this movie.  The experience was like hearing Sarah Silverman’s Vanellope in Wreck-It Ralph.  
• The cameo of future Damien Wayne Batman from Batman #666 was much appreciated.
• Next on DC Universe Animated Original Movies: a dark, Elseworld-style story titled Justice League: Gods and Monsters, wherein Superman is the son of Zod (not Jor-el), Wonder Woman is a New God, and Batman is a vampire.  I recently saw the teaser trailer.  And it looks pretty godawful.  And the worst thing is that this is produced by Bruce Timm, the man who created the beloved “Timmverse” – the greatest animated adaptation of the DC universe.  I wish he opted for a more lighthearted project.

'Justice League: Throne of Atlantis' is the Least of All 'Justice League' Animated Movies So Far

At its core, Justice League: Throne of Atlantis is simply an attempt to introduce Aquaman to this animated universe since he was set aside for Shazam in Justice League: War (in the comics’ New 52 – in which this new DC animated universe is based on – the original seventh member of the initial Justice League line-up was Aquaman and not Shazam); the whole story merely served as the vessel and padding for it.  The movie also established the romance between Superman and Wonder Woman.  And aside from these two details, I find nothing appreciably special about the movie.  The overall narrative just feels so generic – it’s as if I’ve already seen this kind of story too many times before.  

I have a couple of nitpicks with JL: War, but I still found it better than JL: Throne of Atlantis.  The former has been more action-packed and had better character moments – both in quality and quantity.  In fact, if I’m going to rank all Justice League animated movies so far, JL: Throne of Atlantis is at the bottom (for the record, JL: New Frontier is still my most favorite). 

However, this is still the Justice League we are talking about, and the characters – and the team in general – is worth being excited about.  Watching all these superheroes interact is always worthwhile.  Heck, I would probably still watch a Justice League animated movie even if it’s just them hanging out in a café, trading banters and wisecracks for one hour.  Thus, JL: Throne of Atlantis is still entertaining enough, but only because it’s a film featuring the Justice League.      

Still, I consider this new Justice League universe a work in process, and I’m very much willing to give it more time to develop.    

Miscellaneous musings (some spoilers):

• Considering that they lacked chemistry in JL: War, I was hoping that the heroes would have already “warmed up” by now.  At the end of the movie, the Justice League is just only about to undergo the process of, as Batman puts it, “solidifying this team.”  But, once again, I’m willing to give time for improvement, including team dynamic.  Hopefully, by the next movie, they would truly be a perfectly compelling and thrilling team. 
• If all this actually leads to Lex Luthor joining the Justice League, as with the comics, then this “New 52” inspired DC animated universe might turn out to be a brilliant idea after all.   
• I understand that the DC animated features are more adult-oriented now.  But I still cringe whenever some expletives are spoken.  This is probably just the guy in me who considers the Timmverse, kid-friendly Justice League animated series as the definite animated take of the Justice League.   
• Though it seemed that he was underused here compared to other JL movies, Batman was still awesome in every second he was in.
• The thing I liked most about JL: Throne of Atlantis is Nathan Fillion returning to voice Hal Jordan/Green Lantern.  I had hated the A-hole Green Lantern in JL: War (voiced by Justin Kirk).  I don’t know if it’s just an illusion because I adore Fillion or if Fillion is genuinely just that perfect with the role, but it empathically felt like Green Lantern was suddenly perked up with charm and personality just because Fillion voiced him in this movie.
• Green Lantern’s vacuum “cleaner-mecha” construct is definitely inspired.  Two thumbs up. 
• Strange that Mera has been given more moments to be a badass than Wonder friggin’ Woman
• John Henry Irons a.k.a. Steel had a cameo.  I consider it a “cameo” instead of an “introduction” since, as far as this animated universe is concerned, I doubt that Steel is going to be featured further and become part of the Justice League in the future.  Cyborg makes Steel redundant.      
• The best moment of the movie is probably the part where Aquaman summoned a great white shark to devour Black Manta – Deep Blue Sea-style.  It was simultaneously hilarious and badass.  I never followed the New 52 Aquaman comics (where he has been redefined as a badass superhero after years of being ridiculed by comic book fans), but I know that the sequence was a reference to a similar moment in the comics.       
• Was there really a need for Ocean Master to kick every Leaguer’s butt so that Aquaman can be brought to a position to shine by being the one beating him?  Boo.  I know that this movie is Aquaman-centric, but still, I didn’t like it at all.  Felt too indulgent – the dumb kind.
• I’m tired of the idiocy of stories allowing underwater conversation through actual oral communication.  Unless the mechanics are explained, I always find it a distracting plot hole.    
• I applaud DC for continually kicking Marvel’s butt in the direct-to-video animated features category.  I still can’t believe that, up until now, Marvel still hasn’t figure out how to fight back.  They have plenty of good materials to adapt – but they don’t.  Marvel has more success and know-how in universe-building (as proven by its shared cinematic universe) but they aren’t applying it on animated features.  I’m just baffled.        
• Injustice: Gods Among Us is one of the most awesome comic book series right now.  And it’s the storyline/universe that I really wish DC would adapt next into an animated movie series. 
• Next from DC Universe Animated Original Movies this year: Batman vs. Robin.  Can’t wait.