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How to watch all the DCEU/Worlds of DC movies in chronological order

James Gunn says bring back the DCEU!

By Hugh Armitage, Gabriella Geisinger and Ian Sandwell

6 Feb 2023

DC has seen a big shake-up, and that has thrown what we consider the Worlds of DC or the DC Extended Universe as it was known, into chaos. Most recently, Black Adam landed in cinemas, proclaiming the beginning of a new era.

That era is coming, though perhaps not the way Black Adam predicted. Black Adam promised a more interconnected universe going forward, but with James Gunn and Peter Safran now at the helm of the esteemed (and sometimes derided) cinematic universe, a whole new future has been imagined.

Yes, Gunn said he had an interconnected universe in mind, but whether that includes the old guard remains to be seen (and seems unlikely). Gunn did also confirm that standalone shows and movies would continue to be produced, which will be separate from the new DC future, which Gunn referred to as the 'DC Universe'.

Frank Masi/Warner Bros.Warner Bros.

Gunn and Safran's plan has yet to be actualised, so whether you want to watch the Worlds of DC/DCEU movies and weep for the future they won't have, or celebrate the new one coming, we've got you covered. Besides which, we don't know which of the old guard's films will be relevant in Gunn and Safran's DC Universe – but when we do, we'll denote them!

We're focusing on the main timeline. The Batman and Joker, and their subsequent sequels now officially take place in DC Elseworlds, and therefore aren't included in this list.

Those who want to approach this list from a completist point of view, you'll have to suffer through Justice League and Suicide Squad again. Don't say we didn't warn you.

(You wanted the Marvel version? Got it covered. Oh wait, did you want Star Wars? We've got that too. X-Men? No problem!)

DCEU timeline – Worlds of DC movies in order

1. Wonder Woman

Warner Bros.

Watch now: iTunes | Prime Video | Microsoft Store

Patty Jenkins' acclaimed Wonder Woman takes us back a full century to Princess Diana of Themyscira's first outing as the titular superhero.

After meeting World War I spy Steve Trevor, she leaves her all-female paradise home forever to fight in the Great War against the god Ares.

When the movie concludes, Wonder Woman has realised that she can't simply fight all the world's problems and goes underground, which explains why she wasn't around when Superman came on the scene.

2. Wonder Woman 1984

Clay EnosWarner Bros.

Watch now: iTunes | Prime Video | Microsoft Store

Unlike the first movie, Wonder Woman 1984 doesn't have any modern wraparound section, so it's purely set in 1984 as Diana Prince battles against two new foes in the form of Maxwell Lord and Cheetah.

In terms of the DC universe, it's fairly standalone with references to Wonder Woman, but not to any other DC movie. However, it does manage to resolve a Batman v Superman plot hole, so that's something.

3. Man of Steel

Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock

Watch now: iTunes | Prime Video | Microsoft Store

Clark Kent coming out to the world as Superman in Zack Snyder's Man of Steel kicked off the modern age of superheroes in Worlds of DC's version of Earth (after everyone forgot Wonder Woman beat up all those German soldiers, apparently).

The movie charts Kal-El's first adventure, fighting General Zod and his invading Kryptonian forces, and ends with Clark taking up his iconic role at Metropolis' Daily Planet.

4. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Warner Bros.

Watch now: iTunes | Prime Video | Microsoft Store

Zack Snyder's Man of Steel follow-up depicts the first meeting between Ben Affleck's middle-aged Batman and Henry Cavill's Superman, with a bit of Lex Luthor and Doomsday thrown in for good measure.

Bruce Wayne and Clark begin as enemies, but manage to make it up just in time for Superman to be 'killed' by Doomsday.

Diana also resumes her public role as Wonder Woman after Batman catches her attempting to acquire a photograph from World War I in which she appears. Meanwhile, future Justice Leaguers Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash also have brief cameos.

5. Suicide Squad

will smith as deadshot and margot robbie as harley quinn in suicide squad

Warner Bros.

Watch now: iTunes | Prime Video | Microsoft Store

In response to the emergence of new metahumans, government agent Amanda Waller enlists a group of criminals to serve as a 'Suicide Squad' that will give the US a fighting chance against any rogue superheroes. The plan backfires instantly, leading to the events of David Ayer's movie.

While largely separate from the events of the other DC movies, it does feature some guest appearances from Flash (battling Captain Boomerang in what is probably one of his first adventures) and Batman, the latter of whom schedules in a tense meeting with Waller to acquire information on other metahumans.

6. Birds of Prey

ella jay basco as cassandra cain, margot robbie as harley quinn, birds of preybirds of prey

Warner Bros.

Watch now: iTunes | Prime Video | Microsoft Store

Really, you could watch Harley Quinn's solo outing Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) at any time after Suicide Squad, as the movie doesn't specify a year in which it's set.

It feels right coming straight after Suicide Squad though as Harley is still dealing with the break-up from Joker, so she decides to get her own squad together to take on Gotham City crime lord Roman Sionis (AKA Black Mask).

The movie ends with Harley riding off with Cassandra Cain as her apprentice (of sorts), leaving The Huntress, Black Canary and Renee Montoya to set up the Birds of Prey.

7. Wonder Woman (framing scenes)

batman v superman wonder woman photograph world war i

Warner Bros.

Watch now: iTunes | Prime Video | Microsoft Store

The opening and closing scenes of Wonder Woman are set well after the rest of the movie and after Batman v Superman.

Diana receives a delivery from Bruce – the photograph she was seeking in Batman v Superman – and recalls her involvement in World War I. Afterwards, she sets out to fight crime again.

8. Justice League / Zack Snyder's Justice League

justice league – flash, batman, wonder woman

Warner Bros.

Ryan Stetz (HBO)

Watch now: iTunes | Prime Video | Microsoft Store (Justice League) / iTunes | Prime Video | Microsoft Store (Zack Snyder's Justice League)

Here's where things get slightly tricky as there are now two versions of Justice League you can watch: the critically-derided 2017 version, or Zack Snyder's four-hour version, first released in 2021.

They both follow the same plot – Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash unite for the first time to battle Steppenwolf, alongside a resurrected Superman – but the two versions differ greatly, especially in the fact that Snyder's version ends with cliffhangers that set up his originally-planned Justice League sequels.

You can technically just substitute Snyder's movie into this timeline without much hassle, but you'll just have to overlook the fact that Aquaman makes no mention of an impending Darkseid war.

Neither will any upcoming DC movies, which will likely follow the original 2017 version as that's the one considered canon.

9. Aquaman

Warner Bros.

Watch now: iTunes | Prime Video | Microsoft Store

While James Wan's Aquaman is kept largely separate from the other goings-on in the Worlds of DC, it does follow up on Arthur Curry's first meeting with Mera.

The movie enlists Aquaman in a quest to prevent a war between the underwater armies of Atlantis and the sea-polluting surface dwellers. If you want to know how it ends, well, star Jason Momoa spoiled it ages before the film came out.

10. Shazam!

Warner Bros.

Watch now: iTunes | Prime Video | Microsoft Store

Much like Aquaman, Shazam! is largely kept separate from the wider Worlds of DC in terms of the timeline, even if there are more connections than you'd expect.

But we can roughly guess that it takes place after Justice League and Aquaman. In Freddy's bedroom, there's a newspaper with the headline 'Superman Is Back', likely referring to Justice League.

And in the post-credits sequence, the joke about Aquaman would only make sense if he's made a big splash in the world.

11. The Suicide Squad

Warner Bros.

Watch now: iTunes | Prime Video | Microsoft Store

Like the other recent DC movies, The Suicide Squad doesn't have a specific time setting, but Harley Quinn already knows Boomerang, so it's definitely set after the first movie and she's also not with Joker, so it's post-Birds of Prey too.

Other than that, it tells a story that's largely disconnected to the rest of the Worlds of DC, so you could watch it straight after Birds of Prey. You've just got to make sure you watch it before the spin-off show Peacemaker.

12. Peacemaker season 1

HBO Max

Watch now: HBO Max (US only) | Prime Video | iTunes | Microsoft Store

The first TV show of the Worlds of DC centred on John Cena's Peacemaker, following the events of The Suicide Squad.

You might have thought he was dead, but the post-credits scene of that movie showed he (somehow) survived. It sees him join another black ops squad who are on a mission to eliminate butterfly-like creatures who are taking over human bodies around the world.

Just another day at the office, then.

It's mostly just connected to The Suicide Squad and sees the return of Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) and John Economos (Steve Agee). However, stick around and you'll also be treated to some major DC cameos in the finale.

13. Black Adam

Warner Bros.

Watch now: Prime Video, iTunes, Microsoft Store and more

Dwayne Johnson makes his DC debut in Black Adam, which mostly acts as an origin story for the titular character and also the Justice Society.

Black Adam is revived 5,000 years after he was imprisoned for using his powers for vengeance, and uses his ancient form of justice to protect Kahndaq from a greater threat as the Justice Society learn to work with and not against him.

Upcoming DC Universe movies and TV shows

• Shazam! Fury of the Gods – March 17, 2023
• The Flash – June 23, 2023
• Blue Beetle – August 18, 2023
• Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom – December 25, 2023
• Peacemaker season 2
• Superman: Legacy – TBC
• Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow – TBC
• Lanterns – TBC
• Creature Commandos – TBC
• Waller – TBC
• The Authority – TBC
• Paradise Lost – TBC
• The Brave and the Bold – TBC
• Booster Gold – TBC
• Swamp Thing – TBC

Upcoming DC Elseworlds movies and TV shows

• Joker: Folie à Deux – October 4, 2024
• The Batman Part II – October 2025
• Untitled Penguin series – TBC

DC movies and shows likely cancelled

• Wonder Woman 3 – likely cancelled
• Man of Steel 2 – likely cancelled
• Green Lantern Corps – cancelled
• Static Shock – still TBC
• Zatanna – cancelled