The best DC Animated Universe watch orders

December 2024 · 7 minute read

DC Comics has struggled to match its great comic book rival in movie theaters for a while, but it’s a different story when it comes to animation. The DC Animated Universe gives the Marvel Cinematic Universe a run for its money. 

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For years, DC has prioritized high-quality animated movies based on its heroes and villains, starting with features that spun from the popular cartoon Batman: The Animated Series in the early 1990s. Their modern animations began in earnest in 2007, a year before the hugely successful MCU began. The old rivalry galvanized DC’s animated output, outperforming the live-action features in establishing a compelling shared universe. DC produces a regular calendar of three or four animated movies each year, mixing shared continuity movies with more experimental standalone adaptations. 

There are several approaches to watching the more than fifty DC animated movies released so far. Up to a certain point, there isn’t a strict running order — except for storylines split between two features (like The Dark Knight Returns), watching movies that share thematic links out of order won’t be too contradictory. That changes when you get to 2013’s The Flashpoint Paradox. Living up to its name’s reputation, Flashpoint established the DC Animated Movie Universe (DCAMU), a new continuity that most of the following animated films have followed.

There are various ways to catch the movies, but unusually for DC, there’s no need for a crisis. We’ve worked out several running orders so you can pick the one that suits you. If you’d like to jump in chronologically, including the correct order of DCAMU entries, jump to the final list.

Here are the best ways to watch DC Animated Movies.

DC Animated Universe (DCAU)

This is where it all began, branching from classic animated series of the 1990s and 2000s, like Batman the Animated Series and Justice League. A strength of the medium is that the DCAU can continue to release the odd throwback to these classic eras. The most recent was in 2019.

Standalones movies

This is where the modern era of DC animated movies started. Doomsday was a quick adaptation of the Death of Superman storyline, distinct from previous animated continuity. Eleven years later, it was the first movie to be superseded as a new adaptation of the fatal showdown joined the DCAMU continuity. 

These standalone films can be watched in any order. They pick up specific influences, ideas, and high-profile comic storylines and run in their own direction. Some, especially adaptations of well-regarded stories, have proven to be more successful than others. 

Other Continuities

As story arcs and concepts have taken off in other media, the DCAU has been able to respond, supplementing superheroic adventures on film and in video games. 

Superman/Batman

This subsection picks up from the recurring comic title, and the two adaptations benefit from being watched in sequence. 

Crisis on Two Earths / Doom

Two more related movies worth watching in this order for full effect.

Year One / Dark Knight Returns

A specific continuity that adapts the legendary comic storylines of Frank Miller — from Batman’s first year to a dystopian future. 

Tomorrowverse

Building on the Millerverse continuity, the Tomorrowverse pulls together animated movies that concentrate on the formative years of its heroes.

DC Animated Movie Universe (DCAMU)

This is where strict continuity becomes essential, The Flashpoint Paradox kickstarted a new continuity for animated features — realizing the benefits of a shared universe.

In release order

If you’d prefer to tackle the whole set, it’s not a bad idea to watch all the DC animated movies in release order. This adds variety, some nice breaks to classic (and some underpowered) adaptations, and lets you enjoy the DCAMU in the order intended.

Upcoming releases

DC’s animated output isn’t slowing down, with diverse movies expected in the next year. In Battle of the Super Sons, the franchise will welcome its first CGI animated film. Rumor has it that an adaptation of one of DC’s most ambitious stories is also being planned — a multi-part interpretation of the original DC crisis: Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Related: How to watch all Tomorrowverse movies in order on Attack of the Fanboy

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