TOP 10 BEST DC MOVIES

Canal Cultura POP
Jun 4
6 min read

DC Comics dominated superhero movies long before the MCU, with smash hits like Batman (1989) and Superman: The Movie. However, in its attempt to create a Marvel-style shared universe, it ended up failing miserably. However, taking the entire period into account, what were the 10 best DC movies? That's what we're going to find out today! Don't forget to comment with your list!

(TOP 10 BEST DC MOVIES)

10: Superman Returns

After 19 years, Christopher Reeve's classic franchise gets a symbolic sequel, now with Brandon Routh playing the Man of Steel. At the time, it was received lukewarmly, but it has aged well, gaining strength precisely because it rescues a more hopeful and faithful vision of the heroes.

In the plot, Superman returns after years away and soon saves a plane in an iconic scene. While dealing with the difficult reality that Lois has moved on, now married and mother of Jason, she must face Lex Luthor, who plans to create a new continent using technology from the Fortress of Solitude.

The film is full of references to the 1978 classic, both aesthetic and thematic, in addition to strongly embracing the character's messianic symbolism, including the sequence in which Superman "resurrects" after three days in the hospital.

Despite powerful moments, such as the rescue of the plane and the epic scene on the kryptonite island, the film fails to recycle plots from the old films, especially the first two. This, added to the only reasonable box office of 391 million, and a mediocre critical reception, makes it clear that Superman: The Returns is more of a beautiful homage than a reinvention.

9: Batman Begins

The beginning of Nolan's trilogy takes a realistic approach, focusing on the construction of the hero. It is a film about fear, overcoming and choice. Bruce Wayne's journey is treated with respect, depth and a very well-balanced dramatic charge.

The construction of the Batman myth, from his moral code to his symbol of fear, is impeccably worked.

The plot rehashes some classic Batman comics, such as Batman: Year One, which deals precisely with the origin of Batman and his relationship with the main pillars of Gotham, such as Jim Gordon and Carmine Falcone.

The only weak point is the terrible action scenes, with the shaky camera, making it almost impossible to understand what Batman is doing in the action scenes, something unacceptable in action films. But it is undeniable that Batman Begins is one of the best superhero origin films.

The reviews were mostly positive, and the box office grossed over $373 million, rekindling Batman in the popular imagination after the resounding failure of Batman & Robin.

8: Justice League (Snydercut)

A true four-hour epic that corrects the mistakes of the 2017 version. Here, Zack Snyder delivers his complete vision, focusing on the development of the characters, especially Cyborg. It is grand, dramatic and much more cohesive in terms of narrative and tone.

Unfortunately, despite the good response to the film, we did not have a sequel, with this being the last Justice League film to be released, largely due to the extremely troubled production behind the scenes at DC, from actors leaving the project, such as Henry Cavill, to problems with directors and producers.

7: Batman (1989)

A controversial choice for some, but in my opinion, more than fair. Batman (1989), directed by Tim Burton, closed the “Decade of the Bat” with a flourish, marked by masterpieces such as The Killing Joke and The Dark Knight. Its gothic, dark and theatrical aesthetic is very much in keeping with the 1980s.

The film follows Batman’s (Michael Keaton) first months in Gotham, where his figure begins to terrorize the criminal underworld. The iconic phrase “I am Batman” marks the introduction. The antagonist is Jack Napier (Jack Nicholson), who, after falling into a chemical tank, becomes the Joker, a maniacal clown who spreads chaos throughout the city.

Narratively, the film has limitations: the plot is more a sequence of great moments than a truly cohesive story. The Joker, despite being charismatic and threatening, ends up being the only character who is truly developed.

Burton's direction is pure identity: a Gothic, dirty and stylized Gotham, almost a character in its own right. Danny Elfman's soundtrack is masterful, and is still considered the definitive Batman theme.

In the end, it is a film where style surpasses script, and it became a phenomenon. The box office grossed over 410 million dollars at the time (which would be over 1.1 billion today), and the film also won the Oscar for Art Direction.

6: Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman marked DC's first major success in modern cinema. Patty Jenkins delivers an epic and emotional adventure that honors the essence of the character.

We follow Diana (Gal Gadot) leaving Themyscira to face the First World War, believing that Ares is behind the conflict. The film succeeds in building an idealistic and powerful heroine, with great chemistry between Gal and Chris Pine.

The No Man's Land sequence is simply anthological, elevating the film to another level. The third act, unfortunately, slips into excess CGI and generic battles, but it does not erase the impact of a work that combines action, heart and representation.

The film made Wonder Woman a true icon within the DCEU, with 822 million at the box office and a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

5: Dark Knight Rises

Closing Christopher Nolan's trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises delivers a grand, ambitious and emotional epic. The film follows a physically and mentally broken Bruce Wayne, forced to come out of retirement when Gotham is threatened by Bane (Tom Hardy), a brutal and strategic villain. The film stands out for its almost operatic scale, with intense action scenes, constant tension and a dark tone, which discusses themes such as redemption, sacrifice and hope. Bane is an imposing presence, although he does not reach the same level of complexity as the Joker in the previous film. If there are flaws, they are in some script conveniences and in a conclusion that, despite being emotionally satisfying, forces the suspension of disbelief a little. Still, it is a worthy, impactful and courageous ending to one of the best trilogies in cinema, which, like its predecessor, surpassed 1 billion at the box office.

4: Joker

The most controversial film in DC history.

Joker shook the foundations of cinema upon its release, being the first R-rated film to reach a billion at the box office, and winning awards such as the Oscar for best actor for Joaquin Phoenix, Best Soundtrack and the Golden Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival.

The film is very dense, with many scenes that we don't know for sure whether they are real or just fantasies from Arthur Fleck's mind. Arthur's transformation runs throughout the plot, being a sensational and realistic story, resulting in an epic and quite divisive ending, since we don't know if all that really happened.

3: The Batman

Matt Reeves delivers one of the most investigative and dark versions of the character. A modern film noir that explores Batman's detective side, with an oppressive atmosphere and a decadent Gotham. Robert Pattinson surprises with an introspective and intense performance, while the villain Riddler brings a realistic and disturbing threat.

The critical reception was great, and the box office grossed over 770 million dollars, with the film becoming a real hit.

The realistic universe created by Reeves will probably not continue beyond the Penguin series, as the new DCU, led by James Gunn, has a much more realistic vision, which would not fit with this more "down to earth" version of Pattinson's Batman.

2: Superman: The Movie

In the 1970s, Superman seemed outdated in the face of the rise of anti-heroes. DC needed a big movie, or the character risked being forgotten. The director was Richard Donner and, after big stars turned down the role, Christopher Reeve emerged, an unknown actor who would immortalize the hero, shining both as the powerful Superman and as the clumsy Clark Kent.

With revolutionary effects for the time, the film delivered what it promised: "You'll believe a man can fly." John Williams' epic soundtrack, the star-studded cast and the fidelity to the character's origins made this film a milestone not only for comics, but for cinema as well.

Despite some criticism of the pace and the caricatured tone of Lex Luthor, Superman (1978) remains an absolute classic, which saved DC, turned Reeve into an icon and consolidated the superhero genre. The box office grossed $300 million, which in today's terms would be around $1.6 billion, making it one of the most profitable films of all time.

1: Batman: Dark Knight

The greatest superhero film ever made, and one of the best in the history of cinema. With a brilliant investigative plot that pushes all the characters to their limits, and a simply breathtaking ending, The Dark Knight is a masterpiece.

The highlight, of course, is Heath Ledger's legendary performance as the Joker, which earned him a posthumous Oscar and six other individual awards. The cast is top-notch, with Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Aaron Eckhart delivering impeccable performances.

The script avoids clichés, deeply exploring the relationship between Batman and the Joker, two opposites in an unforgettable moral and psychological clash. The Joker's plan, which tests Gotham's soul, is as brilliant as it is disturbing. And the outcome, with Batman taking the blame for Harvey Dent's crimes to protect the city's hope, is one of the most powerful moments in cinema.

With over $1 billion at the box office and a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, The Dark Knight is the absolute pinnacle of the genre.

And that was our list. Do you agree? Disagree? Be sure to comment and follow our next posts!