10 Underrated DC Movies Fans Were Wrong About (2024)

The hierarchy of the DC Universe is about to change. Thanks to the brilliant creative minds of James Gunn and Peter Safran, both of whom have taken over the reins of creating a combined DC Comics cinematic universe, including the upcoming Superman reboot. And with so much buzz over what's to come, it's easy to forget some of the more underrated editions in the company's history.

From box office bombs to critical failures to films that just unfortunately slipped by the cultural zeitgeist, DC Comics has had a few unfortunate misses in theaters. And for the most part, quite a few of them deserve a second look by eager fans.

10 The Suicide Squad Shouldn’t Have Bombed at the Box Office

The Suicide Squad (2021)

Movies in 2020 and 2021 were to inevitably suffer due to the global pandemic, so when The Suicide Squad came to theaters, as excited as fans were, the box office return did not live up to the hype. James Gunn was tasked to reboot the series after being fired from DC's rival, and more successful company, Marvel. Gunn was eventually brought back to close out his Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, but first sought to create a reboot of Suicide Squad.

In 2016, the much less beloved outing of the team was met with major critical disappointment, and the studio was hoping to see a resurgence of popularity for the characters. Luckily, that was achieved, but unfortunately not in terms of box office numbers. Luckily for the studio, Gunn's work seemed to click with fans, leading the director to not only get his own spinoff series starring John Cena as Peacemaker, but to also be picked to lead the DC universe into the new horizon of cinema.

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The Suicide Squad

R

Action

Adventure

Comedy

Science Fiction

Supervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Peacemaker, and a collection of nutty cons at Belle Reve prison join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X as they are dropped off at the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese.

Director

James Gunn

Release Date

August 5, 2021

Cast

Margot Robbie , Viola Davis , Idris Elba , John Cena , Joel Kinnaman , Michael Rooker

Runtime

2 hours 12 minutes

9 Shazam Suffered the Fury of the Gods and the Critics

Shazam: Fury of the Gods (2023)

The DC Extended Universe was given many opportunities by fans and critics but ultimately ended up disappointing most audiences. So when James Gunn announced he would be wiping the slate clean and starting a completely new universe, the final films left on the DC docket had impossible odds against them. Not only did they have to dazzle and excite fans against the established DCEU expectations, but the movies would also have to withstand the growing superhero fatigue the genre was facing.

Shazam: Fury of the Gods, unfortunately, could not beat the odds. Helmed by returning director, David F. Sandberg, the film would see the entire Shazam family return to go up against gods and monsters from another world. In a different year, and if the DCEU wasn't already winding down, this film could've been a hit. Fans acknowledged that the movie wasn't bad in any way, but it was something that people had felt like they'd seen before. Shazam: Fury of the Gods, unfortunately, didn't spark interest in audiences like the first one did.

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Shazam! Fury of the Gods

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Comedy

The film continues the story of teenage Billy Batson who, upon reciting the magic word "SHAZAM!" is transformed into his adult Super Hero alter ego, Shazam.

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

*Availability in US

Director

David F. Sandberg

Release Date

March 17, 2023

Cast

Helen Mirren , Zachary Levi , Grace Caroline Currey , Lucy Liu , Rachel Zegler , Adam Brody​ , Meagan Good

Writers

Henry Gayden , Chris Morgan

Runtime

130 minutes

Main Genre

Adventure

YouTube Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YqsFvQcp0M&pp=ygUuc2hhemFtISBmdXJ5IG9mIHRoZSBnb2RzIDIwMjMgb2ZmaWNpYWwgdHJhaWxlcg%3D%3D

Production Company

Producers

Geoff Johns , Marcus Viscidi , Peter Safran , Richard Brener , Walter Hamada , Dave Neustadter , Victoria Palmeri

Character(s)

Shazam , Billy Batson , Freddy Freeman , Anthea , Super Hero Freddy , Super Hero Eugene , Super Hero Pedro , Mary Bromfield / Super Hero Mary , Super Hero Darla , Kalypso , Wizard , Hespera , Darla Dudley , Eugene Choi , Pedro Peña , Rosa Vasquez , Victor Vasquez , Docent , Dr. Dario Bava , Mr. Geckle , Museum Security Guard , Landlord , Girl Running on Bridge , Nurse in Need of a Hero , Driver with Kittens

8 Fans Forget That Road to Perdition Is Technically a DC Movie

Road to Perdition (2002)

Road to Perdition is a masterfully crafted crime drama that often flies under the radar despite its brilliance. Directed by the incredibly talented Sam Mendes, the film showcases stunning cinematography by Conrad Hall, whose work earned an Academy Award. Every frame feels like a painting, with its haunting visuals perfectly capturing the melancholic tone of a father-son tale set against a backdrop of violence.

Tom Hanks delivers one of his most nuanced performances as Michael Sullivan, a hit-man seeking redemption and justice, while Paul Newman gives a career-highlight performance as the conflicted mob boss. The film also introduces a chilling villain in Jude Law's Harlen Maguire, whose presence is as eerie as it is memorable. Though praised upon release, Road to Perdition is often overshadowed by flashier crime epics. Its emotional depth, moral complexity, and meticulous storytelling deserve more recognition, especially for how it transcends the crime genre to explore themes of family, loyalty, and legacy.

Road to Perdition

R

Drama

Crime

Thriller

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

*Availability in US

Director

Sam Mendes

Release Date

July 12, 2002

Cast

Tom Hanks , Tyler Hoechlin , Stanley Tucci , Daniel Craig , Jude Law , Jennifer Jason Leigh , Dylan Baker , Paul Newman

Writers

David Self

Runtime

117 minutes

Main Genre

Crime

Budget

$80 million

Studio(s)

DreamWorks Distribution

Distributor(s)

20th Century , DreamWorks Distribution

7 The Dynamic Duo Used to Be Silly Instead of Brooding

Batman: The Movie (1966)

The original Batman series from the 1960s defined the character and would help secure his notoriety in pop culture forever. Played by Adam West as the titular character, and joined by Burt Ward as the Boy Wonder, the Dynamic Duo brings color and comedy to the big screen. The original show would see many zany and classic characters comic fans would recognize, hilarious gags, silly fight scenes and a theme song that has stuck with the character for more than fifty years now.

In their cinematic outing, Batman and Robin will have to go up against a collection of his toughest foes yet. The Joker, Riddler, Penguin and Catwoman all set out to take over Gotham with an aquatic-themed plan. The Batman '66 movie included many famous moments, such as Batman's bat-shark repellent and the famous moment where Batman, "just can't get rid of a bomb." This interpretation of the character has sorely been missed by fans, and many believe it would be great to see a more lighthearted take on the Caped Crusader in the future.

Batman '66

TV-G

Action

Fantasy

Crime

Release Date

January 12, 1966

Creator(s)

Lorenzo Semple Jr. , William Dozier

Cast

Adam West , Burt Ward , Alan Napier , Neil Hamilton , Stafford Repp , William Dozier

Main Genre

Crime

Seasons

3

Creator

Lorenzo Semple Jr., William Dozier

Production Company

20th Century Fox Television, Greenway Productions

Number of Episodes

120

6 Christopher Reeve’s Superman Almost Returns

Superman Returns (2006)

Superman Returns aimed to recapture the magic of the classic Superman films, serving as a love letter to Richard Donner’s 1978 original. Brandon Routh shines as the titular hero, channeling the essence of Christopher Reeve while making the role his own. The film's visual effects and John Ottman’s soaring score add to its nostalgic appeal, and moments like Superman saving a crashing plane are undeniably iconic.

However, the film struggled to connect with modern audiences. Superman Return's introspective tone, while ambitious, lacked the action and dynamic storytelling that contemporary superhero films thrive on. At the box office, it under-performed, and critics were divided over its slower pace and reliance on past narratives. Despite this, Superman Returns remains an underrated entry for its emotional depth and Routh’s heartfelt performance.

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Superman Returns

PG-13

Superhero

Action

Adventure

Sci-Fi

Superman returns to Earth after spending five years in space examining his homeworld Krypton. But he finds things have changed while he was gone, and he must once again prove himself important to the world.

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

*Availability in US

Director

Bryn Singer

Release Date

June 30, 2006

Cast

Brandon Routh , Kevin Spacey , Kate Bosworth , James Marsden , Parker Posey , Frank Langella , Sam Huntington , Eva Marie Saint

See Also

VolumeCompleto - Fisiologia do Exercício

Writers

Michael Dougherty , Dan Harris , Bryan Singer

Runtime

154 Minutes

Main Genre

Superhero

Production Company

Warner Bros., Legendary Entertainment, Peters Entertainment

5 Harley Quinn Took Over the Birds of Prey Movie, and Fans Loved It

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020)

Birds of Prey was another DC cinematic victim of the global pandemic in 2020, but there were more reasons why this film didn't live up to expectations at the box office. For starters, the film advertised itself as an adaptation of the Birds of Prey characters. Typically, their core lineup includes Batgirl, Black Canary and Huntress, who are seen in the film, with the exception of Batgirl being replaced by Renee Montoya. And fans were excited to see this team fight crime. However, the story takes a major pivot and shifts the story to almost solely focus on Harley Quinn.

Even though the film caught some fans off guard, so much so that DC changed the title weeks later to Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey, fans were still happy with the movie. It's a silly, fun, zany look at Gotham City about some of the more unique and smaller characters in the mythos. And while the film suffered at the box office, it was definitely not due to the quality of this underrated movie.

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)

R

Action

Crime

Director

Cathy Yan

Release Date

February 5, 2020

Cast

Rosie Perez , Margot Robbie , Mary Elizabeth Winstead , Jurnee Smollett , Ewan McGregor , Ella Jay Basco , Chris Messina , Ali Wong , David Ury , Sara Montez , Izabel Pakzad , Daniel Bernhardt , Kc Strubbe , Jacky Shu , Paloma Esparza Rabinov , Derek Wilson , Joe Bucaro III , James Henry Williams Jr. , François Chau , Miyuki Matsunaga , Anna Mikami , Bruno Oliver , Keisha Tucker , Matthew Willig , Jeremy Denzlinger

Writers

Christina Hodson

Runtime

109 minutes

YouTube Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGM4uYZzfu0

Producers

David Ayer , Geoff Johns , Hans Ritter , Walter Hamada , Margot Robbie , Bryan Unkeless , Sue Kroll

Character(s)

Renee Montoya , Harley Quinn , Helena Bertinelli / Huntress , Dinah Lance / Black Canary , Roman Sionis , Cassandra Cain , Victor Zsasz , Ellen Yee , Sleazy Breeder , Shallow Friend #1 / Kathrine , Shallow Friend #2 , Sionis' Chauffeur , Naïve Teammate , Skeptical Teammate , Bitchy Teammate , Detective Tim Munroe , Carlos Rossi , Ace Chemical Police Officer , Mr. Keo , Mrs. Keo , Miss Keo (16 yrs) , Bodega Cook (Sal) , Roller Derby Girl , Happy , Desk Sergeant

4 LEGO Batman Is One of the Best Versions of the Character

The LEGO Batman Movie (2017)

Introduced in The LEGO Movie, Will Arnett voices the totally awesome and hilarious LEGO Batman. The character was so great, he got his own cinematic outing in 2017 with The LEGO Batman Movie. And while this film succeeded among critics and at the box office, fans today forget to consider the film when it comes to great renditions of the character. LEGO Batman sets out to celebrate the Dark Knight's illustrious and fascinating history in comics and at the movies.

In a colorfully quick and hilarious story, Batman attempts to make himself into one of the world's greatest superheroes by breaking out all of pop culture's most evil villains. Of course, things go wrong, and the LEGO Batman team, including Michael Cera's Robin and Rosario Dawson's Batgirl, must save Gotham from the clutches of the entire Dark Knight rogues gallery. The Lego Batman Movie should be more beloved among fans as one of the most recent, and greatest, examples of the character.

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The Lego Batman Movie

PG

Animation

Action-Adventure

A cooler-than-ever Bruce Wayne must deal with the usual suspects as they plan to rule Gotham City, while discovering that he has accidentally adopted a teenage orphan who wishes to become his sidekick.

Director

Chris McKay

Release Date

February 10, 2017

Cast

Will Arnett , Rosario Dawson

Writers

Erik Sommers , Seth Grahame-Smith , Chris McKenna

Runtime

1 hour 44 minutes

Main Genre

superheroes

Production Company

Animal Logic DC, Entertainment LEG , System A/S

3 Joel Schumacher’s Batman Movie Felt Straight Out of a Comic

Batman Forever (1995)

Following Tim Burton's Batman was tricky, as the legendary director reinvented the character to be dark and brooding. Unfortunately, that was not what Warner Bros. was looking for. They wanted something flashier and more fun. In comes Joel Schumacher, who spins the modern character into a flashier, more suave hero intent on protecting Gotham from villainy.

This go around, Michael Keaton hands over the cape and cowl to Val Kilmer, who unfortunately did not enjoy his time on set. Along with Kilmer comes Jim Carrey as the enigmatic Riddler, reminiscent of Frank Gorshin's portrayal in the 1960s, and Tommy Lee Jones' just as zany Two-Face. While Batman: Forever isn't remembered fondly compared to Michael Keaton's run, it deserves to be appreciated on its own.

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Batman Forever

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Crime

Fantasy

Superhero

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

*Availability in US

Director

Joel Schumacher

Release Date

June 9, 1995

Cast

Jim Carrey , Nicole Kidman , Tommy Lee Jones , Drew Barrymore , Chris O'Donnell , Val Kilmer , Pat Hingle , Michael Gough , Debi Mazar

Writers

Bob Kane , Lee Batchler , Janet Scott Batchler , Akiva Goldsman

Runtime

117 Minutes

Story By

Bob Kane , Lee Batchler , Janet Scott Batchler

Budget

$100 Million

Studio(s)

PolyGram Pictures , Tim Burton Productions

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

prequel(s)

Batman , Batman Returns

2 Blue Beetle Should’ve Been DC’s Next Big Superhero

Blue Beetle (2023)

Xolo Maridueña shines as the Blue Beetle, a character fans have been dying to see brought to life on screen for years. Unfortunately, this film came in 2023 amid the DC universe restructuring. As James Gunn and Peter Safran set out to tell a new story for the characters, audiences already wrote off Blue Beetle before even seeing it.

Although a by-the-numbers superhero plot, Blue Beetle manages to tell its story well and entice fans enough to want to see more. Like other DC movies that were released around this time, this film could've been a massive hit if released in a different year. But now that the dust has settled, Blue Beetle deserves a second chance, and luckily, will be getting one with his own animated series in the new universe.

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Blue Beetle

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Sci-Fi

Superhero

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

*Availability in US

Director

Angel Manuel Soto

Release Date

August 18, 2023

Cast

Xolo Mariduena , Susan Sarandon , Raoul Max Trujillo , Harvey Guillen , George Lopez , Elpidia Carrillo , Bruna Marquezine

Writers

Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer

Runtime

127 Minutes

Franchise

Story By

Cully Hamner , John Rogers , Keith Giffen

Characters By

Cinematographer

Producer

Production Company

Sfx Supervisor

Studio(s)

DC Studios , Safran Company

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

1 Ryan Reynolds’ Green Lantern Is Not That Bad

Green Lantern (2011)

Famous among what fans consider to be the worst superhero movies ever made, Green Lantern deserves a second look. Ryan Reynolds plays Hal Jordan in the character's first solo cinematic outing, wearing an iconically panned, completely computer-animated green suit. And while most fans were disappointed by the suit's appearance as an almost organic material, the effects in the film weren't bad, to say the least. As a matter of fact, the film looks generally great in most circumstances. The problem, for audiences, lies within the story.

Following the typical superhero narrative of the time, and being inspired by the Dark Knight franchise, Green Lantern tries a gritty take on galactic adventures. Battling an evil, yellow cloud, the Green Lantern has to save the known universe from the perils of evil. It's not the best DC Comics film, but it's certainly not as bad as fans make it out to be.

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Green Lantern

PG-13

superheroes

Action

Adventure

Sci-Fi

Reckless test pilot Hal Jordan is granted an alien ring that bestows him with otherworldly powers that inducts him into an intergalactic police force, the Green Lantern Corps.

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

*Availability in US

Director

Martin Campbell

Release Date

June 17, 2011

Cast

Ryan Reynolds , Blake Lively , Peter Sarsgaard , Angela Bassett

Writers

Greg Berlanti , Michael Green , Marc Guggenheim , Michael Goldenberg

Runtime

114 minutes

Main Genre

Superhero

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