Long before Marvel built their movie empire with the MCU, DC was building several successful film franchises based on their iconic heroes, but they also had plenty of terrible movies that featured just a handful of hidden gems in their dialogue. It’s fair to say that the DCU is coming at a time when the DC Comics movies have not had a lot of luck. For every spectacular hit like The Batman and Joker, there have been movies like The Flash and Joker: Folie à Deux that left audiences frustrated and fed up.
However, the history of DC movies actually goes back decades with early adaptations of Superman and Batman between the 1940s and 1960s. Then DC began to hit its stride with box office hits in the 1980s and 1990s. However, that isn’t to say every new movie was a hit. But, despite some incredibly jarring or weak movie releases from DC, there is usually some redeeming element like a cleverly crafted line that makes them a little more worthwhile.
10
“You don’t kill as many people as I’ve killed and still sleep like a kitten if you feel s*** like love.”
Deadshot – In Suicide Squad (2016)
Starting out with one of the more recent flops from the DCEU, Suicide Squad, directed by David Ayer, outperformed the loose sequel/remake by James Gunn that was released in 2021 by nearly five times the total box office. However, the earlier film broke a lot of fans trust in the DCEU by delivering an incredibly sub-par film that was criticized by many fans for a wide variety of reasons. From Jared Leto’s Joker, to the lack of storytelling, the movie dragged from start to finish.
|
Movie |
Box Office Total (Via Box Office Mojo) |
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Suicide Squad (2016) |
$749,200,054 |
26% |
58% |
|
The Suicide Squad (2021) |
$168,717,425 |
90% |
82% |
However, the chemistry that was explored between Deadshot, played by Will Smith, and Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), was a highlight from the film. Both characters opened up to each other, and they had some heart to hearts that actually felt meaningful. At one point, Harley asks Deadshot about his romantic history, and Deadshot drops this line, which is a clear insight into the types of sociopaths that have been recruited to this team.
9
“Well, Jonah Hex doesn’t know how to die. He’ll have to be educated.”
Quentin Turnbull – Jonah Hex (2010)
For all its faults, of which there are many, Jonah Hex did have some decent dialog from the film’s primary antagonist. The film has received an overwhelming amount of negative attention in the immediate aftermath, but time has made it easier to spot some of the bright spots in an otherwise bleak film. With the first important note being just how much talent appeared in this movie. Josh Brolin, Michael Fassbender, Michael Shannon, John Malkovich, Will Arnett, and Lance Reddick.
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With so much talent on the table, there were bound to be some redeeming moments, and one such line is delivered by arguably the biggest star in the film, Malkovich. Malkovich plays the dastardly villain who brutally murders Jonah’s family and triggers the events that play out throughout the film. While hunting down Jonah, and attempting to finish what he started by killing his family, Turnbull’s ominous line listed above shows just how evil and twisted this villain is.
8
“I am Kara of Argo City, daughter of Alura and Zor-El, and I don’t scare easily.”
Supergirl – Supergirl (1984)
Admittedly, when it comes to the 1984 flop that was Supergirl, it was a challenge to find strong dialog from the film. At the time, female superheros were only beginning to get attention, and their stories were still rifled with references to the more popular male counterparts, and Supergirl was no different. Releasing between Superman III and Superman IV, Supergirl was loaded with references to the Man of Steel, despite the character never appearing in the film.
The above line sees Kara step up and find her confidence, confronting her rival, Selena, and proving why she deserves the title of hero.
However, despite the film’s divided focus, and the underdevelopment of the heroine who was meant to lead the events, there is one moment that feels like a big win for Kara. The above line sees Kara step up and find her confidence, confronting her rival, Selena, and proving why she deserves the title of hero. This line is empowering, and feels like a real declaration in a movie that otherwise struggles to keep it’s focus on the leading lady.
7
“Freedom is power. To live a life untamed and unafraid is the gift that I’ve been given, and so my journey begins.”
Catwoman – Catwoman (2004)
In the final moments of Catwoman, the movie succinctly wraps up everything that Halle Berry’s Catwoman has learned in a neat and satisfying piece of dialog. It’s a shame that the rest of the film feels like a fever dream, but at least the conclusion is able to boil it down to something that feels intentional and clever. Patience Phillips has an accident that causes her to almost die. However, when a magical cat revives her, she is granted feline abilities and a new lease on life.
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After the events of the film, as Patience learns to cope with her new powers and adjust to a very different life, she finds herself embracing the gift she’s been given with another shot at life. She explains that this freedom, freedom to live and experience each new day is a gift, and a power. It feels inspirational, but in the context of the movie, it feels a little more corny, which diminishes the value somewhat.
6
“There is no defeat in death, Master Bruce. Victory comes in defending what we know is right while we still live.”
Alfred – Batman & Robin (1997)
A very different kind of film, Batman & Robin was corny for very different reasons. With over-the-top villains, costumes, and a bizarre plot that paired two antagonists with goals to take over the world in drastically different ways. However, guiding Master Bruce Wayne through this madness, Alfred, his faithful butler and friend, imparted the above wisdom when Batman was on the brink of giving up.
While this Alfred is less of a fighter, and he chooses to inspire from the sidelines, his motivational talks are exquisite.
Batman feels overwhelmed by the challenge ahead of him, and finds himself worrying about the possibility of losing lives, including that of his companion Robin, and innocent civilians. However, Alfred inspires Batman by helping him to shift his perspective off of the potential for losing, and onto what he is capable of doing here and now. It’s a heartfelt and emotional moment that raises the stakes and sets the stage for the movie’s ending.
5
“Everything’s changed…”
Alfred Pennyworth – Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
“Everything’s changed. Men fall from the sky, the gods hurl thunderbolts, innocents die. That’s how it starts, sir. The fever, the rage, the feeling of powerlessness that turns good men… cruel.”
Nearly a full two decades later, Alfred again appears as the voice of reason and wisdom when the character is played by Jeremy Irons for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Once again, Batman finds himself in a pit of despair. With powerful aliens like Superman roaming the Earth, Bats feels the threat to Earth and the entire human race is too great, but with his status as a criminal vigilante, he feels he has hit a wall in what he can achieve.
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There are a lot of great heroes in the DC universe, making it quite hard to choose the best one. Many characters lie in the gray area between villain and hero, such as Catwoman, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, and even Batman himself. Superman, in my opinion, is too strong. He can only be defeated by kryptonite and that makes him slightly boring in most story lines, because you know it is nearly impossible for him to lose. I honestly have the most fun with the Teen Titans and would consider Cyborg to be the best hero in the DC universe. He has a great character design considering all of his cybernetic enhancements. He can kick some serious butt and is always quick with a joke. I not only adore him in the comic books, but in Doom Patrol and Teen Titans as well.
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Batman tells his dear friend Alfred of his concerns, and in order to bolster his determination and highlight the new stakes in play, Alfred delivers this powerful line. However, the words he speaks are also a foreshadowing of what will play out between Batman and Superman over the course of the film. Either way, Alfred’s insight is invaluable, and one of the shining moments in a film that was otherwise lacking refinement in the script.
4
“This world was a beautiful place just as it was, and you cannot have it all…”
Diana Prince – Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
“This world was a beautiful place just as it was, and you cannot have it all. You can only have the truth. And the truth is enough. The truth is beautiful. So look at this world, and look at what your wish is costing it. You must be the hero.”
Wonder Woman was a smash hit when it came out in 2017, but the sequel was far less well-received as it came late in the dying DCEU and felt like it was lost among the landscape of the films. However, Gal Gadot’s Diana Prince remains a powerful force to be reckoned with, even if the stakes are reduced, and the story feels less consequential. In the film’s final moments, when Wonder Woman is facing off against the antagonist, Maxwell Lord, she delivers this inspiring speech.
Ultimately, Wonder Woman 1984’s greatest power was empowering others, and despite the movie’s faults, this message endures long after the credit’s roll.
Wonder Woman is well known for her ability to inspire and lead people out of challenging circumstances, and rise up against corrupt powers. While this dialog appears to be a reprimand aimed at Maxwell Lord, Wonder Woman clarifies that the speech was never meant for him, as she directs his attention to the people ready to rise up against him after hearing her wise words. Ultimately, Wonder Woman 1984’s greatest power was empowering others, and despite the movie’s faults, this message endures long after the credit’s roll.
3
“What a brilliant future we could have…”
Superman – Superman IV: The Quest For Peace (1987)
“What a brilliant future we could have. And there will be peace. There will be peace when the people of the world want it so badly that their governments will have no choice but to give it to them. I just wish you could all see the Earth the way that I see it. Because when you really look at it, it’s just one world.”
In a similar vein, though many years earlier, Christopher Reeve proved again why he was Superman. While the actor was growing increasingly tired and frustrated of being typecast in this role, there was no denying that he was the perfect man to play the hero who inspired hope, truth, and the American way in everyone that watched him speak and perform as Superman. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace sees Superman take control of his own narrative as he speaks to the world on multiple occasions.
Early on, he speaks to the United Nations gathering, and declares his mission to rid the world of nuclear weapons, and towards the end, he addresses the world again through a news broadcast. This final speech in particular is powerful and inspiring, as Superman proves his allegiance to Earth as a whole, and invites the world to be united, looking towards a brighter future. As an alien who has been embraced by humanking, he is perfectly placed to deliver this speech, and invite the world to grow and take a step into the future alongside him.
2
“You know, we have a saying on earth. We say: “I’m only human…””
Hal Jordan – Green Lantern (2011)
“You know, we have a saying on earth. We say: “I’m only human.” We say it because we’re vulnerable, we say it because we know we’re afraid, but it doesn’t mean we’re weak. Help me save my planet. Don’t give in to fear. Fight it. Fight it with me.”
Obviously, Ryan Reynolds found his perfect superhero casting when he took on the role of Deadpool in the Fox X-Men universe, but he also had a brief stint as a DC star. As Hal Jordan, Reynolds plays an ordinary human who is deemed worthy to join the Lanterns, but it takes time to understand what he has that makes him worthy of this role. And it wasn’t just Hal wondering, as the rest of the Lanterns struggled to see how he fit in, or what he could actually contribute.
However, Hal does eventually view his humanity as a strength, and gains an understanding that this ability to accept vulnerabilities and work past them is a strength. For the rest of the Lanterns, their fears have been suppressed in an effort to appear strong, but that doesn’t reflect true bravery. Instead, Hal’s leading by example proves that weaknesses only stay weaknesses when they have control over a person. Embracing these things and pushing forward is where true growth lies.
1
“The world needs Superman… the team needs Clark…”
Bruce Wayne – Justice League (2017)
“The world needs Superman… the team needs Clark. He’s more human I am. He lived in this world, fell in love, had a job. In spite of all that power.”
And finally, ending with one of the most contested and disjointed films to ever come out of DC, Justice League, Bruce Wayne delivers a line that again shifts focus from the heroes, and onto those who embrace what it means to be human. DC may be a brand that explores larger than life heroes who often get compared to gods, but in reality, these stories are designed to uplift and highlight the strength and beauty of what it means to be human. Bruce Wayne expresses this beautifully in the above line.
While Superman has incredible power, the thing that he best represents and adds to the team is his humanity. Despite being an alien, he embraced what it means to be an imperfect human being, and experience life just as anyone else would. Bruce eschewed his opportunity to lead a normal life in favor of dressing up as a hero and taking on the problems of the world, but Superman recognized and fulfilled his duties as a hero, so that he could live like a human. What a powerful lesson, from a movie that didn’t quite reach its own potential.
Upcoming DC Movie Releases
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Superman
Release Date
July 11, 2025
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Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
Release Date
June 26, 2026
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The Batman Part II
Release Date
October 1, 2027
