The DC Universe has a lot of films and series that may require a rewatch or two in order to get the most value out of them, for one reason or another, changing significantly on a second viewing. Compared to other superhero properties, DC movies and TV shows seem altogether more willing to take risks with their production, not content to sit back and reap the rewards of a “safe” narrative custom-built to please fans. Whether this is a good or a bad thing remains up in the air, as revisiting certain DC projects can often reveal.
DC movies and TV shows can change dramatically on subsequent viewings for one reason or another. Some rich narratives simply require multiple viewings to get the full amount of enjoyment out of, whereas others are more interesting with the context of future films or behind-the-scenes drama that is more clearly evident the second time around. For good or for ill, rewatching DC movies and TV shows can often bring new insights into them, changing the experience.
10
The Penguin
A Stunning Look Into a Villain’s Mind
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9/10
215
9.4/10
The Penguin
TV-MA
CrimeDrama
Created by Lauren LeFranc, The Penguin is a crime-drama spin-off television series of 2022’s film The Batman. Set shortly after the events of The Batman, Oz Cobb, A.K.A. the Penguin, begins his rise in the underworld of Gotham City as he contends with the daughter of his late boss, Carmine Falcone, for control of the crime family’s empire.
Release Date
September 19, 2024
Cast
Colin Farrell
, Cristin Milioti
, Rhenzy Feliz
, Michael Kelly
, Shohreh Aghdashloo
, Deirdre O’Connell
, Clancy Brown
, James Madio
, Scott Cohen
, Michael Zegen
, Carmen Ejogo
, Theo Rossi
Seasons
1
Prequel
The Batman (2022)
Many villain-oriented superhero projects take the opportunity to humanize their evil protagonist, giving them an understandable backstory or relevant motivations to do the horrible things they do. This isn’t exactly so for HBO’s The Penguin, which recently released in 2024. Taking place in the same universe as Matt Reeves’ The Batman, The Penguin explores Oz Cobb in the aftermath of the film, trying desperately to fulfill the power vacuum left in Gotham’s criminal underworld by the death of Carmine Falcone.
Related
Will The Penguin Season 2 Happen? Everything We Know
The release of The Penguin Season 1 may have fans wondering whether a second season with Oz Cobb is on the cards – here is everything we know.
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1
The Penguin is portrayed as a truly despicable character, but the real depths of depravity he’s willing to sink to don’t become evident until far later in the series. Rewatching from the beginning with the knowledge of what he’s willing to do to even his closest allies or his eerie childhood and relationship with his family provides a new window into Oz Cobb’s twisted psyche. Even though it’s such a recent project, going back to The Penguin makes for a far more disturbing time, knowing how irredeemable Oz truly is.
9
Joker
Changes With Notes From Director Todd Phillips
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5/10
22
8.3/10
Joker
R
Directed by Todd Phillips, Joker is an origin story for Batman’s most iconic villain. Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is a down-on-his-luck clown who is trying to become a successful stand-up comedian. When things don’t go according to plan, and Arthur feels Gotham is oppressing him and others with mental illness, Arthur sparks a violent revolution within the city.
Release Date
October 2, 2019
Runtime
122 minutes
Cast
Joaquin Phoenix
, Robert De Niro
, Zazie Beetz
, Frances Conroy
, Brett Cullen
, Shea Whigham
Director
Todd Phillips
Writers
Todd Phillips
, Scott Silver
The Joker duology is a film series with a bizarrely antagonistic relationship with most of its fans. The controversial ending of Joker: Folie Á Deux seems to lash out against those that derived a certain unintended message from Todd Phillips’ original story, humiliating and destroying a character that unintentionally became an idol to those who missed the point of the first film. It’s interesting to watch the original 2019 movie with confirmation of what exactly Phillips intended to say with his meditative character study.
The Joker isn’t someone meant to be all that relatable in Phillips’ mind, and he certainly isn’t meant to be an idol. That being said, it’s easy to see where the original Joker may have gotten the wrong point across, not stressing enough the ghastly consequences of Arthur’s actions. For those that only watched obvious Scorsese inspirations like Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy after the fact, going back to Joker with these films in mind makes the entire experience feel a good deal less original, as well.
8
The Batman
Needs Two Viewings To Fully Digest
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8/10
129
8.7/10
The Batman
PG-13
The Batman follows a young Bruce Wayne as he investigates a sadistic serial killer targeting key political figures in Gotham. As he delves deeper, he is confronted by the city’s hidden corruption and questions surrounding his own family’s legacy.
Release Date
March 4, 2022
Runtime
176 minutes
Cast
Robert Pattinson
, Zoë Kravitz
, Jeffrey Wright
, Colin Farrell
, Paul Dano
, John Turturro
, Andy Serkis
, Peter Sarsgaard
, Barry Keoghan
, Jayme Lawson
, Gil Perez-Abraham
, Peter McDonald
, Con O’Neill
, Alex Ferns
, Rupert Penry-Jones
, Kosha Engler
, Archie Barnes
, Janine Harouni
, Hana Hrzic
, Joseph Walker
, Luke Roberts
, Oscar Novak
, Stella Stocker
, Sandra Dickinson
, Jack Bennett
, Andre Nightingale
, Richard James-Neale
, Lorraine Tai
, Joseph Balderrama
, James Eeles
Writers
Matt Reeves
, Peter Craig
, Bob Kane
, Bill Finger
Sequel(s)
The Batman Part II
Expand
At a whopping 2 hours and 56 minutes long, the prospect of rewatching The Batman is no easy ask. Matt Reeves’ visionary masterpiece is a solemn, lengthy, drawn-out mystery starring Robert Pattinson as a young Batman dealing with one of his first supervillains ever, Paul Dano’s insidious Riddler. Along the course of his investigation, Batman makes some discoveries about his own parentage that aren’t so easy to swallow.
After all, telling a riddle one knows the answer to is always more fun, and the layered performances of the film are given more room to breathe when the pressing issue of navigating the plot isn’t as intense.
Such an unwieldy film certainly benefits from another once over, making the dense mysteries of the film easier to parse and more gratifying to watch unfold with the answers in mind. After all, telling a riddle one knows the answer to is always more fun, and the layered performances of the film are given more room to breathe when the pressing issue of navigating the plot isn’t as intense. Seeing Collin Farrel’s Oz again after his own solo project is also a treat, knowing exactly what is going on behind his shifty eyes as he talks with Batman and Gordon.
7
Batman Begins
Is More Interesting Knowing The League of Shadows’ Long-Term Goals
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9/10
53
8.8/10
Batman Begins
PG-13
Christopher Nolan’s take on Batman’s origin story sees Christian Bale take up the mantle of the Caped Crusader. Batman Begins follows young Bruce Wayne who, reeling from the murder of his wealthy parents, decides to become a vigilante in order to save Gotham City. This pits him against the mysterious League of Shadows, an organization intent on destroying Gotham with the help of the villainous Scarecrow and his powerful fear toxin.
Release Date
June 15, 2005
Runtime
140 Minutes
Cast
Ken Watanabe
, Liam Neeson
, Gary Oldman
, Tom Wilkinson
, Linus Roache
, Christian Bale
, Katie Holmes
, Mark Boone Junior
, Michael Caine
, Rutger Hauer
, Cillian Murphy
, Morgan Freeman
Director
Christopher Nolan
Speaking of the best Batman movies, Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy is impossible not to bring up when discussing the most rewatchable DC films. Particularly, the first film of the franchise is one of the most interesting to return to with the knowledge of how things turn out for Bruce and the League of Shadows. Similarly to The Batman, this film describes some of the Dark Knight’s earliest cases in Gotham City, although flashbacks to his origins as a crime-fighting vigilante make up a generous portion of the run time as well.
Knowing the ultimate goals of the League of Shadows from The Dark Knight Rises totally changes how Ra’s al Ghul is perceived in a second viewing. His desire to carry out his legacy at all costs through Talia makes his zealous ambition to destroy Gotham that much more devious, and seeing Batman’s struggles with his early career is especially interesting, knowing that he will retire not once, but twice in the future film. Many haven’t revisited Batman Begins since it first premiered in theaters in 2005, and may find a very different experience waiting for them upon doing so.
6
The Dark Knight
Is Always Worth Going Back To
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10/10
53
9.7/10
The Dark Knight
PG-13
Christian Bale once again embodies the man behind the mask in The Dark Knight, reuniting Bale with Batman Begins director Christopher Nolan. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman has been making headway against local crime—until a rising criminal mastermind known as The Joker unleashes a fresh reign of chaos across Gotham City. To stop this devious new menace—Batman’s most personal and vicious enemy yet—he will have to use every high-tech weapon in his arsenal and confront his beliefs if he hopes to stand a chance against the Clown Prince of Crime.
Release Date
July 18, 2008
Runtime
152 Minutes
Cast
Christian Bale
, Heath Ledger
, Michael Caine
, Morgan Freeman
, Nestor Carbonell
, Ritchie Coster
, Cillian Murphy
, Chin Han
, Gary Oldman
, Eric Roberts
, William Fichtner
, Aaron Eckhart
, Maggie Gyllenhaal
, David Dastmalchian
, Anthony Michael Hall
Director
Christopher Nolan
Writers
Christopher Nolan
, Jonathan Nolan
, David S. Goyer
Expand
As far as the Nolanverse is concerned, there’s simply no beating The Dark Knight. The second film in Nolan’s trilogy, The Dark Knight progressed Batman’s story by introducing him to Heath Ledger’s Joker, who has gone on to become one of the most iconic villains in all of cinema, let alone in a superhero movie specifically. Widely hailed as one of the brightest spots in Nolan’s filmography, the movie somehow only gets better on repeat viewings.
Like The Batman, The Dark Knight has something of a dense narrative that benefits from a second pass to fully comprehend, with the delicate themes of good vs. evil as the latent nature of humanity shining through brighter the second time around. Knowing little details like Joker being one of the masked men in the opening scene makes almost every solitary beat in the film that much more fulfilling. Being inoculated to the initial shock of some of these beats somehow helps them land much harder on a rewatch.
5
Justice League
Some of The Most Fascinating Studio Interference Ever Made
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6/10
4.8/10
Justice League
PG-13
Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by the Man of Steel’s selfless act in Batman V Superman, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Evil forces have set their sights on our world, tasking the malevolent Steppenwolf and his army of Parademons with bringing Earth under the control of Darkseid, ruler of the planet Apokolips. In response, Batman and Wonder Woman unite a team of metahuman heroes including The Flash, Cyborg, and Aquaman to protect humanity as the Justice League. The Justice League first appeared in March 1960 in issue #28 of The Brave and the Bold. In the fifty years since the heroes first united, the team has welcomed various members of DC comic book canon: Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, and Shazam, among others. Recently rebooted as part of DC Rebirth, the current comic iteration of the team includes Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, two Green Lanterns (Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz), Aquaman, Barry Allen, as well as Cyborg.
Release Date
November 17, 2017
Runtime
242 minutes
Cast
Jeremy Irons
, Gal Gadot
, Amy Adams
, Jesse Eisenberg
, Ciarán Hinds
, Ben Affleck
, Henry Cavill
, Ezra Miller
, J. K. Simmons
, Jason Momoa
, Ray Fisher
Franchise
DCEU
Sometimes it isn’t even an inherent quality of a film itself that makes it so fascinating to revisit, but the external circumstances that are hidden in plain sight. Justice League was what DCEU audiences got in theaters as the franchise’s long-awaited equivalent to the MCU’s The Avengers of 2012, a major crossover event that would unite its heroes against a single existential threat. Sadly, the first official formation of the Justice League in live-action was a critical dud, and dissecting it years later reveals some fascinating truths.
Watching the original cut of Justice League after seeing the differences of Zack Snyder’s Justice League is a curious experience. Though bits and pieces of Snyder’s original vision poke through, a rewatch makes it stunningly obvious each exact moment where studio interference watered down what might’ve been an intriguing concept. Behind-the-scenes disasters like Henry Cavill’s CGI face to cover up his mustache or Joss Whedon seemingly apologizing for the film in the opening moments with the “I tried” sign are other juicy details requiring a second viewing to appreciate.
4
Batman (1989)
Doesn’t Seem So Edgy In The Modern Day
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8/10
40
9/10
Batman
PG-13
Batman is a 1989 superhero movie directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne. The film features Jack Nicholson’s chilling portrayal as Jack Napier, who turns into the Joker and reigns terror on Gotham. Kim Basinger also stars in the film as Vicki Vale, along with Michael Gough as Bruce’s trusty butler named Alfred.
Release Date
June 23, 1989
Cast
Michael Keaton
, Jack Nicholson
, Kim Basinger
, Billy Dee Williams
, Robert Wuhl
, Pat Hingle
, Michael Gough
Director
Tim Burton
Budget
$48 Million
Tim Burton’s Batman in 1989 was initially a big deal for taking the steps to ensure Batman was treated with all the proper drama and gravitas of his source material. While the Caped Crusader being an edgy and serious hero is common knowledge today, at the time, most exposure the general public had to Batman was through the campy Adam West show and accompanying movie. That all changed when the dark, brooding atmosphere of Burton’s comic book movie hit the theaters.
Many still remember 1989’s Batman as a grim, spooky affair, and while that atmosphere is certainly present, it’s hard not to act like the years have been kind to the film’s efforts in keeping Batman serious.
By today’s increasingly darker standards of moviemaking and pop culture, Tim Burton’s Batman almost seems like kid’s stuff, from the awkwardly stiff neck of Micheal Keaton’s Bat-suit to Jack Nicholson’s flamboyant dancing to Prince. Coming back to Batman after years away can reveal an altogether more unintentionally comedic movie.
3
Aquaman
James Wan’s Underrated Action Adventure
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Aquaman
PG
Aquaman (2006): Aquaman follows a young diver in the Florida Keys who discovers his ability to breathe underwater. As he grapples with his newfound powers, he embarks on a journey that uncovers hidden truths about his origins and his connection to the ocean’s depths.
Release Date
July 24, 2006
Cast
Denise Quiñones
, Justin Hartley
, Ving Rhames
, Adrianne Palicki
, Corey Sevier
, Lou Diamond Phillips
, Rick Peters
, Amber McDonald
, Daniella Deutscher
, Graham Bentz
, Mark Perun
, Brett Rice
, Stacy Ann Rose
, Matt Ennis
, Lawrence Sikorski
, Joe Klinker
Director
Greg Beeman
Producers
Alfred Gough
Expand
Comparatively, James Wan’s Aquaman doesn’t make much of an attempt to take itself too seriously. The first solo film for Jason Momoa’s underwater-themed superhero, Aquaman had the difficult task of making Arthur Curry and the plight of Atlantis seem cool in the eyes of general moviegoing audiences. Upon release, the film was disparaged for poor performances and a contrived plot, though the vision for the DCEU’s undersea world was certainly a breathtaking one.
Knowing the weaknesses of Aquaman going in makes for a much more fun experience. Even negatives like the constant interruption of conversations with explosions or the terrible acting of Arthur’s younger self become endearing jokes that can be hotly anticipated. After that, all that’s left is to appreciate the dazzling imagery, worldbuilding, and underrated action setpieces of James Wan. What might’ve otherwise been a mediocre franchise entry becomes quite a fun party movie.
2
Watchmen
Echoes Snyder’s Best And Worst Work
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8/10
7.8/10
Watchmen
R
Watchmen, directed by Zack Snyder, is a gritty adaptation of the graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. The film takes place in an alternate 1985 America during the Cold War, following a group of retired superheroes investigating the murder of one of their own. As they delve deeper, they uncover a complex conspiracy that could alter the course of history. The ensemble cast includes Jackie Earle Haley, Patrick Wilson, and Malin Akerman.
Release Date
March 4, 2009
Runtime
163 Minutes
Cast
Malin Akerman
, Patrick Wilson
, Billy Crudup
, Matthew Goode
, Jackie Earle Haley
Director
Zack Snyder
Though technically not a part of the mainline DC universe including the likes of Batman and Superman, Zack Snyder’s Watchmen can indeed be counted among DC’s properties, with Alan Moore’s original book publishing under the company. The film tell the story of an alternate history Earth in which superheroes became a massive cultural and political influence in the 20th century, culminating in a murderous plot to unite the world by any means necessary. Like many of Zack Snyder’s works, Watchmen remains quite a divisive movie.
The bloody, grim world of the series is clearly a more comfortable territory for Snyder to work in, and many of the same visual tricks and superhero motifs he uses in his DCEU movies can trace their origins back to here.
It’s interesting to come back to Watchmen after seeing Zack Snyder’s work in the DCEU. The bloody, grim world of the series is clearly a more comfortable territory for Snyder to work in, and many of the same visual tricks and superhero motifs he uses in his DCEU movies can trace their origins back to here. Beyond working as a fascinating starting point for Snyder’s super hero movie evolution, Watchmen is always a relevant story to return to for its prescient political themes.
1
Young Justice
A Beloved Animated Series With a Downfall Warranting Study
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8/10
Young Justice
TV-PG
AnimationActionAdventureSuperhero
Young Justice is an animated Superhero Sci-Fi television show created by Brandon Vietti and Greg Weisman. The series follows the Young Justice group of superheroes, including names like Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, and Superboy. Viewers will recognize voices from Jesse McCartney, Khary Payton, Jason Spisak, and Nolan North.
Release Date
November 26, 2010
Cast
Jesse McCartney
, Khary Payton
, Jason Spisak
, Nolan North
, Danica McKellar
, Stephanie Lemelin
Seasons
4
Of all of DC’s many animated shows, few of them provide such a starkly different experience on a rewatch as Young Justice. A sort of spiritual successor to 2003’s Teen Titans, Young Justice focused on a titular team formed from sidekicks of the Justice League’s most famous members. The show has had a tumultuous run on the air, being canceled and revived on a streaming service two different times, resulting in quite the uneven viewing experience.
Rewatching all of Young Justice back-to-back from the start reveals some inconvenient truths. The infamous time skip between seasons feels even more out of place without the benefit of real-world time to accompany it, and the addition of new characters when so many heroes from seasons 1 and 2 deserved more of a spotlight feels all the more strange. These criticisms may have been easier to defend when the DC show was still coming out, but viewed as a whole, it’s a whole new world of uneven storytelling.
Upcoming DC Movie Releases
-
Superman
Release Date
July 11, 2025
-
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
Release Date
June 26, 2026
-
The Batman Part II
Release Date
October 1, 2027
