The 10 Best Non-DCEU DC Movies, Ranked According To Letterboxd
Interestingly, though Marvel Cinematic Universe movies are resoundingly better than the Marvel movies that aren't part of the universe, it's the opposite when it comes to DC. The DC Extended Universe has some huge hits, but the quality of the movies is remarkably inconsistent considering they're all part of the same world.
However, the movies outside of the universe are so unique, and for the most part, directors have had the freedom to do whatever they want with the franchises, no matter how dark or obscure. And there are some excellent mid-budget movies that audiences would have had no idea are based on DC comic books too.
10 Superman (1978) - 3.6
Surprisingly, despite Superman's huge success, it didn't change the Hollywood landscape as people would expect. Studios are quick to jump on any success, so it's strange that there wasn't another successful superhero movie outside of the Superman franchise until 10 years later.
However, it would have been hard to top at the time because, though the effects are dated by today's standard, it was way ahead of its time in the late '70s. And it's a completely faithful adaptation of the source material too, warts and all, whether it's Superman looking identical to Clark Kent or getting changed in a phone booth in broad daylight.
9 Batman (1989) / Batman Returns (1992) - 3.6
Tim Burton's stunningly gothic movies interestingly have the exact same average rating on the movie social media platform. While Batman was a popular superhero to begin with, it was Burton's 1989 movie that turned that character into a brand, and every subsequent Batman owes its success to Burton's original, epic vision.
And Letterboxd users have put to bed the argument that Batman Returns isn't as good as its predecessor, as it was originally criticized for being too gothic. However, the fascinating world of Gotham and the Christmas setting in the sequel makes it one of the most aesthetically pleasing Batman movies ever. And though The Batman used Catwoman better, Michelle Pfieffer's portrayal of Selina Kyle is iconic.
8 Watchmen (2009) - 3.6
Watchmen is such a unique superhero movie, as it's based on the comic book of the same name, which has much deeper themes than the simple good guy vs. bad guy premise. The story has more in common with Quentin Tarantino's work than a superhero movie, as it revises history where superheroes helped the US win the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal was kept a secret.
And while many thought the comic book was impossible to adapt, director Zack Snyder essentially lifted the very panels from the graphic novel, as the 165-minute epic is a visual spectacle. There might be a few too many slow-motion shots for some people, but for the most part, the style and substance are supremely well balanced.
7 The Dark Knight Rises (2012) - 3.7
Despite its impossibly high expectations thanks to the flawed masterpiece that is its predecessor, The Dark Knight Rises still managed to satisfy most fans. But the movie isn't without some major problems and plot holes, which is rare in a Christopher Nolan work, such as Batman surviving the bomb after he flew six miles out of the city in just a few short seconds.
However, there's no denying how epic the final movie in the series is and how it perfectly wraps up Bruce Wayne's three-movie story arc. And though it's hard to see him as anything other than an inferior villain to Heath Ledger's Joker, Tom Hardy's Bane is easily Batman's most imposing villain, which is why this movie is arguably the best in Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy.
6 A History Of Violence (2005) - 3.7
It's understandable if audiences didn't know that A History of Violence is an adaptation of a comic book. But like other crime thrillers such as Old Boy and Road to Perdition, the 2005 movie is based on a graphic novel, and it's one of DC's best.
The movie follows a former assassin (Viggo Mortensen) who settles down with a family and tries to forget about his past, until it comes back to haunt him. Starring Mortensen and directed by David Cronenberg, A History of Violence was the first of two collaborations between the actor and filmmaker, with the second being another terrific gangster movie, Eastern Promises.
5 Batman Begins (2005) - 3.8
Though it might not seem like it today because every Batman movie is inherently dark and grounded, Batman Begins marked a paradigm shift for the franchise. The dark and gritty reboot came as a huge surprise, and in the wake of its success, it influenced so many other studios to reboot their own properties in the exact same style.
Even though it isn't considered the best, out of every movie in Nolan's trilogy, Batman Begins feels the most like a Batman film. Gotham City looks run down and gothic, and it's full of mobsters and crooked cops working together at night. And even though audiences have seen it a million times before, it manages to tell Batman's origin in a unique way.
4 V For Vendetta (2005) - 3.8
V for Vendetta isn't the most exciting comic book movie ever, but it's one of the most engaging and compelling, as it follows a masked anonymous vigilante who attempts to singlehandedly take on a fascist government. The film has become iconic, but more for its imagery than its narrative.
While it existed long before the 2005 movie, it was V For Vendetta that helped the "anonymous" mask become popularly used in protest, and it's a part of pop culture history. Unfortunately, V For Vendetta's creator, Alan Moore, isn't credited in the movie. According to IGN, Moore was critical of his earlier works being adapted and wanted nothing to do with any further adaptations.
3 Joker (2019) - 3.9
Between Cruella, Venom, and Maleficent, villain origin stories is a supremely popular movie trend at the minute, so it was only a matter of time before the Caped Crusader's best villain got one of his own. Joker doesn't reinvent the wheel, as even the narrative is heavily lifted from the popular Martin Scorsese-directed movies Taxi Driver and King of Comedy, but it does the villain origin story way better than any other.
Between the incredibly designed 1980s Gotham City, the Fight Club approach of making audiences question what's real, and the jaw-dropping performances, Joker is a masterclass in origin stories. And like Ledger before him, Joaquin Phoenix made the role his own and won an Academy Award for it.
2 The Batman (2022) - 4.2
There might be some recency bias here and the score may decrease a little when the buzz surrounding The Batman has died down, but there's so much hype surrounding the new movie for a reason. Fans have been waiting for this depiction of Batman for a long time, as it's inherently dark, Batman doesn't pull his punches, and for the first time ever, the Caped Crusader is actually portrayed as the world's greatest detective.
One thing the movie does so well is base most of the first two hours in and around one location, as The Iceberg Lounge is the focal point for most of the film. The Penguin-owned club is so lived in, and there's so much new lore surrounding the club alone that it makes The Batman the new gold standard of world-building. And it has led to speculation over which other Gotham landmarks the sequel should explore.
1 The Dark Knight (2008) - 4.4
Even despite the overwhelmingly universal positive reception of The Batman, there's no dethroning the crown jewel in Nolan's trilogy, The Dark Knight. It seemed impossible that the film could have shocked audiences more than the dark direction of Batman Begins, but the sequel did just that with Ledger's depiction of the Joker.
If it wasn't for the actor giving in such a legendary performance, The Dark Knight might not be regarded as highly, as the completely original portrayal of the Joker elevates the movie tenfold. However, between the Joker, the myriad twists and turns, and the huge moral dilemma in the final act, it's easily the best DC movie.