The widespread consensus as of late is that DC Comics is on the up and up as of late, because of their latest success in theaters and presently on HBO Max, as nicely. The longer term is wanting shiny for the DC Universe, however it’s finest to not neglect that the model has been in cinema for fairly a while, on and off the theater display, live-action and animated.
Earlier than James Gunn really delves into his DCU, it is enjoyable to look again on movies of DC’s previous and the way folks responded to them. There are the plain ones, sure, however some silent hitters are a part of DC’s highest-rated movies, in accordance with Letterboxd, a social media platform the place folks can evaluation movies and see how their associates are reviewing their very own. Letterboxd is among the finest methods to research what followers and common audiences suppose within the modern-day.
15
‘Watchmen’ (2009)
Letterboxd Score: 3.7/5.0
Whereas Zack Snyder‘s more moderen time within the DC Comics universe is comparatively controversial (because of the combined opinions for many of his tasks following Man of Metal), one in all his greatest hits comes within the type of Watchmen in 2009. This gritty and really stylized DC film is extraordinarily memorable for a plethora of causes, with Snyder’s directing prowess being one of many major ones.
One Letterboxd person emphasizes this of their evaluation: “whereas it’s nonetheless one in all my favorites only for the sake of how nice it appears to be like.” The visuals of this film are distinctive, and this trait would transfer ahead to be a spotlight of his later DC Comics motion pictures, too. The plot and solid are nice, however the visuals actually drive this one dwelling.
14
‘Batman Past: Return of the Joker’ (2000)
Letterboxd Score: 3.8/5.0
Batman has gotten fairly fortunate with regards to animated tasks, particularly within the tv house. One of the widespread of all of them is none apart from Batman Past. Understandably, the recognition spawned a movie for the franchise, coming to audiences in 2000, titled, Batman Past: Return of the Joker.
“The flashback scene is up there with a number of the finest Batman tales ever instructed, and it’s solely 10 minutes lengthy,” is what one evaluation says, and it is a prime instance of the love and care put into Batman: Past: Return of the Joker. The story has such a profound coronary heart and soul inside it, and moments just like the flashback scene show that the staff behind this undertaking actually cared.
13
‘Batman: The Darkish Knight Returns, Half 1’ (2012)
Letterboxd Score: 3.8/5.0
The Darkish Knight Returns (1986) is among the hottest and well-beloved DC comedian books of all time. So, it solely is smart when, in 2012, audiences had been lastly handled to an animated movie adapting it. Nevertheless, it wasn’t all lined in a single film. To make sure the story was tailored appropriately, director Jay Olivia cut up the film into two. The primary a part of the undertaking, Batman: The Darkish Knight Returns, Half 1, set the usual that the second must compete towards, and is a good instance of how one can adapt a comic book guide precisely.
Bringing an older, aged Bruce Wayne (Peter Weller) again to the Batman fold, this film incorporates a protagonist not like every other Batman film’s personal. He is modified so much since he was final the Caped Crusader, and one person jokes about it, placing it very nicely, of their evaluation: “outdated man needs entirety of Gotham off his garden.” Whereas humorous, it is also showcasing that age undoubtedly has modified Batman and made him extra gritty and cynical.
12
‘Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox’ (2013)
Letterboxd Score: 3.8/5.0
If DC Comics has something, it is an incredible animated panorama in each the movie and tv departments, and a powerful argument for that is 2013’s Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox. Adapting one of many coolest DC Comics crossover occasions of all time, director Jay Olivia delivers a brilliant emotional Flash film.
That is proper, regardless of it having “Justice League” within the title, this movie is a Flash story by and thru. Surrounding the repercussions of the Scarlet Speedster saving his mom from dying — shifting the timeline utterly — Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox is a narrative that covers grief and loss, which makes it emotionally compelling past most different DC animated flicks. One fan states it finest of their evaluation: “Visually unbelievable, traditional butterfly impact story, and phenomenal voice performing.”
11
‘Batman Begins’ (2005)
Letterboxd Score: 3.8/5.0
With Batman being DC Comics’ hottest character, it ought to come as no shock that many of the highest-rated movies for the corporate on Letterboxd are Batman motion pictures. It also needs to come as no shock that the Christopher Nolan trilogy surrounding the superhero has most of its movies within the high ten. Among the many three motion pictures, the primary one, Batman Begins, stands out because the one that’s closest to the comedian guide supply materials.
Regardless of being a part of the identical trilogy, the tone right here could be very completely different from the 2 motion pictures that may come after. It contains the fan favourite Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy) as one of many fundamental antagonists, was the primary live-action Batman movie in fairly a while, and launched the ever-beloved Christian Bale as the enduring Caped Crusader. “By way of origin tales, that is A-Tier,” is a good depiction of individuals’s ideas on the film, said by a fan of their evaluation on Letterboxd.
10
‘The Darkish Knight Rises’ (2012)
Letterboxd Score: 3.8/5.0
With how abundantly widespread Christopher Nolan’s trilogy is, it makes whole sense why all three are discovered within the high 15 DC motion pictures on Letterboxd. After such a profitable second film (extra on that later), the strain was on for The Darkish Knight Rises to land the aircraft and solidify the trilogy as among the best in superhero cinema. One person states the same declare of their evaluation: “third finest out of one of many biggest trilogies of all time, continues to be fairly nice!”
Bringing the one and solely Bane (Tom Hardy) — one of the crucial well-known Batman comedian guide villains — into the fold, Nolan did plenty of work in bringing Bruce Wayne the best bodily risk he is ever confronted. Whereas the plot is not as sturdy as the primary two, the spectacle is large, Bruce’s character arc is compelling, and it brings all the pieces full circle in a satisfying method.
9
‘Joker’ (2019)
Letterboxd Score: 3.8/5.0
After all, the preferred DC hero has one of the crucial widespread DC villains—one of the crucial widespread villains of all time, actually—so it felt inevitable that the one and solely Clown Prince of Crime get a film of his very personal. Regardless of being a DC Comics movie, some folks do not even contemplate Joker a “superhero” film, due to how extraordinarily completely different it’s and fewer action-oriented it finds itself. Joker finds itself offering extra drama, crime, and psychological thriller parts, giving commentary on fashionable society and the way it treats the mentally sick.
Whereas it initially was met with plenty of constructive reception, it did not take lengthy for cinephiles to rapidly smack the movie for making an attempt to be deeper than it actually was. Nothing may beat Joaquin Phoenix’s absurdly good efficiency, although. Whether or not one agrees with the unfavorable conceptions of the movie, some opinions on Letterboxd present that the positives normally outweigh the negatives, with one saying: “The movie pushes its characters’ feelings and narrative rigidity to an astonishing frenzy, reaching an nearly absurd excessive. The male lead’s efficiency undoubtedly turns into the movie’s biggest flourish.”
8
‘V for Vendetta’ (2005)
Letterboxd Score: 3.9/5.0
Many individuals may very well not know that V for Vendetta is a DC Comics property, and subsequently, a DC Comics movie. Many contemplate V for Vendetta a cult traditional, and for superb cause. The thriller movie finds itself changing into increasingly beloved as time goes on, because it continues to be extremely related to at the moment’s society. Fairly a couple of opinions on Letterboxd level this out, with one merely stating: “Anarchy has by no means seemed so well-spoken.”
V for Vendetta is all about defying oppression and what freedom means within the modern-day. It additionally begs the query of whether or not change could be completed with out some type of anarchy. It being related is not simply what makes it good, although; it is also a merely well-made film. The directorial selections of James McTeigue enable this undertaking to realize a tone that matches its plot completely and enhances its messaging to a complete new degree.
7
‘Batman: Below the Purple Hood’ (2010)
Letterboxd Score: 3.9/5.0
Regardless of not being theatrically launched or seen by a lot of the “common viewers,” Batman motion pictures do not get so much higher than Batman: Below the Purple Hood. If somebody is having an argument relating to whether or not Batman ought to break his no-kill rule, Batman: Below the Purple Hood is the proper movie to point out them. On the finish of the day, this animated flick nearly completely adapts among the best comedian guide tales surrounding the Caped Crusader.
Taking what is usually often known as the hero’s “biggest failure,” Batman: Below the Purple Hood challenges the enduring DC hero in methods no different film does. One fan on Letterboxd agrees based mostly on their evaluation: “The right steadiness between nail-biting motion sequences and exploring the depths of Batman’s character complexity.”
6
‘The Lego Batman Film’ (2017)
Letterboxd Score: 3.9/5.0
When you requested somebody a couple of many years in the past that among the best Batman motion pictures (and DC Comics tasks normally) would find yourself being an animated movie set within the Lego universe, nobody would have believed it. Effectively, it is unimaginable to not imagine it now, as The Lego Batman Film is among the most adored Batman movies of all time.
Regardless of being extra of a satire, it completely captures the true coronary heart and soul of the Batman character. “Wonderful love letter to all the pieces Batman, no much less!” is what one fan mentioned of their Letterboxd evaluation, and that is really a good way to place it. The Lego Batman Film genuinely understands what makes the character so human and relatable for a lot of, no matter his darkish previous and persona.