When it comes to the big screen, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has taken the cake for churning out quality products, as opposed to the DCEU's shaky hit-and-miss ratio. But for home releases, especially animated movies, DC has a firm grip on the market, with many great movies beloved by fans.
DC, at its prime, arguably is the best universe comic-books have to offer, and many of these great characters and stories are brought to life in animation. Hopefully, they can break away from focusing too much on Batman. Without further ado, here are the 10 best (animated) films DC has bestowed its fans with over the years.
Updated on June 7th, 2020, by Shawn S. Lealos. While the DC movie world continues to try to figure out what it wants to be, the DCAU continues to keep pumping out one quality movie after another. The long-running DCAU keeps chugging along with Darkseid showing up again in the Justice League series of films, while characters like Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman keep seeing their stories play out on the small screen for a new generation of young fans.
15 Justice League Dark (2017)
While the Teen Titans were highly entertaining, DCAU wanted to continue to build the world and broke away to work on a third team, with Justice League Dark following in the footsteps of The Justice League and Teen Titans. This, as with the comics, brought the world of magic into the DCAU and added beloved characters like Zatanna, Constantine, Etrigan, Deadman, and Swamp Thing to the mix. Of course, Batman joined the fun so that mainstream fans would follow.
14 Batman: Hush (2019)
Batman has had more movies in the DCAU than almost anyone. However, in 2019, one of his best comic book storylines came to the small screen with Batman: Hush. The storyline played out of a story from Batman's past coming back to haunt him in the present day when a villain known only as Hush shows up and turns his life upside down until all the secrets come piling out and threaten to bring down the Caped Crusader once and for all.
13 Constantine City of Demons: The Movie (2018)
While the Constantine television series only lasted for one season, Matt Ryan won over fans and has thankfully continued on his role throughout the world of DC entertainment. He has popped up as a recurring character in Legends of Tomorrow and even picked up his animated series in Constantine: City of Demons. This 2018 release is the movie based in that world and is not made for kids, but might be the best Constantine story yet as he sets out to save Chas's daughter Trish from a demon-caused coma.
12 Justice League vs. Teen Titans (2016)
While the Justice League started the new DCAU with the New 52 counterparts, it wasn't until the Teen Titans movies that this new world excelled. Sure, this wasn't Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, but that makes these movies even better. Once Damian Wayne entered the lives of the Teen Titans, things heated up. The fact that these kids stood toe-to-toe with the Justice League in Justice League vs. Teen Titans elevated this group and solidified their place in the DCAU.
11 Teen Titans: The Judas Contract (2017)
The main plot of Teen Titans: The Judas Contract comes from the best Teen Titans comic book storyline of all-time, with Terra betraying the team. While the first outing of the Teen Titans matched them up with the Justice League, this film set them up in their own world and fleshed out all the characters, proving they are the real highlights of the animated world of DC entertainment. This film contains a genuinely touching story with Terra and the Titans; this one is a can't miss addition to the DCAU.
10 Teen Titans: Trouble In Tokyo (2007)
Trouble in Tokyo had a lot on its plate to clean up. When Teen Titans failed to garner another season, Trouble in Tokyo had to wrap up the entire show as best as it could. And while it did a decent enough job, it was impossible to fit every possible storyline into one movie, but at least closure for the Starfire/Robin romance arc was sealed in.
Having an original villain was also an interesting choice, as the film's antagonist, Brushogan, was a mysterious and complex character. Likewise, the unique setting of Tokyo was a good change of pace, and suiting, considering the anime influence present in Teen Titans.
9 Suicide Squad: Hell To Pay (2018)
To say that the animated Suicide Squad films are better than the first live-action Suicide Squad movie isn't saying much, but Hell To Pay is a great movie. It has the exact energy and balls to the walls nuttiness the DCEU movie thought it had.
The film's plot is straightforward, but the unpredictable characters and circumstances make it manic and engaging. Amanda Waller, diagnosed with a terminal illness, sends Task Force X to retrieve a magic card that has a one use only go to Heaven with no strings attached the moment they die. Once word gets around of its power, every villain around the block is interested, and things escalate.
8 Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2019)
The TMNT franchise was always closer in style to Marvel's Daredevil, with the "Foot" clan being a parody of the "Hand," along with the NYC setting., and their goo apparently being the same substance that blinded Matt Murdock. But interestingly, Batman is very close in style to Daredevil, so Batman meeting the TMNT is a natural fit.
In the film, The League of Assassins and the Foot Clan team up, so naturally, so do Batman and the TMNT, with a few growing pains. The drastic difference in the brooding Batman and the goofy turtles is great, but the film isn't afraid to get a little campy with the Batman elements every now and then, even mutating the inmates of Arkham Asylum in a high point of the film.
7 Batman: Return Of The Caped Crusaders/Batman vs. Two-Face (2017)
Adam West's final performance in the cowl was a memorable one. Embedded with the same campy tone that the original show had, Return of the Caped Crusaders reunited Adam West's Batman, Burt Ward's Robin, and even Julie Newmar's Catwoman for another adventure. Its sequel, Batman vs. Two-Face, upped the campiness and floated an idea that would have been perfect casting for the original show: William Shatner as Two-Face. The movies are both equally matched, loaded with bad puns, outlandish detective work, goofy crimes, and dancing.
6 Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013)
Flashpoint served as DC's big reboot to wipe the slate clean and start the New 52. The Flashpoint Paradox film did the same thing, paving the way for the new animated DC universe...which proceeded to overly focus on Batman and began to lose continuity anyway. But nevertheless, The Flashpoint Paradox was a solid dystopian adventure, with the Flash as the main focus.
After an encounter with his arch-enemy, Professor Zoom, AKA Reverse-Flash, Barry Allen decides to go back in time to save his mother. In doing so, he creates an alternate universe where the world is on the brink of armageddon. It's not quite as well-planned or intelligent as Watchmen, but hey, the Flashpoint universe gets pretty bonkers.
5 The LEGO Batman Movie (2017)
The Lego Batman movie does a pretty good job of emulating the humor and style of Lord and Miller, as it is a spinoff of The Lego Movie. It's pretty witty and chock-full of references for DC fans.
The only problem is that it peaks fairly early. After an exciting opening scene features virtually everyone in Batman's rogue gallery, a ridiculous song, and lightning-paced jokes, the movie slows down for a while, and while still entertaining, never hits the high it hit in just 10 minutes. When the film's plot also starts to venture outside of DC Universe terrain and gets more expansive, it begins to feel less like a LEGO Batman movie and more like...a LEGO movie. That being said, it stills hosts a solid arc for Batman and is never dull, and the stop-motion style animation is eye candy.
4 Batman: Under The Red Hood (2010)
Under The Red Hood features some of the most emotional beats in any DC animated film, and a massive part of its success in storytelling is its phenomenal voice cast. Every single voice actor gives it their all. Bruce Greenwood as Batman and Jensen Ackles as Red Hood are integral, but the most impressive (and surprising) of all is John DiMaggio as the Joker. His sinister voice and contagious laugh make for one of the top tier iterations of the character, able to go from clever to insane, intimidating to hilarious, in just seconds.
The story is also one of the most known, but most revered Batman stories, and the film's loyalty to ensuring it is a faithful adaptation makes it all the better. Jason Todd (Robin) is killed by the Joker, and Batman is unable to save him in time. Years later, a criminal/vigilante masquerading as "Red Hood" appears, and Batman suspects it is his long-lost surrogate son.
3 Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (Part 1 and 2) (2012)
The two-part epic conclusion to the story of Batman is a violent, dreary, and inspiring tale. Based on the Frank Miller graphic novel of the same name, the quality is not lost in the translation from the comic book pages to the screen. While the unique art style of the comic couldn't be replicated, the film found a good balance and a loyal color palate, and the voice cast and score breathe new life into areas a comic couldn't reach. Peter Weller (Robocop) voices an aged Batman, spurred back into action after 10 years of retirement. Michael Emerson plays Joker, in another top-notch portrayal of the character, as one of the most heavily serial-killer like versions.
2 Teen Titans Go! To The Movies (2018)
Teen Titans Go gets a lot of flak because it replaced the ever-lovable Teen Titans series with the exact same voice cast, which must have been frustrating/confusing for many loyal fans. And while that feeling is understandable, Teen Titans Go! To The Movies is on par, if not better, than even some of the best serious story arcs from the original show. The level of slapstick humor, the clear passion from everyone involved, and the self-awareness and absurdity are akin to The Spongebob Squarepants Movie. It will likely be a landmark cartoon for younger generations of DC fans, and its general appeal ensures anyone can enjoy it.
1 Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm (1993)
Batman: The Animated Series was probably the best-animated product DC ever produced and ever will produce. As Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill are the quintessential Batman and Joker, the series also had beautiful art deco animation, compelling storylines, deep character arcs, and a great score, making Mask Of The Phantasm probably the best Batman movie ever made, along with The Dark Knight.
The film captures the character of Batman and who he is perfect, and the film's mystery serves as a tale that functions for both Bruce Wayne and Batman. The most tragic aspect of the film was that it bombed at the box office due to the last-minute decision made to bring it to the big screen with little advertising.