The DCEU kicked off with Man of Steel in 2013, and nearly a decade and 11 theatrical releases later, it has quickly become one of the highest-grossing franchises of all time. However, its popularity doesn't mean it’s flawless. In fact, as most fans are painfully aware, the DCEU always seems to find a way to disappoint them.
It’s no easy task to please a fandom of millions, but sometimes it feels like Warner Bros is actively working against the fans who pay to see their movies. These fans aren't shy about letting the studio know when they’ve disappointed them, which, unfortunately, is quite often.
10 Wonder Woman 1984 Didn't Live Up To Its Predecessor's Example
The first Wonder Woman film was a much-needed breath of fresh air for the DCEU. It was bright, heartfelt, and more than anything, it was fun. Wonder Woman was the first film from the DCEU to do well both critically and commercially, so when the sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, was announced, expectations were incredibly high. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to them.
While Wonder Woman 1984 had its issues, the most glaring were the film's one-dimensional characters, particularly the villains, and the unnecessary subplots like resurrecting Steve Trevor when it added nothing to the story. Wonder Woman 1984 was a huge step down from the original. It felt bloated, boring, and, worst of all, generic.
9 Man Of Steel Never Got A Sequel
The DCEU has already seen one series get a soft reboot and a spin-off, another that got a director’s cut, and three that have or will get sequels. Sadly, the one that started it all, Man of Steel, has yet to see a sequel despite the constant pleading from fans.
Part of the issue is that Warner Bros doesn’t seem sure that they want Henry Cavil to return to the role. Much like everything in the DCEU, the possibility of a sequel has been the subject of countless rumors, speculations, and theories. But one thing remains, there is no sequel in sight for Superman.
8 Batgirl Got Axed Just Before Being Complete
The DCEU has canceled its fair share of projects over the years, but none were as close to being complete as Batgirl was before it got axed. Filming was already complete, and the movie was deep into post-production before Warner Bros announced they would no longer be releasing the film in any capacity.
To make matters worse, none of the cast or crew was informed by Warner Bros about the decision. They found out through a leak from the New York Post. The film reportedly cost the studio $90 million, making it one of the most expensive cancellations of all time and yet another disappointment from the DCEU.
7 Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor Disappointed Everyone
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Lex Luthor is one of DC Comics' most iconic villains, so naturally, fans associate certain traits with him and Jesse Eisenberg didn't meet their expectations. It’s understandable that the DCEU would want to do something fresh with the character, but the execution needed to be flawless for this to work.
Luthor is someone usually presented as stoic and reserved, always in control. That's not the high-pitched goofy screwball that Eisenberg portrayed. His performance was too overcooked, feeling more like a Joker impersonation than Lex Luthor. Eisenberg's awkwardness and quirky tics never came off as intimidating and, as a result, Lex never felt like a true threat to Superman.
6 Suicide Squad Was As Bad As Critics Said
Following Batman V Superman's poor reception, a lot of the shared universe's integrity was riding on the release of Suicide Squad. Unfortunately, the critics tore it apart even more, but given the final product, it’s hard to blame them.
Suicide Squad had a troubled post-production that led to many re-shoots, which are very easy to identify in the film. The director, David Ayer, has said that he blames the film’s problems on studio meddling, stating that the studio cut is not his movie. Finger-pointing aside, Suicide Squad represented wasted potential and a major disappointment of a film.
5 The SnyderVerse Was Never Fully Realized
Even for his critics, there’s no denying that Zack Snyder has a serious passion for this world. Similar to Ayer, Snyder said that the theatrical release of Justice League didn’t reflect his vision for the film. This led to a massive online movement where fans demanded Warner Bros release Snyder’s version with the hashtag #releasetheSnyderCut. The wild thing is, it worked.
In 2021, Zack Snyder’s Justice League was released on HBO Max and it was received significantly better received by critics and fans alike. However, despite Snyder's hints at a sequel, Warner Bros has made it clear the director will not be returning to the DCEU.
4 The DCEU Canceled Countless Projects
One of the reasons fans have a love/hate relationship with the DCEU is Warner Brothers' habit of inconsistently seeing its projects through. Part of the MCU’s success comes from the way the company announces its projects years in advance and rarely makes changes. The sad reality is, The DCEU has more canceled projects than it has released films.
While some projects like Green Lantern Corps are rumored to still be in development, others like Cyborg, Deathstroke, the Black Manta film, the Ben Affleck Batman movie, and countless others have been canceled. This has become so routine, some fans jokingly refer to the DCEU as the "Discontinued and Canceled Extended Universe."
3 The Endless Controversy Surrounding The Flash
Every time The Flash finds itself in the headlines, it’s for all the wrong reasons. By no means is this meant to pass judgment on Ezra Miller, but there is no denying that the actor’s off-screen antics have tainted the movie's release.
On top of Miller's problems, The Flash already had a troubled production history. Since 2013, multiple directors have been attached to the film, and they all left due to creative differences. After multiple delays, the movie finally has a release date in 2023, but the contrersy has already turned fans off from the film.
2 Batman V Superman's Martha Moment Was A Laughable Disappointment
While Batman V Superman certainly has more than one controversial moment, the infamous “Martha” scene is by far the worst. In their final battle, Batman gains the upper hand over Superman and is about to kill him until Superman mutters “Save Martha,” which also happens to be Batman’s mom’s name. The Dark Knight suddenly has a change of heart and this actually ends the fight.
The scene was supposed to be emotional, but instead felt incredibly forced and came across as laughable. It spawned countless memes and became a running joke among fans. The film as a whole was a major disappointment, and "Martha" was the cherry on top.
1 The DCEU Was Plagued By A Lack Of Vision From The Start
Looking back on all the misfires the DCEU has had, they all seem to stem from the fact that the DCEU has no underlying guiding vision. For better or for worse, the MCU has Kevin Feige spearheading its every move and ensuring that everything stays on track.
Part of the issue is that the DCEU tried too hard to catch up to the MCU without properly establishing its universe first. As a result, none of the films feel connected, defeating the purpose behind a shared universe. With Warner Bros.'s recent merger with Discovery and its resulting canceled projects and forgotten storylines, the future of the DCEU is anyone's guess.