The DC Extended Universe has been one of the most fascinating cinematic worlds to watch unfold. The slate of films aimed to reach a comparable level of success and connectivity as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but instead it’s very much been a work in progress that continues to evolve. Superhero movies remain at an all-time high and the niche genre has turned into the most profitable variety of content.
At the same time, while the movies in the DCEU have had a mixed track record, there are still many exceptional DC superheroes that fans are eager to see get their stories told. The DCEU has made some major improvements and its next few movies will be pivotal for their future, but there are certain elements from the films that even the most devout DCEU fans can’t endorse.
10 The “Martha” Moment Ended The Brawl Between Batman & Superman
Many were surprised that Zack Snyder’s follow-up to Man of Steel was Batman v Superman and not a conventional Superman sequel. The cinematic showdown between these two DC titans is a mixed bag with highs and lows and it perhaps spends too much time setting the groundwork for the Justice League movie. What comes as a major surprise is that the moment that brings Superman and Batman’s brawl to an end is the realization that both of their mothers are named Martha. It’s a strange way to highlight the humanity and similarities in these two characters, especially with how it’s expressed.
9 The Look Of Jared Leto’s Joker Was A Questionable Take On The Character
The Joker isn’t just an iconic Batman villain, but one of the most recognizable antagonists in all of DC Comics. Furthermore, some especially talented actors have given memorable and unhinged performances as the Joker in different movies. Change isn’t a bad thing, but Jared Leto’s extreme take on the character rubbed many the wrong way and seemed to miss the point of the villain. Leto puts a lot into the character, but the excessive tattoos and edgy additions are an awkward direction for the Clown Prince of Crime. It turns him into more of a joke than a threat.
8 Batman’s Ability To Easily Take Lives Doesn't Match His Typical No-Kill Principle
There’s a wide range of superhero movies that find success by either rigidly sticking to the source material or radically reinventing it, but there are still certain tenets of characters that shouldn’t be ignored. One of Batman’s foundational principles is that he doesn’t kill people and the mere thought of doing so has shaken the hero to his core.
Batman v Superman and Justice League present a much more brutal version of Batman that seems totally comfortable racking up a body count and riddling criminals with bullets. It’s very jarring to watch, despite Ben Affleck’s commitment to the character.
7 The Shelving Of Cyborg Leaves His Storyline Unfinished
The DCEU jumps headfirst into its connected universe and because of this the Justice League movie has to provide origin stories for several characters. Ray Fisher’s Cyborg suffers the most here and a lot of the character’s backstory is cut out, yet is supposed to be restored in Zack Snyder’s Justice League. This marginalization of the character is frustrating, but it’s gone even further with the recent news that Cyborg is cut out of the Flash movie. At this point, it’s unlikely that the character will get a solo film, which turns the character’s unfinished storyline into a big mess.
6 Steve Trevor Inhabited An Innocent Person’s Body
Wonder Woman 1984 was one of the most highly anticipated movies from 2020, and it’s certainly an unconventional sequel that takes some big risks. One of the highlights from the original movie was the romance and chemistry between Diana and Chris Pine’s Steve Trevor. Wonder Woman 1984 brings Steve back in a very controversial manner wherein his spirit is placed in a random human’s body, who Diana sees as Steve. Diana doesn't seem the least bit bothered by the fact that this innocent person gets their life taken away from them.
5 An Emphasis On Parademons Changes The Vibe
There’s a lot to criticize superhero films over, but a running trend is that big finales that revolve around CG-generated mass armies typically lose their impact. Fights that involve real people and personal stakes always hit much harder. The DCEU teases a running threat of a doomed future where Parademons run amok.
Parademons serve their purpose in the comics, but it’s surprising to see just how much they’re focused on in Snyder’s movies. They feel like an excuse to have disposable monsters and their looming presence steeps the series as something darker than it should be.
4 Enchantress Had Potential But Her Role Was Reduced
James Gunn’s upcoming The Suicide Squad looks like a refreshing reinvention of its flawed, yet ambitious, predecessor. Suicide Squad is a messy movie that suffers from rampant studio interference, but it still manages to feature a talented cast in some entertaining roles. Enchantress is a supremely powerful villain in the comics, but Suicide Squad reduces her to more of a jilted lover. Cara Delevingne tries to do something interesting with the limited role, but it gets lost in a ton of CG. There’s a lot that can be done with Enchantress, but she instead feels like any random villain here.
3 Jesse Eisenberg’s Manic Lex Luthor Takes The Character In A Different Direction
Casting is often one of the most important elements for superhero movies and someone else in a role could have had drastic effects on the franchise’s success. It can be exciting to take wild swings with some casting decisions, but they need to pay off. The DCEU casts Jesse Eisenberg as the infamous Lex Luthor and he does his usual manic and intense shtick rather than acclimate to Luthor’s character. It’s likely that Eisenberg’s Luthor would have hardened over the course of several films, but he’s never given the chance to do so. It’s an interesting, yet ultimately flawed, performance.
2 The Execution Of Wonder Woman’s Dreamstone Was Questionable
Wonder Woman 1984 has become a very divisive superhero movie. It’s satisfying to see Gal Gadot return as Diana, but the plot of the new movies leaves a lot to be desired for some. Maxwell Lord’s acquisition of the Dreamstone and eventually becoming the relic itself either works for people or it doesn’t. Fundamentally it seems silly to call a magical wishing stone any more implausible than Wonder Woman itself, but the embracing of ‘80s energy is just too much here. It’s admittedly a very different final act for a superhero movie, but that’s why some are so against it.
1 There Are Constant Film Delays
The Marvel Cinematic Universe fell into such a well-planned production schedule that new movies steadily came out at a pace where a new one was always right around the corner. The DCEU’s release schedule has been much more erratic and some of the earliest films that were promised back during the time of Justice League, such as the Flash feature film, have been pushed back years beyond their projected release. It also hasn’t helped that so many original projects in the DCEU have been announced and it seems like only a fraction of them will happen.