Although it might seem like DC Comics was late to the game of cinematic universes with the DC Extended Universe, there have been several DC shared universes throughout the years. From Tim Burton’s Batman franchise starring Michael Keaton as the Dark Knight to the direct-to-DVD canon of the DC Animated Movie Universe, it’s almost hard to keep track of the many different continuities.
However, the quality of the various shared universes is widely inconsistent. Arguments could be made for certain universes offering the worst iterations of DC characters ever, while one particular universe has been deemed the most iconic, quintessential take on the characters yet, even beating the comic book source material. Here’s a ranking of the most noteworthy DC Comics shared universes from the most underwhelming to the most successful, factoring in elements such as casting, storytelling, world-building, costume design, and more.
The Tomorrowverse
After DC’s previous animated movie universe came to an end, it rebooted with the direct-to-DVD animated movie, Superman: Man of Tomorrow. Retelling Superman’s origin story with a fresh take, the movie quickly gave a name to the new shared universe: the “Tomorrowverse.” Although the Tomorrowverse had a promising start, it received criticism for its artificial animation style, which was jarring for audiences. The Tomorrowverse continued in Justice Society: World War II, the Batman: The Long Halloween duology, Green Lantern: Beware My Power, Legion of Super-Heroes, Justice League: Warworld, and the Crisis on Infinite Earths trilogy. The animated canon spanned from August 2020 to July 2024, making its ten movies seem like an accomplishment despite being one of the shortest-lived DC shared universes.
There were several negatives to the Tomorrowverse besides its overly fluid animation style. The depiction of the corrupted Hal Jordan, AKA Green Lantern, as well as major changes to the source material of Batman: The Long Halloween, and the slow-paced Crisis on Infinite Earths trilogy, didn’t land as well as Warner Bros. had hoped. However, the casting of Glee actor Darren Criss as Superman and Supernatural actor Jensen Ackles as Batman are considered highlights. Overall, the Tomorrowverse was a rushed attempt at a shared universe that often prioritized quantity over quality and succumbed to needless changes.
The DC Extended Universe (DCEU)
The DC Extended Universe spanned over a decade, beginning with Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel and concluding with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The cinematic universe saw mixed critical reception, as Snyder’s passionate fan base campaigned for his original creative vision to come to fruition after WB course-corrected from his darker and more mature approach. Although Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman, James Wan’s Aquaman, and David F. Sandberg’s Shazam! were each deemed a success, their sequels were major disappointments among both critics and audiences. That said, when studio executives weren’t intervening during productions like Justice League, Suicide Squad, or The Flash, it seemed like directors stood a chance at crafting competent movies.
The DCEU featured some pitch-perfect casting, including Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, and Xolo Maridueña as Blue Beetle. Audiences also give the universe some points for faithfully adapting comic book costumes like Batman, who had never appeared in a gray and black costume in live-action before Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Unfortunately, the universe was largely weighed down by post-production disasters and bizarre tonal shifts throughout its 15 movies, making the only call to just start over.
The Batman Burtonverse
Superhero movies haven’t been the same since Tim Burton’s Batman was released in 1989. Alongside Michael Keaton’s Batman, the franchise included iconic takes on villains such as Jack Nicholson’s Joker, Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman, and Danny Devito’s Penguin. Although the duology of Batman and Batman Returns seems limited for a shared universe, the Burtonverse has continued through multiple comics, like Batman ’89, which explored what it would’ve been like if actor Billy Dee Williams’ Harvey Dent transformed into Two-Face and Marlon Wayans had been cast as Robin. The title expanded with Batman ’89: Echoes, which featured Burton-like takes on Scarecrow, Riddler, and Batgirl. The Burtonverse also continues in the form of novels, Batman: Resurrection and Batman: Revolution. Although the universe doesn’t prioritize comic book accuracy, it’s an unforgettable reinvention of the Batman mythos.
The Superman Donnerverse
Director Richard Donner pioneered the superhero genre, bringing Superman to the big screen in 1978. Christopher Reeve’s classic portrayal of Superman continues to endure decades later as he redefined the Man of Steel for generations to come. The Donnerverse includes the four Reeve films, Supergirl, Superman Returns, and comics such as Superman ’78 and Superman ’78: The Metal Curtain. The comics introduced iconic Superman villain Brainiac to the shared universe, presenting a new threat that wasn’t just Lex Luthor yet again. Although the messy timeline has to reconcile some clunky continuity with Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut and Superman Returns, the shared universe has an undeniable charm that brings Superman fans back to a classic era.
The DC Animated Movie Universe (DCAMU)
Just like the comic book canon that the DC Animated Movie Universe was based on, the Flash rebooted the entire timeline in Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, birthing a brand-new universe. The DCAMU consisted of 15 direct-to-DVD movies inspired heavily by DC’s New 52 comics, which re-imagined characters through a modern cinematic lens. The universe included multiple direct adaptations that faithfully borrowed both contemporary and classic comic storylines. Although some movies took liberties with source material, they were never as frustrating as the follow-up shared universe of the Tomorrowverse. Instead, the DCAMU’s synergy with ongoing comic book titles and frequent adaptation of beloved storylines felt like a love letter to DC.
The Arrowverse
While the DCEU was still ongoing, the Arrowverse provided DC fans with a live-action alternative through several shows on The CW produced by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, and Andrew Kreisberg. The impressive 12-year run saw many noteworthy highlights, from The Flash’s debut season featuring the Reverse Flash to actor Tyler Hoechlin’s beloved portrayal of Superman, and ambitious crossover events like Crisis on Infinite Earths. The Arrowverse featured many firsts for live-action DC content, from exploring the vast multiverse to depicting Gorilla Grodd and several other Flash rogues.
Similar to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the shows relied on chemistry between actors but didn’t sideline superhero elements. The Arrowverse inevitably had its ups and downs, with most shows lasting several seasons seeing notable quality declines. However, the success of The CW’s shared universe is still worth noting, as it managed to accomplish noteworthy scale while working with limited TV budgets. In terms of a shared universe one can immerse themself in, the Arrowverse’s quantity is hard to deny, with sparks of great quality throughout.
The Batman Crime Saga
Director Matt Reeves’ The Batman kicked off yet another shared universe, which has continued through the award-winning series The Penguin and Paul Dano’s The Riddler: Year One, a well-reviewed comic miniseries which coincided with the 2022 film. Since The Batman Crime Saga began, Reeves has reportedly been developing multiple spin-off series, but none have come to fruition just yet. However, a second season of The Penguin is still on the way, as The Batman: Part II is currently in pre-production. Although there aren’t many entries to Reeves’ universe, his thoughtful approach to storytelling and world-building has earned a devoted fan base. Instead of overindulgent spin-offs or fast-tracked sequels, Reeves has prioritized his own vision for Gotham City. Perhaps the proven potential for the upcoming sequel and future series speaks to the value of The Batman Crime Saga more than anything else.
The DC Universe (DCU)
James Gunn’s DC Universe is still in its early years, but DC’s latest shared universe is already doing several things right, from great casting to immersive planning. Although the DCEU also began with a Superman movie, Gunn’s Superman felt like an intentional entry point to a vast new world. However, it didn’t feel bogged down while setting up several characters like Batman v Superman. With more shows on the way, including Lanterns and a spin-off following Jimmy Olsen, as well as upcoming movies, Supergirl and Clayface seem like promising additions to expand the shared universe into other galaxies and genres, offering variety not often seen in shared universes.
As Gunn’s upcoming sequel, Man of Tomorrow, will finally bring Brainiac to a movie for the first time, fans anticipate another DCU entry that faithfully explores Superman lore they’ve only seen before in comics. Instead of simply building into a group team-up movie like the MCU’s Phase One did with the Avengers, Gunn seems to recognize the untapped potential of the DC Universe. Instead of just the Justice League, he knows there’s a vast pool of characters to explore that might pique audience interest in unexpected ways, as referenced in his original outline for the shared universe, which included characters like Booster Gold, Swamp Thing, and the Authority. While still new and lacking entries, Gunn’s plan appears to be a step forward, borrowing what’s worked and what hasn’t from the MCU.
The DC Animated Universe (DCAU)
The DC Animated Universe is so widely beloved that it unites the vast DC Comics fan base, from DCEU fans to Arrowverse viewers and beyond. Beginning in the early 1990s with the groundbreaking Batman: The Animated Series, voice actor Kevin Conroy soon became the quintessential voice of the Caped Crusader. Similarly, readers continue to attest that they only hear the voices of the actors who portrayed DC characters in the DCAU while reading comics. Even decades later, iconic DC characters are defined by the cartoons’ iconic voice casts.
Whether itwas a Batman/Superman crossover event or an episode of Justice League Unlimited featuringBatman Beyond characters through time travel, fans were frequently rewarded for following the various shows. Episodes like “Feat of Clay,” the tragic “Heart of Ice,” and “Kids’ Stuff,” each have had a broader influence on the DC mythology, developing characters and how we recognize them in the comics. Perhaps most importantly, the creation of Harley Quinn and Terry McGinnis, as well as lore-defining movies like Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, allow the DCAU to stand out not only for perfectly adapting the comics but for returning the favor and showing the comics how it’s done.