The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) was Warners’ attempt to emulated Marvel’s MCU, creating a cinematic universe consisting of characters from DC Comics. The franchise officially began with the release of Man Of Steel in 2013, directed by Zack Snyder and produced by Christopher Nolan. This film served as the starting point for the interconnected universe, introducing audiences to Henry Cavill’s portrayal of Superman. Following the success of Man Of Steel, the DCEU expanded with the release of Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice in 2016, which brought together iconic DC characters such as Batman and Wonder Woman. This was followed swiftly by Suicide Squad which was a financial succuss but critically destroyed. The subsequent films in the franchise continued to explore the backstories and adventures of beloved superheroes, captivating audiences with their spectacular action sequences if not compelling narratives.
Despite facing both critical and commercial challenges that were also accompanied by a large dose of studio interference, the DCEU continued to evolve and grow, with each new instalment trying to force an interconnected story that had no clear design. The franchise saw the introduction of fan-favourite characters like Aquaman, Harley Quinn, and the Flash, each bringing their own unique flair to the cinematic universe but the universe needed more than that to survive. Over the years, the creative shifts and uninspired character choices became to much for audiences and the desire to see the films on the big screen waned. After a string of financial disasters, the DCUE became the first modern cinematic universe to die, finally being put out of its misery with the release of Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom at the end of 2023. Although the characters will live on, being restarted as the DCU in 2025, the record books will show the DCEU ran ten years and consisted of 15 cinematic releases.
Here are the top five DCEU films ranked by Worldwide box office.
Source: Box Office Mojo
5. Man Of Steel (2013) – $670,145,518
4. Suicide Squad (2016) – $749,200,054
3. Wonder Woman (2017) – $822,963,408
2. Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016) – $874,360,194
1. Aquaman (2018) – $1,151,961,807
What’s your favourite film in the DCEU? Comment below.
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