The DC Universe Animated Original Movies (DCUAOM; also known as DC Universe Original Movies or DC Universe Movies or DC Animated Movies) are a series of American direct-to-video superhero animated films based on DC Comics characters and stories. From 2007 to 2022, films were produced primarily by Warner Bros. Animation but subsequently fell under DC Studios. Many films are stand-alone projects that are either adaptations of popular works or original stories.
From 2013 to 2024, the DC Animated Movie Universe was a subset of this series. The first story arc featured several films that took place in a shared universe, influenced predominantly by "The New 52". Following the first arc's conclusion with ' (2020), the "Tomorrowverse" series was launched beginning with ' that same year and ended with a trilogy, ' (2024). As of 2024, the DCUAOM line released 60 films that made a total of $257 million in sales in the United States and Canada, an average of $5.4 million per film.<Ref>"Box Office History for DC Animated Movie Universe Movies." The Numbers. Retrieved Sep 9, 2023.</ref>
Premise
Unlike earlier animated DC films (most of which also involved Bruce Timm and were part of the DC Animated Universe), the films in this line are aimed at a more adult audience, often containing profane language, stronger violence, sexual scenes, and more mature themes. The art styles for the films are also generally more realistically proportionate. The majority of the films are rated PG-13 by the MPAA except All-Star Superman and ', which are rated PG, and ', Justice League Dark, ', ', ', ', ', Injustice, ', and Watchmen, which are rated R. Many of the films are adapted from stories originally featured in DC print comics and graphic novels. , 60 feature films and fourteen short films have been released.
In terms of continuity, the films are usually stand-alone, with exceptions being ' and its sequel ', ' and its sequel ', the DC Animated Movie Universe and its "Tomorrowverse" arc.
From 2007 to 2015, most of the films were voice-directed by Andrea Romano, the last one being '. Then from 2016 to 2024, duties were handed to Wes Gleason, starting with ' up until the ' trilogy.
The films are generally released direct-to-video, but Batman: The Killing Joke, Batman and Harley Quinn, The Death of Superman and Reign of the Supermen were also given limited releases in theaters.
Released films
Short films
DC Showcase
Other short films
Other projects
Unannounced projects
Beyond the list of announced projects, creators involved in various levels at DC Comics have brought up names of possible future projects.
- Bruce Timm has said that he would like to do a full-length animated Green Arrow film following the positive reception of '.
- DC's ex-executive editor Dan DiDio has expressed interest in seeing the popular 2007âÂÂ2008 Sinestro Corps War comic storyline adapted.
- In 2009, Timm also expressed his interest to make an animated JLA/Avengers adaptation.
- Geoff Johns revealed that Warner Bros. would like to use unproduced screenplays as a basis for new animated films, such as J. J. Abrams' '.
- Producer James Tucker has spoken about wanting a Wonder Woman-centered Justice League film.
- At Comic-Con, Timm also had expressed interest in an animated adaptation of the Batman R.I.P. storyline.
- ' screenwriter Brian Azzarello had stated that he would like to adapt his graphic novel Joker into an animated film.
- Timm has mentioned that another Batman Beyond film is a possibility, and in August 2017, Tucker stated in his Twitter account that discussions about a possible Batman Beyond film occur several times at the studio, while he also stated that a potential Static Shock film set in the DC Animated Universe is possible as the studio is always interested in Static.
- J. M. DeMatteis expressed interest in scripting an adaptation of his Batman story arc Going Sane and a New Gods film set in the DC Animated Movie Universe. This partially came into play with the film ', visually and aesthetically invoking the DCAU, confirmed to be in an alternate timeline to it.
- Filmmaker and comic book writer Kevin Smith mentioned at Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo that he met with Johns, where he pitched an animated Plastic Man film that he wrote for DC.
- An animated film featuring characters from the Milestone Media imprint was announced at DC Fandome in October 2021. The film was set to be written by Brandon Thomas and will feature "more than one character" according to Milestone co-founder Denys Cowan. The announcement included promotional concept art of Static, Hardware, Icon, and Rocket.
Cancelled projects
- Plans for sequels to the 2009 films Wonder Woman and ' were shelved, as well as a planned film based on the 2003 miniseries '. Slower sales of the Wonder Woman film were cited, although sales figures indicate that it was at least the #8 best-selling of the 25 DC Universe films released (4 of the films that ranked higher than it include Blu-ray sales which have not been released for Wonder Woman).
- In 2010, Timm stated that the production team originally planned to make an Aquaman film, but at the end, the executives of Warner Bros. cancelled the project because their expectations about marketing were very low.
- During an interview in October 2016, Jay Oliva revealed that he had an idea for a sequel to ', but following Oliva's departure from Warner Bros. Animation in 2017, as well as the film's apparent decanonization in ', the project may have been pulled.
- In 2023, the creative team for ' planned to develop a film adaptation of the Kingdom Come comic book miniseries, but the idea was discarded by James Gunn and Peter Safran after they were named CEOs of DC Studios.
Reception
Sales performance
Sales figures below represent, when available, DVD and Blu-ray sales in the United States. Theatrical ticket, digital, and rental sales are not included.
Critical response
Each film is linked to the "Critical response" section of its article.
Continuities
Stand-alone films
The following films are stand-alone, and do not share continuities with each other or other films (note exceptions).
Superman/Batman
This continuity is based on the Superman/Batman storyline.
Justice League (JLA)
This continuity is based on JLA storylines published in 2000.
Dark Knight Returns
This continuity is based on Frank Miller's ' arc and The Dark Knight Returns.
- ' (2011)
- ' (short film) (2011)
- ' Pt. 1 (2012)
- ' Pt. 2 (2013)
DC Animated Movie Universe
A shared universe, with influences from The New 52 continuity and various DC eras and productions.
"Tomorrowverse"
- ' (2020)
- Adam Strange (short film) (2020)
- ' (2021)
- ' (2021)
- ' (2021)
- The Losers (short film) (2021)
- Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth! (short film) (2021)
- Blue Beetle (short film) (2021)
- ' (2022)
- Legion of Super-Heroes (2023)
- ' (2023)
- ' (2024)
- ' (2024)
- ' (2024)
DC Animated Universe
This continuity is set in the DC Animated Universe (although the canonicity is open-ended)
Other universes
- ' (set in the Nolanverse) (2008)
- ' (set in the Arkhamverse, although ' causes a number of continuity contradictions) (2014)
Notes
References
External links