List of films based on DC Comics publications#Short films
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{{Redirect|DC films|the production company active from 2016 to 2022|DC Films}}
DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book publishers. It produces material featuring numerous well-known superhero characters, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman, and Green Arrow. Most of this material takes place in a shared fictional universe, which also features teams such as the Justice League, the Suicide Squad, and the Teen Titans.
Film adaptations based on DC Comics properties have included serials, live action and animated feature films, direct-to-video releases, television films, and documentary films.
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Live-action films
=Feature films=
=Serials and short films=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| style="background:#b0c4de;"
! Year ! Title ! Production studio ! Notes ! Chapters |
| 1941
| Adventures of Captain Marvel | rowspan="2"|Republic Pictures | rowspan="2"|Published at that time by Fawcett Comics | style="text-align:center;"|12 |
| 1942
| style="text-align:center;"|12 |
| 1943
| Batman | rowspan="8"|Columbia Pictures | rowspan="7"| | style="text-align:center;"|15 |
| 1946
| style="text-align:center;"|15 |
| 1947
| style="text-align:center;"|15 |
| rowspan="2"|1948
| Superman | style="text-align:center;"|15 |
| Congo Bill
| style="text-align:center;"|15 |
| 1949
| style="text-align:center;"|15 |
| 1950
| style="text-align:center;"|15 |
| 1952
| Blackhawk: Fearless Champion of Freedom | Published at that time by Quality Comics | style="text-align:center;"|15 |
| 1954
| United States Department of the Treasury | | style="text-align:center;"|1 |
=From DC imprints=
==Vertigo==
{{Main|Vertigo Comics||l1=Vertigo}}
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Production studio ! Distributor ! Notes |
|---|
| 2006
| Virtual Studios/Silver Pictures/Anarchos Productions/Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg/Fünfte Babelsberg Film GmbH | Warner Bros. | Based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore and David Lloyd. |
| 2007
| Stardust | Marv Films/Ingenious Film Partners | Based on the original miniseries{{Efn|In 1997, the first edition of Stardust was published by DC's Vertigo imprint, before the novel's release on June 24, 1999.[https://www.mycomicshop.com/search?q=Stardust%20%201 Stardust comic books issue 1][https://www.amazon.com/Stardust-by-Neil-Gaiman-1999-06-24/dp/B01K93PGH4 Stardust by Neil Gaiman (1999-06-24) Paperback]}} by Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess. |
| 2010
| DC Comics/Dark Castle Entertainment/StudioCanal | rowspan="2" |Warner Bros. | Based on the series by Andy Diggle and Jock. |
| 2019
| New Line Cinema/DC Vertigo/Bron Creative/Michael De Luca Productions | Based on the original miniseries by Ollie Masters and Ming Doyle. |
==Paradox Press==
{{Main|Paradox Press}}
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Production studio ! Distributor ! Notes |
|---|
| 2002
| DreamWorks Pictures/20th Century Fox | Based on the series by Max Allan Collins. Won 1 Oscar, nominated for 5 more. |
| 2005
| New Line Productions/BenderSpink/München & Company | New Line Cinema | Based on the graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke. Nominated for 2 Oscars. |
==WildStorm==
{{Main|WildStorm}}
=Television films=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| style="background:#b0c4de;"
! Year ! Title ! Notes |
| 1974
| Pilot episode for an unproduced TV series. |
| 1975
| The New Original Wonder Woman | Pilot episode for the 1975 Wonder Woman television series. |
| 1997
| Pilot episode for an unproduced TV series. |
==Episodes as films==
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| style="background:#b0c4de;"
! Year ! Title ! Notes |
| 1990
| The Flash | rowspan="3"|Episodes of the 1990s The Flash television series released as direct-to-video films. |
| rowspan="2"|1991
| The Flash II: Revenge of the Trickster |
| The Flash III: Deadly Nightshade |
Animated films
{{for-text|the shared universe related to some 1990s and 2000s animated TV shows|DC Animated Universe|a line of original animated films|DC Universe Animated Original Movies|a shared universe involving some of the original films|DC Animated Movie Universe}}
All the feature films are produced by Warner Bros. Animation, except as indicated.
=Theatrically released films=
Movies produced for a theatrical release to cinemas.
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Notes |
|---|
| 1993
| Batman: Mask of the Phantasm | Set in the DCAU. Related to Batman: The Animated Series. |
| 2018
| Teen Titans Go! To the Movies | Set in the universe of the Teen Titans Go! TV series. |
| 2022
| CGI animation. Produced by Warner Animation Group |
| style="background:#b0c4de;"
! colspan="4"|Upcoming |
| 2028
| A hybrid of live-action motion capture, stop-motion animation and CG animation. Produced by DC Studios, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, and 6th & Idaho.{{Cite web |last=Kelley |first=Aidan |date=October 26, 2024 |title=James Gunn's Animated Robin Movie Officially Has a Release Window |url=https://collider.com/james-gunn-dynamic-duo-release-window-robin-movie/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241028151107/https://collider.com/james-gunn-dynamic-duo-release-window-robin-movie/ |archive-date=October 28, 2024 |access-date=November 3, 2024 |website=Collider}} |
=Direct-to-video and streaming films=
The following movies are produced primarily for release to home video and streaming. Limited theatrical screenings are noted when applicable.
=Episodes as films=
Television series episodes released as direct-to-video films.
=Lego versions=
All films are direct-to-video, except as indicated.
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| style="background:#b0c4de;"
! Year ! Title ! Production studio ! Notes |
| 2013
| Lego Batman: The Movie – DC Super Heroes Unite | Based on the video game Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes. |
| 2014
| Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Batman Be-Leaguered | rowspan="5"|Warner Bros. Animation | Television movie. |
| rowspan="2"|2015
| Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League | rowspan="4"| |
| Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Attack of the Legion of Doom |
| rowspan="2"|2016
| Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Cosmic Clash |
| Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Gotham City Breakout |
| rowspan="2"|2017
| Theatrical release; spin-off of The Lego Movie. |
| Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Brain Drain
| rowspan="6"|Warner Bros. Animation | rowspan="6"| |
| rowspan="3"|2018 |
| Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Super-Villain High |
| Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Aquaman – Rage of Atlantis |
| 2019 |
| 2020 |
=Short films=
==Theatrical==
==Direct-to-video==
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| style="background:#b0c4de;"
! Year ! Title ! Production studio ! Collection ! Notes |
| 2003
| Chase Me | Warner Bros. Animation | | Included in Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman. Silent film; part of the DCAU. |
| rowspan="6"|2008
| rowspan="6"|Batman: Gotham Knight | rowspan="6"|Loosely canon to The Dark Knight Trilogy. |
| Crossfire |
| Field Test |
| In Darkness Dwells
| Madhouse |
| Working Through Pain |
| Deadshot
| Madhouse |
| 2009
| Tales of the Black Freighter | rowspan="8"|Warner Bros. Animation | rowspan="2"| | Included in the Watchmen home video release. |
| rowspan="5"|2010
| A one-off special short, produced as part of Fisher-Price's Imaginext product line. |
| The Spectre
| rowspan="5"|DC Showcase | Included in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths. |
| Jonah Hex
| Included in Batman: Under the Red Hood. |
| Green Arrow
| Included in Superman/Batman: Apocalypse. |
| Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam
| Included in DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection. |
| 2011
| Catwoman | Included in Batman: Year One. |
| rowspan="2"|2015
| rowspan="2"| | Included in Justice League: Throne of Atlantis. Part of the DCAMU. |
| Constantine: John Con Noir
| Cool Town Claymation | Part of the promotion of the TV series Constantine. |
| rowspan="2"|2019
| rowspan="9"|Warner Bros. Animation | rowspan="9"|DC Showcase | Included in Batman: Hush. |
| Death
| Included in Wonder Woman: Bloodlines. |
| rowspan="3"|2020
| Included in Superman: Red Son. |
| Adam Strange
| Included in Justice League Dark: Apokolips War. |
| Batman: Death in the Family
| Interactive movie. Follow-up to Batman: Under the Red Hood. Based on Batman: A Death in the Family storyline by Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo. |
| rowspan="3"|2021
| Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth! | Included in Justice Society: World War II. |
| The Losers
| Included in Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One. |
| Blue Beetle
| Included in Batman: The Long Halloween, Part Two. |
| 2022
| Constantine: The House of Mystery | An long-form animated short. Sequel to Justice League Dark: Apokolips War. |
Reception
=Box office=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| rowspan="2"| Title
! rowspan="2"| Distributor(s) ! rowspan="2"| Release date ! rowspan="2"| Budget ! colspan="3"| Box office gross{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/franchises/chart/?id=dccomics.htm|title=DC Comics Movies at the Box Office|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=November 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022122056/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/franchises/chart/?id=dccomics.htm|archive-date=October 22, 2019|url-status=live}} |
|---|
| Opening weekend (North America) ! North America ! Worldwide |
| Superman
| rowspan="2" | Warner Bros. | December 10, 1978 | $55 | $6,535,784 | $134,218,018 | $300,218,018 |
| Superman II
| June 19, 1981 | $54 | $14,100,523 | $108,185,706 | $216,385,706 |
| Swamp Thing
| Embassy Pictures | February 19, 1982 | $2.5 | {{N/A}} | {{N/A}} | {{N/A}} |
| Superman III
| Warner Bros. | June 17, 1983 | $39 | $13,352,357 | $59,950,623 | $80,250,623 |
| Supergirl
| TriStar Pictures | November 21, 1984 | $35 | $5,738,249 | $14,296,438 | $14,296,438 |
| Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
| Warner Bros. | July 24, 1987 | $17 | $5,683,122 | $15,681,020 | $30,281,020 |
| The Return of Swamp Thing
| Millimeter Films | May 12, 1989 | {{N/A}} | {{N/A}} | $192,816 | $192,816 |
| Batman
| rowspan="39" | Warner Bros. | June 23, 1989 | $35 | $40,489,746 | $251,409,241 | $411,569,241 |
| Batman Returns
| June 19, 1992 | $80 | $45,687,711 | $162,924,631 | $266,934,688 |
| Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
| December 25, 1993 | $6 | $1,189,975 | $5,635,204 | $5,848,204 |
| Batman Forever
| June 16, 1995 | $100 | $52,784,433 | $184,069,126 | $336,567,158 |
| Batman & Robin
| June 20, 1997 | $125 | $42,872,605 | $107,353,792 | $238,253,988 |
| Steel
| August 15, 1997 | $16 | $870,068 | $1,710,972 | $1,801,972 |
| Catwoman
| July 23, 2004 | $100 | $16,728,411 | $40,202,379 | $82,402,379 |
| Constantine
| February 18, 2005 | $100 | $29,769,098 | $75,976,178 | $230,884,728 |
| Batman Begins
| June 28, 2005 | $150 | $48,745,440 | $206,863,479 | $375,298,946 |
| Superman Returns
| June 20, 2006 | $204 | $52,535,096 | $200,081,192 | $391,081,192 |
| The Dark Knight
| July 18, 2008 | $185 | $158,411,483 | $534,987,076 | $1,029,266,147 |
| Watchmen
| March 6, 2009 | $130 | $55,214,334 | $107,509,799 | $185,382,813 |
| Jonah Hex
| June 18, 2010 | $47 | $5,379,365 | $10,547,117 | $10,903,312 |
| Green Lantern
| June 17, 2011 | $200 | $53,174,303 | $116,601,172 | $237,201,172 |
| The Dark Knight Rises
| July 20, 2012 | $230 | $160,887,295 | $448,149,584 | $1,114,085,030 |
| Man of Steel
| June 14, 2013 | $225 | $116,619,362 | $291,045,518 | $670,145,518 |
| Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
| March 25, 2016 | $250 | $166,007,347 | $330,360,194 | $874,362,803 |
| Batman: The Killing Joke
| July 26, 2016 | $3.5 | {{N/A}} | $3,775,000 | $4,462,034 |
| Suicide Squad
| August 5, 2016 | $175 | $133,682,248 | $325,100,054 | $749,200,054 |
| Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders
| October 10, 2016 | {{N/A}} | {{N/A}} | $56,711 | $56,711 |
| The Lego Batman Movie
| February 10, 2017 | $80 | $53,003,578 | $175,936,671 | $312,336,671 |
| Wonder Woman
| June 2, 2017 | $149 | $103,251,471 | $412,845,172 | $823,970,682 |
| Batman and Harley Quinn
| August 14, 2017 | {{N/A}} | {{N/A}} | $6,448 | $6,448 |
| Justice League
| November 17, 2017 | $300 | $93,842,239 | $229,024,295 | $661,326,987 |
| Teen Titans Go! To the Movies
| July 27, 2018 | $10 | $10,411,189 | $29,790,236 | $52,390,236 |
| Aquaman
| December 21, 2018 | $160 | $67,873,522 | $335,104,314 | $1,152,028,393 |
| Shazam!
| April 5, 2019 | $100 | $53,505,326 | $140,480,049 | $367,799,011 |
| Joker
| October 4, 2019 | $55 | $96,202,337 | $335,477,657 | $1,078,958,282 |
| Birds of Prey
| February 7, 2020 | $84.5 | $33,010,017 | $84,172,791 | $205,372,791 |
| Wonder Woman 1984
| December 25, 2020 | $200 | $16,700,000 | $46,801,036 | $169,601,036 |
| The Suicide Squad
| August 6, 2021 | $185 | $26,205,415 | $55,817,425 | $168,717,425 |
| The Batman
| March 4, 2022 | $185–200 | $134,008,624 | $369,345,583 | $772,245,583 |
| DC League of Super-Pets
| July 29, 2022 | $90 | $23,003,441 | $93,657,117 | $207,557,117 |
| Black Adam
| October 21, 2022 | $260 | $67,004,323 | $168,152,111 | $393,452,111 |
| Shazam! Fury of the Gods
| March 17, 2023 | $125 | $30,111,158 | $57,638,006 | $134,038,006 |
| The Flash
| June 16, 2023 | $200 | $55,043,679 | $108,133,313 | $271,333,313 |
| Blue Beetle
| August 18, 2023 | $104 | $25,030,225 | $72,488,072 | $130,788,072 |
| Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
| December 22, 2023 | $215 | $27,686,211 | $124,481,226 | $434,381,226 |
| Joker: Folie à Deux
| October 4, 2024 | $200 | $37,678,467 | $58,300,287 | $206,400,287 |
| class="unsortable" colspan="3" | Total
! $5.282 billion ! ${{val|fmt=commas|{{#expr:6535784+14100523+0+13352357+5738249+5683122+0+40489746+45687711+1189975+52784433+42872605+870068+16728411+29769098+48745440+25642340+52535096+158411483+55214334+5379365+53174303+160887295+116619362+166007347+0+133682248+0+53003578+103251471+0+93842239+10411189+67873522+53505326+96202337+33010017+12000000+26205415+134008624+23003441+67004323+30111158+55043679+25030225+27686211+37678467}}}} ! ${{val|fmt=commas|{{#expr:134218018+108185706+0+59950623+14296438+15681020+192816+251409241+162924631+5635204+184069126+107353792+1710972+40202379+75976178+206863479+70511035+200081192+534987076+107509799+10547117+116601172+448149584+291045518+330360194+3775000+325100054+56711+175936671+412845172+6448+229024295+29790236+335104314+140480049+335477657+84172791+46801036+55817425+369345583+93657117+168152111+57638006+108133313+72488072+124481226+58300287}}}} ! ${{val|fmt=commas|{{#expr:300218018+216385706+0+80250623+14296438+30281020+192816+411569241+266934688+5848204+336567158+238253988+1801972+82402379+230884728+375298946+132511035+391081192+1029266147+185382813+10903312+237201172+1114085030+670145518+874362803+4462034+749200054+56711+312336671+823970682+6448+661326987+52390236+1152028393+367799011+1078958282+205372791+169601036+168717425+772245583+207557117+393452111+134038006+271333313+130788072+434381226+206400287}}}} |
=Critical and public reception=
=From DC imprints=
| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:99%; text-align:center;"
|+ Paradox Press |
| style="background:#b0c4de;"
! Title ! Distributor(s) ! Release date ! Rotten Tomatoes ! Metacritic ! Budget ! Box office |
| Road to Perdition
| DreamWorks/20th Century Fox | July 12, 2002 | 72 | $80 | $181,001,478 |
| A History of Violence
| New Line Cinema | May 16, 2005 | 81 | $32 | $60,740,827 |
See also
- List of television series based on DC Comics publications
- List of video games based on DC Comics
- List of films based on Marvel Comics publications
- List of television series based on Marvel Comics publications
- Batman in film
- Superman in film
- DC Extended Universe
- List of unproduced DC Comics projects
- List of unproduced films based on DC Comics imprints
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}