Best DC Animated Movies and The Watch Order

The best DC animated movies are better than a lot of the live-action ones, and I will die on that hill. Titles like Batman: Under the Red Hood, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, and The Dark Knight Returns take our favorite heroes and treat them with real weight.

So this is my full guide to the best DC animated movies worth your time.

What makes them so good? For me, it comes down to three things.

• The voice acting is elite, with legends like Kevin Conroy defining Batman for a generation
• The stories go dark and mature in ways the theatrical films rarely dare to
• Many are faithful adaptations of the greatest comics ever printed

So let us get into it.

These run in no strict ranking, but the first pick is the one I hand to every new fan.

Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010)

This is the one I always recommend first. So for my money, it might be the best DC animated movie ever made.

• Director: Brandon Vietti
• Voices: Bruce Greenwood as Batman, Jensen Ackles as the Red Hood
• Plot: Batman faces a brutal new vigilante with a painful link to his past
• Why watch: The emotional gut-punch of the ending still gets me every time

Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013)

This one is a heavyweight, and one of the best DC animated movies for pure impact. It is also the film that rebooted the whole animated universe.

• Director: Jay Oliva
• Voices: Justin Chambers as the Flash, Kevin Conroy as Batman
• Plot: The Flash wakes in a dark alternate timeline with no powers and no Justice League
• Why watch: So it is fast, brutal, and emotionally devastating

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (2012 and 2013)

If you only watch one two-parter, make it this.

It is a near-perfect comic adaptation, and one of the best DC animated movies ever.

• Director: Jay Oliva, based on Frank Miller’s legendary graphic novel
• Voices: Peter Weller as Batman, Ariel Winter as Robin
• Plot: An older, retired Bruce Wayne returns to save a broken Gotham
• Why watch: Noir visuals, mature themes, and the famous Batman versus Superman fight

So it trades the family-friendly tone of older Batman cartoons for something grim and unforgettable. It is a landmark.

Justice League: War (2014)

This is the team’s origin story, and it is a blast. It also set the tone for years of connected movies.

• Director: Jay Oliva, based on the New 52 origin
• Voices: Jason O’Mara as Batman, Alan Tudyk as Superman
• Plot: The heroes meet, clash, and unite to fight Darkseid and his Parademons
• Why watch: So the banter between a young, cocky League is really funny

Teen Titans: The Judas Contract (2017)

This adapts one of the most famous Titans stories ever. So it is one of the best DC animated movies for raw emotion.

• Director: Sam Liu
• Voices: Christina Ricci as Terra, Taissa Farmiga as Raven
• Plot: The Teen Titans deal with betrayal from inside their own ranks
• Why watch: Also, it balances humor, action, and a gut-wrenching turn

Superman: Red Son (2020)

What if Superman landed in the Soviet Union instead of Kansas? This film runs with that idea, and it is fascinating.

• Director: Sam Liu, based on the acclaimed comic miniseries
• Voices: Jason Isaacs as Superman, Diedrich Bader as Lex Luthor
• Plot: A Soviet-raised Superman reshapes global politics
• Why watch: Also, it blurs the line between hero and villain in the best way

So it is one of the most thought-provoking films on this list. A perfect elseworlds story.

Green Lantern: First Flight (2009)

So this plays like a space-cop thriller, and it is the best Green Lantern screen story we have.

• Director: Lauren Montgomery
• Voices: Christopher Meloni as Hal Jordan, Victor Garber as Sinestro
• Plot: The first human Green Lantern uncovers a plot by the corrupt Sinestro
• Why watch: So it is a tight, action-packed ride through the Corps

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010)

Evil versions of the Justice League? Sign me up. So Owlman alone makes this one of the best DC animated movies for a villain.

• Directors: Sam Liu and Lauren Montgomery
• Voices: William Baldwin as Batman, James Woods as Owlman
• Plot: The League faces their villainous mirror images, the Crime Syndicate
• Why watch: Owlman’s nihilistic plan is one of the coolest in any DC film

Wonder Woman (2009)

This is one of the most underrated films on the list. So it nails Diana’s origin.

• Director: Lauren Montgomery
• Voices: Keri Russell as Diana, Nathan Fillion as Steve Trevor
• Plot: The origin of Wonder Woman, from Themyscira to the modern world
• Why watch: Also, the Diana and Steve banter is charming

Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (2018)

Batman in Victorian Gotham, hunting Jack the Ripper. What a pitch.

• Director: Sam Liu
• Voices: Bruce Greenwood as Batman, Jennifer Carpenter as Selina Kyle
• Plot: A steam-era Dark Knight tracks a serial killer through old Gotham
• Why watch: Still, the steampunk style gives Batman a fresh, brooding look

The Death of Superman (2018) and Reign of the Supermen (2019)

So this two-part saga is the best animated take on the most famous Superman story ever told.

• Directors: Sam Liu and Jake Castorena
• Voices: Jerry O’Connell as Superman, Rebecca Romijn as Lois Lane
• Plot: Superman falls to the unstoppable Doomsday, then four heroes rise to fill the void
• Why watch: So it handles grief, legacy, and sacrifice with real care

Green Lantern: Emerald Knights (2011)

So if you love the wider Corps, this anthology is a treat. Six short tales, one big world.

• Directors: Christopher Berkeley, Lauren Montgomery, and Jay Oliva
• Voices: Nathan Fillion as Hal Jordan, Elisabeth Moss as Arisia
• Plot: Interlocking stories about the legends of the Green Lantern Corps
• Why watch: It is essential for Green Lantern fans who want the lore

Justice League: Doom (2012)

What happens when Batman’s secret plans to beat the League fall into the wrong hands? Pure tension, and one of the best DC animated movies for a smart plot.

• Director: Lauren Montgomery
• Voices: Kevin Conroy as Batman, Tim Daly as Superman
• Plot: Vandal Savage turns Batman’s contingency plans against the world’s greatest heroes
• Why watch: So it is a smart, high-stakes thriller with the classic voice cast

Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2019)

This crossover should not work as well as it does. Still, it is pure, joyful fun.

• Director: Jake Castorena
• Voices: Troy Baker as Batman and the Joker, Darren Criss as Raphael
• Plot: Batman teams with the Ninja Turtles against a shared rogues’ gallery
• Why watch: So seeing these worlds collide is a total blast

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020)

This is the brutal, no-holds-barred finale of the connected universe, and one of the best DC animated movies for sheer scale. So it goes places most superhero films never would.

• Directors: Matt Peters and Christina Sotta
• Voices: Matt Ryan as Constantine, Rosario Dawson as Wonder Woman
• Plot: The League, the Titans, and every hero left make a last stand against Darkseid
• Why watch: So it is a bold, devastating end to years of story

Justice League Dark (2017)

So this one trades muscle for magic, and it is a refreshing change of pace.

• Director: Jay Oliva
• Voices: Matt Ryan as Constantine, Camilla Luddington as Zatanna
• Plot: Batman recruits a team of magic-wielding heroes to fight a supernatural threat
• Why watch: Also, Constantine steals every scene he is in

Batman: Bad Blood (2016)

So this is the Bat-family movie, and it gives the sidekicks their moment to shine.

• Director: Jay Oliva
• Voices: Jason O’Mara as Batman, Yvonne Strahovski as Batwoman
• Plot: Nightwing, Robin, Batwoman, and Batwing unite to find a missing Batman
• Why watch: It is character-driven and finally puts Batwoman front and center

Justice League: Throne of Atlantis (2015)

So this is Aquaman’s origin, and it makes a strong case for him as a serious hero.

• Director: Ethan Spaulding
• Voices: Matt Lanter as Aquaman, Rosario Dawson as Wonder Woman
• Plot: Arthur learns of his Atlantean heritage as a surface war looms
• Why watch: So it is a solid underwater adventure that fits the connected saga

Are the DC Animated Movies Connected? The DCAMU Explained

This is the question I get the most, so here is the clear answer. Some of these films share one continuity, and many do not.

• The connected run is called the DC Animated Movie Universe, or DCAMU
• It started with Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox in 2013
• The first arc ended with Justice League Dark: Apokolips War in 2020
• A second arc, the Tomorrowverse, then ran until 2024
• In total, the DCAMU is made up of 25 connected films

So on this list, films like Flashpoint Paradox, War, Throne of Atlantis, Bad Blood, Judas Contract, Justice League Dark, The Death of Superman, and Apokolips War all connect. Meanwhile, films like Under the Red Hood, The Dark Knight Returns, Crisis on Two Earths, and Red Son are standalone stories. You can watch those in any order you like.

Where to Watch the Best DC Animated Movies

Good news here. Most of these are easy to find today.

• A large chunk of the library streams on Max
• You can rent or buy nearly all of them on Amazon, Apple TV, and other digital stores
• Many also get Blu-ray and 4K releases if you like to own them

So a full binge of the best DC animated movies is only a few clicks away.

DC Animated Movies in Order of Release

Since 2007, the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line has released more than 60 films. So if you want the full picture, here is every main entry in order of release, right up to the 2024 finale.

1. Superman: Doomsday (2007)
2. Justice League: The New Frontier (2008)
3. Batman: Gotham Knight (2008)
4. Wonder Woman (2009)
5. Green Lantern: First Flight (2009)
6. Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (2009)
7. Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010)
8. Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010)
9. Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (2010)
10. All-Star Superman (2011)
11. Green Lantern: Emerald Knights (2011)
12. Batman: Year One (2011)
13. Justice League: Doom (2012)
14. Superman vs. The Elite (2012)
15. The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012)
16. The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 (2013)
17. Superman: Unbound (2013)
18. Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013)
19. Justice League: War (2014)
20. Son of Batman (2014)
21. Batman: Assault on Arkham (2014)
22. Justice League: Throne of Atlantis (2015)
23. Batman vs. Robin (2015)
24. Justice League: Gods and Monsters (2015)
25. Batman: Bad Blood (2016)
26. Justice League vs. Teen Titans (2016)
27. Batman: The Killing Joke (2016)
28. Justice League Dark (2017)
29. Teen Titans: The Judas Contract (2017)
30. Batman and Harley Quinn (2017)
31. Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (2018)
32. Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay (2018)
33. The Death of Superman (2018)
34. Constantine: City of Demons (2018)
35. Reign of the Supermen (2019)
36. Justice League vs. The Fatal Five (2019)
37. Batman: Hush (2019)
38. Wonder Woman: Bloodlines (2019)
39. Superman: Red Son (2020)
40. Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020)
41. Superman: Man of Tomorrow (2020)
42. Batman: Soul of the Dragon (2021)
43. Justice Society: World War II (2021)
44. Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One (2021)
45. Batman: The Long Halloween, Part Two (2021)
46. Injustice (2021)
47. Catwoman: Hunted (2022)
48. Green Lantern: Beware My Power (2022)
49. Battle of the Super Sons (2022)
50. Legion of Super-Heroes (2023)
51. Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham (2023)
52. Justice League: Warworld (2023)
53. Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part One (2024)
54. Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part Two (2024)
55. Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part Three (2024)
56. Watchmen Chapter I (2024)
57. Watchmen Chapter II (2024)

The Best DC Animated Movies at a Glance

Here is a quick, mobile-friendly table of my picks. So if you just want to grab one tonight, start at the top.

So that is my rundown of the best DC animated movies. Some are dark, some are pure fun, and a few will really surprise you.

Which one is your favorite? Tell me in the comments.