Suicide Squad at the bottom to Wonder Woman on the top - Final DCEU ranking as Aquaman 2 ends the chapter

Many of us are still having a tough time processing the fact that the DCEU has come to an end and there is no future for the timeline under the new leadership that now sits on the throne. Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom is now in theatres and is a remnant of the old DCEU that was still busy trying to find its niche when the plug-in was pulled on it. Fifteen films and a Director’s Cut later, the audience that invested in the timeline for a decade now stands clueless and is waiting for the new era to begin. 

So now, as James Gunn and Peter Safran bury the remains of DCEU deep and build their DCU on it, the era has come to a complete end. Though not with a deserving closure, regardless. Let’s take a look at the Rotten Tomatoes score for every DCEU flick and also list them in the order of rotten to certified fresh. Maybe you have a different opinion, but here is a general consensus about the universe. 

While David Ayer’s Suicide Squad is the most rotten on the board with only a 26% rating, Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice follows it next to be rotten. The list goes through every DCEU project leading to the winning movie Wonder Woman, with a 93% score and certified fresh. What is interesting is that all the first parts of the standalone films are mostly on the fresh side of the board and all the sequels lie somewhere at the bottom or in between. 

Also Read: Aquaman 2 box office – DCEU’s swan song fails to even touch estimated numbers; falls much behind The Flash even with holiday privilege

Below is the complete list of movies, the filmmakers who directed them, the cast, and the Rotten Tomatoes score. 

16. Suicide Squad

Director: David Ayer
Cast: Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Viola Davis, and an ensemble
Rotten Tomato Verdict: 26%, Rotten

There can be only a few who won't be aware of how David Ayer has been raving about a director cut that is still not in sight. However, the original movie that was released didn't have much to offer to the audience back in the day.

15. Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice

Director: Zack Snyder
Cast: Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, and ensemble
Rotten Tomato Verdict: 29%, Rotten

Zack Snyder’s experiment was one that garnered polar reviews back in the day but the movie on Rotten Tomatoes has not impressed any audience if you look at it. 

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14. Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom

Director: James Wan
Cast: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Nicole Kidman, and ensemble
Rotten Tomato Verdict: 36%, Rotten

We know you were secretly thinking how this is not at the bottom of this barrel. But turns out the audience has not hated it as much as the other two and Jason Momoa’s flick stands here. However, every achievement for Aquaman 2 is in reverse order.

13. Black Adam

Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Pierce Brosnan, Aldis Hodge, Noah Centineo, and ensemble
Rotten Tomato Verdict: 38%, Rotten

Dwayne Johnson was about to change the hierarchy of DCEU but couldn’t save itself from featuring in a movie that did not manage to find the expected audience. However, the change in leadership put more pressure. 

12. Justice League (2017)

Director: Joss Whedon
Cast: Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher, Jason Momoa, and ensemble
Rotten Tomato Verdict: 39%, Rotten

Who isn’t aware of the off-screen drama that unfolded with this one? Zack Snyder’s exit and Joss’ entry were so unceremonious that the fandoms are to date busy fighting over it. However, what resulted on screen was a messy affair and a CGIed mustache.

11. Shazam! Fury Of The Gods

Director: David F. Sandberg
Cast: Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Rachel Zegler, and ensemble
Rotten Tomato Verdict: 49%, Rotten

While this one feels like it got too scrutinized with the entire superhero fatigue and people still not ready to go to theatres conversation. Fury Of The Gods should have had a good score but fate wasn’t in support.

10. Man Of Steel

Director: Zack Snyder
Cast: Henry Cavill, Michael Shannon, Amy Adams, and ensemble
Rotten Tomato Verdict: 56%, Rotten

Zack Snyder and Henry Cavill’s debut DCEU movie was lapped up when it was released but over the years became a very weird topic for conflicts. Even the score reflects the middle ground it stands on.

9. Wonder Woman 1984

Director: Patty Jenkins
Cast: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Pedro Pascal, and ensemble
Rotten Tomato Verdict: 58%, Rotten

Patty Jenkins sequel to her hit Wonder Woman was one of the most anticipated movies. The fact that it was released during the pandemic didn’t give it a chance to reach a wider audience.

8. The Flash

Director: Andy Muschietti
Cast: Ezra Miller, Michael Keaton, Ben Affleck, Sasha Calle, and ensemble
Rotten Tomato Verdict: 63%, Fresh

The Flash was more about the drama that was evident during the promotions and Ezra Miller’s doings. The messy VFX came much later in the conversation. However, the unpopular opinion says the narrative was lucrative, the execution was lacking somewhere.

7. Aquaman

Director: James Wan
Cast: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Nicole Kidman, and ensemble
Rotten Tomato Verdict: 65%, Fresh

If you ask the Warner Bros execs they might put this one on the top. A movie that earned over a billion dollars for the studio and established Jason Momoa as the Aquaman. Sad he would no longer be one.

6. Zack Snyder’s Justice League

Director: Zack Snyder
Cast: Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher, Jason Momoa, and ensemble
Rotten Tomato Verdict: 72%, Fresh

That fans didn’t vote for this to be on top is a shocker for the world. Zack Snyder’s fandom literally initiated a movement to make the studio work on a director’s cut and release it on HBO Max. The very long cut was appreciated for the audience was seeking redemption after watching the Joss Whedon version.

5. Blue Beetle

Director: Angel Manuel Soto
Cast: Xolo Maridueña, Bruna Marquezine, Damian Alcazar, and ensemble
Rotten Tomato Verdict: 78%, Certified Fresh

This was peak representation in the current times because Xolo brought the first Brazilian superhero with Blue Beetle. A movie that was released right between crises but also far away from the clouds that were over the studio then.

4. Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)

Director: Cathy Yan
Cast: Margot Robbie, Rosie Perez, and ensemble
Rotten Tomato Verdict: 78%, Certified Fresh

Margot Robbie has made everyone fall in love with Harley Quinn even when she is supposed to be an anti-hero. Birds Of Prey was a completely different approach to this side of this universe.

3. Shazam!

Director: David F. Sandberg
Cast: Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, and ensemble
Rotten Tomato Verdict: 90%, Fresh

Zachary Levi’s entry into the standalone league was too entertaining. He was soon labelled DCEU’s Deadpool and in no time one of the most favourite characters. The movie was a fun ride.

2. The Suicide Squad

Director: James Gunn
Cast: Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Viola Davis, Joel Kinnaman, and ensemble
Rotten Tomato Verdict: 90%, Fresh

It is ironic that James Gunn’s directorial sits in the second position with Birds Of Prey. A movie that explores the phenomenon of the squad even deeper and from a very interesting perspective. A movie that can be re-watched multiple times.

1. Wonder Woman

Director: Patty Jenkins
Cast: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Pedro Pascal, and ensemble
Rotten Tomato Verdict: 93%, Fresh

Gal Gadot’s rise as Diana Prince was appreciated by the masses. When she got a standalone flick and Patty Jenkins shaped it well, everyone welcomed it with open arms and they were indeed rewarded. So much so that it sits at the top of the ranking.

Stay tuned to OTTplay for more.

Also Read: Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom Review – If ‘let’s just get done with this and run away from controversy’ had a face