DC Animated Movie Universe | |
---|---|
Years | 2013–present |
Miscellaneous | |
Distributed by | Warner Bros. Home Entertainment |
Country | United States |
The DC Animated Movie Universe (DCAMU) is an American media franchise and shared universe of animated films distributed between 2013 and 2024 by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment. Based on characters from the DC Universe (DC Comics), the franchise is part of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line.
The main film series are split into two story arcs with different continuities. The first story arc began in 2013 with Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox and ended in 2020 with Justice League Dark: Apokolips War , while the second story arc, which was nicknamed as the "Tomorrowverse", began later that year with Superman: Man of Tomorrow and will conclude in 2024 with the Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths trilogy.
The franchise comprises twenty-six films overall, with tie-in media including five short films, one web series and two digital comics.
The franchise is initially loosely based on a set of New 52 storylines from the DC Universe. Following a teaser in the franchise's first film Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox , a five-film story arc loosely based on the "Darkseid War" event written by Geoff Johns, started from Justice League: War and was later revisited in The Death of Superman , Reign of the Supermen and concluded in Justice League Dark: Apokolips War . [1]
After the first story arc ended, screenwriter Ernie Altbacker teased the possibility of a new project related to that continuity. He said that "the way we ended it ... it's really like a tough balancing act: It ends something on a bittersweet yet hopeful note, and I'll just say, people who are saying, 'Oh man, we're not going to get anymore of these!' ... you're not losing something, you're gaining something new ..." [2]
The DC Showcase short film Constantine: The House of Mystery was released in May 2022 and is a narrative sequel to Justice League Dark: Apokolips War. [3]
Pre-production of the DCAMU's second story arc began a few years ago when Butch Lukic and Jim Krieg decided to plan out a ten-film story arc that would be set after the events of Justice League Dark: Apokolips War, which ends the first story arc with a universal reset. The arc itself originally was not planned to have the Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline as a major plot point, but these plans were eventually changed once executives from Warner Bros. Animation asked for it to serve as the finale. [4]
Lukic and Krieg were also unaware of the Arrowverse's plans for their own adaptation at the time and only found out when Eric Carrasco contacted them, since he served as a writer for Justice League vs. the Fatal Five and knew them personally. [5]
The franchise's second story arc has the art style and storyline being carried over to further films that were set in the same continuity. It gained the nickname of "Tomorrowverse" after the release of Superman: Man of Tomorrow . [6]
Constantine: The House of Mystery continues certain story elements and helps set up the Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths plot, which was later confirmed to be a three-part storyline and serve as the overall conclusion to the DCAMU, with all the remaining films being scheduled to release in 2024. [7]
Film | U.S. release date | Director(s) | Writer(s) | Producer(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
First story arc (2013–2020) | ||||
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox | July 30, 2013 | Jay Oliva | Jim Krieg | James Tucker |
Justice League: War | February 4, 2014 | Heath Corson | ||
Son of Batman | April 22, 2014 | Ethan Spaulding | Joe R. Lansdale Ethan Spaulding | |
Justice League: Throne of Atlantis | January 13, 2015 | Heath Corson James Robinson | ||
Batman vs. Robin | April 7, 2015 | Jay Oliva | J. M. DeMatteis | |
Batman: Bad Blood | January 20, 2016 | |||
Justice League vs. Teen Titans | March 29, 2016 | Sam Liu | Alan Burnett Bryan Q. Miller | |
Justice League Dark | January 24, 2017 | Jay Oliva | Ernie Altbacker J. M. DeMatteis | |
Teen Titans: The Judas Contract | April 4, 2017 | Sam Liu | Ernie Altbacker | |
Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay | March 27, 2018 | Alan Burnett | Sam Liu | |
The Death of Superman | July 24, 2018 | Jake Castorena Sam Liu | Peter J. Tomasi | Sam Liu Amy McKenna |
Constantine: City of Demons – The Movie [8] | October 9, 2018 | Doug Murphy | J. M. DeMatteis | Butch Lukic |
Reign of the Supermen | January 29, 2019 | Sam Liu | Jim Krieg Tim Sheridan | James Tucker |
Batman: Hush | July 20, 2019 | Justin Copeland | Ernie Altbacker | Amy McKenna |
Wonder Woman: Bloodlines | October 5, 2019 | Justin Copeland Sam Liu | William Moulton Marston H. G. Peter Mairghread Scott | Sam Liu Amy McKenna |
Justice League Dark: Apokolips War | May 5, 2020 | Matt Peters Christina Sotta | Ernie Altbacker Mairghread Scott Christina Sotta | James Tucker |
Second story arc: "Tomorrowverse" (2020–2024) | ||||
Superman: Man of Tomorrow | August 23, 2020 | Chris Palmer | Tim Sheridan | Jim Krieg Kimberly S. Moreau |
Justice Society: World War II | April 27, 2021 | Jeff Wamester | Jeremy Adams Meghan Fitzmartin | |
Batman: The Long Halloween – Part One | June 22, 2021 | Chris Palmer | Tim Sheridan | |
Batman: The Long Halloween – Part Two | July 27, 2021 | |||
Green Lantern: Beware My Power | July 25, 2022 | Jeff Wamester | Ernie Altbacker John Semper | Jim Krieg Sam Register |
Legion of Super-Heroes | February 7, 2023 | Josie Campbell | Jim Krieg Butch Lukic Kimberly S. Moreau | |
Justice League: Warworld | July 25, 2023 | Jeremy Adams Ernie Altbacker Josie Campbell | Jim Krieg Kimberly S. Moreau | |
Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One | January 9, 2024 | Jim Krieg | ||
Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Two | April 23, 2024 | |||
Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Three | July 16, 2024 |
Film | U.S. release date | Director(s) | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Home media release |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nightwing and Robin | January 14, 2015 | Bruce Timm | Scott Lobdell Greg Pak Charles Soule | Justice League: Throne of Atlantis | |
Adam Strange [9] | May 5, 2020 | Butch Lukic | J.M. DeMatteis Butch Lukic | Butch Lukic Amy McKenna | Justice League Dark: Apokolips War DC Showcase Animated Shorts – Batman: Death in the Family |
Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth! [10] | April 27, 2021 | Milo Neuman | Paul Giacoppo | Justice Society: World War II DC Showcase Animated Shorts – Constantine: The House of Mystery | |
Blue Beetle | July 27, 2021 | Jeremy Adams | Jennifer Keene | Batman: The Long Halloween – Part Two DC Showcase Animated Shorts – Constantine: The House of Mystery | |
Constantine: The House of Mystery [11] | May 3, 2022 [12] | Matt Peters | Ernie Altbacker | James Krieg Rick Morales | DC Showcase Animated Shorts – Constantine: The House of Mystery |
Title | Episodes | U.S. release date | Director | Writer | Producer | Production companies | Network |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Constantine: City of Demons [8] | 5 (original version) | March 24, 2018 | Doug Murphy | J. M. DeMatteis | Butch Lukic | Berlanti Productions Blue Ribbon Content DC Entertainment Digital eMation Inc. Phantom Four Films Warner Bros. Animation | CW Seed |
2 (re-version) | January 17, 2019 |
Title | Issue(s) | Publication date(s) | Writer | Artist(s) | Colorist(s) | Publisher |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay | 12 | March 21, 2018 | Jeff Parker | Agustin Padilla Stefano Raffaele Mathew Dow Smith Cat Staggs | Tony Aviña | DC Digital First |
The Death of Superman: Part 1 | August 1 — October 17, 2018 | Louise Simonson | Cat Staggs | Wendy Broome |
Title | Material collected | Publication date | Publisher | ISBN |
---|---|---|---|---|
Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay |
| February 19, 2019 | DC Comics | 1401287786 , 978-1302957308 |
The Death of Superman: The Wake |
| November 26, 2019 | 1779501137 , 978-1779501134 |
Title | U.S. release date | Gross in the 1st three weeks | Gross total | Rotten Tomatoes | IGN | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox | July 30, 2013 | $2,961,457 | $5,263,783 | 100% (5 reviews) [13] | [14] | |
Justice League: War | February 4, 2014 | $3,119,314 | $5,806,863 | 50% (6 reviews) [15] | [16] | |
Son of Batman | April 22, 2014 | $4,071,112 | $7,035,303 | 64% (11 reviews) [17] | [18] | |
Justice League: Throne of Atlantis | January 13, 2015 | $2,445,009 [19] | $4,661,509 | 63% (8 reviews) [20] | [21] | |
Batman vs. Robin | April 7, 2015 | $2,537,343 | $4,275,014 | 100% (5 reviews) [22] | [23] | |
Batman: Bad Blood | January 20, 2016 | $3,093,355 | $4,884,919 | 100% (5 reviews) [24] | [25] | |
Justice League vs. Teen Titans | March 29, 2016 | $2,522,134 | $4,680,315 | 80% (5 reviews) [26] | [27] | |
Justice League Dark | January 24, 2017 | $1,286,255 | $3,321,532 | 78% (9 reviews) [28] | [29] | |
Teen Titans: The Judas Contract | April 4, 2017 | $1,514,960 | $3,279,855 | 83% (6 reviews) [30] | [31] | |
Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay | March 27, 2018 | $1,202,526 | $2,880,096 | 88% (8 reviews) [32] | [33] | |
The Death of Superman | July 24, 2018 | $4,219,828 | $6,551,111 | 92% (13 reviews) [34] | [35] | |
Constantine: City of Demons – The Movie | October 9, 2018 | $750,022 | $1,699,592 | NA (3 reviews) [36] | [37] | |
Reign of the Supermen | January 29, 2019 | $3,797,618 | NA (0 reviews) [38] | [39] | ||
Batman: Hush | July 20, 2019 | $2,584,555 | $3,603,543 | 88% (17 reviews) [40] | [41] | |
The Death and Return of Superman | October 1, 2019 | |||||
Wonder Woman: Bloodlines | October 5, 2019 | $764,095 | $1,723,810 | 88% (8 reviews) [42] | [43] | |
Justice League Dark: Apokolips War | May 5, 2020 | $1,563,760 | $5,576,143 | 100% (18 reviews) [44] | [45] | |
Superman: Man of Tomorrow | August 23, 2020 | 93% (14 reviews) [46] | 7/10 [47] | |||
Justice Society: World War II | April 27, 2021 | 76% (17 reviews) [48] | 9/10 [49] | |||
Batman: The Long Halloween – Part One | June 22, 2021 | 100% (21 reviews) [50] | 8/10 [51] | |||
Batman: The Long Halloween – Part Two | July 27, 2021 | 100% (15 reviews) [52] | 9/10 [53] | |||
DC Showcase Animated Shorts – Constantine: The House of Mystery | May 3, 2022 | |||||
Green Lantern: Beware My Power | July 25, 2022 | 56% (9 reviews) [54] | 4/10 [55] | |||
Batman: The Long Halloween – Deluxe Edition | September 20, 2022 | |||||
Legion of Super-Heroes | February 7, 2023 | 60% (5 reviews) [56] | ||||
Justice League: Warworld | July 25, 2023 | 50% (6 reviews) [57] | 6/10 [58] | |||
Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One | January 9, 2024 | 88% (8 reviews) [59] | 6/10 [60] | |||
Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Two | April 23, 2024 |
In 2019, Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay and The Death of Superman were nominated for the Golden Reel Award in the category of "Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Sound Effects, Foley, Music, Dialogue and ADR for Non-Theatrical Animated Long Form Broadcast Media". [61]
Darkseid is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby, and debuted in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134.
The DC Animated Universe is a shared universe centered on a group of animated television series based on DC Comics and produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It began with Batman: The Animated Series in 1992 and ended with Justice League Unlimited in 2006. The associated media franchise also includes theatrical and direct-to-video feature films, as well as shorts, comic books, video games, and other multimedia adaptations.
The American comic book character Superman, created in 1938, has appeared in many types of media since the 1940s. Superman has appeared in radio, television, movies, and video games each on multiple occasions, and his name, symbol, and image have appeared on products and merchandise.
The Batman franchise, based on the fictional superhero Batman who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics, has seen the release of various films. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, the character first starred in two serial films in the 1940s: Batman and Batman and Robin. The character also appeared in the 1966 film Batman, which was a feature film adaptation of the 1960s Batman TV series starring Adam West and Burt Ward, who also starred in the film. Toward the end of the 1980s, the Warner Bros. studio began producing a series of feature films starring Batman, beginning with the 1989 film Batman, directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton. Burton and Keaton returned for the 1992 sequel Batman Returns, and in 1995, Joel Schumacher directed Batman Forever with Val Kilmer as Batman. Schumacher also directed the 1997 sequel Batman & Robin, which starred George Clooney. Batman & Robin was poorly received by both critics and fans, leading to the cancellation of Batman Unchained.
The DC Universe Animated Original 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 Animation. Many films are usually stand-alone projects that are either adaptations of popular works or original stories. From 2013 to 2020, the DC Animated Movie Universe was a subset of this series featuring several films that took place in a shared universe, influenced predominantly by "The New 52". Following the DCAMU's conclusion, the Tomorrowverse was launched the same year, beginning with Superman: Man of Tomorrow.
Superman/Batman: Apocalypse is a 2010 American animated superhero film based on the Superman/Batman comic book storyline "The Supergirl from Krypton" and is a standalone sequel to Superman/Batman: Public Enemies. The art style is partly based on that of Michael Turner, who penciled the Superman/Batman comic book arc. Directed by Lauren Montgomery and released on September 28, 2010, by Warner Premiere and Warner Bros. Animation, it is the ninth film of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies. The film stars Andre Braugher, Kevin Conroy, Tim Daly and Summer Glau. Despite the title, the film focuses primarily on Supergirl and Superman, with Batman playing a supporting role.
The Stone Quarry Inc. is an American production company established in 2004 by filmmaker Zack Snyder, his wife Deborah Snyder and their producing partner Wesley Coller.
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox is a 2013 direct-to-video animated superhero film directed by Jay Oliva and written by Jim Krieg. It is the adaptation of the 2011 comic book crossover "Flashpoint" by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert. The film stars Justin Chambers as Barry Allen / Flash, C. Thomas Howell as Eobard Thawne / Professor Zoom, Michael B. Jordan as Victor Stone / Cyborg, Kevin McKidd as Thomas Wayne / Batman and Cary Elwes as Orin / Arthur Curry / Aquaman. The film also sees actors reprising roles from other DC animated series, including Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Nathan Fillion as Hal Jordan / Green Lantern, Ron Perlman as Slade Wilson / Deathstroke, Dana Delany as Lois Lane, Vanessa Marshall as Princess Diana / Wonder Woman and Dee Bradley Baker as Etrigan.
Justice League: War is a 2014 American animated superhero film featuring the DC Comics superhero team the Justice League, and an adaptation of the story Justice League: Origin by Geoff Johns and Jim Lee, the first story in DC's 2011 DC Universe relaunch. It was directed by Jay Oliva and scripted by Heath Corson. It is the 19th film of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies and the second film in the DC Animated Movie Universe. The film was released for downloading on January 21, 2014 and was released on Blu-ray and DVD formats on February 4. It had its world premiere at the Paley Center for Media on the same day. Warner Home Video re-released the film on a combo pack in August 2015, which includes a DVD and Blu-Ray copy, a digital copy, and the graphic novel it is based on. The film depicts an invasion of Earth by the alien and demon "New God", Darkseid, and the subsequent formation of the titular superhero team to counter it, which includes Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Cyborg and Shazam. A stand-alone sequel, Justice League: Throne of Atlantis, was released in January 2015. The film also begins a story-arc which is revisited in Reign of the Supermen and concludes in Justice League Dark: Apokolips War.
Justice League: Throne of Atlantis is a 2015 direct-to-video animated superhero film featuring the DC Comics superhero team the Justice League, which is the 22nd film of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies and the fourth film in the DC Animated Movie Universe. The film is loosely based on the "Throne of Atlantis" story arc from The New 52 written by Geoff Johns and serves as a standalone sequel to 2014's Justice League: War. In the film, Arthur Curry, a half-Atlantean prince, discovers his heritage and aids the Justice League in preventing a war between the surface dwellers and the Atlanteans orchestrated by his half-brother Ocean Master. The film was released for download on January 13, 2015 and was released on Blu-ray and DVD formats on January 27.
Justice League vs. Teen Titans is a 2016 American animated superhero film directed by Sam Liu from a screenplay by Alan Burnett and Bryan Q. Miller. It is the 26th film of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies and the seventh film in the DC Animated Movie Universe. The film features the voices of Stuart Allan, Jon Bernthal, Taissa Farmiga, and Jason O'Mara.
Justice League Dark is a 2017 American adult animated science fantasy superhero film produced by Warner Bros. Animation and distributed by Warner Home Video. Featuring the DC Comics team of the same name created by Peter Milligan and Mikel Janín, the film is the 28th of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies and the eighth of the DC Animated Movie Universe. Unlike most installments in the DC Animated Universe Movies series, Justice League Dark features an original premise. The film stars Matt Ryan as John Constantine, Camilla Luddington as Zatanna and Jason O'Mara as Batman. Ryan and O'Mara reprised their respective roles from previous media. It was released on Digital HD on January 24, 2017, and on DVD and Blu-ray on February 7.
Justice League vs. the Fatal Five is a 2019 American animated superhero film produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment. Featuring the DC Comics team Justice League created by Gardner Fox, the film is the 36th of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies. The film features the voices of Elyes Gabel and Diane Guerrero alongside Kevin Conroy, Susan Eisenberg, and George Newbern reprising their roles as Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman, from various DC productions.
Batman: Hush is a 2019 American animated superhero film featuring the DC Comics superhero Batman and loosely based on the 2002 comic book story arc of the same name. It is the thirteenth installment of the DC Animated Movie Universe and the 37th overall film of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies. In the film, Batman forms an alliance with Catwoman to defeat a new villain named Hush, who knows all of Batman's secrets and targets key figures in his life.
Justice League Dark: Apokolips War is a 2020 American adult animated superhero film produced by Warner Bros. Animation and distributed by Warner Home Video. The film is directed by Matt Peters and Christina Sotta, while Ernie Altbacker and Mairghread Scott wrote the screenplay. It stars an ensemble cast including Rosario Dawson, Jerry O'Connell, Jason O'Mara and Matt Ryan. In the film, members of the Justice League, Justice League Dark, Teen Titans and Suicide Squad join forces against Darkseid to save Earth.
Justice Society: World War II is an American animated superhero film produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment. It is the 43rd film of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies, being the second installment in the DC Animated Movie Universe's second phase, and the eighteenth overall. The film is directed by Jeff Wamester and starring the voices of Stana Katic and Matt Bomer. It tells an original story of the Flash ending up back in time to World War II where he meets the Justice Society of America and helps them thwart the threat of the Nazis and the Advisor.
Injustice is a 2021 American adult animated superhero film based on the 2013 video game of the same name, developed by NetherRealm Studios and based on characters from DC Comics. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, DC Entertainment, and distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, it is the 46th installment in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line. The film is directed by Matt Peters from a story by Ernie Altbacker and stars Justin Hartley and Anson Mount as Superman and Batman, respectively. The film, set in a separate continuity from the main DC Universe, follows Superman’s descent into madness after being tricked by Joker into killing his pregnant wife Lois Lane and detonating a nuclear weapon that destroys Metropolis. As Superman transforms the Earth into a police state to enforce global peace, Batman forms an underground resistance to oppose Superman and his allies.
Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One is a 2024 American animated superhero film featuring the DC Comics superhero team the Justice League and based on the DC Comics storyline Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985–1986) written by Marv Wolfman and pencilled by George Pérez. The film was directed by Jeff Wamester from a script by Jim Krieg. It is the eighth installment in the second phase of the DC Animated Movie Universe, as well as the twenty-fourth film overall, being the first part of a trilogy of films.