The DC Extended Universe has some huge hits, but the quality of the movies is remarkably inconsistent considering they're all part of the same world. But thankfully, the same can't be said for DC films that exist outside of the mainline franchise.

The movies outside the universe are incredibly unique, and for the most part, directors have had the freedom to do whatever they want with the projects and franchises, no matter how dark or obscure. Beyond that, there are plenty of awesome movies that audiences would have had no idea are based on DC comic books too.

UPDATE: 2022/09/25 13:50 EST BY SHAWN S. LEALOS

Warner Bros. announced in 2022 that it is restructuring its movie division since the Discovery takeover, and this includes the DCEU. With Batgirl canceled and the future movie slate fluctuating, there is no telling what the DCEU will look like in the future. More interesting are the rumors that Warner Bros. is making a sequel to Constantine, the non-DCEU movie from 2005 starring Keanu Reeves. With the success of The Batman and Joker, some fans even wonder if there will be even more non-DCEU movies in the future for Warner Bros. It might be a good bet, since there are a lot of popular movies set outside the interconnected universe.

Constantine (2005) - 3.3

* Stream now on Netflix & HBO Max

Fans loved Matt Ryan as Constantine in TV DC world, and many felt it was the character finally done right. However, while the Constantine movie from 2005 was met with critical and fan disappointment when it hit theaters, the movie received a re-evaluation over the past few years.

Fans will love Ryan as John Constantine, but many realized that the movie was better than most people remember. Letterboxd fans still give it a lot of credit, as the movie played more into the exorcism genre than the comic book genre. While Reeves is not the Constantine from the comics, the movie is a really fun one-off piece.

Superman II (1981) - 3.3

* Stream now on HBO Max

DC fans have a soft spot for the first Superman movie, which is understandable. However, the second movie might not have the wide-eyed innocence of the first, but it is better in some ways, with actual villains who could challenge the Man of Steel. With General Zod arriving on Earth, Superman finally had someone that matched his power levels.

The movie had some problems, as the original director was fired during the reshoots for the movie. However, both directors have versions available to watch on Blu-ray, and both are strong DC movies in their own rights.

Road To Perdition (2002)

* Stream now on Paramount+

It might surprise some fans to learn that the gangster movie from 2002, Road to Perdition, is a DC Comics property. The Tom Hanks movie was based on the graphic novel by Max Allan Collins. The actual publishing company was Paradox Press, which was an imprint for DC Comics that also published A History of Violence.

The book was influenced by Japanese manga books like Lone Wolf and Cub and gangster movies like The Godfather. The movie, directed by Sam Mendes, was a commercial success that also picked up five Oscar nominations, including Paul Newman's final nod before his death.

The LEGO Batman Movie (2017)

* Stream now on HBO Max

With the success of The LEGO Movie, sequels were almost guaranteed, and DC fans got a treat when The LEGO Batman Movie brought one of the breakout stars to his own movie. The Lego Batman Movie was a nice break from The Dark Knight portrayal of Batman from Christopher Nolan's movies as well as the DCEU.

Thanks to the format of a LEGO cartoon, Batman could be goofy again, and the movie was a very funny look at Batman and Joker's relationship, with Robin serving as a breakout character himself.

Superman (1978) - 3.6

* Stream now on HBO Max

Surprisingly, despite Superman's huge hit, it didn't change the Hollywood landscape as people would expect. Studios are quick to jump on any success, so it's strange that there wasn't another successful superhero movie other than the Superman franchise until 10 years later.

However, it would have been hard to top at the time because, though the effects are dated by today's standards, it was way ahead of its time in the late '70s. And it's a completely faithful adaptation of the source material too, warts and all, whether it's Superman looking identical to Clark Kent or getting changed in a phone booth in broad daylight.

Batman (1989) & Batman Returns (1992) - 3.6

* Stream now on HBO Max

Tim Burton's stunningly gothic movies interestingly have the exact same average rating on the movie social media platform. While Batman was a popular superhero to begin with, it was Burton's 1989 movie that turned that character into a brand, and every subsequent Batman owes its success to Burton's original, epic vision.

And Letterboxd users have put to bed the argument that Batman Returns isn't as good as its predecessor, as it was originally criticized for being too gothic. However, the fascinating world of Gotham and the Christmas setting in the sequel makes it one of the most aesthetically pleasing Batman movies ever. And though The Batman used Catwoman better, Michelle Pfeiffer's portrayal of Selina Kyle is iconic.

Watchmen (2009) - 3.6

* Stream now on HBO Max

Watchmen is such a unique superhero movie, as it's based on the comic book of the same name, which has much deeper themes than the simple good guy vs. bad guy premise. The story has more in common with Quentin Tarantino's work than a superhero movie, as it revises history where superheroes helped the US win the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal was kept a secret.

And while many thought the comic book was impossible to adapt, director Zack Snyder essentially lifted the very panels from the graphic novel, making the 165-minute epic a visual spectacle. There might be a few too many slow-motion shots for some people, but for the most part, the style and substance are supremely well-balanced.

The Dark Knight Rises (2012) - 3.7

* Stream now on Hulu

Despite its impossibly high expectations thanks to the masterpiece that is its predecessor, The Dark Knight Rises still managed to satisfy most fans. But the movie isn't without some major problems and plot holes, such as Batman surviving the bomb after he flew six miles out of the city in just a few short seconds.

However, there's no denying how epic the final movie in the series is and how it perfectly wraps up Bruce Wayne's three-movie story arc. And though it's hard to see him as anything other than an inferior villain to Heath Ledger's Joker, Tom Hardy's Bane is easily Batman's most imposing villain, which is why this movie is arguably the best in Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy.

A History Of Violence (2005) - 3.7

* Available to rent on Apple TV & Prime Video

It's understandable if audiences didn't know that A History of Violence is an adaptation of a comic book. But like other crime thrillers such as Old Boy and Road to Perdition, the 2005 movie is based on a graphic novel, and it's one of DC's best.

The movie follows a former assassin (Viggo Mortensen) who settles down with a family and tries to forget about his past, until it comes back to haunt him. Starring Mortensen and directed by David Cronenberg, A History of Violence was the first of two collaborations between the actor and filmmaker, with the second being another terrific gangster movie, Eastern Promises.

Batman Begins (2005) - 3.8

* Stream now on Hulu

Though it might not seem like it today because every Batman movie is inherently dark and grounded, Batman Begins marked a paradigm shift for the franchise. The dark and gritty reboot came as a huge surprise, and in the wake of its success, it influenced so many other studios to reboot their own properties in the exact same style.

Even though it isn't considered the best in Nolan's trilogy, Batman Begins feels the most like a Batman film. Gotham City looks run down and gothic, and it's full of mobsters and crooked cops working together at night. And even though audiences have seen it a million times before, it manages to tell Batman's origin story uniquely.

V For Vendetta (2005) - 3.8

* Stream now on HBO Max

V for Vendetta isn't the most exciting comic book movie ever, but it's one of the most engaging and compelling, as it follows a masked anonymous vigilante who attempts to single-handedly take on a fascist government. The film has become iconic, but more for its imagery than its narrative.

While it existed long before the 2005 movie, it was V For Vendetta that helped the "anonymous" mask become popularly used in protest, and it's a part of pop culture history. Unfortunately, V For Vendetta's creator, Alan Moore, isn't credited in the movie. According to IGN, Moore was critical of his earlier works being adapted and wanted nothing to do with any further adaptations.

Joker (2019) - 3.9

* Stream now on HBO Max

Between Cruella, Venom, and Maleficent, villain origin stories are a supremely popular movie trend at the minute, so it was only a matter of time before the Caped Crusader's best villain got one of his own. Joker doesn't reinvent the wheel, as even the narrative is heavily lifted from the popular Martin Scorsese-directed movies Taxi Driver and King of Comedy, but it does the villain origin story way better than any other.

Between the incredibly designed 1980s Gotham City, the Fight Club approach of making audiences question what's real, and the jaw-dropping performances, Joker is a masterclass in origin stories. And like Ledger before him, Joaquin Phoenix made the role his own and won an Academy Award for it.

The Batman (2022) - 4.2

* Stream now on HBO Max

There might be some recency bias here and the score may decrease a little when the buzz surrounding The Batman has died down, but there's so much hype surrounding the new movie for a reason. Fans have been waiting for this depiction of Batman for a long time, as it's inherently dark, Batman doesn't pull his punches, and for the first time ever, the Caped Crusader is actually portrayed as the world's greatest detective.

One thing the movie does so well is base most of the first two hours in and around one location, as The Iceberg Lounge is the focal point for most of the film. The Penguin-owned club is so lived in, and there's so much new lore surrounding the club alone that it makes The Batman the new gold standard of world-building. And it has led to speculation over which other Gotham landmarks the sequel should explore.

The Dark Knight (2008) - 4.4

* Stream now on Hulu

Even despite the overwhelmingly universal positive reception of The Batman, there's no dethroning the crown jewel in Nolan's trilogy, The Dark Knight. It seemed impossible that the film could have shocked audiences more than the dark direction of Batman Begins, but the sequel did just that with Ledger's depiction of the Joker.

If it wasn't for the actor giving in such a legendary performance, The Dark Knight might not be regarded as highly, as the completely original portrayal of the Joker elevates the movie tenfold. However, between the Joker, the myriad twists and turns, and the huge moral dilemma in the final act, it's easily the best DC movie.

NEXT: 10 Mistakes From The DCEU That The Batman Repeated