Content Warning! This List Contains Spoilers For DC League of Super-Pets!
There’s no denying that without DC Comics, the MCU wouldn’t have such a stranglehold on live-action entertainment. Movies like Superman: The Movie and Batman set the stage for audiences wanting to see superheroes in theaters, which was a good thing for Marvel, and perhaps not so great for DC.
They’ve definitely had success since the start of the DCEU, but the Marvel juggernaut is hard to compete with. However, DC has a clear advantage in animation. Whether they’re part of the DC Animated Universe (DCAU) or any of its successors or are just independent, artsy films, many of DC’s animated movies are arguably some of the best superhero content available. According to IMDb, these are the best from over seventy different titles.
The Death of Superman - 7.3
2018's The Death of Superman devotedly adapts the legendary comic book storyline, The Death of Superman from the early 1990s. It is part of the DC Animated Movie Universe (DCAMU) which ran from 2013 to 2020. The Death of Superman follows the iconic hero as he develops his relationship with Lois Lane and battles one of his greatest enemies, Doomsday.
As in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, this battle results in Superman’s death, but of course, that doesn’t last long, and he returns a year later in Reign of the Supermen joined by Superboy, Steel, Cyborg Superman, and Eradicator. The DCEU is currently in shambles over how to best utilize Superman, but they could learn from the DCAMU and The Death of Superman in developing a succinct story loyal to the comics.
Justice League: Doom - 7.4
Though it’s not officially part of the DCAU like Batman: The Animated Series and related films, 2012’s Justice League Doom did bring together much of the voice cast from those projects. Kevin Conroy returned yet again to voice Batman, along with Tim Daly, Susan Eisenberg, Michael Rosenbaum, and Carl Lumbly.
The film centers on Batman being too prepared for everything when his contingency plans for if any of his Justice League teammates go bad fall into the wrong hands, specifically Vandal Savage’s. This leads to the villains attacking the team and them losing faith and trust in each other. Importantly, this also ends with Cyborg joining the Justice League, which had only been established in the comics a year earlier.
Batman: Assault of Arkham - 7.4
For a lot of DC fans, the villains are some of their favorite characters, especially when it comes to Batman’s iconic rogue's gallery. Batman: Assault on Arkham is actually established in the same universe as the popular Batman: Arkham video games, and thus Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which is set for release still in 2023 and is directly influenced by this 2014 film.
It follows the Suicide Squad, featuring characters like Amanda Waller, Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, King Shark, and Killer Frost – several of whom deserve their own HBO Max series in the DCEU like Peacemaker. Part of Batman: Assault on Arkham’s success is in its humor and clever violence, something that’s been very difficult to adapt to live-action – at least until The Suicide Squad.
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker - 7.7
While Mark Hamill is rightfully best known for his years as Luke Skywalker, some of his best work has been voicing the Joker, and Hamill is definitely in contention with Heath Ledger for giving the most iconic Joker performance. As such, it was especially exciting for him to return in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker which was released during the final season of Batman Beyond.
As the name implies, Joker returns after having been believed dead for years, this time going up against the new Batman, Terry McGinnis. The film also brings back an older Tim Drake, embittered from his time as Robin and manipulated by Joker.
Justice League Dark: Apokolips War - 7.7
The DCAMU came to a close in 2020 with Justice League Dark: Apokolips War. This was the culmination of fifteen prior films as all the various teams and characters explored previously all fight together against Darkseid’s invasion of Earth. Importantly, it features several Justice League characters who fans are eager to see in the DCEU, including Zatanna, Green Lantern, and Swamp Thing.
Justice League Dark: Apokolips War is also quite unlike anything audiences will likely ever see in live-action, as it results in the death of most heroes and the destruction of Earth. The one saving grace is Flash, who ends up using the Speed Force to reset the timeline – ending the franchise in the same way it began.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm - 7.7
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm was released theatrically, something only one other film on this list can claim. It also relies on a completely original character, Andrea Beaumont AKA Phantasm, as its antagonist. She remained an animated character solely until she finally crossed over to the comic universe in late 2020.
What makes Batman: Mask of the Phantasm so special is that it really is a unique story not yet told in Batman: The Animated Series. It might also be the most successful in establishing a character as a foil for Batman, thus forcing him to confront his own relationship with justice and ethics.
DC League of Super-Pets - 8.1
The most recent animated movie from DC Comics has already skyrocketed to the top of the rankings. DC League of Super-Pets stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Kevin Hart as Krypto the Superdog and Ace the Bat-Hound, respectively. They are joined by Kate McKinnon, Vanessa Bayer, Natasha Lyonne, Diego Luna, Thomas Middleditch, and Ben Schwartz who also voice the superpowered pets of the Justice League.
DC League of Super-Pets has been praised for its animation style and playfulness, being characterized as a fun family movie and still one of the better superhero films of 2022. Maybe the DCEU should add some of the Super-pets to future films and TV shows as well.
Batman: Under the Red Hood - 8.0
Jason Todd was the second Robin and following in Dick Grayson’s footsteps was very difficult. He was comparatively unpopular, so much so he was killed off. However, he did end up returning, this time as the villain turned anti-hero, Red Hood. He and his story is something that could be told in the DCEU, but given Batman’s confounding future in said franchise, that’s not likely. Fans should instead look to Batman: Under the Red Hood from 2010.
The animated film is great, in particular, its emotional depth and direction were praised along with Jensen Ackles’s stellar performance as Jason Todd.
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox - 8.1
Like the comic arc Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox is based on, it centers on a world altered by the Flash running back in time to save his mother from being killed. This action drastically changes the course of the future, so much so that Aquaman and the Atlanteans are at war with Wonder Woman and the Amazons, both vying for global domination.
Interestingly in the DCEU, The Flash is supposedly adapting the same source material, though with a different end result, yet fans could expect to see similar elements and character developments in it.
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns - 8.6
Batman: Under the Red Hood held the title of highest-rated animated Batman film for a few years until the release of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. It was actually released in two parts – both of which would still make the list, with the second also claiming the top spot – in 2012 and 2013. The film is a devoted adaptation of the storyline of the same name, following an older Batman who is drawn back to the crimefighting life after a decade away.
It also features one of the most underutilized and underrated Robins, Carrie Kelley, and brings in both Superman and Green Arrow. It was rightfully praised for the animation style and voice acting, and it doesn’t look like anything will be coming around soon to knock Batman: The Dark Knight Returns off its pedestal.