While most fans anticipate the giant live-action blockbusters based on DC characters, DC has also developed a massive cult following with the animated ones. There is an abundance of films that unite famous heroes such as Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Cyborg, and Wonder Woman.
Some reside in a separate continuity and others are linked to wider DC universes. With over twenty years of animated film history when it comes to DC, there are a lot of movies to choose from. These are the top ten Justice League movies, according to the ratings on IMDb.
Updated on April 28th, 2021 by Melody MacReady: Time flies by and DC is not slowing down in terms of its animated content. The DC Animated Movie Universe might have ended but more animated films set in different alternate universes are still being made. New movies have been released since the original list was published and as such, a new entry has been added while another had to be removed since it was no longer in the ten highest-rated films. Also as time passes, some things become outdated so there were some small changes to the entries to make them fit within the new structure.
Justice Society: World War II (2021) - 6.6
During the height of World War II, the Justice Society comes together to take on enemy forces. With them is Barry Allen who has traveled back in time to meet Wonder Woman, Black Canary, Hawkman, Hourman, and the original Flash AKA Jay Garrick.
This marks the second entry into the new DC universe that began with Superman: Man Of Tomorrow. It manages to bring that same excitement and vibe as classic World War II movies like The Dirty Dozen or Kelly's Heroes. It also updates certain characters like Wonder Woman who is portrayed in a similar fashion to Gal Gadot's version of Diana Prince.
Justice League: Throne of Atlantis (2015) 6.7
Taking place in the DC Animated Movie Universe, this movie works as the origin story for Aquaman; the main villain in this film is Orm, who blames the Justice League for his father's death. Arthur Curry, aka Aquaman, learns throughout the film that he is in fact, half Atlantean and Orm’s brother.
The Justice League in this film consists of Cyborg, Flash, Shazam, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Batman. Once Orm becomes the Ocean Master, the league battles him with the help of Mera and later on, Arthur.
Justice League vs Teen Titans (2016) 7.0
When the demon Trigon sends a demonic entity to Earth, Damian Wayne aka Robin destroys the entity. Having been instructed not to do so by Batman, Robin is forced to join the Teen Titans as punishment. After an altercation with Jamie Reyes, a wounded Robin is healed by Raven, which is when he learns she is in fact the daughter of Trigon.
Ultimately, most of the league excluding Batman are taken over by demonic entities and it's up to the Teen Titans to defeat them. After Damian frees Superman from the entity, he proceeds to save the other League members. The Titans then travel to Hell, where they must battle to save Raven.
Justice League: Gods and Monsters (2015) 7.0
This version of the Justice League occurs in an alternate universe with Dr. Kirk Langstrom as Batman, Hernan Guerra as Superman, and Bekka as Wonder Woman. This version of the Justice League is much more brutal than their counterparts and is framed for the murder of Victor Fries, Ray Palmer and, Silas, and Victor Stone.
An interesting component of this film's counterparts is that Lex Luthor helps the Justice League in defeating the villain. The film from the creators of Batman: The Animated Series was well-received by critics and made almost 3 million in home video sales in America alone.
Justice League: The New Frontier (2008) 7.0
This film works as an origin story for the Justice League, taking place in the 1950s, just after the Korean war. J'onn J'onzz AKA Martian Manhunter features in this story, working alongside Batman to investigate a doomsday cult that worships the Center.
The various Superheroes must come together to face a villain known as ‘The Centre’, an entity that wants to destroy mankind, due to humanity's violent nature. Most critics found the film to be exactly what they hoped for and enjoyed the 1950s setting, likening it to the original comics.
Justice League Dark (2017) 7.1
This is not your average Justice League film, as it focuses on the Dark team and features an original story within the DC Animated Movie Universe, reuniting the voice cast from previous films in minor roles. Batman works alongside a team of supernatural beings including John Constantine and Swamp Thing to fight the sorcerer Destiny.
Destiny uses his magic along with the Dreamstone, to possess others and commit murders all over the world. The film was popular enough to warrant a sequel, Justice League Dark: Apokolips War, and made over $3 million domestically.
Justice League: War (2014) 7.3
Whilst it holds a higher rating than some of the other films mentioned so far, critics weren’t as thrilled about this Justice League outing. The film begins with Batman and Green Lantern encountering a parademon thus leading to them acquiring a mother box. They then team up with Superman to fight the parademons
Meanwhile, Victor Stone is involved in an explosion, and his body fuses with the mother box, as well as some of the technology in Star Labs. Darkseid arrives on Earth which leads to Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Wonder Woman, Shazam, and Cyborg forming the Justice League to defeat him.
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010) 7.3
A good guy alternate universe version of Lex Luthor arrives on Earth via an interdimensional travel device, narrowly escaping the Syndicate, the evil version of the Justice League. On the main universe Earth, Superman deduces Lex is from an alternate reality and once the League learns of the threat the Syndicate poses, they travel to Lex’s Earth.
The league learns that Owlman wants to find and destroy Earth-Prime, as it’s the original universe and will stop more parallel universes from being created. The movie was widely well-received and grossed almost $10 million domestically.
Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020) 7.8
In this sequel to Justice League Dark, Darkseid conquers other planets after failing twice to take over Earth. The Justice League decides to bring the fight to him and travel to Apokolips and end the fight for good. Things don’t go as planned and some of the League members are killed whilst others are enslaved.
Two years pass with Darkseid having successfully taken over the Earth with a brainwashed Batman working as his lieutenant. Meanwhile, Clark Kent along with the remaining JL Dark team recruit Damian Wayne to free Batman. Elsewhere, Lois Lane contacts the Suicide Squad to assist in traveling back to Apokolips.
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013) 8.1
The top film on this list happens to also be the first in the DC Animated Movie Universe. This film involved the Flash waking up in an alternate timeline caused by the Reverse-Flash. In this timeline, Bruce Wayne was killed as a child, leading to Thomas Wayne becoming the Batman. Aquaman has sunk most of Europe and Wonder Woman has taken over the United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, Flash has to team up with Flashpoint Batman, Cyborg, and a few others to rewrite time and stop this world from destroying itself and fix where it went wrong. It's dark, epic, and features one of the best story arcs for the Flash in DC history.