The DCEU has been going strong since 2013 but this year, in 2022, it seemed to have experienced a slight lull, with only one official movie released. There’s also the unfortunate cancelation ofBatgirl’s release before anybody could watch it. The good news is thatDCfans who are looking for new movies with their favorite superheroes aren’t entirely out of luck.
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2022 saw the premiere of severalDCmovies, both live-action and animated ones, that bring the focus on different characters, from the established ones such as Batman to more obscured ones who don’t appear on the big screen as often.
6Teen Titans Go! & DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem In The Multiverse
Most animated DC movies, let alone the live-action ones, focus on the adult audience. However, if the viewers want to watch a movie about their favorite superhero with their children or introduce them to the world of DC, there’s no better 2022 alternative thanTeen Titans Go! & DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem in the Multiverse. In the movie, several superheroes have to take onLex Luthor and other villains.
The movie’s visual style won’t sit well with everyone, but it fits the story’s overall mood and the fact that it aims at the younger audience.Teen Titans Go! & DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem in the Multiversewon’t be breaking any records when it comes to superhero movies, yet the movie does have the power to entertain the right type of viewers.
5Catwoman: Hunted
Catwoman is a popular, and long-lived DC comic book character. Yet she doesn’t seem so lucky when it comes to onscreen versions of her adventures. The 2004 live-action movie was a flop, andCatwoman: Huntedonly earned average ratings. In the movie, Selina Kyle gets into trouble when she alerts the attention of both Batwoman and unsavory types of men during her latest theft.
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It might take the viewers a moment to get accustomed to the movie’s visual style, at least if they’re not used to watching anime since it has anime elements. Other than Catwoman, the movie brings back several popular DC characters, making it fun to see who will appear next. While not the best DC animated movie of all time,Catwoman: Huntedis still a must-watch for all fans of the titular villain turned antihero.
4Green Lantern: Beware My Power
Green Lantern has yet to show up in the DCEU in a major capacity. That doesn’t mean fans of the space superhero can’t enjoy his presence in animated movies. The most famous Green Lantern is Hal Jordan, but John Stewart is a close second, and the movie does well to showcase the richness of the Green Lantern’s DC mythology.
After John Stewart receives the Green Lantern ring and powers, the movie becomes even more fascinating, as the audience gets to see how John will deal with his new abilities and the responsibility they bring. The good news is that other than John, the movie features a lot morewell-known DC superheroes, such as Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, and others, which means the fans get to see even more of the DC world than if the story focused solely on Green Lantern.
3Black Adam
After the success ofJokerand other villain-oriented movies, it was only a matter of time before more morally gray DC characters would get their chance to shine.Black Adamgarnered above-average ratings with the audience, yet not as high as his predecessorShazam!(2018). It did what it set out to do, though.
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The movie successfully introduced a lesser-known character (for those who don’t read comic books) to the viewers who weren’t familiar with him beforehand. It did so in a fun, action-filled way. Dwayne Johnson has proved over and over again that he’s no stranger to action movies, andinBlack Adam, he manages to carry the weight of the movieon his shoulders, even though he’s surrounded by a strong supporting cast.
2Batman And Superman: Battle Of The Super Sons
When Batman and Superman unite to take on evil together, epic things are bound to happen. The same rings true when their sons, Jonathan Kent and Damian Wayne, team up instead. Sometimes they have no choice, at least if they’re to save their dads and the entire world.
The movie reads likean origin storyof sorts not of one, but two superheroes. The banter between Jonathan and Damian lightens up the movie.Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sonsnever becomes too drastic since it’s still primarily a movie about child superheroes. Despite that, it’s enjoyable for any DC fan regardless of their age.
1The Batman
After Ben Affleck portrayed him in the DCEU, the role of Batman most recently went to Robert Pattinson. In the almost three-hour-long movie, Pattinson plays a younger version of the Caped Crusader who has only recently started guarding the streets of Gotham. The movie has a gritty feeling to it as it sees Batman investigate a series of murders. This plays well with Batman’s comic book reputation as the world’s best detective. The movie takes the time to dive deep into the characters' minds, especially Batman’s.
Combined with Pattinson’s performance, the viewers get the chance to understand where Batman’s coming from in this version, and what motivates him. The movie has a strong cast overall, such asPaul Dano in a villainous role, or Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon. Its unique aesthetic makes even the crime-ridden streets of Gotham visually beautiful. The movie did well at the Saturn Awards and is one of the best-rated DC movies of 2022.
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