Top 50 Best DC Animated Movies Of All Time

The Death of Superman has to be one of the most interesting movies in DC's collection of ambitious animated projects.

The feature film traces the journey of Doomsday; a monstrous humanoid who appears out of nowhere from a meteorite and starts to turn the city upside down with his crazy antics.

However, little does the monster know that Superman, along with the Justice League, has taken a call to put him down for good.

Overall, it would be safe to assert that The Death of Superman is one of the most loyal screen adaptations of its source material, which is what makes it even more fun to watch.

In fact, it easily outshines DC's first attempt at adapting the same story with Superman: Doomsday, which was released in 2007.

There is no denying the fact that this animated feature film serves as a clear inspiration for Patty Jenkins' blockbuster flick Wonder Woman; one that stars the gorgeous Gal Gadot in the titular role.

Therefore, it is not surprising to notice that both the projects appear to be identical to each other in terms of their setting and plot structure.

The story follows the journey of Princess Diana, who takes the onus on herself to save the world after Ares, the god of war, threatens to destroy human civilization once and for all.

There have been several instances where fans of DC films have petitioned that a lot more content from the well-regarded animated features should be borrowed in order to execute the live-action ones with efficiency.

Needless to say, Patty Jenkins is one individual who seems to have taken the advice rather seriously.

This Jake Castorena-helmed animated superhero film has officially been adapted from James Tynion IV and Freddie Williams II's six-issue intercompany crossover comic book miniseries Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

The story follows Batman, who, at the behest of Batgirl, tries to reach out to the Ninja Turtles. He does so because he hopes to deter Shredder, who has joined forces with Ra's al Ghul and the League of Assassins intending to destroy Gotham City for good.

This animated feature opened to favorable reviews which helped it amass over $3.3 million from home video sales.

Based on the television series Teen Titans Go!, which itself is based on the DC Comics superhero team of the same name, this animated superhero musical comedy film traces the journey of Teen Titans, who wish to participate in a superhero movie.

However, after getting aware of the Teen Titans' desire, Slade puts himself to work and starts to turn the Titans against each other with the use of a mind-controlling device.

The film was a decent money spinner at the box office and received positive reviews for its stylized animation, humor, cast, and score.

Often counted among the best comic book movies to have ever been produced, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm was the first film in the DC Animated Universe to have seen a theatrical release.

The film, besides detailing Batman's origins, brings a new and powerful criminal to the fore. The catch here is that the villain seems to be connected to Bruce Wayne's ex-girlfriend and blames the Dark Knight for having murdered a crime lord.

Needless to say, Batman has no option other than to teach him a good, taut lesson. One has to acknowledge the fact that Batman: Mask of the Phantasm did not only come up with better animation but it also injected authentically alarming sequences into its tight storytelling.

Don't be surprised to find a lot of violence, blood, and gore infused into its screenplay.

Based on the DC Comics superhero team Legion of Super-Pets, DC League of Super-Pets is a smart and exciting superhero comedy flick that has been helmed by Jared Stern.

The story tracks how Superdog Krypto tries to rescue Superman and the rest of the league after they end up getting abducted by the supervillain Lex Luthor.

We catch Krypto finding a group of shelter pets with superpowers and trying to convince them to help him in his rather dangerous mission.

While the movie certainly made the kids laugh, it also helped the adults chuckle from time to time. It is not surprising then that it went on to become a box office success.

Helmed by Chris Palmer, Superman: Man of Tomorrow is an action-packed ride that thrives on its hard-hitting script and emotions.

The story, which is dependent on the appeal of two special B-list characters, follows an intern at the Daily Planet named Clark Kent, who utilizes his secret powers to defend Metropolis from the cruel ambitions of alien invaders, Lobo and Parasite.

While Lobo turns out to be quite the scene stealer in this one, Parasite's origin story also packs a solid emotional punch that makes him come across as endearing.

In our opinion, even an average fan of animated superhero features must give this project a try.

Directed by Sam Liu, Reign of the Supermen serves as a direct sequel to the 2018 animated film The Death of Superman, which was based on the comic book story arc of the same name in "The Death of Superman" event.

The film details how months after Superman's sacrifice, four strong competitors come to the fore to fight each other while displaying their unique skills.

This is all to ascertain that one of them gets the opportunity to succeed Superman. As amusing as this feature is, it is infused with a lot of pointless jokes; some of which even go on to take the seriousness away from the storytelling.

This Chris Palmer directorial venture is as exciting as it is surprising. First things first, its charm lies in the fact that it utilizes the character of Batman as the bonafide detective, and not just as an action fanatic.

The story follows a series of brutal murders that traumatize the residents of Gotham City during the time of the holidays.

Batman tries his best to catch the serial killer before more crimes are committed. In his tough quest, he is assisted by district attorney Harvey Dent and police officer James Gordon.

The plot details the Caped Crusader's relentless mission to find the holiday-themed serial killer, and goes on to connect massively with the viewers, who get drawn into the film's storytelling in no time.

Batman: The Long Halloween acknowledges that, aside from his appetite for action, Batman can also take care of the proceedings by relying heavily on his ability to best his foes through great deduction skills.

Helmed skilfully by Doug Murphy, this feature film traces the journey of Chas Chandler and occult investigator John Constantine, who, a decade after a tragic blunder, set out to cure the former's daughter, Trish who is battling a demonically induced coma.

Warner Bros. and DC do a commendable job of implanting elements of horror into the film's storytelling. Since it comprises mature content, a lot many children may not be able to make full sense of the screenplay.

Be that as it may, Constantine: City of Demons is a must-watch for those who are more than willing to explore the complex life of John Constantine.

Considered to be among the finest of the long-running DC Universe Movies series, Justice Society: World War II takes the right amount of ideas from its source material.

The film traces the journey of the Justice Society of America; a faction of heroes supporting the allies in the Second World War.

The Society soon acquires an associate from the future who sends its members on an expedition that ends up rewriting the course of history itself.

Justice Society: World War II manages to take care of its pacing issues which had been an impediment in several of DC's animated features in the past.

Even though it was released with an R rating, this animated science fantasy superhero feature film was relatively mild and bloodless in its approach.

Directed by Jay Oliva, the story follows numerous murder investigations that are spearheaded by Batman and other superheroes from the Justice League.

A top-notch celebration of everything supernatural about DC, Justice League Dark never loses sight of what it wishes to convey to its core audience, which is what keeps its intriguing factor intact for the better part of the screenplay.

Its sequel, Justice League Dark: Apokolips War, was also released in the May of 2020.

Set in Victorian-era Gotham, this Sam Liu-helmed animated superhero feature traces the journey of the Dark Knight as he tries to nab a serial killer named Jack the Ripper, who terrorizes poor women before killing them.

Meanwhile, an actress, Selina Kyle, can also be seen trying to bring the killer to justice. Loosely based on the standalone graphic novel of the same name, Batman: Gotham by Gaslight was appreciated for staying loyal to its source material and for its intelligent execution.

However, the project wasn't considered to be suitable for a young audience.

Directed by Ethan Spaulding, Son of Batman is a screen adaptation of Grant Morrison and Andy Kubert's "Batman and Son" storyline from 2006.

The story details Batman's journey after he discovers that he has a son who has been raised and nurtured by the League of Assassins.

The Dark Knight tries his best to form a connection with him while trying to withstand the chief antagonist of the movie, Deathstroke.

Son of Batman manages to incorporate a decent amount of humor in its adult-oriented action sequences; something that usually works for tent-pole mainstream entertainers.

Jeff Wamester's Legion of Superheroes opened to extremely mixed reviews in 2023. In its story, we are introduced to Kara, who struggles to make peace with her life after the loss of Krypton.

While Superman mentors her, she tries to deal with a shady group called the Dark Circle which seems to be looking to get its hands on a powerful weapon held in the Academy's vault.

There is no denying that the storyline here is a tad predictable. However, it does manage to provide its viewers with adventures that may come off as fun.

Add to that the fact that it thrives on its consistent animation which stretches across most of these DC animated projects. That being said, this film is watchable and no more.

Helmed by Jeff Wamester, Green Lantern: Beware of My Power tells the story of a recently discharged Marine sniper John Stewart, who happens to be at a crossroads in life.

While he is striving to figure out how to withstand the intricacies of his life, things get even more complicated when he chances upon an extraterrestrial ring that grants him the extraordinary powers of the Green Lantern on the planet.

Many who are familiar with Green Lantern John Stewart and his heroics believe that he is a pretty good addition to the Justice League (Unlimited) series. 

However, many also hold the opinion that this particular feature has failed to do justice to the titular character. While the animation certainly is vibrant here, its origin story had to face a lot of criticism. 

This Matt Peters-helmed feature film details how the Joker tricks Superman into killing Lois Lane in an alternate Earth; an act that sends the superhero on the path of total destruction.

Sooner than later, Superman decides that he must take full control of Earth as Batman and his allies do their very best to resist him.

Based on the 2013 video game of the same name, this animated superhero title was praised for its vocal performances and animation.

However, it was also criticized for not being true to its source material and its rushed storytelling.

Based on Alan Moore's and Brian Bolland's graphic novel of the same name, this adult animated thriller superhero film has been helmed by Sam Liu.

The story follows Batman's relentless quest to find the tricky Joker after the latter escapes prison. In the meantime, the Joker gets busy doing what he does best.

He ends up kidnapping Commissioner Gordon and goes on to paralyze his dear daughter.

Courtesy of the popularity of its two main characters, Batman: The Killing Joke had to be released simultaneously in theaters and digitally.

It was praised for its animation style and vocal performances.

This direct-to-video animated superhero film is the second project to be based on Batman: The Animated Series. Helmed by Boyd Kirkland, it is also a standalone sequel to Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.

The film shows how Batman and Robin rescue Batgirl from the clutches of the cryogenic supercriminal, Mr. Freeze.

Batman & Mr. Freeze: Sub-Zero keeps the suspense and the tension intact throughout its run time. Needless to say, it made a bold entry into the DC Animated Universe.

The histrionics of both its chief antagonist and main lead are enough for the fans of the franchise to sit through this title.

Based on the comic book story "What's So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way?", this Michael Chang directorial venture attempts to cast a light on themes that are usually not given a lot of space in superhero-themed projects.

The film shows Superman stumbling upon a new crew of rivals, the Elite, who have nothing but resentment for his idealism.

As the story progresses, their radicalism can soon be seen turning out to be ruthless. While there is a lot of action to boot here, themes of politics, power, and America's place in the world are also explored.

The plot of the 20th feature film of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies revolves chiefly around the Suicide Squad; even though Batman plays a significant role in it.

The film, which is set within the Batman: Arkham video game universe, follows Batman as he is tasked with protecting Gotham City from a bomb planted by Joker.

In addition, the Dark Knight has to deal with Amanda Waller's team of the Suicide Squad. The movie thrives on its solid characters, entertaining action sequences, and storyline that comprises quite a few surprises for its targeted audience.

Based on the abandoned direct-to-video feature Justice League: Worlds Collide, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths has been credited with trying to push the rigid boundaries of the DC Universe Animated original movies.

The film depicts how the Justice League is recruited by Lex Luthor to not only combat their respective evil counterparts but also to save planet Earth from their terrible and nasty agendas.

This assertive animated feature does not squander a lot of time in trying to explain the backstory that its core audience may already be familiar with.

Needless to say, this quickly sets the plot in motion and allows the viewers to sit back, relax, and watch their favorite superheroes battle their respective wicked counterparts.

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths has managed to generate a lot of goodwill banking on the character projection of its main villain Owlman, who was played efficiently by James Woods.

Based on the 2002 comic book story arc of the same name, Batman: Hush traces the journey of the Dark Knight who comes to realize that a wrongdoer always keeps getting in his way when he is striving to do someone some good.

Therefore, the Caped Crusader has no option left other than to form a formidable alliance to stop Hush from playing his perilous game.

The story, which is a fair balance of darkness and humor, comes across as a bit more mature in its approach in this one.

In fact, you'll find plenty of Batman fans who actually consider this to be among the best Batman-themed animated features that they may have ever chanced upon.

This animated action thriller direct-to-video film introduces the fans to a diabolical villain named Red Hood, who can accurately gauge the moves of the Dark Knight without dropping a sweat.

This makes the altercation between the hero and the villain worth watching. One of the better-written films in the DC Universe Animated original movies collection, Batman: Under The Red Hood thrives on its compelling storytelling that also happens to be emotionally enriching in some ways.

Even though it is not as heavy on action as some other entries on our list, it has its excellent characterizations to fall back on.

Needless to say, Batman: Under The Red Hood is a feature film that no fan of Batman or DC can afford to miss.

A Sam Liu-helmed feature film to make it to our list is Justice League vs. Teen Titans. The film traces how after Robin acts indifferently to Batman's orders, he is urged to merge with the Teen Titans.

Soon enough, Trigon can be seen reemerging as the Titans find themselves facing the possessed members of the Justice League on the battlefield.

The film successfully captures everything that the Teen Titans are all about, but with a slightly grown-up feel. Also, the action beats make the project fairly entertaining for its viewers.