Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has arrived to bring an end to the DC Extended Universe – or the Worlds of DC if you prefer.
We've known the end was coming for a while as James Gunn and Peter Safran prepare to launch their new DC Universe. But if Aquaman 2's arrival has you feeling nostalgic, you might be wondering how you can rewatch all the DCEU movies in order.
There are two ways to do it: in release order or in chronological order. We've got you covered with both, although we haven't included The Batman and Joker as they're separate from the main timeline.
Whatever order you choose, you will have to watch Suicide Squad and the theatrical version of Justice League again if you want to be a completist though.
(You wanted the Marvel version? Got it covered. Oh wait, did you want Star Wars? We've got that too. X-Men? No problem!)
How to watch DC movies in release order
Nice and simple this one if you choose to rewatch in the order that the movies were released in cinemas. We've included Peacemaker as well since that's a TV show linked to the main timeline.
If you want to watch Joker and The Batman too, Joker was released after Shazam! and The Batman was released after Peacemaker.
1. Man of Steel
2. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
3. Suicide Squad
4. Wonder Woman
5. Justice League
6. Aquaman
7. Shazam!
8. Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)
9. Wonder Woman 1984
10. Zack Snyder's Justice League
11. The Suicide Squad
12. Peacemaker
13. Black Adam
14. Shazam! Fury of the Gods
15. The Flash
16. Blue Beetle
17. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
How to watch DC movies in chronological order
This is where it gets slightly more complicated as certain movies like Wonder Woman are prequels, and there's also the two versions of Justice League to consider which, technically, could split this timeline into two (even though events largely play out the same).
Post-Justice League, a lot of the movies ended up being self-contained so you could watch in almost any order, but we've stuck to what makes the most logical sense. Enjoy!
1. Wonder Woman
Watch now: iTunes | Prime Video | Microsoft Store
Patty Jenkins' acclaimed Wonder Woman takes us back a full century to Princess Diana of Themyscira's first outing as the titular superhero.
After meeting World War I spy Steve Trevor, she leaves her all-female paradise home forever to fight in the Great War against the god Ares.
When the movie concludes, Wonder Woman has realised that she can't simply fight all the world's problems and goes underground, which explains why she wasn't around when Superman came on the scene.
2. Wonder Woman 1984
Watch now: iTunes | Prime Video | Microsoft Store
Unlike the first movie, Wonder Woman 1984 doesn't have any modern wraparound section, so it's purely set in 1984 as Diana Prince battles against two new foes in the form of Maxwell Lord and Cheetah.
In terms of the DC universe, it's fairly standalone with references to Wonder Woman, but not to any other DC movie. However, it does manage to resolve a Batman v Superman plot hole, so that's something.
3. Man of Steel
Watch now: iTunes | Prime Video | Microsoft Store
Clark Kent coming out to the world as Superman in Zack Snyder's Man of Steel kicked off the modern age of superheroes in Worlds of DC's version of Earth (after everyone forgot Wonder Woman beat up all those German soldiers, apparently).
The movie charts Kal-El's first adventure, fighting General Zod and his invading Kryptonian forces, and ends with Clark taking up his iconic role at Metropolis' Daily Planet.
4. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Watch now: iTunes | Prime Video | Microsoft Store
Zack Snyder's Man of Steel follow-up depicts the first meeting between Ben Affleck's middle-aged Batman and Henry Cavill's Superman, with a bit of Lex Luthor and Doomsday thrown in for good measure.
Bruce Wayne and Clark begin as enemies, but manage to make it up just in time for Superman to be 'killed' by Doomsday.
Diana also resumes her public role as Wonder Woman after Batman catches her attempting to acquire a photograph from World War I in which she appears. Meanwhile, future Justice Leaguers Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash also have brief cameos.
5. Suicide Squad
Watch now: iTunes | Prime Video | Microsoft Store
In response to the emergence of new metahumans, government agent Amanda Waller enlists a group of criminals to serve as a 'Suicide Squad' that will give the US a fighting chance against any rogue superheroes. The plan backfires instantly, leading to the events of David Ayer's movie.
While largely separate from the events of the other DC movies, it does feature some guest appearances from Flash (battling Captain Boomerang in what is probably one of his first adventures) and Batman, the latter of whom schedules in a tense meeting with Waller to acquire information on other metahumans.
6. Birds of Prey
Watch now: iTunes | Prime Video | Microsoft Store
Really, you could watch Harley Quinn's solo outing Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) at any time after Suicide Squad, as the movie doesn't specify a year in which it's set.
It feels right coming straight after Suicide Squad though as Harley is still dealing with the break-up from Joker, so she decides to get her own squad together to take on Gotham City crime lord Roman Sionis (AKA Black Mask).
The movie ends with Harley riding off with Cassandra Cain as her apprentice (of sorts), leaving The Huntress, Black Canary and Renee Montoya to set up the Birds of Prey.
7. Wonder Woman (framing scenes)
Watch now: iTunes | Prime Video | Microsoft Store
The opening and closing scenes of Wonder Woman are set well after the rest of the movie and after Batman v Superman.
Diana receives a delivery from Bruce – the photograph she was seeking in Batman v Superman – and recalls her involvement in World War I. Afterwards, she sets out to fight crime again.
8. Justice League / Zack Snyder's Justice League
Watch now: iTunes | Prime Video | Microsoft Store (Justice League) / iTunes | Prime Video | Microsoft Store (Zack Snyder's Justice League)
Here's where things get slightly tricky as there are now two versions of Justice League you can watch: the critically-derided 2017 version, or Zack Snyder's four-hour version, first released in 2021.
They both follow the same plot – Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash unite for the first time to battle Steppenwolf, alongside a resurrected Superman – but the two versions differ greatly, especially in the fact that Snyder's version ends with cliffhangers that set up his originally-planned Justice League sequels.
You can technically just substitute Snyder's movie into this timeline without much hassle, but you'll just have to overlook the fact that Aquaman makes no mention of an impending Darkseid war.
Neither do any of the DC movies that follow as they follow the original 2017 version because that's the one considered canon.
9. Aquaman
Watch now: iTunes | Prime Video | Microsoft Store
While James Wan's Aquaman is kept largely separate from the other goings-on in the Worlds of DC, it does follow up on Arthur Curry's first meeting with Mera.
The movie enlists Aquaman in a quest to prevent a war between the underwater armies of Atlantis and the sea-polluting surface dwellers. If you want to know how it ends, well, star Jason Momoa spoiled it ages before the film came out.
10. Shazam!
Watch now: iTunes | Prime Video | Microsoft Store
Much like Aquaman, Shazam! is largely kept separate from the wider Worlds of DC in terms of the timeline, even if there are more connections than you'd expect.
But we can roughly guess that it takes place after Justice League and Aquaman. In Freddy's bedroom, there's a newspaper with the headline 'Superman Is Back', likely referring to Justice League.
And in the post-credits sequence, the joke about Aquaman would only make sense if he's made a big splash in the world.
11. The Suicide Squad
Watch now: iTunes | Prime Video | Microsoft Store
Like the other recent DC movies, The Suicide Squad doesn't have a specific time setting, but Harley Quinn already knows Boomerang, so it's definitely set after the first movie and she's also not with Joker, so it's post-Birds of Prey too.
Other than that, it tells a story that's largely disconnected to the rest of the Worlds of DC, so you could watch it straight after Birds of Prey. You've just got to make sure you watch it before the spin-off show Peacemaker.
12. Peacemaker season 1
Watch now: Max (US only) | iTunes | Microsoft Store
The first TV show of the Worlds of DC centred on John Cena's Peacemaker, following the events of The Suicide Squad.
You might have thought he was dead, but the post-credits scene of that movie showed he (somehow) survived. It sees him join another black ops squad who are on a mission to eliminate butterfly-like creatures who are taking over human bodies around the world.
Just another day at the office, then.
It's mostly just connected to The Suicide Squad and sees the return of Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) and John Economos (Steve Agee). However, stick around and you'll also be treated to some major DC cameos in the finale.
13. Black Adam
Watch now: Prime Video | iTunes | Microsoft Store
Dwayne Johnson makes his DC debut in Black Adam, which mostly acts as an origin story for the titular character and also the Justice Society.
There's no real sense of where it fits in the timeline, but we figure it's after everything else to date since Amanda Waller plays a part, along with Emilia Harcourt (who made her DC debut in Peacemaker).
Black Adam is revived 5,000 years after he was imprisoned for using his powers for vengeance, and uses his ancient form of justice to protect Kahndaq from a greater threat as the Justice Society learn to work with and not against him.
The ending does set up a future Superman and Black Adam crossover, but that isn't happening now as Henry Cavill is now no longer playing Superman.
14. Shazam! Fury of the Gods
Watch now: Prime Video | iTunes | Microsoft Store
The Shazam! sequel sees the titular superhero and his now superpowered foster family take on the Daughters of Atlas, who are a bit miffed that the Wizard stole their powers and gave them to Shazam.
It's set a couple of years after the first movie and there's not really any links to the wider universe, but the mid-credit scene does feature Emilia Harcourt and John Economos recruiting Shazam to the Justice Society, so let's assume it's after Black Adam.
As for the movie itself, everything wraps up pretty neatly as the Shazam Family manage to save the day and stop Kalypso, with a bit of help from her sisters Hespera and Anthea.
Wonder Woman also pops up to revive Billy Batson.
15. The Flash
Watch now: Prime Video | iTunes | Microsoft Store
Talking of Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot pops up again as the superhero as The Flash starts with a mini-Justice League movie of its own, featuring Ben Affleck's Batman and Wonder Woman.
Set a "few years" after the events of Justice League, the movie definitely links more to Zack Snyder's version as Iris West references a scene between her and The Flash which only happened in the extended version. (The fact that Barry can turn back time also is a follow-up to the events of Snyder's climax.)
Other than that though, The Flash is largely separate from everything else and actually mostly takes place in a different timeline back in 2013, meaning it revisits events from Man of Steel, which play out differently in this particular timeline.
By the end, Barry may or may not be back in his own timeline (a different Batman suggests he's not), but either way, it's likely more of a swansong for the character, rather than a sign that he'll be back in the future.
16. Blue Beetle
Watch now: Prime Video | iTunes | Microsoft Store
Largely separate from the wider universe, Blue Beetle is a self-contained origin story for Jaime Reyes that you could really watch anywhere in this timeline.
There are references to Batman and Superman, but no appearances from any other current DC star, ending Gal Gadot's 2023 run of cameos in DC movies. It's likely intended to mean that Blue Beetle can return without any hassle in the new DC universe.
After all, James Gunn did call Blue Beetle the "first DCU character", even if this movie isn't the first DCU movie. (Confusing, we know, but it's what we've got to work with.)
17. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Watch now: In cinemas
Like the first movie, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is separated from the wider DCEU, so you could watch it straight after Aquaman if you wanted as no other DC character makes an appearance.
Aquaman did pop up in The Flash post-credit scene, but there's been no confirmation on whether it's this particular Aquaman or one from another timeline. And now the DCEU is over, it doesn't really matter.
The sequel acts more of a wrap-up to the first story as Aquaman battles again with Black Manta to protect Atlantis and his family.
Upcoming DC Universe movies and TV shows
• Creature Commandos – late 2024
• Superman: Legacy – July 11, 2025
• Peacemaker season 2 – TBC
• Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow – TBC
• Lanterns – TBC
• Waller – TBC
• The Authority – TBC
• Paradise Lost – TBC
• The Brave and the Bold – TBC
• Booster Gold – TBC
• Swamp Thing – TBC
Upcoming DC Elseworlds movies and TV shows
• Joker: Folie à Deux – October 4, 2024
• The Batman Part II – October 3, 2025
• Untitled Penguin series – TBC
Cancelled DC movies and shows
• Wonder Woman 3 – likely cancelled
• Man of Steel 2 – likely cancelled
• Green Lantern Corps – cancelled
• Static Shock – still TBC
• Zatanna – cancelled
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Movies Editor, Digital Spy Ian has more than 10 years of movies journalism experience as a writer and editor. Starting out as an intern at trade bible Screen International, he was promoted to report and analyse UK box-office results, as well as carving his own niche with horror movies, attending genre festivals around the world. After moving to Digital Spy, initially as a TV writer, he was nominated for New Digital Talent of the Year at the PPA Digital Awards. He became Movies Editor in 2019, in which role he has interviewed 100s of stars, including Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba and Olivia Colman, become a human encyclopedia for Marvel and appeared as an expert guest on BBC News and on-stage at MCM Comic-Con. Where he can, he continues to push his horror agenda – whether his editor likes it or not.
