As the DCEU continues to struggle to find its footing among other heavy hitting movie franchises, allow's not forget there is another long running, successful DC Comics film universe. The DC Animated Flick Universe has produced 32 popular films over eleven years. They grew out of the popularity of Batman: The Animated Serial , Superman: The Animated Series and Justice League . Beginning with 2007's Superman: Doomsday the films followed diverse corners of the DC Comics Universe, bringing origin stories and fan favorite comic book events to life. Though virtually of the movies feature the original members of the Justice League, with a specific focus on the trinity of Batman, Superman and Wonder Adult female, the films have also helped showcase Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, the Teen Titans, Swamp Thing and John Constantine.

Many of these projects were produced and directed past the dynamic duo of Bruce Timm and Andrea Romano, while too featuring the familiar voices of Kevin Conroy, Tim Daly, George Newbern, Tara Strong and Marking Hamill. In 2014, after Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox the universe's timeline rebooted and the movies began to follow a new continuity. With that in mind, we thought  it's time to take a look at every DC Animated movie and rank them from worst to all-time.

32 BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE

The Killing Joke may be the near controversial story in all of Batman history. The Joker, having been defeated by the Night Knight ane too many times, decides to upwards the ante and attacks Barbara Gordon in her home. He shoots her, leaving her paralyzed, then proceeds to have awful photos of her. He so kidnaps Commissioner Gordon, proceeds to humiliate him in an abandoned amusement park, and forces him to look at the photos of Barbara to drive him insane. It destroyed Barbara and forced her to quit being Batgirl. Though her disability helped redefine the character, the story is still seen as a low point for fans.

In that location were a lot of questions from fans when DC appear it would exist adapting The Killing Joke into an R rated blithe movie.

Turns out their concerns were justified, as the picture show did nothing to improve on Barbara's treatment in the comic. If anything, information technology fabricated things worse by involving her in an ill-advised romance with Batman and at times making her seem like an incompetent crime fighter. While Kevin Conroy and Marker Hamill were once again great together, the story came off as an insult to the fans of Batgirl. In a franchise full of classic comic adaptations, this is one they could accept left on the shelf.

31 BATMAN AND HARLEY QUINN

batman and harley quinn

Since she was introduced on Batman: The Blithe Series in 1992, Harley Quinn has been one of DC's almost popular characters. She's become one of Batman's most persistent rogues, somewhen transitioning into an anti-hero with her ain solo serial, while also starring as a prominent member of the Suicide Team. Her merchandise sells at the same levels every bit the Trinity and it's impossible to nourish a convention without seeing an endless number of Harley cosplayers. Considering her headliner status, it's no surprise she ended up in her own movie, co-starring with Batman and Nightwing.

The dynamic duo needs Harley'due south assistance stopping Poison Ivy and Floronic Human from getting rid of humanity and making Earth entirely establish life. The picture is prepare to be a headlining vehicle for Harley, simply unfortunately, Melissa Rauch's voice is very distracting. She combined her high-pitched voice from The Big Blindside Theory  with a weird, over the top New Jersey accent, that doesn't sound at all similar the Harley we've come up to know. We sympathise that every voice histrion makes their own graphic symbol choices, but there still has to exist something recognizable for viewers. The motion picture's saving grace is its sense of sense of humour and Harley's truthful desire to have some semblance of a normal life.

30 BATMAN: BAD BLOOD

There is something near Damian Wayne that makes him simply not that likeable. He is Bruce's son with Talia al Ghul, and was raised by the League of Assassins. His upbringing has completely distorted his perception of right and wrong, making it difficult for Bruce to control or railroad train him. Nosotros understand information technology must be disruptive to have your father and grandpa be perpetually at each other's throats, just that'due south no excuse for how whiny and ungrateful he is.

At every plough he rejects Bruce'due south way of doing things, despite the fact that he's Batman and pretty much wrote the book on fighting crime.

In Batman: Bad Blood , Batman is presumed dead, then Damian is kidnapped, leading to the reveal of his origin as a clone created by Ra's al Ghul. While it's nice to run into a Batman story that puts the focus on members of the Bat Family, the plot feels dirty with the split storylines and multiple villains. Besides in that location being likewise many bad guys, they besides seemed quite weak, which is strange since Batman has 1 of the best rogues gallery in comics. It also didn't help to prominently feature Damian, equally his grapheme is usually best in small does, not taking the lead. Compared to all the other Batman movies in the franchise, Bad Blood isn't every bit potent every bit all the balance.

29 JUSTICE LEAGUE: GODS AND MONSTERS

Whenever an alternating universe is explored it's always hit or miss. Sometimes we get a fascinating world like Injustice and sometimes information technology'due south a let downward similar Gods and Monsters . There have been several instances of stories revolving around a rogue Justice League that uses its powers to rule humanity, not save it, and for the most part it works to show united states of america how honorable our Justice League is. Gods and Monsters is non one of those stories, as it doesn't feature Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent or Diana Prince. The film does star Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, but they are different versions, so there's a disconnect in how much we care nearly the characters.

In this universe, Batman is scientist Kirk Langston, a man who uses his vampirism to kill criminals. Wonder Woman is Bekka, a woman with god-like powers who is fleeing her past expose of her fiancee and Superman is not Kal-El, merely rather Hernan Guerra, a child of Zod who was raised by undocumented immigrants and has a serious hatred for authority. It takes them some time to get there, but eventually this Justice League does evolve into heroes. Though Gods and Monsters had a interesting idea, it ever felt as well separate from the rest of the universe.

28 SON OF BATMAN

From the moment Grant Morrison brought him into our lives, Damian Wayne has been the source of dandy comic volume debates. While some fans like to see Bruce attempt to navigate fatherhood while maintaining his life as Batman, others are annoyed by his young antics and inability to larn from his mistakes. Seriously, how many times does Bruce take to tell him that they don't impale, before it sinks in? In that location's never any eye ground or compromise with Damian. Information technology's truthful this is a mutual trait for teenagers, most of them haven't be trained by the League of Assassins, and so the arguments don't descend into extremely violent confrontations.

In Son of Batman, we become Damian'south full origin story, from his life with the League to discovering Batman is his male parent to deciding to stay in Gotham and larn to be a proper hero.

Though seeing all that he's been through makes him slightly more sympathetic, it doesn't do much to tamp downwardly the overwhelmingly annoying personality quirks he's known for. Though it's always interesting to explore more of Bruce'due south everyday life and come across Batman deal with new challenges, we've never felt like we needed a whole movie devoted to Damian Wayne's backstory.

27 BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHT

The success of Batman Begins sparked a renewed interest in the hero. To give fans something to hold on to before The Dark Knight was released DC decided to get in a completely different management. The company bypassed the usual animation style to tell a half dozen-part Batman anime anthology. Each brusk, while connected, tells a different story of Batman'south adventures through Gotham as he continues what he started in Batman Begins.

This was only the third flick in the franchise, then it was very interesting that they chose to try something new so soon. Nonetheless, every bit absurd as the idea of a Batman anime is, information technology's also the reason why this motion-picture show stands autonomously from all the rest and fails to concord our involvement. It'due south a nice piece of the The Dark Knight Trilogy that adds another layer to Batman'southward origin, but at the same time, it's clear this was only made in response to the character's big screen render. It was a quick capitalization on his box function success. On the plus side, we once again get to marvel at how perfectly Kevin Conroy brings Batman to life. That being said, it's not a moving picture we feel compelled to come dorsum to over and over.

26 SUPERMAN/SHAZAM: THE RETURN OF Blackness ADAM

Shazam is 1 of DC'due south heroes that doesn't become a lot of attending. He's a immature boy named Billy Batson who takes on the course of superhero Shazam when he says his proper noun. In this outing we get to run across Billy and meet his life correct before he meets the wizard who will forever change his life. Shazam's mortal enemy Black Adam has traveled back in time to impale Billy earlier the wizard gives him the powers of Shazam. The producers smartly use Superman to introduce him to the audience. First through Clark interviewing Billy, then as Shazam fights alongside Superman. Billy Batson is the ideal hero for every kid who wishes they could magically become bigger and stronger so that they would feel less invisible.

Though it'due south a not bad first appearance for both characters, it'southward also a run of the manufacturing plant origin story.

This doesn't mean that it'southward necessarily a bad pic, it just doesn't stand out amidst the others. As Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Wink and even Green Arrow continue to get more attention than all the other heroes, Shazam has faded into the background. However, with a new live action characteristic film scheduled to hitting theaters in Apr 2019 he could be basking in the spotlight in one case again.

25 BATMAN VS ROBIN

One of the newer, more interesting additions to Batman lore, is the Court of Owls. Introduced by famed Batman author Scott Snyder during The New 52, information technology revolves around the idea that a secret social club of Gotham City'due south citizens have been controlling things for years. They utilise their undead assassins called Talons to impale those who they need out of the way. Fed upwards with Batman saving the city, they plan an assault against him and his partners. Information technology's a story that impacted the entire Bat Family unit, particularly Dick Grayson, every bit he finds out he was supposed to join the Court until Bruce adopted him.

In Batman vs Robin this story is examined as a sequel to Son of Batman , meaning instead of following Nightwing as he discovers his true history and family heritage, we get even so another film well-nigh how poor Damian Wayne can't fit in because he was raised past the League of Assassins and doesn't know how to stop himself from killing. We sympathize this is an ongoing issue for Damian, but we cannot sit through another story that rehashes these problems once more. This was a perfect chance for Dick to go the spotlight and delve deeper into his and Bruce'due south relationship. Unfortunately, Batman vs Robin missed the mark.

24 BATMAN: ASSAULT ON ARKHAM

Movies featuring the Suicide Team are always a footling tricky equally they must make the unrepentant villains into characters worth rooting for, while not watering down everything that makes them interesting. Following the success of the Batman: Arkham video game franchise, information technology was no surprise that DC wanted to use the universe for an animated film. In Attack on Arkham , Amanda Waller sends Task Force X into Arkham Asylum to call up intel from The Riddler. At the same time, Batman is frantically searching for a bomb The Joker planted somewhere in the city. This leads to all the concerned parties confronting one another in Arkham.

As expected, Waller had ulterior motives and the Squad double crosses her.

Though the idea of an Arkham Assault movie sounds dandy, this isn't the best adaptation of that project. Other than the returning Kevin Conroy and CCH Pounder, this isn't the best vocalism cast of the franchise and it only feels similar at that place'southward a lot happening at all times. Not to mention, the so-called twists are very predictable. It too turns Amanda Waller, The Joker and nearly everyone else into one-dimensional villains -- the movie does fans of the Suicide Squad a disservice. The alive-action pic, Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay and even Arrow offering much better versions of the group.

23 JUSTICE LEAGUE: THRONE OF ATLANTIS

It's no underground that Aquaman gets very little respect in the superhero customs -- the jokes well-nigh him talking to fish are endless. No 1 cares that he can control the ocean on a planet that is 70% water. Throne of Atlantis provides his origin and introduction to the Justice League. Nosotros see Arthur Curry as a drunk fisherman who discovers that his affinity for sea creatures comes from his real parentage as one-half Atlantean. His mother Atlanna brutal in love with his human father, simply couldn't go out her responsibilities as Queen. With war between Atlantis and the surface coming, she wants Arthur to be the ane who brings the 2 sides together. He'south understandably reluctant, until he realizes the depth of his blood brother's hatred for the surface.

The film actually offers a decent introduction to Atlantis and its people. It besides makes Arthur far more interesting than he will be in any future appearances, with the exception of The Flashpoint Paradox . The scene where a tidal moving ridge hits Metropolis foreshadows how powerful Atlantis would truly be if there were actually a war. Information technology's also worth noting that Ocean Primary easily defeats the Justice League with his trident, though to exist fair, they could take killed him if they wanted to. While it's not the strongest team outing, it serves its purpose of bringing Aquaman to the team and introducing Atlantis to the universe.

22 JUSTICE LEAGUE: WAR

Anyone who saw the live action Justice League movie is familiar with Parademons and how they attack. The global threat is what ultimately brings the heroes together as a squad. Justice League: War touched on some of those same plot points long before at that place was ever a thought of creating a DCEU. In the animated motion picture, Parademons brainstorm attacking around the earth, causing the heroes to team up in unlikely groups. Batman must work with Dark-green Lantern and teach him that he doesn't need to do everything himself. They so team with Superman and Wonder Woman, while The Flash meets Cyborg at S.T.A.R. Labs following his blow.

Where the picture show differs is that it does eventually get to Apokolips where Batman saves Superman and everyone must work together to defeat Darkseid.

Their articulation efforts in saving the world leads to them being honored and the Justice League is born. Though we've seen several versions of the League's origin, this one works equally it showcases their individual strengths while also highlighting why they need to be open to becoming a squad. It as well has the benefit of a endmost scene that leads straight into the introduction of Atlantis and Aquaman.

21 JUSTICE LEAGUE VS TEEN TITANS

The Titans are sometimes portrayed as a immature alternative to the Justice League. Starfire, Raven, Beast Male child and Blue Beetle make up the group, plus Nightwing and Robin are both members, which provides a constant link dorsum to the League. Notwithstanding, the group is actually superior to their adult counterparts in a lot of means. Having teenage characters as the lead not only adds more humor, only a different level of emotional depth. It'southward also nice to encounter the group view themselves every bit more of a family than a team. For their introduction into the universe, they must fight the Justice League when they become possessed by Trigon's demons.

While the film provides a reasonable backstory for who the Titans are, it feels like something is missing from the story. The plot focuses on the team supporting Raven as she battles her demon father Trigon when he tries to escape from Hell. The side story follows Damian Wayne/Robin as he is forced to join the others, and so he can understand the importance of teamwork. Teen Titans: The Judas Contract offers a much stronger, more fascinating look into how the grouping operates on a daily basis. This is a surface examination with a split story that too focuses on the Justice League.

20 SUPERMAN VS THE ELITE

A mutual question asked about Superman is with all the power he has, why doesn't he only kill really bad guys who keep coming back and causing more harm. Obviously, with all his strengths he could easily get approximate, jury and executioner. It may be his greatest force that he really refrains from going too far, considering how he's constantly faced with people's worst instincts. In Superman vs The Elite , a group of vigilantes who use their power to hurt and kill villains. There is a subplot surrounding 2 fictional countries who are at war and no affair what Superman does, they volition not stop fighting. The Elite decides to just impale the countries' leaders to stop the increasingly violent war. Of course, they're completely basics, but we exercise wonder why heroes keep putting supervillains in prisons that they seem to suspension out of whenever they want.

The flick culminates with Superman fighting The Aristocracy and making it appear like he killed them.

This scene is a common cold, chilling wait at what Superman could become if he ever truly snapped and let his powers run rampant. Yes, the Man of Steel does make a few cheesy statements almost how violence is never the answer, but at the same time, the movie features a very fascinating premise of who really has the right answers to fighting crime.

19 SUPERMAN: UNBOUND

Inside the Blithe Universe, Superman's most consistent enemies are Lex Luthor and Brainiac. In the movies and TV series, Brainiac is never actually dead, he ever finds a manner to come back. In this particular story Superman fights a drone that he tracks dorsum to Brainiac. Once aboard his transport, Superman discovers the bottle city of Kandor and meets his aunt and uncle Zor-El and Alura. Though he's had a lifetime to deal with it, the destruction of Krypton is something Clark volition never really be able to get closure on. Meeting other Kryptonians, peculiarly those that he's related to, finally gave him a chance to discover some pocket-size mensurate of closure knowing that there were other Kryptonians still live.

In a turn of events, Superman isn't at his elevation strength because of the ruddy sun of Kandor. This ways he has to outsmart Brainiac, the smartest computer in the galaxy. Matt Bomer does a adept job as a Superman who must relieve the globe, help Kara deal with her fear of over again facing Brainiac and understand Lois' need to make their relationship public. Information technology's the remainder of all these aspects of Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman's life that makes this slightly more interesting than the average Homo of Steel story.

18 SUPERMAN: DOOMSDAY

At the terminate of 1992, DC decided to get some mainstream interest and publicity by coming upwards with the huge event "The Expiry of Superman." Yes, nosotros all knew there was no mode Superman would stay expressionless, but the journey of how it would happen, consequences for the rest of the universe and how he would eventually come back were worth buying all the comics. To kick off its animated movie universe, DC began with its most famous story in Superman: Doomsday .

The movie starts with the unearthing of Doomsday and his fight with Superman, which despite his winning, leads to Clark's decease.

In the comic, several others show up in Metropolis claiming to be Superman, but it becomes clear that none of them are the truthful Homo of Steel. In the picture, after Superman dies, a Lex Luthor-created clone comes back saying he'south the real hero, but his brutality and lack of humanity go far very articulate, very quickly that he'due south no Superman. Of form, the existent Clark is revived to reclaim his mantle. Taking a familiar story and putting a new spin on it has go the hallmark of the DC Animated Universe, so Doomsday was a great prepare for what was to come in the rest of the franchise.

17 Green LANTERN: FIRST Flying

Though he'south not Globe'due south outset Green Lantern, Hal Jordan is certainly its most well-known Dark-green Lantern. The story of the cocky, self centered pilot being called every bit worthy of a Power Ring has become amidst the most popular in comics. Green Lantern: First Flying retells how Abin Sur crashed on Globe and sent his Ring to detect his successor, which turned out to be Hal Jordan. He is so taken to Oa where he trains to go a member of the Greenish Lantern Corps. Information technology and so transitions into him figuring out that Sinestro is planning to betray the Corps.

Starting with Christopher Meloni equally Hal, the film has a stellar vox cast that includes Victor Garber, Tricia Helfer, Michael Madsen, Kurtwood Smith and John Larroquette. While information technology'south a dainty intro to the Lantern Corps and Oa, the focus is clearly on Hal, which is understandable since information technology's his story. This was one of the early films that were obviously meant to provide origins for all the heroes before we fully met them as the Justice League. As a Hal Jordan movie it works ok, but there'due south just something almost information technology that makes it experience asunder from the franchise as a whole. Perhaps, at this point, they hadn't still decided to make everything all connected.

16 SUPERMAN/BATMAN: APOCALYPSE

Though the title of this film suggests that it is a joint Superman and Batman story, information technology'south really all about Supergirl. Apocalypse follows Kara Zor-El's arrival on Earth and struggle to control her powers and find her place on a new planet. While Kal-El had to figure out everything on his own, Kara has Clark to guide her. The get-go major problem they encounter of course, is Batman. Bruce predictably doesn't trust Kara or Clark's capacity to be objective about his cousin.

Batman becomes the to the lowest degree of their problems when Darkseid decides he wants to utilise Kara to pb his Furies.

This served as a sequel to Superman/Batman: Public Enemies and featured the original animated universe phonation bandage of Kevin Conroy, Tim Daly and Susan Eisenberg. Anytime you get Conroy and Daly as Batman and Superman together, information technology adds an actress level of authenticity to the project as they are many fans' quintessential animated versions of the characters. Introducing Kara into his life also gives Clark an added element to his story, making him immediately more interesting. Information technology's e'er hilarious to run across him figure out how to collaborate with a teenage daughter. This is a solid entry that merely fails in the mixed message its proper noun provides, as the Apokolips part of the plot isn't actually the focus.

15 Green LANTERN: EMERALD KNIGHTS

As the defenders of the galaxy, the Green Lantern Corps are total of fascinating stories of defeating various alien species. While there accept been several Green Lanterns from Earth, Hal Jordan is the most well-known and the frequent subject of DC animated features. Nosotros've seen Abin Sur'due south death and Hal getting the ring, earlier eventually fighting a Xanthous Bombardment-powered Sinestro on screen countless times. That's what makes Green Lantern: Emerald Knights so unlike. Hal Hashemite kingdom of jordan is the entry betoken into the other Lantern Corps stories. As Oa is nearly to exist attacked, Hal inspires a young rookie with tales of bully Lanterns throughout history.

Of course, avid Green Lantern readers are familiar with these characters, simply for the average fan they're a new side of the universe. Nathan Fillion one time over again voices Jordan with all the cocky bravado the grapheme is known for, only also adding in the experience of a well-traveled warrior. The cast too features Kelly Hu, Elisabeth Moss, Jason Isaacs and Henry Rollins perfectly matched to each graphic symbol they voice. Each story flows seamlessly into the next, while simultaneously servicing the overall plot. It shows why the Lanterns are so important and special, while also making them grounded, down to Earth figures who go through the same problems and emotions equally everyone else.

14 TEEN TITANS: THE JUDAS CONTRACT

It took some time, but the Teen Titans finally got their own movie where they were the chief superhero team. What'southward corking virtually this one is it jumps correct in with the squad meeting Starfire for the outset fourth dimension, then saving her. Since we already met them in Justice League vs Teen Titans , in that location'south no need to become through the usual introductions. Brother Claret has developed a programme to steal the powers of the Titans and absorb them into himself. He employs Deathstroke to kidnap each member, and sadly, information technology turns out new member Terra is a spy for Slade and betrays the squad.

A hero betraying their friends is hardly a new story, only placing information technology amidst the teenage crime fighters adds a new level of drama.

What continues to brand the Titans and so special is that they must navigate all the usual difficulties of other heroes while besides dealing with all the nonsense of going through puberty. Despite the immature age of the primary characters, the film features some very adult, heartbreaking moments, which makes it more memorable than some of the other well-known adaptations. The film also perfectly plays into the Titans strength of blending comedy and drama. Not every comic book project knows the exact time to lighten things up with a joke and then when to make u.s.a. cry our eyes out. It'south something Teen Titans has always done extremely well, both in comics and on-screen.

thirteen JUSTICE LEAGUE: DOOM

It's no clandestine that Batman has trust problems. He's also is a little discriminatory against people with powers. With this in listen, it comes every bit no surprise that he had contingency plans set in case his Justice League cohorts went rogue and began using their powers for nefarious purposes. None of them are overly complicated, the luminescence is in the simplicity of him getting the others to actually use their abilities against themselves. Unfortunately, Vandal Savage has the Batcomputer hacked and steals the plans, adjusting them to exist lethal. It'due south very telling that his get-go pace is to accept out Batman before simultaneously attacking all the others. This says that he knows Batman is the biggest threat in the Justice League.

Naturally, Batman escapes, then with Cyborg's aid, has all the answers for how to counteract his plans. While it's true the story doesn't paint Bruce in the best light, it besides shows that he is willing to do any information technology takes to protect the globe, even if that means taking downwardly his friends. With the original phonation cast from the Justice League animated series returning, everything feels even more than personal, as we accept spent years getting to know these specific versions of the squad. Perhaps, the one flaw in Batman's meticulous plan is, would he really leave his contingencies easily accessed on the Batcomputer? Wouldn't he put them in a vault someplace where only he and Alfred could observe them?