Options are open to animated features that perhaps wouldn’t be available to live-action ones. More ‘niche’ storylines can be explored without studios worrying as much about sales. Special effects budgets won’t balloon, as everything is animated in the first place. The perfect talent to voice a specific character can also be cast, from a totally different pool of skilled performers.RELATED:DC Superheroes Who Are Long Overdue Their Own GamesDC Comics, as a whole, has this formula down.Several of its animated movies are very well regarded by fans. As with all facets of entertainment, though, some are always better than others. Currently, more than 40DC Universe Animated Original Movieshave been released since 2007, including everything from connected universe stories to stand-alone features and alternate reality spin-offs.Updated June 29, 2025 by Mark Sammut:TheDC Universe Animated Original Moviesjust keeps on expanding, with five new films coming out in 2021 alone. Putting aside the quite disappointing Injustice adaptation, the most recentDC animated movieshave been pretty good. Things are also not slowing down anytime soon as three more projects–Catwoman: Hunted, Green Lantern: Beware My Power, and Battle of the Super Sons–have been announced for the future, with the first film coming out on July 16, 2025. For those who are not especially huge fans of the DCEU, they can at least turn to the animated side of things to get their fill of Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman. Out of the 40+ plus DC Universe Animated Original Movies, which ones are the best? This article has been expanded to include a few more 2021 releases.
20Teen Titans: The Judas Contract (2017) – A Double Agent
The Titans' second DC animated movie adapts a popular story from the young heroes' comic history, and it does a serviceable job with it.The Judas Contractmoves at an absolutely breathless pace in an attempt to cover the full storyline; consequently, the movie does feel like a cliffs notes version of events.
The film introduces Brother Blood and Mother Mayhem while fleshing out Terra following her mid-credits reveal inJustice League vs. Teen Titans. Just in case that wasn’t enough,The Judas Contractalso has to balance two generations of Titans. Unsurprisingly, a few characters do not get the attention they deserve, however, the film handles Terra’s arc quite well. The action is also great throughout.
19Wonder Woman: Bloodlines (2019) – The Underrepresented Trinity Member
Compared to Superman and Batman, Wonder Woman barely gets a sniff in any of theseDC animated movies. After 2009’sWonder Woman, Diana had to wait a decade for another solo adventure.
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Wonder Woman: Bloodlinessuffers from an uninspired and slow opening act, but the film picks up steam once Silver Swan is introduced. While the animation can be hit and miss, the action is vicious and entertaining, particularly in the final act. Not a must-watch entry in the DC Universe, but a solid Diana-themed adventure.
18Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (2009) – President Lex Luthor
When Lex becomes the leader of the free world and starts a new era of peace that earns the trust of most superheroes, Superman and Batman remain as the exceptions. A meteor and a frame job later, Superman suddenly finds himself as Public Enemy number 1, a position that puts him (and Batman) directly at odds with the likes of Captain Atom, Black Lightning, and Starfire.
At the time of its release,Public Enemiesrepresented a marginal step up in quality forDC animated moviesreleased as part of this universe. Since then, the film has been surpassed, butPublic Enemiesstill holds up in terms of pure entertainment value.
17Wonder Woman (2009) – Diana’s Origin
Princess Diana’s first animated solo movie has been retroactively made to feel slightly unnecessary due to the existence of 2017’sWonder Woman.Both films are origin stories that cover similar ground, and the live-action version is overall superior to the DC Universe’s take on the story.
Viewed in a vacuum, 2009’sWonder Womanis smart, well-paced, and expertly cast. The film does an admirable job depicting Diana’s time in Themyscira, her relationship with Steve Trevor, and herfinal battle with Ares. When it comes to the latter, theDC animated moviedelivers a more satisfying final encounter than the live-action release.
16Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (2018) – The Dark Knight Vs Jack The Ripper
While it was around,Elseworldspermitted comic writers to really go against the status quo when it comes to storylines. Comics like theJustice RidersandKingdom Comeare stellar reimaginings of DC’s iconic heroes and work well as standalone pieces.
Gotham by Gaslighttakes inspiration from theElseworldscomic with the same title, although the film changes quite a few things in the process. The movie drops Bruce Wayne in a Victorian-era Gotham, as the Dark Knight ends up hot on the tracks of Jack the Ripper.Gotham by Gaslightpushes its mystery to the forefront, limiting action to short bursts. Its story is decent but, unfortunately, somewhat predictable; however, the unique setting helps the film stand out.
15Justice League vs. Teen Titans (2016) – A Battle Of Icons
ââââDespite the movie’s title giving top billing to the more experienced heroic group,Justice League vs. Teen Titansis predominantly the latter’s story. When League members fall under Trigon’s control, the Titans are faced with the arduous task of taking on and freeing their mentors.
A pivotal entry in Damien Wayne’s character arc,Justice League vs. Teen Titansis an enjoyable romp that shines a light on a group that this universe had sidelined for a while. The Trigon storyline has been done to death by this point, but this movie at least presents an interesting twist.
14Batman: Soul Of The Dragon – Enter The (Richard) Dragon
TheDC animated moviesdo feel a bit samey at times, so it is always refreshing when a project comes along that takes a bit of an unexpected detour.Batman: Soul of the Dragonserves as a tribute to Dennis O’Neil’s works from the 1970s as it includes characters like Richard Dragon and O-Sensei from the Dragon Fists novel and Bronze Tiger.
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Paying homage tomartial artsmovies from yesteryear,Batman: Soul of the Dragonis a highly entertaining action romp that features serpent gods and cults. The story is barebones and the characters are underdeveloped as they take a backseat to the battle sequences, but the latter are more than good enough to still make this film a fun sit.
13Superman: Red Son (2020) – Soviet Superman
Based on Mark Millar’s 2003 mini-series,Superman: Red Sonhas a brilliant core premise: what if the Man of Steel’s pod landed in the Soviet Union and not Papa Kent’s front lawn? Spread over a couple of decades,Red SonchroniclesSuperman’s rise and fall as a Soviet hero and unwitting propaganda machine.
The film’s brilliance lies in its nuanced depiction of this version of Superman. While certainly flawed, Soviet Superman is by no means a full-blown villain; sadly, isolation and paranoia lead him to perform plenty of heinous acts.
12Justice Society: World War 2 - Flash To The Past
The Flash really needs to take point more often inDC animated moviesas he has quite an impressive track record. Released afterApokolips War,Justice Society: World War 2follows a largely self-contained storyline that prioritizes fun over faithfulness to any specific comic. It is a formula that has worked quite well.
The Flash finds himself stuck in World War 2 where has to team up withJustice Society memberssuch as Wonder Woman, Hawkman, and Black Canary to take on a whole lot of Nazis (among other enemies). Boasting stylish animation that takes the aesthetic of releases likeSuperman: Man of Tomorrowand throws in a touch of pulpy goodness,Justice Societyis charming on both a visual and storytelling level.
11Justice League: Crisis On Two Earths (2010) – When Villains Are Heroes And Heroes Are Villains
Zack Snyder’s Justice Leaguehas been a huge discussion point for the DC faithful lately (as has the concept of dream villains the group could tangle with). However, many years before the Director’s Cut hit HBO Max, theJustice Leaguewere fighting a very different battle. InCrisis on Two Earths, a heroic parallel dimension version of Superman arch-nemesis Lex Luthor seeks out the Justice League’s help in dealing with his dimension’s evil versions of themselves.
Outlandish as the premise is, it’s still an excellent showing for fans who long to see fights between Superman and Ultraman,Batmanand Owlman, and many more. This film brings something new to something familiar and fans love its originality.
