Timeline of DC's live-action films: Christopher Reeve's Superman, Burton's Batman, the Dark Knight trilogy, the DCEU era, and James Gunn's rebooted DC Universe.
Superhero cinema's other giant: DC on the big screen from Christopher Reeve's Superman and Tim Burton's Batman through Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, the DCEU years, and James Gunn's rebooted DC Universe.
Richard Donner's Superman, starring Christopher Reeve, proves a superhero film can be a blockbuster event.
The sequel pits Superman against General Zod after a famously troubled change of directors.
Tim Burton's Batman with Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson becomes a cultural phenomenon and box-office smash.
Burton's darker sequel introduces Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman and Danny DeVito's Penguin.
Joel Schumacher takes over with Val Kilmer in a brighter, toyetic direction.
The campy George Clooney entry flops critically and freezes the Batman film franchise for eight years.
Christopher Nolan reboots Batman with Christian Bale, grounding the hero in realism.
Bryan Singer's homage to the Donner films underperforms, shelving Superman for another seven years.
Heath Ledger's Joker powers the first superhero film to gross $1 billion; Ledger wins a posthumous Oscar.
Nolan closes his trilogy with Bane and a $1B+ finale.
Zack Snyder's Superman reboot with Henry Cavill launches the shared DC Extended Universe.
Ben Affleck's Batman meets Cavill's Superman; big opening, divisive reception.
The villain team-up is panned by critics but earns over $745M and an Oscar for makeup.
Patty Jenkins' film with Gal Gadot becomes the DCEU's critical breakthrough and a landmark for female-led blockbusters.
The troubled team-up, finished by Joss Whedon after Snyder's departure, disappoints at the box office.
James Wan's Aquaman becomes the highest-grossing DC film worldwide at over $1.1B.
Todd Phillips' standalone wins Venice's Golden Lion, grosses $1B+ as an R-rated film, and earns Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar.
After a years-long fan campaign, the four-hour 'Snyder Cut' debuts on HBO Max.
Matt Reeves' noir take with Robert Pattinson launches its own separate Batman saga.
James Gunn and Peter Safran are named co-CEOs of the new DC Studios and begin planning a rebooted DC Universe.
The Flash flops despite multiverse fan service; Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom closes out the DCEU in December.
James Gunn's Superman, starring David Corenswet, opens the rebooted DC Universe and grosses over $600M.
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