For a first watch, see the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) films in theatrical release order, beginning with Man of Steel. For a rewatch arranged around story dates, start with Wonder Woman, then Wonder Woman 1984—but treat that sequence as approximate: flashbacks and The Flash’s time travel make a definitive scene-by-scene timeline impossible to reduce to one straight line.
Best first-watch order: DCEU movies by release
Release order preserves how the franchise introduced its characters and connections. The list below follows the main DCEU film run; at the Justice League slot, choose either the 2017 theatrical cut or its alternate version, Zack Snyder’s Justice League. They are two presentations of the same broad story, not consecutive events.
- Man of Steel (2013)
- Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
- Suicide Squad (2016)
- Wonder Woman (2017)
- Justice League (2017 theatrical cut) or Zack Snyder’s Justice League (alternate version)
- Aquaman (2018)
- Shazam! (2019)
- Birds of Prey (2020)
- Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
- The Suicide Squad (2021)
- Black Adam (2022)
- Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)
- The Flash (2023)
- Blue Beetle (2023)
- Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)
This release sequence is also the simplest option if you are new to the films. For an alternate cut, swap in Zack Snyder’s Justice League at the same place rather than watching it as a separate chapter after the 2017 film. Tom’s Guide’s viewing guide lists Snyder’s cut as an alternate version, not a new timeline event.
Approximate DCEU timeline by story events
The following order is a practical guide to when the main events occur, not a studio-issued, scene-by-scene chronology. Films with flashbacks may span more than one period, and some late-film placements are estimates. Tom’s Guide likewise presents several years as approximate.
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- Wonder Woman — Its main story takes place in 1918, with ancient-era flashbacks.
- Wonder Woman 1984 — The principal events occur in 1984; the film also opens with an earlier Themyscira sequence.
- Man of Steel — The main events are circa 2013, interspersed with Krypton and Clark Kent’s childhood in flashbacks.
- The Flash — Barry’s time-travel story reaches back to 2013, while the film’s framing begins and ends later. It does not fit neatly into one chronological slot.
- Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice — Set circa 2015, about 18 months after Man of Steel, with scenes from the past and future.
- Suicide Squad — Set circa 2016 and includes flashbacks.
- Justice League — Its story is circa 2017. Zack Snyder’s Justice League is an alternate version of this story.
- Aquaman — Set circa 2017; this practical viewing sequence places it after Justice League.
- Shazam! — Set around Christmas 2018, with a 1974 flashback.
- Birds of Prey — Set circa 2020.
- The Suicide Squad — Set in 2021.
- Black Adam — Placed after The Suicide Squad in an approximate 2021–2022 window. Some viewing guides use the series Peacemaker as context in that stretch; it is not a movie in this list.
- Shazam! Fury of the Gods — Estimated around 2022 in the viewing guide.
- Blue Beetle — Placed around 2023, after The Flash in this guide’s practical sequence.
- Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom — Placed around 2023. DC’s official film page establishes that Arthur turns to his imprisoned brother Orm to help oppose Black Manta, confirming the sequel relationship without fixing every date in the wider timeline.
DC’s official The Flash synopsis describes Barry using his powers to travel back in time and change past events. That premise is why its story resists a simple linear placement; the circa-2013 entry above refers to the past the film reaches, not the date of its entire narrative.
Which order should you choose?
| Viewing choice | Organizing principle | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Release order | The films’ theatrical release sequence | A first watch that follows how the franchise presented its stories | It does not follow the in-universe dates of the Wonder Woman films. |
| Approximate chronology | The main events’ fictional time periods | A rewatch focused on the characters’ history | Flashbacks, time travel, uncertain placements, and alternate cuts prevent a definitive scene-level sequence. |
What belongs in the DCEU list?
This guide covers the connected DCEU film run above. Do not add Joker or The Batman to its timeline: they are separate DC continuities, not entries in this sequence. The newer DC Universe (DCU) is a separate framing question. In January 2023, the Associated Press reported on DC Studios’ plans for a revamped universe and on James Gunn’s description of The Flash as resetting the DC Universe. That historical transition does not turn the DCEU and the newer DCU into one continuous movie order. The Associated Press report covers that announcement.
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