The action-packed spectacle of superhero blockbusters has taken center stage in the cinematic landscape for almost two decades now, with everything from Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy to more recent iterations of the caped crusader like 2022's The Batman, and, of course, the ongoing Marvel Cinematic Universe dominating the box office. While the DCEU has worked tirelessly to launch its own extended live-action franchise, the very best connected universe DC Comics' fans have seen so far is undoubtedly the DC Animated Movies Universe (DCAMU).

This probably shouldn't come as a huge surprise as DC have a history of converting their superhero stories to animation with dazzling results, with the early 1990s series Batman: The Animated Series a standout in this regard. With stories ranging from origin tales to major crossover events, and even stunning realizations of famous comic book arcs like Flashpoint, the animated movie franchise boasts an astounding array of films perfect for lovers of superhero stories.

10 'Justice League Dark' (2017)

Directed by Jay Oliva

A fine and unique entry from the DCAMU, Justice League Dark is a rarity in the franchise as it features an original premise rather than finding a firm basis in a comic book narrative, despite its obvious link to the titular superhero team. When regular citizens in Gotham City start murdering people who they believe to be demonic entities, Batman (Jason O'Mara) forms "Justice League Dark," a superhero squad of dark arts specialists led by John Constantine (Matt Ryan) to stand against supernatural evil.

While the narrative isn't the strongest in the DCAMU, it does have some significant strengths, including Matt Ryan's reprisal of the Constantine role and its engrossing mystery which spirals in some interesting directions. Justice League Dark's eagerness to embrace the supernatural components of its story also set it apart from many other superhero films – animated or live-action – and imbued the story with freedom to venture into some imaginative and surprisingly dark areas.

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9 'Teen Titans: The Judas Contract' (2017)

Directed by Sam Liu

A poster child of renowned superhero comic book characters who have excelled in animated storytelling but struggled to make the leap to live-action, Teen Titans is one of the most overlooked super squads in the current cinematic landscape. Focusing on the most famous comic storyline for the group, Teen Titans: The Judas Contract is given a fresh spin in this 2017 iteration as it follows the eponymous squad in their fight against Deathstroke (Miguel Ferrer) and Brother Blood (Greg Henry) while a traitor strives to achieve a dastardly goal.

Teen Titans: The Judas Contract overcomes a flawed opening sequence to push on with strong and immersive action scenes and compelling character development, particularly from Terra (Christina Ricci) as she is placed in an impossible predicament. A smart fusion of the fallen heroine from the canceled 2003 Teen Titans series and the depraved villainy embedded in the source material, this depiction of the terra-kinetic Judas figure thrives as a tragic, mature, and emotionally complex animated film.

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8 'Batman: Bad Blood' (2016)

Directed by Jay Oliva

Surprisingly violent given its rating, cleverly intriguing, and a monument to the extended family of heroes who help Batman in Gotham City, Batman: Bad Blood is a crowning glory for animated Batman stories that delve into his beloved sidekicks. The story runs with a fascinating premise as, with Batman mysteriously missing, Dick Grayson (Sean Maher) must don the cowl to fight crime in Gotham while Batwoman (Yvonne Strahovski) investigates Bruce Wayne's disappearance.

With Batman absent for much of the movie, comic-book lovers get a brilliant chance to see how Gotham's other notable vigilantes rise in his stead. There is plenty of rewarding fun to be had as well, with Batman: Bad Blood playing with all the drama and intrigue its premise offers. It also serves up some of the best action sequences in animated superhero cinema to boot.

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7 'Batman: Hush' (2019)

Directed by Justin Copeland

One of the best stand-alone Batman movies in the DCAMU, Batman: Hush sees the Dark Knight taking on one of his most underrated comic book antagonists. With a loose basis on the comic book arc of the same name, it follows Batman as he is targeted by an enigmatic and malevolent enemy who knows all his deepest secrets and targets those he cares about most, prompting the caped crusader to form an uneasy alliance with Catwoman (Jennifer Morrison) to break free from Hush's (Geoffrey Arend) deadly game.

While its climax may upset comic book purists, Batman: Hush found an enticing allure for Batman die-hards with its faithful yet subversive efforts, which hit hardest when the story exposed and exploited Bruce's deepest vulnerabilities. The animated depiction of this modern Batman classic was a true treat, but there is still some hope that the villainous entity will get the live-action treatment soon.

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6 'The Death of Superman' (2018)

Directed by Sam Liu and Jake Castoreno

One of the most famous comic book arcs of all time, due in part to its alarming title, the iconic story was done justice when put on the screen. That story, of course, was The Death of Superman which follows Superman (Jerry O'Connell) and the Justice League as they must fight against a hulking monster named Doomsday as the alien entity lays waste to the city of Metropolis.

The Death of Superman carries the weight of its source material's influence with a palpable respect which wisely utilizes Superman and Lois Lane's (Rebecca Romjin) romance as the beating heart of the narrative. Though it only depicted half of the original tale, it was the most impactful half. Delivering one of superhero literature's greatest fights with ample brutality and gravitas, The Death of Superman became something of a mainstream hit.

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5 'Constantine: City of Demons - The Movie' (2018)

Directed by Doug Murphy

Delving into the occult darkness of Constantine with the unbridled freedom of an R-rating, Constantine: City of Demons - The Movie saw the anti-hero protagonist in all his violent glory. A wonderful example of the comics' sense of supernatural wonder, the film follows John Constantine as he tries to save a friend's daughter from succumbing to a demonically-induced coma, enlisting the help of a mysterious nurse, the queen of angels, and an ancient Aztec deity.

Remaining loyal to the source material, while simultaneously expanding upon it to add in some intelligent changes, the animated film struck a flawless balance between impeccable adaptation and thriving as its own story. Stylistically imbued with extreme violence, horrific monsters, shocking profanity, and plenty of black magic allure, Constantine: City of Demons is one of the most striking entries of the DCAMU. It remains one of the best portrayals of the superhero today.

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4 'Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay' (2018)

Directed by Sam Liu

Succeeding where the initial live-action film failed, Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay functioned as a super-violent, relentlessly bloody, chaotically fun superhero action comedy directed squarely at adults. With Amanda Waller (Vanessa Williams) recently diagnosed with a terminal illness, she dispatches Task Force X - a squad comprised of incarcerated supervillains - to find a powerful relic that grants the user entry to heaven regardless of what sins they have committed.

Naturally, with a team of morally reprehensible criminals involved, the "Get Out of Hell Free" card becomes a hot commodity and inspires plenty of betrayals and backstabbings. Finding compelling protagonists in its complicated characters and setting a grittier tone, Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay flies by with its twisted sense of humor while still squeezing out a surprisingly profound conversation about spirituality and redemption.

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3 'Justice League Dark: Apokolips War' (2020)

Directed by Matt Peters and Christina Sotta

The stunning conclusion to the DC Animated Movie Universe (at least before the 2022 short Constantine: The House of Mystery served as an additional epilogue), Justice League Dark: Apokolips War was a staggering crossover event. Set two years after a planned attack on Darkseid's (Tony Todd) home world results in Earth being ravaged, and many heroes being killed, the remaining figures of the Justice League, Justice League Dark, and Bat Family unite to muster what little strength they have and mount a counterattack that will decide the ultimate fate of all humanity.

Drawing obvious comparisons to the sort of rewarding, culminating spectacle Avengers: Endgame offered fans of the MCU, Justice League Dark: Apokolips War spreads its lens impressively wide to cover the journeys of the most important and integral characters. Granted, it doesn't manage to give complete closure to every significant story thread, but its high stakes make for a fantastic viewing experience worthy of serving as the franchise's grand finale.

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2 'Batman vs. Robin' (2015)

Directed by Jay Oliva

While it boasts a PG-13 rating, Batman vs. Robin stands as one of the most confronting entries in the DCAMU with its exploration of the moral conundrum behind Batman's most precious rule. Tensions rise between Batman and his son Damian (Stuart Allan) when the latter struggles to adhere to his father's no-killing rule, all the while a child-abducting toymaker wreaks havoc on the city and a fabled secret society - one with a vested interest in Damian - mount an attack on Gotham.

Firing on all cylinders, the film revels in the core moral dilemma brought to life with fantastic writing and strong character dynamics, as well as a well-paced, action-packed story. An underrated masterpiece of standalone superhero storytelling, Batman vs. Robin thrives on the merit of its own, isolated narrative and elevates the stakes to unbearable levels which more films in the genre should take note on, as it is one of the best DC animated movies ever made.

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1 'Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox' (2013)

Directed by Jay Oliva

As the first film in the DC Animated Movie Universe, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox astoundingly still stands as the crowning glory of the extended franchise as it brought the "Flashpoint" comic arc to the screen with utter perfection. After the Flash (Justin Chambers) causes a temporal ripple which leads to a fractured reality where Aquaman (Cary Elwes) and Wonder Woman (Vanessa Marshall) are at war and the Justice League was never formed, Flash unites with Batman (Kevin Conroy) and Cyborg (Michael B. Jordan) to restore the universe.

Comic book enthusiasts couldn't have asked for a better adaptation of the seminal crossover event, nor could casual viewers have demanded a more riveting superhero movie. With an indelible voice cast, strong action animation, and an engrossing and harsh atmosphere, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox was a brilliant launching pad for the DCAMU which engaged with the pitfalls of playing God. It is also one of the highest-rated animated superhero movies on IMDb.

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