6 DC Movie Flops That Deserved Better At The Box Office
Since 2019, Kevin Erdmann has been one of Screen Rant's Senior Staff Writers, covering all kinds of Superhero and Star Wars media with Easter egg breakdowns, theory pieces, breaking news, and more. A huge Star Wars & MCU fan, Kevin also loves Batman (because he's Batman), but could talk for hours about why Nightwing is DC's greatest hero.
With 8 years of total experience covering entertainment and pop culture, Kevin has gotten the chance to interview top creatives and talent, and has also attended major media events like Disney's D23 convention.
Majoring in Cinema Studies with a minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies from the UofO, Kevin lives in Oregon with his wonderful wife, adorable dog, and sinister cat who is no doubt currently plotting his demise.
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Without a doubt, movies based on DC Comics and its impressive collection of superheroes have seen great success at the box office over the years. Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, Man of Steel, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Joker all come to mind as some of the biggest DC movie hits ever. However, DC also has its fair share of box office flops (especially in recent years).
Whether it was due to oversaturation of the genre, marketing issues, a global pandemic, or behind-the-scenes struggles that hurt the project itself, some DC box office flops are still worth revisiting despite their failure to provide meaningful box office hauls. After all, a film ultimately becoming a financial disappointment has never been a fully fair way to judge its quality (though it can often be an indicator).
Regardless, this list explores some of DC's biggest box office flops that absolutely deserved better for one reason or another. While the movies below all have their share of legitimate flaws, it can certainly be argued that they still deserved a stronger performance at the box office.
Justice League (2017)
Unfortunately, Justice League was basically doomed before it even opened in theaters. This was in part due to 2016's divisive Batman v Superman, as well as the 2017 movie's extensive and controversial reshoots by Joss Whedon and behind-the-scenes drama following original director Zack Snyder's exit from the project following the death of a family member. The result is infamously one of the most challenging superhero films, and it very much feels like two very distinct visions mashed together.
Despite its reported $300 million production budget, the movie only brought in $661.3 million globally, a pretty big disappointment for the very first live-action Justice League movie. By all accounts, Justice League deserved to have a much bigger performance at the box office had Snyder's original vision remained intact (which was eventually released on HBO Max with Zack Snyder's Justice League in 2021).
Despite the struggle, the assembled cast of heroes was strong, and there are a handful of cool moments that are worth revisiting. However, my personal recommendation is naturally to watch the Snyder Cut over the theatrical release.
Birds of Prey (2020)
As entertaining as it is, 2020's Birds of Prey had several elements working against it. The R-rating limited its audience, and the film's more unique ensemble didn't fully attract moviegoers despite Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn serving as the primary lead. Although the film's original title was changed from Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) to Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey shortly after the film's release, the general market confusion and ambiguity had already set in. Earning $205.4 million, it was reported that the 2020 movie failed to break even just before the onset of the global pandemic (which cut its theatrical run short).
That said, Birds of Prey is an immensely fun time that puts Robbie's Harley front and center as she leaves her toxic relationship with The Joker behind before joining fellow female vigilantes and anti-heroes as they take on Ewan McGregor's Black Mask (one of the most unique roles in his entire career). Featuring plenty of great humor and solid action sequences, Birds of Prey absolutely deserved far more than it got.
The Suicide Squad (2021)
James Gunn's The Suicide Squad is a prime example of a truly great DC movie becoming sabotaged by circumstances beyond the studio's control. Released during the global pandemic, the movie debuted in theaters and on HBO Max simultaneously, a good decision made to give viewers options while still dramatically cutting its box office revenue. As such, Gunn's first DC movie grossed only $168.7 million worldwide against a reported $185 million budget (though it likely generated plenty of new HBO subscribers).
The movie itself was incredibly well received, with James Gunn introducing a far more absurd roster of criminals than the one seen in the 2016 film from director David Ayer, while also having plenty of heart, humor, and solid moments for each character, including Idris Elba's Bloodsport, Robbie's Harley Quinn, John Cena's Peacemaker, and even Sylvester Stallone as the iconic fan-favorite King Shark. As such, its poor performance at the box office has less to do with its excellent quality and far more to do with the unfortunate circumstances of the world during its theatrical release.
Metropolis · Daily Planet Edition
Superman
Trivia Challenge
🌏OriginsLast son
☠VillainsKneel!
⚡PowersInvincible
🎥FilmsBelieve
💫LegacyHope
01
Before he was Clark Kent, Superman was born Kal-El on a distant planet doomed to destruction. His parents Jor-El and Lara placed him in a rocket ship as an infant, sending him across the cosmos to Earth. What is the name of Superman’s home planet?
✓ Correct! Krypton was a scientifically advanced planet that exploded due to its unstable core. Jor-El, Superman’s father, was the only scientist who foresaw the catastrophe and managed to save his son by launching him toward Earth in a small spacecraft.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Krypton. Thanagar is Hawkman’s homeworld, Apokolips is Darkseid’s domain, and Oa is the headquarters of the Green Lantern Corps. Krypton’s destruction is the defining event of Superman’s origin story.
02
Superman’s greatest love is a fearless, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who works alongside Clark Kent at the Daily Planet. She’s known for her relentless pursuit of the truth and for being one of the few people who sees both the hero and the man. Who is she?
✓ Correct! Lois Lane has been Superman’s primary love interest since her debut in Action Comics #1 in 1938. A brilliant investigative reporter, she’s as iconic as Superman himself — tough, smart, and unafraid to chase the biggest stories in Metropolis.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Lois Lane. Diana Prince is Wonder Woman, Lana Lang is Clark’s high school sweetheart from Smallville, and Cat Grant is a gossip columnist at the Daily Planet. Lois Lane is Superman’s iconic partner.
03
Despite being nearly invulnerable under Earth’s yellow sun, Superman has one famous weakness — a radioactive mineral from the remnants of his destroyed homeworld. Exposure to it drains his powers and can even kill him. What is this substance called?
✓ Correct! Kryptonite is the irradiated remnants of planet Krypton. Green Kryptonite is the most common and deadly variety, but there are many other types — Red Kryptonite causes unpredictable behavior, Gold Kryptonite can permanently strip his powers, and Blue Kryptonite affects Bizarro.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Kryptonite. Vibranium is from Marvel’s Black Panther universe, Nth Metal is tied to Hawkman, and Red Sun Ore isn’t a real DC substance. Kryptonite is the iconic green-glowing mineral that is Superman’s ultimate weakness.
04
In 1978, a then-unknown actor donned the cape and made the world believe a man could fly. His portrayal of Superman became the gold standard for superhero films and he starred in four Superman movies. Who is this legendary actor?
✓ Correct! Christopher Reeve’s portrayal in Superman: The Movie (1978) is widely regarded as the definitive live-action Superman. His performance perfectly balanced the heroic confidence of Superman with the endearing clumsiness of Clark Kent, setting the template every Superman actor has followed since.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Christopher Reeve. Henry Cavill played Superman in the DCEU starting with Man of Steel (2013), Brandon Routh starred in Superman Returns (2006), and Tom Welling played young Clark in TV’s Smallville. Reeve was the original big-screen Superman.
05
Superman’s greatest enemy isn’t a superpowered alien — he’s a brilliant, ruthless human billionaire who believes Superman is a threat to humanity’s potential. This bald-headed genius has been Superman’s archenemy for over 80 years. Who is he?
✓ Correct! Lex Luthor is the ultimate foil to Superman — where Superman represents hope and selflessness, Luthor represents ambition and ego. Despite having no superpowers, his genius-level intellect and vast resources make him Superman’s most persistent and dangerous adversary.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Lex Luthor. Brainiac is an alien android who collects cities, Darkseid is the god-like ruler of Apokolips, and Doomsday is the monster who famously killed Superman. But Lex Luthor is the definitive archenemy — Superman’s dark mirror.
06
After crash-landing on Earth as a baby, Kal-El was found and adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent, a kind farming couple. They raised him with strong moral values in a small rural town. Where did Clark Kent grow up?
✓ Correct! Smallville, Kansas is the quintessential American small town where Jonathan and Martha Kent raised Clark with heartland values of honesty, compassion, and humility. It’s the foundation of who Superman is — not the powers from Krypton, but the character instilled by his Kansas parents.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Smallville, Kansas. Gotham is Batman’s city, Metropolis is where Clark moves as an adult to work at the Daily Planet, and Coast City is Green Lantern’s home. Smallville is where the Kents raised Clark on their farm.
07
As Clark Kent, Superman disguises himself as a mild-mannered reporter working at Metropolis’s most famous newspaper, alongside Lois Lane and photographer Jimmy Olsen. Their editor-in-chief Perry White runs the newsroom. What is the name of this newspaper?
✓ Correct! The Daily Planet, with its iconic globe on the rooftop, is one of the most recognizable fictional newspapers in pop culture. Working there gives Clark Kent both a cover identity and a way to stay informed about threats to the city and the world.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is the Daily Planet. The Daily Bugle is Spider-Man’s Marvel universe newspaper, the Metropolis Star and Gotham Gazette are lesser DC publications. The Daily Planet — with its spinning globe — is Superman’s journalistic home.
08
This Kryptonian military commander was banished to the Phantom Zone for treason before Krypton’s destruction. He escaped and came to Earth seeking vengeance, famously demanding that others “Kneel before” him. His iconic portrayal by Terence Stamp cemented him in pop culture. Who is this villain?
✓ Correct! General Zod is one of Superman’s most terrifying foes because he has all of Superman’s powers but none of his morality. Terence Stamp’s portrayal in Superman II (1980) made “Kneel before Zod” one of the most quoted villain lines in film history. Michael Shannon later reimagined the role in Man of Steel (2013).
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is General Zod. Bizarro is a flawed clone of Superman, Parasite drains powers through touch, and Metallo is a cyborg with a Kryptonite heart. General Zod is the Kryptonian military leader whose cry of “Kneel before Zod!” echoes through decades of Superman stories.
Mission Complete Your Kryptonian Record
/ 8
Are you the Man of Steel — or still stuck in a phone booth?
Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)
2023's Shazam! Fury of the Gods was released at one of the worst times for the DCEU franchise (after its death had already been announced). After all, James Gunn and Peter Safran were announced as the new heads of DC Studios, tasked with rebuilding a largely brand-new DC Universe. As such, this left the few DCEU projects that remained in a strange position, with many audiences feeling as though they no longer mattered ahead of their release dates. Such was the case with Fury of the Gods, making just $134.1 million globally on a reported $125 million budget.
Although Fury of the Gods is not as strong as the first Shazam! movie, though it's by no means a terrible film. The Shazam family working together remains fun and heartwarming, and it's certainly one of the more family-friendly DC films as a result. However, the news that the WB was set to move on with a new DCU was always going to make the sequel even more of a hard sell.
Blue Beetle (2023)
Also released in 2023, Blue Beetle similarly had the challenge of the looming DCU on the horizon, releasing just a few months before Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and the DCEU's official end, save for a few select characters and actors from Gunn's The Suicide Squad. However, the advantage Blue Beetle and Xolo Maridueña Jaime Reyes had over Fury of the Gods was James Gunn's teasing that Blue Beetle would technically be the DCU's first hero, promising that the actor and character would also continue into the new universe.
Even so, the movie grossed approximately $130.8 million worldwide against a reported $104 million budget, making it the lowest-grossing DCEU film. After all, the movie was still trying to introduce a brand-new character and lore while facing a sunsetting DCEU.
Regardless, Jaime Reyes is one of the most likable DCEU heroes who absolutely shined in his debut film. Likewise, the movie's focus on Jaime's family as the film's emotional foundation is incredibly well done, even if Susan Sarandon's villain was fairly one-dimensional. All the same, the recent confirmation that Blue Beetle will be featured in 2027's Man of Tomorrow is very exciting to hear, proving that James Gunn is keeping his promise about the young hero.
Supergirl (2026)
Most recently, the DCU's Supergirl had a very difficult time at the box office earlier this year, grossing only $126.4 million globally with a reported $170–186 million budget. Facing a crowded superhero market and a fairly busy blockbuster summer release schedule in general, the film itself does have its fair share of issues with its rough plot and an even worse villain who's way too bland and basic. However, it can be argued that the film's bigger villain was (and still is) toxic, sexist "fans" who created all kinds of controversy ahead of the movie's release.
That being said, the movie is not nearly as bad as some reactions make it out to be, and Milly Alcock's performance as Kara Zor-El is very well done, generating plenty of excitement for Supergirl's DCU future. Her relationship with David Corenswet's Superman was particularly well done. Likewise, the chance to see Jason Momoa leaving the DCEU's Aquaman behind to play Lobo is quite awesome, as the space-hog riding intergalactic bounty hunter is very much the DC character he was born to play.
Supergirl is now streaming on HBO Max from DC Studios.
- Release Date
- June 26, 2026
- Runtime
- 108 minutes
- Director
- Craig Gillespie
- Writers
- Ana Nogueira
- Producers
- James Gunn, Lars P. Winther, Nigel Gostelow, Peter Safran
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