James Gunn and Peter Safran have been overseeing DC Studios since the start of 2023, and the DCU has taken shape with a mixture of movies and TV shows. However, critical acclaim doesn't always translate to audience approval, and some projects have proven more divisive than others.
Not everyone is a fan, but Rotten Tomatoes is still an important tool in helping many moviegoers decide whether to check out the latest releases in theaters. Over the past few years, it's become equally as important for TV shows, especially when streaming has led to countless platforms vying for subscribers.
With the review aggregator's scores offering an interesting snapshot of how critics and audiences have responded, we're ranking every DC Studios movie and TV show released so far. From disappointing adaptations to unexpected hits, here's how the current slate stacks up...
6. Supergirl
Tomatometer: 52%
Popcornmeter: 72%
Critics Consensus: Millie Alcock brings a swagger to Kara Zor-El that’d make Krypton proud in this otherwise familiar origin story, dawning a promising new hero in the DCU who’s still waiting for an adventure that matches her vigor.
An abysmal adaptation of the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic book, Supergirl's only highlight was Millie Alcock. Jason Momoa's Lobo felt like a parody and wasn't the easy win that DC Studios likely expected when he agreed to swap Aquaman's trunks for The Main Man's Spacehog.
This was the chance to follow Superman with a gorgeous space epic; instead, it was a bland Guardians of the Galaxy movie that failed to do right by its lead. It also raised questions about Gunn's promise that only the best possible scripts are greenlit by DC Studios.
5. Clayface
Tomatometer: 77%
Popcornmeter: 94%
Critics Consensus: Carving out a unique identity for itself in the DCU while closely resembling a litany of body horror classics, Clayface takes time to get going until it eventually morphs into an icky and satisfying revenge thriller.
The majority of audiences have rated Clayface highly with an A- CinemaScore and 94% on Rotten Tomatoes' Popcornmeter. For B-movie horror fans, DC Studios' R-rated body horror hit all the right notes, even if it felt far removed from the DCU.
Unfortunately, for this writer, Clayface didn't work. The gore was too timid (this was no Evil Dead), and the comic book connections were almost nonexistent. As a result, it felt like a superfluous, wholly average addition to a slate that needs to do better.
4. Superman
Tomatometer: 83%
Popcornmeter: 90%
Critics Consensus: Pulling off the heroic feat of fleshing out a dynamic new world while putting its champion’s big, beating heart front and center, this Superman flies high as a Man of Tomorrow grounded in the here and now.
The first DCU movie—well, that title may belong to The Suicide Squad now—helped establish the franchise and successfully moved it away from the murky DCEU. David Corenswet was superb, as were Nicholas Hoult and Rachel Brosnahan.
Superman featured a few too many characters and would have benefitted from leaving the Justice Gang to another movie or TV series. Overall, though, it was a positive start for the DCU that has left us feeling especially excited for next summer's Man of Tomorrow.
3. Lanterns
Tomatometer: 92%
Popcornmeter: 67%
Critics Consensus: Lanterns lights the way to a controlled and fantastical escape, in which Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre bring audiences into their world of wonder through fearless performances, grounded writing, and charismatic chemistry.
Lanterns was another win in terms of the critical response, but the audience score says it all. A decent number of fans didn't appreciate DC Studios' grounded approach to the Green Lantern Corps, or a very heavy-handed approach to exploring John Stewart's race.
Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre were spectacular. Lanterns take on Hal Jordan—a washed-up racist—and John—a T-800-like character with little personality—was not. As for the finale, it surely ranks among the most disappointing in recent memory.
2. Creature Commandos
Tomatometer: 93%
Popcornmeter: 79%
Critics Consensus: Bearing writer James Gunn’s trademark penchant for kooky humor and lovable characters, Creature Commandos marks an auspicious debut for the DCU.
The animated Creature Commandos was a bonkers delight, with a fun premise, some great new characters, and an intriguing glimpse at a future with Circe and Gorilla Grodd conquering the Earth. The series also featured a banging soundtrack.
Unfortunately, the series was very niche and didn't really find an audience beyond existing DC fans. Season 2 is in the works, but beyond Rick Flag Sr., none of these characters has made much of an impact beyond animation, which is a shame.
1. Peacemaker Season 2
Tomatometer: 94%
Popcornmeter: 79%
Critics Consensus: Peacemaker‘s second season goes multidimensional while still maintaining a singular focus on emotional stakes, seamlessly transporting this outrageous antihero into a fresh cinematic universe.
This was a major let-down after Peacemaker Season 1. The exploration of Earth-X was very surface-level, and rather than taking the chance to expand the DCU in a meaningful way, it instead delivered a finale that allowed James Gunn to rock out to his favourite band.
Ultimately, Season 2 feels like a vanity project that Gunn's newfound co-CEO position allowed him to make. Still, the reviews were glowing, and Salvation was an intriguing concept to introduce us to...only time will tell how impactful the show is for the wider franchise.