Is The DC Extended Universe REALLY As Bad As The Last Couple Of Years Suggest?

Is The DC Extended Universe REALLY As Bad As The Last Couple Of Years Suggest?

Thanks to the likes of Black Adam and The Flash, the DCEU is being written off as a huge failure. Is that fair, though, and was this shared world really as bad as the past few years have led us to believe?

Editorial Opinion
By JoshWilding - Aug 24, 2023 10:08 AM EST
Filed Under: DC Studios

Earlier this year, Warner Bros. launched DC Studios and announced a new slate of movies and TV shows all set in the "DCU." Once Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom arrives in theaters in December, the DCEU (which was never an official moniker; just one fans co-opted after it was used jokingly in an EW article) will reach its end. Confusingly, some actors will stick around, but that's not something we're getting into here. 

It's been a rough couple of years for the franchise, though its films largely received a mixed to negative response from critics since day one. In fact, these DCEU titles have often divided fans as well, creating a fanbase it's become increasingly difficult to please. 

We didn't know it at the time, but the DCEU kicked off with 2013's Man of Steel. Back then, there were rumblings Superman's origin story took place in the same world as The Dark Knight Trilogy, and there were those who even expected Ryan Reynolds' Green Lantern to show up. Instead, Batman v Superman followed, though the addition of "Dawn of Justice" to the title saw the movie used as a means of attempting to replicate the success of the MCU in a single 150-minute blockbuster. 

Task Force X got its own big screen outing for some reason with Suicide Squad and it took no time at all for a Wonder Woman origin story and Justice League to follow. It was around this time Snyder's vision for the DCEU started clashing with Warner Bros., news no one was shocked by after movies that were box office hits on paper were deemed a failure due to massive, out-of-control budgets. The studio chose to change course, enlisting Joss Whedon to reshape Justice League and inadvertently creating an often toxic movement in #ReleaseTheSnyderCut (though we'd be remiss not to mention the good many of its less fanatical followers did for charity). 

Since then, the DCEU has struggled to figure out what it wants to be, attempting to replicate Marvel Studios' approach in colourful, goofy outings like Aquaman, Shazam!, and Wonder Woman 1984

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) was hated by many fans but also a critical hit that...bombed. The DCEU seemingly couldn't do right for doing wrong, with the Wonder Woman sequel going from "Certified Fresh" to Rotten across the course of a few days.

The release of Zack Snyder's Justice League was meant to finally silence the most vocal DCEU/Snyder fans but the filmmaker sneakily adding scenes setting up his sequels only helped give birth to the newly named #RestoreTheSnyderVerse movement. Meanwhile, James Gunn lent his talents to the franchise with his R-Rated The Suicide Squad, a second crack at Task Force X which, while a critical hit, struggled to draw an audience (much of the blame for that should be laid at the feet of the pandemic and HBO Max). Since then, it's all been downhill courtesy of Black Adam, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, and The Flash. Blue Beetle opened to positive reviews but, the brand is so damaged, it too is shaping up to be a flop. 

It's been a crazy decade and one which has now seen the vast majority write the DCEU off as a colossal failure. Now, the narrative online is the sooner it ends and the DCU begins, the better. So, was the DCEU really that much of a disaster? 

In many respects, yes. The DCEU has not only damaged these characters but DC and even the genre as a whole. Marvel Studios has struggled to remain consistent in the Multiverse Saga, but the brand remains one largely associated with quality. DC, on the other hand, is essentially a warning label that the film you're about to watch is almost certainly going to be mediocre...unless it's an Elseworlds project like The Batman or Joker. Critically, many of the DCEU movies have bombed and, for the most part, they've disappointed financially too. 

On the other hand, there's a lot in the DCEU we've enjoyed. Many of the casting decisions have been superb, while at least a few of the movies produced since 2013 have been a good example of how great this genre is when everything comes together the right way. Unfortunately, the franchise's legacy is one of failures and memorable moments as opposed to true classics. Who should we blame? Many of you will be tempted to blame Zack Snyder, but it's not him. The filmmaker made some divisive creative decisions, sure, but his films were largely better than the forgettable fluff that followed and the DCEU may well have succeeded had Warner Bros. told his story instead of panicking and trying to copy Marvel. 

There's hope on the horizon. With a division fully devoted to making the franchise work - DC Studios - finally a reality, all eyes are on the DCU to turn this shared world's fortunes around. There's a very good chance Warner Bros. will once again drop the ball, but we can now only hope that, once the strike ends, the genre can bounce back and leave us with two comic book franchises - Marvel and DC - it's worth getting excited about.

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AmazingFILMporg
AmazingFILMporg - 8/24/2023, 10:17 AM
Yes.💁
mountainman
mountainman - 8/24/2023, 10:21 AM
Yeah it was bad.

Even though there were some glimmers of hope here and there, having such a shoddy track record turns off the audience.
TheClungerine
TheClungerine - 8/24/2023, 10:22 AM
It's not, there I said it.

Some flops yes, but some of these flops were just as good as certain MCU movies.
Razorface1
Razorface1 - 8/24/2023, 2:23 PM
@TheClunges - difference is the MCU has some good movies.
TheClungerine
TheClungerine - 8/24/2023, 2:42 PM
@Razorface1 - you forgot to write 'IMO' 😌
JonC
JonC - 8/24/2023, 4:48 PM
@TheClunges - in the world's opinion actually as based on box office and fan enthusiasm.
Razorface1
Razorface1 - 8/24/2023, 7:21 PM
@TheClunges - No I didn't.
TheClungerine
TheClungerine - 8/25/2023, 2:52 AM
@Razorface1 - you did 😌
TheClungerine
TheClungerine - 8/25/2023, 2:55 AM
@JonC - wonder woman made over 800 mill, and is rated higher than most MCU movies. Aquaman made over a billion, shazam, TSS & BOP have decent reviews so yeah you're both wrong to suggest none of the DCEU movies were considered to be good (opinion or box office wise) 😌
MrDandy
MrDandy - 8/24/2023, 10:25 AM
The DCEU has some diamonds in the rough but it was sort of a big misfire from the very start. From Man of Steel misunderstanding Superman and trying to make him The Dark Knight. To BvS being a complete disaster. To Justice League being an ungodly Frankenstein monster.

WB throughout the development of this universe had the amazing ability to perpetually shoot itself in the foot, often negating it’s own (rare) victories.
Steel86
Steel86 - 8/24/2023, 10:25 AM
I call the DCEU 50/50 movies. There is alot good in then thats why there are so many Synderverse fans but also soo much bad. MOS is the shinning light of this.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 8/24/2023, 10:27 AM
Yes. The constant changes of direction. All the BTS drama. Numerous green lit projects that never see the light of day. Several miscasts. Inconsistent quality in movies, with most being mediocre. Most notably, the spark that lit the fuse was Warner Bros wanting a justice league movie asap and obsessing over catching up with the MCU, instead of taking their time to setup.
DrReedRichards
DrReedRichards - 8/24/2023, 10:27 AM
No.

It's even worse.
DrReedRichards
DrReedRichards - 8/24/2023, 10:31 AM
In case anyone thinks I'm being hyperbolic, let me elaborate.

The DCEU only received what little praise it did thanks to contrarians who (still) demand a pedestal merely for existing. Plenty of folks, cultists and casuals alike, fell into the trap of thinking that just because that excuse of a franchise was the only CBM opposition to the MCU, that meant that it had to be by definition its equal as an alternative.

It's an insult.
Ryguy88
Ryguy88 - 8/24/2023, 10:51 AM
@DrReedRichards - sure, the reason some people liked some of these movies is because they are cultists. Is it always a conspiracy with you?
DrReedRichards
DrReedRichards - 8/24/2023, 10:55 AM
@Ryguy88 -

Hardly a conspiracy. Just fanaticised contrarianism.
MotherGooseUPus
MotherGooseUPus - 8/24/2023, 12:07 PM
@DrReedRichards - i'm not a cultist, that i know of, and i would say i enjoy a few of the DCEU movies... with that said i full shit on WB/DC when they deserve it.. and same with the MCU. I like what i like and hate what i hate
IMCOOLURNOT
IMCOOLURNOT - 8/24/2023, 12:50 PM
@DrReedRichards -
contrarianism?

DrReedRichards
DrReedRichards - 8/24/2023, 12:52 PM
@MotherGooseUPus -

Are you guys seriously now pretending not to understand which specific group I'm targeting by "cultists"?

Liking BvS for whatever event on screen is one thing. Pretending that it (with its sequel) is the second coming of Christ that all peasant's should how before is another.

I thought I was transparent enough the first time.
DrReedRichards
DrReedRichards - 8/24/2023, 1:03 PM
@IMCOOLURNOT -

IMCOOLURNOT
IMCOOLURNOT - 8/24/2023, 1:09 PM
@DrReedRichards - Oh I looked it up. 😂. I have to say that one was new for me.
MotherGooseUPus
MotherGooseUPus - 8/24/2023, 1:14 PM
@DrReedRichards - Lol. im just busting your balls. i know EXACTLY who you are referring to when you said that. right now im just picturing you like this, not trying to explode...

DrReedRichards
DrReedRichards - 8/24/2023, 1:18 PM
@MotherGooseUPus -

Lol, got that right. Though I may or may not be closer to erupting than what I'd like to admit, depending on whether certain folks decide to make their presence known again...
Ryguy88
Ryguy88 - 8/24/2023, 2:58 PM
@DrReedRichards - you're claiming the reasons people like some DCEU movies are not the reasons that they claim. If it's more than just a conspiracy theory, wheres your proof?

Or...ORRRRR...maybe some people just like different movies than you.
DrReedRichards
DrReedRichards - 8/24/2023, 3:07 PM
@Ryguy88 -

Point exctly to where I said (or even implied) that the reasons people like the DCEU are different than the ones they claim.
Colton
Colton - 8/24/2023, 4:39 PM
@DrReedRichards - That's complete nonsense. I like both Marvel and Dc and some of my favourite cbms are DC. Stop generalising and let other ppl have something they like. You are the epitome of the condescending Marvel fan. Not that all Marvel fans are condescending, not in the slightest. But you are just as bad as the dc "cultists" you so often harp on about.
DrReedRichards
DrReedRichards - 8/24/2023, 5:02 PM
@Colton -

I make it my point to never generalize in any of my comments. That is why I specified earlier with "cultists and casuals", clearly referring to them as different groups.

Just as you made it your point to misinterpret my very clear, very elaborate comment; deliberately or otherwise.
Colton
Colton - 8/24/2023, 5:09 PM
@DrReedRichards - The DCEU only received what little praise it did thanks to contrarians.

Bullshit. You know what your were saying. Your comment I'd full of shite no matter how you dress it up. Back pedal more like a good man.
DrReedRichards
DrReedRichards - 8/24/2023, 5:14 PM
@Colton -

Do you know the difference between praise and appeal?

How about the difference between quality and preference?

I do know what I'm saying. Do you?
Ryguy88
Ryguy88 - 8/24/2023, 6:50 PM
@DrReedRichards -  "The DCEU only received what little praise it did thanks to contrarians who (still) demand a pedestal merely for existing."

You are saying all praise came from a source other than genuine enjoyment.

This is why you are dishonest and completely full of shit.

If you would like to elaborate or clarify anything, go right ahead.
DrReedRichards
DrReedRichards - 8/24/2023, 7:10 PM
@Ryguy88 -

Like I already said: "Do you know the difference between praise and appeal?"

Those who just liked these movies, who just enjoyed them, who happened to find them appealing, were clearly neither the ones I was referring to as "contrarians", nor obsessed enough to exaggerate their enjoyment into full-on praise and overhype.

For someone who's usually a stickler when it comes to other people's semantics, you seem to have conveniently overlooked it this time.

TLDR: I've nothing against casuals. You cultists, on the other hand, are more than welcome to cry harder.
FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 8/24/2023, 8:30 PM
@Ryguy88 - You can like one movie or another from the DCEU and still recognise as a whole that cinematic universe is an unmitigated failure. The only one’s who’d argue otherwise, that would try paint that universe as some sort of success, are a certain group of contrarians that just wanted to try stick to the MCU, as @DrReedRichards said. You knew this, c’mon.
Ryguy88
Ryguy88 - 8/25/2023, 7:36 AM
@PlusUltra - that's not what he said and what you laid out is pretty much where I sit with the DCEU. I'd also wager that youd be hard pressed to find a real person who thinks that universe was a legit success.
Ryguy88
Ryguy88 - 8/25/2023, 7:38 AM
@DrReedRichards - you arent standing behind your statement because you know its ridiculous. People tend to praise things that appeal to them. You're grasping at straws to make yourself look less like an irrational fan. And if I'm a "cultists" please define it for me and show me where I fit that label.
DrReedRichards
DrReedRichards - 8/25/2023, 7:41 AM
@Ryguy88 -

Easy. Show me where you presented any kind of similar behaviour to the one you do here, only in Defence of the MCU instead.

Or you can show me what I asked yoh to do earlier, when you accused me of calling DCEU supporters dishonest.
Ryguy88
Ryguy88 - 8/25/2023, 10:16 AM
@DrReedRichards - lol well that's rather lazy of you - You want me to prove to you that I am what your accusing me of?

And I've already picked apart your posts in this thread, I dont need to do it again.
DrReedRichards
DrReedRichards - 8/25/2023, 10:21 AM
@Ryguy88 -

You've already tried to, as you tend to do. And what you're being asked to is prove that you're not what I'm accusing you of, not what you are.

Let's add this to your list of deliberate misinterpretations.
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