DC Comics has created some iconic villains throughout the years, with a handful getting the chance to headline their own live-action DC movies, but they are not of equal quality. While Superman and Batman have dominated leading DC’s live-action movie output, their popularity eventually gave way to Hollywood testing audiences’ interest in DC’s biggest villains.
The experiment began with 2004’s Catwoman, starring Halle Berry as a revamped version of Batman’s foe and lover. The poor performance scared Hollywood off of giving other DC villains standalone movies for years. It wasn’t until Warner Bros. charted a course for the DC Extended Universe that more came, with Suicide Squad becoming the first of four antagonist-driven blockbusters in that continuity.
At the same time, DC Films ventured into new territory by making two Joker movies starring Joaquin Phoenix that existed in a completely new and separate universe. James Gunn and Peter Safran taking over DC Studios has led to a new wave of villain-led productions, starting with Clayface, while a Bane and Deathstroke film known as Savage Hunters is among DC’s upcoming movies.
All in all, there have been eight live-action DC villain movies released following Clayface‘s debut. Some are excellent adaptations of the comic characters, whether they are faithful to the source material or chart their own course. Others are riddled with issues, from misunderstandings of the lead characters to major production issues. Here’s our ranking of every DC villain movie.
8
Catwoman
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As alluded to earlier, Catwoman came out in 2004 and proved to be so bad that it single-handedly forced WB and DC to avoid similar villain-led films. The movie takes the vague idea of Catwoman and reinvents the character to be unlike any comic interpretation to horrible results.
Catwoman forgoes Selina Kyle, the criminal best known for being the cat-themed burglar, to introduce Patience Phillips, a cosmetics company employee who is murdered and revived by an Egyptian cat god, granting her superhuman, cat-like abilities. Bold new interpretations of comic characters can work, as DC proved later on, but not in this case.
Berry attempts to save the film with her commitment to the role (and the suit), but she can’t make up for the weak story, poor action, and overall silly approach.
7
Suicide Squad
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2016’s Suicide Squad is perhaps best described as a complicated mess. The movie featuring a wide array of DC villains was significantly altered in post-production from what director David Ayer envisioned, removing darker elements in favor of excessive needle drops and more action. The result leaves Suicide Squad feeling like two different movies forced to be one, with neither fully working.
There are certainly some bright spots in Suicide Squad, such as Will Smith’s Deadshot or Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn. However, Enchantress proves to be a weak villain, and the idea that any character could die at any moment isn’t realized. Jared Leto’s Joker is unique, that’s not up for debate, but his screen time is too limited to let the particular choices work.
Perhaps if WB ever released the Ayer Cut of Suicide Squad, it would rank higher. But the competing visions and it being toned down to PG-13 leave it lacking, with the ensemble roster not allowed to live up to its potential.
6
Black Adam
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Dwayne Johnson wanted the hierarchy of DC to change with Black Adam, but the solo film for Shazam’s villain proved to be one of the final nails in the coffin of the DCEU. The movie goes big on action, providing entertainment value in that regard. Johnson nails the anti-hero’s darker persona and sells Black Adam as a nearly unstoppable force.
Black Adam introduces the Justice Society of America so they could be a new team for the future but forgets to make each member memorable; Aldis Hodge’s Hawkman and Pierce Brosnan’s Dr. Fate are the biggest standouts. The villain, however, is incredibly underbaked.
Black Adam has aged poorly thanks to its forced connections to the wider DCEU that ultimately went nowhere, with the Superman fight tease the ultimate example of making promises a franchise can’t keep. It has some solid spectacle, but not enough around it to rank higher.
5
Clayface
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DC gave another Batman villain a starring role for 2026’s Clayface. Matt Hagen enters the DCU as a thriving actor who becomes a monster and a killer in an effort to regain his movie star looks and get revenge on those who wronged him. The final product proves to be mostly riveting and intense.
A major key to Clayface working is Tom Rhys Harries’ lead performance. He immediately makes Hagen a believable, charismatic star, while his descent into vengeance brings out a more tortured, darker side. It helps that he and Naomi Ackie have great chemistry to sell Clayface‘s romance.
The movie does start slowly and holds back on its body horror elements until later than expected, with Clayface’s true form really testing audiences’ patience, but Clayface is still a rather successful examination of an underrated Batman villain.
4
Joker: Folie À Deux
There’s no DC villain movie quite as divisive and controversial as Joker: Folie à Deux. Todd Phillips’ and Phoenix’s sequel advances Arthur Fleck’s story in unexpected ways, including making it a musical and an opportunity to explore what it looks like to be obsessed with a killer clown, as well as expected ways, like adding Lady Gaga as Harleen “Lee” Quinzel.
For those reasons, Joker 2 proved not to be for everyone, but that really speaks to how well it works. Phillips’ film is made to get a strong reaction from audiences, one of either rejecting Arthur’s story in the same way he’s rejected his clown persona or fully accepting the self-awareness and the lead’s evolving perspective. Through it all, Phoenix delivers an exceptional performance, as does Gaga.
Don’t get it twisted, Joker 2 still has its flaws, such as not fully committing to its musical approach or underutilizing Lee, but it is better than its reputation suggests and several other DC villain movies. It’s certainly the most ambitious of the bunch.
3
Birds Of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn)
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After breaking out in Suicide Squad, Robbie’s Harley Quinn got the leading role she deserved in Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). The 2020 DC movie focused on the popular antihero by pairing her with traditional DC heroes like Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell).
Birds of Prey is filled with style as director Cathy Yan makes a movie that truly feels as energetic and chaotic as its lead. Robbie is as good as ever in the role, while the cast around her made strong cases to be recurring presences in the franchise. The action is quite strong, as is the interplay between the female cast.
The most disappointing aspect of Birds of Prey is that it went nowhere after bombing at the box office right before the pandemic. Confusing, overly wordy title aside, this is one of DC’s best movies in recent years and a stark reminder of how pitch-perfect Robbie’s Harley Quinn is.
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While not quite as divisive as its sequel, 2019’s Joker was viewed as a downright dangerous movie for a major studio to release given the potential that it could incite and glorify violence. What it proved to be was a daring character study centered on a mentally ill individual and their response to a world that continues to reject them.
The new take on Joker only worked as well as it did because of Phoenix. He transformed every part of himself to embody the character, making a portrayal that felt right but also completely distinct from every other Joker actor. It’s hardly a surprise that Phoenix won an Oscar for his performance.
Joker smartly never attempts to make viewers fully sympathize with Arthur, even as it explores his origin and mind. With excellent cinematography, a memorable score, and more technically impressive qualities, it blows away most other DC movies.
1
The Suicide Squad
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Gunn brought a whole new approach to the Suicide Squad team in 2021 for The Suicide Squad, which stands as DC’s best live-action villain movie. Featuring only a few returning villains, like Harley Quinn, the movie turns the rest of its focus to D-list antagonists like Bloodsport, Peacemaker, Ratcatcher, and Polka Dot Man.
Gunn does what he does best with superhero movies, creating compelling characters, a great team dynamic, terrific action, and finding the right line between heart and humor. The Suicide Squad is also his chance to fully unleash his R-rated sensibilities, letting the violence, deaths, and adult-oriented jokes fly like never before.
The result is a lethal, fun, and deeply comic book-rooted action movie. The Suicide Squad is not afraid of the ridiculous, embracing a giant star-shaped alien, a talking shark, and more. It’s a high that DC will have a tough time topping with any future villain-led movies.
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