10 DC Movies That Are Better The Second Time

As a whole, movies set within the DC Universe don’t always have the benefit of an immediate appeal, but many entries in the superhero franchise’s film catalog benefit greatly from a second viewing. Compared to the likes of the MCU, the DCEU films have somewhat struggled to draw eyes of general audiences, instead relying on a smaller cult fanbase to sustain their box office runs. Being so varied and different from one another, DC movies typically have more to set up, presenting daunting narratives full of twists, turns and volumes of world-building that can present a high barrier to entry for the average viewer to overcome before getting too invested.

Second viewings can be incredibly kind to DC movies. When the task of indoctrinating the viewer into the world has already been accomplished, it’s easier to sit back and appreciate the films for what they are. Other times, shocking twists in DC’s movies can recontextualize entire acts, providing a new layer of enjoyment only possible to admire with one viewing already under one’s belt. Whatever the case, there are plenty of superhero movies under DC’s banner, be they part of the DCEU or standalone entries, that increase in quality exponentially the second time around.

10 Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

1993

With the animated series that spawned the film featuring what is widely considered to be the definitive version of Batman in media, it’s no wonder that Batman: Mask of the Phantasm ranks among some of DC’s strongest movie contenders. As the entire premise of the film centers around the true identity of the Phantasm herself, taking a second look at the film through the lens of the truth unearths some delicious irony. Seeing Andrea’s early interactions with Bruce Wayne as a romantic interest and her deduction of Batman’s true identity provides an entirely new viewing experience upon re-watching with the knowledge of her identity as the Phantasm.

9 Shazam!

2019

Shazam! did its titular character justice as a fun, if not groundbreaking action-adventure flick. But re-examining the behavior of Billy Batson after a powerful revelation towards the end of the film layers the performance with a poignant sense of sadness. For much of the movie, the absence of Batson’s parents in his own life remain unexplained as he struggles to allow himself to become attached to his foster family. His callousness is put into context after it’s revealed that Batson isn’t an orphan, but was abandoned by his birth mother, casting a shadow of abandonment issues over his interactions with his found family that can only be appreciated with a second watch.

8 The Dark Knight Rises

2012

Often considered the weakest link in Nolan’s iconic Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises provides some excellent hindsight when it pulls the rug out from under its viewers. Knowing Miranda’s true identity as Talia al Ghul is almost enough to warrant a re-watch on its own, but the final film of the Nolanverse actually directly warns the audience of a different twist regarding Talia. Though the identity of the child that crawls out of the pit featured in the story woven through the film is assumed to be Bane, The Dark Knight Rises gives away Talia as the true subject of the story far earlier than is directly stated, warranting another viewing.

7 The Batman

2022

The latest incarnation of the Caped Crusader to hit the screens, The Batman captured audiences with its moody, grimy Gotham and Robert Pattinson’s efforts as a younger, less-experienced Batman. Taking in the beautiful cinematography again isn’t the only reason to give the film a second take, as the twist that Paul Dano’s Riddler had been viewing Batman as an ally the entire time warrants a thorough re-examination. Viewing Batman and the Riddler’s interactions with this knowledge on-hand deepens the already stellar performances, explaining the Riddler’s giddiness to be “working with” The Dark Knight.

6 Wonder Woman

2017

Already considered one of the best films to come out of the DCEU, Wonder Woman somehow gets even better with a second screening. The bombastic period-piece features not one, but two jaw-dropping twists towards the film’s climax — the revelation that Sir Patrick, not Ludendorff, is the true avatar of Ares, and that Diana herself is the fabled God-Killer. These two reveals make the film a whole new experience on an additional watch, with Ares’ true heights of deception and the irony of Diana’s quest painting the plot in a whole new light.

5 Watchmen

2009

Though not technically taking place in the typical DC universe, it’s easy to forget that Zack Snyder’s Watchmen still falls under the DC umbrella, the comic of the same name proudly bearing the brand’s seal of approval. Few twists recontextualize the entire plot of the film quite like Ozymandias’ grand reveal that he had already put his plan into motion, as his intricate plan implicated him in nearly every major beat of the movie’s story. Matthew Goode’s career-defining performance as Adrian Veidt betrays this reality, taking into consideration Ozymandias’ actions with minute micro expressions only possible to interpret with a re-watch.

4 Batman

1989

The film that arguably grandfathered the modern concept of Batman, Tim Burton’s Gothic superhero epic is no longer most people’s definitive version of the character. Yet even almost 25 years later, Batman can still provide an engaging touchstone for fans of the Caped Crusader to return to. The reveal of Jack Nicholson’s Joker being the culprit behind the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne, while heavily criticized by Batman fans at the time, has gone on to create a whole new experience upon viewing the film a second time. Every interaction the two famous archenemies have is colored by this knowledge, betraying a whole new dynamic to their antagonism running under the surface.

3 Birds Of Prey

2020

It’s theatrical release suffering from the effects of the pandemic, Birds of Prey flew under the radar as one of the DCEU’s most rewatchable films. The film’s worst problems were always matters of expectation, with die-hard DC fans bemoaning the hyper-focus on Harley Quinn and the complete reinterpretation of Cassandra Cain’s character. But once these hang-ups are flushed from the system with a first watch, taking Birds of Prey at face value lets the film find its success as a fun, action-driven superheroine story with striking fight scenes and an offbeat sense of humor that maintains the momentum.

2 Justice League: Warworld

2023

A standout entry in the somewhat untested DC animated Tomorrowverse, Justice League: Warworld can be confusing on a first watch, presenting what seems to be an anthology film made up of various period pieces featuring DC heroes gallivanting through the Wild West, 1950s America, and a medieval fantasy world. The reveal that each of these stories are merely hallucinations spun for the members of the Justice League trapped in the present-day by the insidious Warworld provides a fair amount of whiplash on a first viewing. But giving Justice League: Warworld another go-around makes it easier to appreciate these vignettes for the illusions they are, showing off the League’s strength of character no matter their situation.

1 Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice (Ultimate Edition)

2016

In many ways, the Ultimate Edition of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice can be considered a re-watch in and of itself, improving the edit of the original with 30 additional minutes of footage much in the same way that Zack Snyder’s second cut of Justice League did. Regardless, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is so packed with hidden references and symbolism that’s easy to miss at first glance that Snyder himself issued a challenge for fans to present their findings in 2018, the winning submissions providing a whole new frame of reference for the misunderstood DC Universe team-up movie, secretly laden with rich allegory and visual character development.