The DC Animated Universe has had a long run as the top dog of DC’s prestigious animation branch, but the advent of the Tomorrowverse offers a promising new take on the heroics of the beloved characters. Debuting with Superman: Man of Tomorrow in 2020, fans have dubbed the new animated universe the Tomorrowverse in honor of this title sometime in between the release of its next two films. Featuring a consistent art style, returning voice actors and a shared continuity, the Tomorrowverse has outdone the DCEU as a valuable franchise within the DC’s cinematic portfolio.
The fresh franchise released its first feature film the same year its predecessor, the DCAMU, released its final film, Justice League Dark: Apokolips War. Since 2020, the Tomorrowverse has steadily put out animated feature films starring the Justice League in both solo adventures and team-up movies, with more to come. In 2024, the franchise will take on the daunting task of depicting DC’s famous Crisis On Infinite Earths storyline, despite the Arrowverse having already done so. Though it had big shoes to fill, the Tomorrowverse has begun to make a name for itself with a string of critical successes.
What Movies Are Included In DC’s Tomorrowverse
The following movies make up the Tomorrowverse. Though DC Showcases Adam Strange and Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth! are not feature-length films, they too inhabit the shared universe.
Superman: Man of Tomorrow
(2020)DC Showcase: Adam Strange
(2020)Justice Society: World War II
(2021)DC Showcase: Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth!
(2021)Batman: The Long Halloween – Part One
(2021)Batman: The Long Halloween – Part Two
(2021)Green Lantern: Beware My Power
(2022)Legion of Super-Heroes
(2023)Justice League: Warworld
(2023)
1 How To Watch DC’s Tomorrowverse Movies In Order
With two short films and seven feature-length movies plus another one on the way, the Tomorrowverse is moving quickly to establish the story of the Justice League. Luckily, DC has made it relatively easy to enjoy the series, the release order matching up nearly identically to the chronological order of events, barring a few small exceptions. Though time travel and flashbacks feature heavily in multiple of the Tomorrowverse’s films, the connecting tissue of each story’s relationship to the previous and following entries are the primary point of focus in determining a watch order.
Superman: Man of Tomorrow(2020)
Kicking off the Tomorrowverse, 2020’s Superman: Man of Tomorrow retells the story of alien refugee Kal-El, and his journey in becoming Clark Kent and Superman. A relatively simple tale that uses Superman as the foundation of a new universe, the film was met with critical acclaim, being a strong start to the new animated franchise. Though Parasite acts as Superman’s primary foe, the movie also sets up Lex Luthor, Lobo, and Martian Manhunter as recurring characters in the Tomorrowverse. The film ends with Martian Manhunter teasing more Kryptonians and Martians yet to come, further opening the door for future stories.
DC Showcase: Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth! (2021)
The first hiccup in the direct relation to release date and chronology, this short film features Kamandi, the last human in a post-apocalyptic world in which ape-like beings have taken over the planet. The character being born from an early DC’s failure at securing the rights to Planet Of The Apes, Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth! represents the Tomorrowverse’s proclivity to shed the spotlight on some of DC’s most obscure characters. Included in the home release of Justice Society: World War II, the two entries are directly linked together, Kamandi somehow appearing in the 40s of Earth-2’s alternate timeline within the Tomorrowverse.
Justice Society: World War II (2021)
Going by title alone, it’s easy to mistake Justice Society: World War II as the first film that takes place chronologically in the Tomorrowverse. However, the story begins in the modern day, introducing The Flash to the Tomorrowverse. The film finds Barry Allen once again hurtling through time into an alternate version of World War II, where he meets the Justice Society of Earth-2. Upon returning to the present, Barry Allen is inspired by the team to pitch the idea of the Justice League to Superman, creating the iconic team in the Tomorrowverse’s main timeline. Kamandi’s appearance in the past also suggests his bleak future is the ultimate fate of Earth-2.
Batman: The Long Halloween – Part One & Part Two(2021)
Released back-to-back, the two parts of this saga were released only one month apart, essentially forming one epic story that introduces Batman and Gotham City to the Tomorrowverse. Adapting the well received comic run of the same name, Batman: The Long Halloween follows The Dark Knight as he tracks down the mysterious murderer Holiday, featuring the first Tomorrowverse appearances of many iconic Batman villains along the way such as The Joker, Scarecrow, and Two-Face. Though only three months pass in between the two parts, it’s possible Batman is inducted into the Justice League during this time, as the second part ends with a visit from The Flash and Green Arrow.
DC Showcase: Adam Strange (2020)
Despite being the second installment set within the Tomorrowverse, this short film was featured alongside the home release of Justice League Dark: Apokolips War, the final film of the previous DC Animated Universe, despite being part of the new continuity. Featuring space faring hero Adam Strange, the short ties into 2022’s Green Lantern: Beware My Power, setting up the First Rannian-Thanagarian War the film mentioned. Adam Strange himself also goes on to make an appearance with Green Lantern, being the same character despite the change of voice actor between entries.
Green Lantern: Beware My Power (2022)
Establishing the Green Lantern corps, the Tomorrowverse opts to go for Jon Stewart as its primary Green Lantern representation. The Justice League being well-established at this point, the first thing Jon Stewart does upon obtaining the ring is meet with Green Arrow and Martian Manhunter in the Watchtower, where he is immediately enlisted. In addition to a thriving Justice League, this film sees the Tomorrowverse’s first inclusion of the Yellow Lantern Corps, Sinestro, and Hal Jordan.
Legion of Super-Heroes(2023)
Legion of Super-Heroes puts Supergirl in the spotlight, struggling with adapting to Earth more than her cousin despite having established herself as a heroine. Flagship Justice League members Superman and Batman both feature heavily in the film, encouraging Zor-El to travel in to the future, where she joins the Legion Academy, a training ground for similar heroic organization, the Legion of Super-Heroes. This installment of the Tomorrowverse features a roster of side characters new and old, and ends with Superman and Batman being thrust into the events of Justice League: Warworld via Zeta-Beam blast.
Justice League: Warworld (2023)
The seventh film of the Tomorrowverse, Justice League: Warworld rewards the establishment of the Justice League in prior titles with a direct assault on all major league members. Despite being the latest film, the plot moves through a wide variety of time periods as the villain Mongul creates via illusion, all the action in reality taking place on the titular Warworld. The climax of the film sees the Justice League meeting with The Harbinger, who ominously alludes to the impending Crisis On Infinite Earths, setting up the next installment of the primary DC Animated Universe.
