Now’s A Great Time To Revisit DC’s Underrated Multiverse Movie 11 Years After It Released

DC made a movie centered around the multiverse concept 11 years ago and there is no better time to revisit it ahead of the DCU‘s launch. Between the MCU and the DCEU, the multiverse has taken center stage in modern superhero movies, and for good reason. Not only is the concept of multiple universes existing in tandem very on-brand for fictional worlds in which chemical-based accidents awaken time-control powers, but it is also the ideal MacGuffin to explain multiple plot holes while opening up countless opportunities to explore compelling narratives.

The DCEU briefly explored the implications of a multiverse in 2023’s The Flash, where it touched on one of the eponymous hero’s most compelling runs from DC Comics: “Flashpoint.” The shared story revolves around Flash’s ability to break the time barrier and subsequently alter the course of history, with the butterfly effect giving way to abject disaster. However, this isn’t the first time that the DCEU has adapted the comic book run. Its 2013 movie, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, is the first cinematic adaptation – and it is one of DC’s most underrated adaptations.

The Flashpoint Paradox Remains One Of The Best Multiverse Superhero Movies

For the most part, many of the same heroes who appear in The Flash appear in The Flashpoint Paradox. Alternate versions of Batman play central roles, while Dark Flash and Professor Zoom play the part of pivotal antagonists. Yet The Flashpoint Paradox delves into the “what if?” question with far more relish than its live-action counterpart by depicting Wonder Woman and Aquaman as warmongering villains whose conflict leads to the end of the world. Meanwhile, Thomas Wayne is the new timestream’s Batman, who has been spurred to dole out lethal justice in the wake of his son’s death.

The Flashpoint Paradox‘s ability to tell a story that could never be explored in the main DC continuity is what makes it so compelling. In doing so, it capitalizes on the implications of Flash’s time travel abilities. Among the most memorable of these implications was the emotional story beat that saw Flash connect Bruce with his father by way of a note from another timeline, something that only time travel could facilitate.

The Flash, by comparison, used the opportunity to leverage cameos aplenty, something which the DCU’s new Co-CEO, James Gunn, has expressed a distaste for. While Michael Keaton’s Batman is a highlight of the movie, confining Wonder Woman and Aquaman’s involvement to bit-parts while shoehorning in bewildering cameos like Nicholas Cage’s Superman helped compound the idea that The Flash was one big missed opportunity. This was especially notable in The Flash‘s conclusion.

The Flashpoint Paradox Accomplishes What The DCEU Reboot Failed To Do

The Flashpoint Paradox was the movie that launched the DC Animated Movie Universe with a short post-credits scene. After encountering his past self in the midst of creating a disastrous new timeline, Barry once again creates another new timeline that launches the shared universe of the DCAMU. The movie is a bridge between the preceding series of movies under the DC Universe Animated Original Movie banner and the new animated continuity.

The promise of the DCU reboot overshadowed The Flash‘s release, with somewhat frantic rewrites designed to cater to the new development failing to capture a golden opportunity. The Flash also ended within a not-so-familiar timeline exemplified by the arrival of George Clooney’s Bruce Wayne, which could have helped launch the DCU’s new continuity. Instead, however, the conclusion was met with confusion surrounding its future canonicity within the DCU.

Why The Flashpoint Paradox Is So Underappreciated

The Flashpoint Paradox is one of DC’s most critically acclaimed releases, sitting at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes since its release in 2013. Despite this, the movie is rarely considered when discussing DC’s cinematic legacy. This is because non-theatrical animated movies don’t tend to have the same cultural impact as their live-action counterparts. There are, of course, outliers, but animated movies like Flashpoint Paradox rarely make waves outside of animation fans.

It also doesn’t help that the movie was a straight-to-video release. Theatrical releases and the marketing drives that come with them are bound to make a greater mark on the zeitgeist than animations. This is despite The Flashpoint Paradox starring Hollywood A-listers like Michael B. Jordan and Ron Perlman, who play Cyborg and Deathstroke, respectively. Furthermore, as the DCU approaches, the same apathy felt towards The Flash in an age of shared cinematic universes will no doubt be felt towards DC Animations that have no bearing on the wider narrative of the main cinematic franchise.