DC Comics are responsible for some of the most iconic stories in modern popular culture, and have been shaping the portrayal of superheroes ever since Superman first made his debut in the 1930s. Although it was the Marvel Cinematic Universe that first proved that a multimedia crossover franchise could exist, DC was the first to bring a superhero to the big screen, as Richard Donner’s 1978 classic Superman: The Movie convinced the world a man could fly, and undoubtedly set up precedents for the genre. Although the history of DC comic book adaptations is wild and unpredictable, many stories have been adapted into iconic films that have established themselves as classics for both hardcore fans of the source material and those that just want to see a good story.
The unpredictability of DC comic book films is part of the reason that the adaptations are so exciting, as there’s never any doubt that there will be something to talk about. While some DC adaptations like Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, Steel, Green Lantern, and Catwoman were complete disasters that tarnished the brand as a whole, there’s also been some truly excellent films that became both box office smash hits and legitimate award season contenders. The future of DC seems promising, as James Gunn has established an exciting new universe after Superman debuted to strong reviews and positive word-of-mouth over the summer. That being said, it will certainly be a challenge for Gunn to top some of the great achievements that have already been made, as some DC films have stood the test of time as action classics. Here are six DC Comics films that are perfect action movies.
6
‘Batman Returns’ (1992)
Batman Returns was a wild gamble on the part of director Tim Burton, who had such seismic success with the release of 1989’s Batman that he was essentially given a blank check to do whatever he wanted with the highly anticipated sequel. No one could have expected Burton to make a dark, sexy noir thriller about three broken characters who use their double identities to mask the loneliness and trauma that have defined their lives. Although Michael Keaton returned to give an even more intimate, complex performance as Bruce Wayne, the scene stealers of Batman Returns were undeniably Michelle Pfeiffer’s instantly iconic portrayal of Selina Kyle and Danny DeVito’s terrifying turn as Oswald Cobblepot.
In addition to being a surprisingly great Christmas movie, Batman Returns is often not appreciated enough for its merits as an action film, as Burton is much better at creating intense fight choreography than he is given credit for. Although the slick, ominous version of Gotham City that he created would go on to be a major influence on Batman: The Animated Series, Batman Returns is not afraid to pull its punches, and managed to work in some surprisingly gory, disturbing visuals for a PG-13 film that was ostensible aimed at kids that loved superheroes.
5
‘A History of Violence’ (2005)
A History of Violence was a change of pace compared to other DC films, as it was not based on one of the iconic superhero stories. Instead, the legendary horror director David Cronenberg chose to adapt an acclaimed graphic novel about a former hitman (Viggo Mortensen) who is brought back into a life of crime after a failed burglary reveals his skills to an ignorant town. Although A History of Violence is a gripping family drama about the lies that parents tell to their children in order to protect them, the film’s propulsive action scenes are among the best of Cronenberg’s career.
Mortensen is a fascinating action star, as he is great at playing dark, complicated anti-heroes who are forced to wrestle with the darkness inside them. A History of Violence is a challenging film because it is exciting to see his character take down his torment, even when knowing that he regrets any acts of violence that he commits. Mortensen’s turn is matched by William Hurt in a terrifying performance as a wicked gangster, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
4
‘V for Vendetta’ (2005)
V for Vendetta is a film that has grown even more relevant in recent years, as it is one of the most boldly anti-fascist epics of the 21st century. While replicating the now iconic imagery from the graphic novel would have seemed like an insurmountable challenge, V for Vendetta was aided by the influence of Lilly and Lana Wachowski, who produced and co-wrote the film. Certainly, the stylized approach to action and futurism bore a lot in common with their efforts on The Matrix, particularly when it came to the well-choreographed sequences of hand-to-hand combat.
V for Vendetta feels like an old-fashioned historical epic in the way that it tracks the rise of the elusive vigilante known only as “V” (Hugo Weaving) over the course of his many rebellious efforts, but it also offers a window into what it’s like to live under a totalitarian regime in which every aspect of society is forced to abide by the rules of a strictly conservative government. Although Weaving’s intense, yet strangely charismatic performance is among the best of his career, it’s Natalie Portman’s role as his young acolyte Eve that became the film’s true hero.
3
‘Superman II’ (1981)
Superman II isn’t just the best Superman film ever made, but a cornerstone within the genre that established a precedent for every subsequent comic book sequel to abide by; without Superman II, it would be unlikely that other excellent superhero sequels like Spider-Man 2, X2: X-Men United, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, or Hellboy II: The Golden Army would exist. In addition to introducing a fearsome new villain with the late great Terrence Stamp’s terrifying appearance as the ruthless Kryptonian warlord General Zod, Superman II questioned the burdens of heroism by tempting Clark Kent (Christopher Reeve) with the possibility of living a normal life.
Superman II raised the stakes from the original film, as Superman fought villains that were capable of causing him serious danger as he tried to live up to the legacy of his father, Jor-El (Marlon Brando). Fans may debate what is the best version of the film, as there are cuts directed by Richard Donner and Richard Lester, either option is an action masterpiece.
2
‘The Suicide Squad’ (2021)
The Suicide Squad was a film that shocked everyone that saw it, as David Ayer’s 2016 Suicide Sqaud film was such a disaster that it seemed like the property was permanently ruined. However, it was after being let go from directing Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 for Marvel Studios that Gunn was hired to make a “soft reboot” of the series that introduced a new set of characters, including Deathstroke (Idris Elba) and Peacemaker (John Cena).
The Suicide Squad has all the great needle drops, exhilarating action, surprising heart, and idiosyncratic humor that one would expect from Gunn, but the freedom of the R-Rating allowed him to push the boundaries even further than what he had done with Marvel. Although the fact that the film was simultaneously released on HBO Max the same day that it hit theaters made it an unfortunate box office bomb, it earned enough acclaim that Gunn and Cena were able to continue the story with the Peacemaker television series.
1
‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)
The Dark Knight almost speaks for itself at this point, as Christopher Nolan’s magnum opus is held up as both the greatest comic book film of all-time and one of the most influential American films of the 21st century. Although Batman Begins had proven that Nolan knew how to get to the core of what made Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) an honorable hero within a morally gray world, The Dark Knight escalated the tension by introducing Heath Ledger as a twisted, ruthless version of the Joker. Although Ledger sadly died months before the film debuted, his performance was instantly heralded as one of the greatest villains in cinematic history, and won him a posthumous Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Although it serves as a potent political allegory to the administration of President George W. Bush in the midst of post-9/11 escalation and the impediment of privacy rights, The Dark Knight is a breathless action thriller that contains some of the best set pieces of Nolan’s entire career, including the now famous truck chase that inspired a similar moment in Tenet. Even if much of The Dark Knight is indebted to the classic crime cinema of auteurs like Michael Mann and Francis Ford Coppola, Nolan certainly had a lot of affinity for the original DC comics, particularly in his depiction of the triumvirate of Batman, Lieutenant Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman), and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart). It may have inspired many other franchises to make their own “dark and gritty” reboots of iconic characters, but The Dark Knight is a masterpiece that will forever be remembered as a transformative moment within the evolution of blockbuster cinema.
- Release Date
-
July 16, 2008
- Runtime
-
152 minutes
- Producers
-
Benjamin Melniker, Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Kevin De La Noy, Michael Uslan
