TheDC Universehas a lot of films and series that may require a rewatch or two to get the most value out of them, for one reason or another, changing significantly on a second viewing. Compared to other superhero properties,DC moviesand TV shows seem altogether more willing to take risks with their production, not content to sit back and reap the rewards of a “safe” narrative custom-built to please fans. Whether this is a good or a bad thing remains up in the air, as revisiting certain DC projects can often reveal.
DC movies and TV shows can change dramatically on subsequent viewings for one reason or another.Some rich narratives simply require multiple viewings to get the full amount of enjoyment out of, whereas others are more interesting with the context of future films or behind-the-scenes drama that is more clearly evident the second time around. For good or for ill, rewatching DC moviesand TV shows can often bring new insights into them, changing the experience.
The Penguin
Cast
Created by Lauren LeFranc, The Penguin is a crime-drama spin-off television series of 2022’s film The Batman. Set shortly after the events of The Batman, Oz Cobb, A.K.A. the Penguin, begins his rise in the underworld of Gotham City as he contends with the daughter of his late boss, Carmine Falcone, for control of the crime family’s empire.
Many villain-oriented superhero projects take the opportunity to humanize their evil protagonist, giving them an understandable backstory or relevant motivations to do the horrible things they do.This isn’t exactly so for HBO’sThe Penguin,which recently released in 2024.Taking place in the same universe as Matt Reeves’The Batman,The Penguinexplores Oz Cobb in the aftermath of the film, trying desperately to fulfill the power vacuum left in Gotham’s criminal underworld by the death of Carmine Falcone.
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The Penguin is portrayed as a truly despicable character, but the real depths of depravity he’s willing to sink to don’t become evident until far later in the series.Rewatching from the beginning with the knowledge of what he’s willing to do to even his closest allies or his eerie childhood and relationship with his family provides a new window into Oz Cobb’s twisted psyche. Even though it’s such a recent project, going back toThe Penguinmakes for a far more disturbing time, knowing how irredeemable Oz truly is.
Joker
Directed by Todd Phillips, Joker is an origin story for Batman’s most iconic villain. Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is a down-on-his-luck clown who is trying to become a successful stand-up comedian. When things don’t go according to plan, and Arthur feels Gotham is oppressing him and others with mental illness, Arthur sparks a violent revolution within the city.
TheJokerduology is a film series with a bizarrely antagonistic relationship with most of its fans.The controversialending ofJoker: Folie Á Deuxseems to lash out against those that derived a certain unintended message from Todd Phillips' original story, humiliating and destroying a character that unintentionally became an idol to those who missed the point of the first film. It’s interesting to watch the original 2019 movie with confirmation of what exactly Phillips intended to say with his meditative character study.
The Joker isn’t someone meant to be all that relatable in Phillips' mind, and he certainly isn’t meant to be an idol.That being said, it’s easy to see where the originalJokermay have gotten the wrong point across, not stressing enough the ghastly consequences of Arthur’s actions.For those that only watched obvious Scorsese inspirations likeTaxi DriverandThe King of Comedyafter the fact, going back toJokerwith these films in mind makes the entire experience feel a good deal less original, as well.
The Batman
The Batman follows a young Bruce Wayne as he investigates a sadistic serial killer targeting key political figures in Gotham. As he delves deeper, he is confronted by the city’s hidden corruption and questions surrounding his own family’s legacy.
At a whopping 2 hours and 56 minutes long, the prospect of rewatchingThe Batmanis no easy ask. Matt Reeves' visionary masterpiece is a solemn, lengthy, drawn-out mystery starring Robert Pattinson as a young Batman dealing with one of his first supervillains ever, Paul Dano’s insidious Riddler.Along the course of his investigation, Batman makes some discoveries about his own parentage that aren’t so easy to swallow.
After all, telling a riddle one knows the answer to is always more fun, and the layered performances of the film are given more room to breathe when the pressing issue of navigating the plot isn’t as intense.
Such an unwieldy film certainly benefits from another once over, making the dense mysteries of the film easier to parse and more gratifying to watch unfold with the answers in mind. After all, telling a riddle one knows the answer to is always more fun, and the layered performances of the film are given more room to breathe when the pressing issue of navigating the plot isn’t as intense.Seeing Collin Farrel’s Oz again after his own solo project is also a treat, knowing exactly what is going on behind his shifty eyes as he talks with Batman and Gordon.
Batman Begins
Batman Begins is the inaugural film in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, featuring Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne. Released in 2005, it follows Wayne as he transforms into Batman to combat the pervasive corruption in Gotham City, creating a new identity to fight crime outside the system.
Speaking of thebest Batman movies, Christopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knighttrilogy is impossible not to bring up when discussing the most rewatchable DC films.Particularly, the first film of the franchise is one of the most interesting to return to with the knowledge of how things turn out for Bruce and the League of Shadows. Similarly toThe Batman, this film describes some of the Dark Knight’s earliest cases in Gotham City, although flashbacks to his origins as a crime-fighting vigilante make up a generous portion of the run time as well.
Knowing the ultimate goals of the League of Shadows fromThe Dark Knight Risestotally changes how Ra’s al Ghul is perceived in a second viewing.His desire to carry out his legacy at all costs through Talia makes his zealous ambition to destroy Gotham that much more devious, and seeing Batman’s struggles with his early career is especially interesting,knowing that he will retire not once, but twice in the future film. Many haven’t revisitedBatman Beginssince it first premiered in theaters in 2005, and may find a very different experience waiting for them upon doing so.
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight, directed by Christopher Nolan, is the second installment in the Batman trilogy starring Christian Bale as Batman. Released in 2008, the film follows Batman’s alliance with Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent as they combat the organized crime that threatens Gotham, facing the menacing Joker.
As far as the Nolanverse is concerned, there’s simply no beatingThe Dark Knight.The second film in Nolan’s trilogy,The Dark Knightprogressed Batman’s story by introducing him to Heath Ledger’s Joker, who has gone on to become one of the most iconic villains in all of cinema, let alone in a superhero movie specifically. Widely hailed as one of the brightest spots in Nolan’s filmography, the movie somehow only gets better on repeat viewings.
LikeThe Batman, The Dark Knighthas something of a dense narrative that benefits from a second pass to fully comprehend, with the delicate themes of good vs. evil as the latent nature of humanity shining through brighter the second time around.Knowing little details like Joker being one of the masked men in the opening scene makes almost every solitary beat in the film that much more fulfilling.Being inoculated to the initial shock of some of these beats somehow helps them land much harder on a rewatch.
Justice League
2017’s Justice League brings together iconic DC heroes under the direction of Zack Snyder. In the aftermath of Superman’s sacrifice, Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince recruit metahumans Barry Allen, Arthur Curry, and Victor Stone to combat the dire threat posed by Steppenwolf and his Parademons.
Sometimes it isn’t even an inherent quality of a film itself that makes it so fascinating to revisit, but the external circumstances that are hidden in plain sight.Justice Leaguewas what DCEU audiences got in theaters as the franchise’s long-awaited equivalent to the MCU’sThe Avengersof 2012, a major crossover event that would unite its heroes against a single existential threat. Sadly, the first official formation of the Justice League in live-action was a critical dud, and dissecting it years later reveals some fascinating truths.
Watching the original cut ofJustice Leagueafter seeing thedifferences ofZack Snyder’s Justice Leagueis a curious experience.Though bits and pieces of Snyder’s original vision poke through, a rewatch makes it stunningly obvious each exact moment where studio interference watered down what might’ve been an intriguing concept. Behind-the-scenes disasters like Henry Cavill’s CGI face to cover up his mustache or Joss Whedon seemingly apologizing for the film in the opening moments with the “I tried” sign are other juicy details requiring a second viewing to appreciate.
Batman
Batman is a 1989 superhero movie directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne. The film features Jack Nicholson’s chilling portrayal as Jack Napier, who turns into the Joker and reigns terror on Gotham. Kim Basinger also stars in the film as Vicki Vale, along with Michael Gough as Bruce’s trusty butler named Alfred.
Tim Burton’sBatmanin 1989 was initially a big deal for taking the steps to ensure Batman was treated with all the proper drama and gravitas of his source material. While the Caped Crusader being an edgy and serious hero is common knowledge today, at the time, most exposure the general public had to Batman was through the campy Adam West show and accompanying movie.That all changed when the dark, brooding atmosphere of Burton’s comic book movie hit the theaters.
Many still remember 1989’sBatmanas a grim, spooky affair, and while that atmosphere is certainly present, it’s hard not to act like the years have been kind to the film’s efforts in keeping Batman serious.
By today’s increasingly darker standards of moviemaking and pop culture, Tim Burton’sBatmanalmost seems like kid’s stuff, from the awkwardly stiff neck of Micheal Keaton’s Bat-suit to Jack Nicholson’s flamboyant dancing to Prince.Coming back toBatmanafter years away can reveal an altogether more unintentionally comedic movie.
Aquaman
A carefree dive shop owner in the Florida Keys discovers his royal Atlantean heritage after a mysterious encounter in the Bermuda Triangle. As he grapples with newfound powers and a hidden past, he confronts ancient enemies and uncovers a looming undersea war.
Comparatively, James Wan’sAquamandoesn’t make much of an attempt to take itself too seriously.The first solo film for Jason Momoa’s underwater-themed superhero,Aquamanhad the difficult task of making Arthur Curry and the plight of Atlantis seem cool in the eyes of general moviegoing audiences. Upon release, the film was disparaged for poor performances and a contrived plot, though the vision forthe DCEU’s undersea worldwas certainly a breathtaking one.
Knowing the weaknesses ofAquamangoing in makes for a much more fun experience.Even negatives like the constant interruption of conversations with explosions or the terrible acting of Arthur’s younger self become endearing jokes that can be hotly anticipated.After that, all that’s left is to appreciate the dazzling imagery, worldbuilding, and underrated action setpieces of James Wan. What might’ve otherwise been a mediocre franchise entry becomes quite a fun party movie.
Watchmen
Watchmen, directed by Zack Snyder, is a gritty adaptation of the graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. The film takes place in an alternate 1985 America during the Cold War, following a group of retired superheroes investigating the murder of one of their own. As they delve deeper, they uncover a complex conspiracy that could alter the course of history. The ensemble cast includes Jackie Earle Haley, Patrick Wilson, and Malin Akerman.
Though technically not a part of the mainline DC universe including the likes of Batman and Superman, Zack Snyder’sWatchmencan indeed be counted among DC’s properties, with Alan Moore’s original book publishing under the company. The film tell the story of an alternate history Earth in which superheroes became a massive cultural and political influence in the 20th century, culminating in a murderous plot to unite the world by any means necessary.Like many of Zack Snyder’s works,Watchmenremains quite a divisive movie.
The bloody, grim world of the series is clearly a more comfortable territory for Snyder to work in, and many of the same visual tricks and superhero motifs he uses in his DCEU movies can trace their origins back to here.
It’s interesting to come back toWatchmenafter seeing Zack Snyder’s work in the DCEU.The bloody, grim world of the series is clearly a more comfortable territory for Snyder to work in, and many of the same visual tricks and superhero motifs he uses in his DCEU movies can trace their origins back to here. Beyond working as a fascinating starting point for Snyder’s super hero movie evolution,Watchmenis always a relevant story to return to for its prescient political themes.
Young Justice
Young Justice is an animated Superhero Sci-Fi television show created by Brandon Vietti and Greg Weisman. The series follows the Young Justice group of superheroes, including names like Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, and Superboy. Viewers will recognize voices from Jesse McCartney, Khary Payton, Jason Spisak, and Nolan North.
Of all ofDC’s many animated shows, few of them provide such a starkly different experience on a rewatch asYoung Justice.A sort of spiritual successor to 2003’sTeen Titans, Young Justicefocused on a titular team formed from sidekicks of the Justice League’s most famous members. The show has had a tumultuous run on the air, being canceled and revived on a streaming service two different times, resulting in quite the uneven viewing experience.
Rewatching all ofYoung Justiceback-to-back from the start reveals some inconvenient truths. The infamous time skip between seasons feels even more out of place without the benefit of real-world time to accompany it, and the addition of new characters when so many heroes from seasons 1 and 2 deserved more of a spotlight feels all the more strange. These criticisms may have been easier to defend when theDCshow was still coming out, but viewed as a whole, it’s a whole new world of uneven storytelling.
