DC Comics
Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel (2013) earned more than $600 million and served as the foundation for the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), a shared storytelling world for all of DC’s film properties. Later films in the DCEU included Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) in which Gal Gadot debuted her popular role as Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman (2017), Justice League (2017), Aquaman (2018), Shazam! (2019), Wonder Woman 1984 (2020), and Birds of Prey (2020). Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021), a four-hour-long alternate edit of the box-office bomb Justice League, drew largely positive reviews from fans and critics when it premiered on the streaming service HBO Max. The psychological thriller Joker (2019) tells the origin story of the classic Batman villain, but the film was not connected to the broader DCEU. Joker proved to be DC’s biggest critical success on the silver screen, earning nearly a dozen Academy Award nominations; Joaquin Phoenix won the Academy Award for best actor for his performance in the title role. A sequel of the Joker is officially in development, with Phoenix set to return and will include singer and actress Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. The Suicide Squad (2021), directed by James Gunn, is a stand-alone movie that serves as a sequel to 2016's Suicide Squad, and was premiered on HBO Max, as well as Peacemaker (2022-present), a spin-off series starring John Cena.