TheDC Universeis full of bad movies with great concepts that deserve to be given another shot, despite what negative publicity might remain circling around their title characters. Cinemas have seen some true critical and commercial bombs released under DC’s banner over the years, from one-off solo films to themovies of the DCEU. However bad some of these adaptations may be, the fault is never to blame with the source material itself, with some of DC’s most butchered concepts and characters deserving of another film attempt.
DC has done re-makes of poorly-received films before.Despite how reviled 2016’sSuicide Squadwas by both audiences and critics alike, by giving James Gunn another crack at the concept withThe Suicide Squad, the franchise not only released one of their best films, but proved the concept for aJames Gunn-led DCU. Other directors could do the same thing for many other DC properties, however infamous their movie versions might be.
10Catwoman
Didn’t even try to meaningfully represent the character
One DC movie that forever remains an infamously poor attempt at superhero action is Halle Berry’sCatwoman.Hardly able to be classified as a DC Comics adaptation at all,Catwomantook the title from the classic Batman villain and nothing else, crafting a wholly original story about a random woman who is killed, only to be resurrected with feline powers. Meanwhile, in the comics, Catwoman is Selina Kyle, a highly-trained but ultimately human cat-burglar who finds herself dancing back and forth between hero and villain.
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While Catwoman has had plenty of film incarnations, her only solo project being wholly divorced from her comic story remains a sore missed opportunity. In a modern age in whichmovies and TV shows about Batman villainsare increasingly popular, a single feature film revolving around Catwoman would be sure to do big numbers, especially with a palatable star attached on the same level as Halle Berry’s fame.After 20 years, it’s high time Catwoman got the respect she deserves with another crack at being a headliner.
Jonah Hex
Cast
The live-action adaptation of the DC hero of the same name, Jonah Hex stars Josh Brolin as the eponymous anti-hero. A superhero Western, Jonah Hex follows the titular bounty hunter as he pursues his family’s killer (John Malkovich). Hex is joined by Lilah Black (Megan Fox), his gun-toting sidekick, as he fights across the Old West on the hunt for revenge.
An interesting character in the DC mythos, Jonah Hex is an old-west gunslinger that does exist in the same universe as Superman and Batman, but far in the past, with stories that predate the franchise’s more famous heroes by hundreds of years. 2010’sJonah Hexgave exploring DC’s more distant chronological past a shot withJonah Hex,starring Josh Brolin in a comic book role long before his work inDeadpool 2orAvengers: Infinity War.Try though he may have, Brolin’s acting skill wasn’t enough to carry the unfocused mess of a story across the finish line.
If DC ever decides to ride West once more, a stronger script could make aJonah Hexremake more than worth watching.
A DC Western would be a great way to break up the monotony of more typical superhero stories, and Jonah Hex is an intriguing character for that purpose.A more grotesque, dark hero, it’s easy to see how Hex had the potential to make an impression on audiences as a more unique comic book character.If DC ever decides to ride West once more, a stronger script could make aJonah Hexremake more than worth watching.
Steel
Steel is a 1997 film directed by Kenneth Johnson, featuring Shaquille O’Neal as John Henry Irons, a weapons designer who becomes a vigilante after his research is exploited by a ruthless arms dealer. With the help of his expertise in metallurgy and technology, Irons constructs a powerful suit of armor to fight for justice and protect his community from the dangerous weapons he helped create.
One of the single most painful forays into comic book moviemaking in the late 90s was none other than 1997’sSteel.Starring NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal as the titular hero,Steeltook a chance on a surprisingly obscure DC character for the time it was made, John Henry Irons, an Iron Man-analogous hero who uses his brilliant steel creations to fight crime in Superman’s image. Sadly,Steelwas an utter flop thanks in no small part to the starring athlete’s abysmal acting skills, not to mention the overall cheap production value.
The potential of Steel as a character has been well-realized inanimated Superman filmslikeReign of the Supermenand live-action TV show appearances in dramas likeSuperman & Lois.With a bigger budget and a more experienced lead, another movie centered around Steel could popularize a highly underrated character that would add some much-needed diversity to the upcoming DCU.It’s a shame the surviving stigma behind 1997’sSteelcontinues to plague John Henry Irons' name.
Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing is a dark fantasy film directed by Wes Craven, based on the DC Comics character. Released in 1982, the film stars Louis Jourdan and Adrienne Barbeau. The story follows Dr. Alec Holland, a scientist who becomes the titular Swamp Thing after a lab experiment goes awry. The film blends horror and science fiction elements, exploring themes of transformation and tragedy within the murky depths of a swamp.
Swamp Thing might not have the widest appeal of DC’s comic book heroes, but is unique enough to be worthy of a solid film adaptation.The last attempt was 1989’sReturn of Swamp Thing,which picked up where 1982’sSwamp Thingleft off. Both films are closer to simple B-movie sci-fi horror fare than thoughtfully-produced superhero stories, unapologetically campy to the point of excess.
With a more modern focus on the character’s horror elements,Swamp Thingcould truly succeed as a more mature R-rated DC movie, cultivating a zealous fanbase.The tragically short-livedSwamp ThingTV show is the closest thing audiences have at the moment, never getting a chance to prove itself before being callously canned by Warner Brothers higher-ups, who didn’t believe in the character’s ability to make the series' money back. As a cult movie requiring less investment, Swamp Thing might fare far better.
6Green Lantern
Ryan Reynold’s infamous bomb
Few movie stars have been as openly antagonistic towards their previous work as Ryan Reynolds has toGreen Lantern.In interviews and theDeadpoolmovies, Reynolds has relentlessly mocked the box office bomb he starred in as Hal Jordan, failing to compellingly adapt the story of one of the most important Justice League members. Since the film’s failure, Green Lantern has been completely avoided by live-action movies as a character, with a John StewartGreen Lantern cameo inZack Snyder’s Justice Leagueeven being replaced with Martian Manhunter at Warner Brothers' request.
Hopefully, this live-action appearance means that a DCUGreen Lanternremake isn’t far in the future, but with the negative stigma still attached to the title, it’s hard to say for certain.
Green Lantern is still a popular hero, getting his own solo film in the animated Tomorrowverse and slated to appearn among the cast of the upcomingSuperman: Legacy.Hopefully, this live-action appearance means that a DCUGreen Lanternremake isn’t far in the future, but with the negative stigma still attached to the title, it’s hard to say for certain.With how many different Green Lanterns there are, there are limitless directions a new solo film could go in, something that the DCU’s upcomingLanternsseries can touch upon.
The Kitchen
Written and directed by Andrea Berloff, 2019’s The Kitchen is a Crime film and is based on the DC/Vertigo limited comic book series with the same name. Starring Tiffany Haddish, Elisabeth Moss, and Melissa McCarthy, the plot revolves around a trio of women married to criminals in the Hells Kitchen area. After their husbands are arrested, the women band together to take over the business to survive.
Not commonly recognized as a DC Comics adaptation,The Kitchenis an overlooked crime drama that deserves its place in pop culture obscurity by any measurable metric. Though obviously not taking place in the same continuity as most of DC’s more famous characters, the original comic the film was based off of is indeed a DC story, albeit as a joint collaboration with Vertigo Comics. The movie wasn’t able to sell hesitant audiences on its obscure crime novel inspiration, thanks in no small part to Melissa McCarthy’s unusual status as a relatively serious lead.
The original limited run ofThe Kitchenis a woefully underrated collaboration that tells a wonderful 1970s crime story set in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen ofDaredevilfame.Ripe for a proper movie adaptation, the female-led thriller already has a potent niche ready and waiting should it be able to be done justice.Sadly, with the 2019 failure ofThe Kitchen,it’s unlikely this lesser-known DC story will get the recognition it deserves.
Supergirl
Supergirl is a 1984 DC movie starring Helen Slater as the titular character. The movie acted as a spinoff of Christopher Reeve’s Superman movies, which ran from 1978 to 1987. Reeve decided not to appear in this spinoff, and Supergirl was unfortunately critically panned upon release. The plot revolves around Kara Zor-El coming to Earth to collect a powerful orb but ending up in a battle against a wicked witch.
One of the earliest examples of a superhero movie spin-off,Supergirlfell short of the high expectations set upon it by the iconicChristopher Reeve Superman movies.Telling the story of Superman’s cousin, Kara Zor-El,Supergirl’s pitiful special effects and seeming lack of enthusiasm for its own character burdened any potential for critical success. While a version of Supergirl briefly appeared in 2023’sThe Flash,the character has yet to be blessed with another solo film.
Considering how iconic Supergirl is as one of DC’s leading heroines in the comics, it’s a crying shame that studios haven’t taken another chance on a solo movie outing for her. James Gunn may be gearing up for a Supergirl-focused feature in the near future thanks to Milly Alcock fromHouse of the Dragonfame being cast as Kara inSuperman: Legacy.The forgettable villain and boring narrative of the originalSupergirlleaves endless room for improvement.
The Flash
The Flash is a DC Extended Universe film starring Ezra Miller as Barry Allen, A.K.A. The Flash. Wishing for a world where his mother still lives, Barry Allen manages to find a way to travel through time to save her. However, Barry ends up in an alternate universe where metahumans aren’t present, meaning a living General Zod arrives to conquer the planet. To save this world and return home, Barry will seek the help of two alternate reality heroes, Batman (Michael Keaton) and Supergirl (Sasha Calle).
Speaking of Supergirl, the iconic heroine has the misfortune of starring in not one, but two of DC’s most critically-panned films.One of the worst box office bombs of 2023,The Flashwas a pivotal failure point for the DCEU, being the first live-action solo film to follow Barry Allen in a loose interpretation of the famed DC crossover story,Flashpoint.Sadly, between the abysmal CGI filling in painfully shoehorned cameos and the negative buzz surrounding star Ezra Miller’s controversy at the time,The Flashfailed to impress both commercially and critically.
Considering he was the star of a long-running TV drama that carried the CW’s Arrowverse, The Flash’s popularity as a character is endlessly proven.The wisecracking speedster with a heart of gold is an easy opportunity for DC to strike gold with a true four-quadrant movie, weaponizing the mass appeal of Barry Allen’s charm.Perhaps with a less controversial star and a less ambitious storyline, a solo Flash movie could do wonders for the burgeoning DCU.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice features the iconic clash between Gotham’s Dark Knight, played by Ben Affleck, and Metropolis’s Man of Steel, portrayed by Henry Cavill. As these two heroes confront each other, a looming threat endangers humanity, setting the stage for larger challenges ahead in the DC Extended Universe.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justicewas one of the most hotly-anticipated superhero films of the previous decade, with years of pop culture buzz feeding into its hype.The mere concept of Batman and Superman duking it out on the silver screen must’ve seemed like an easy recipe for success.
Sadly, infamous story beats likethe “Martha” sceneand a ham-fisted attempt to squeeze in an adaptation ofThe Death of Supermanprevented Zack Snyder’s vision from manifesting into an obvious win for the DCEU.
That’s not to say that there isn’t plenty of potential for a film that examines a fight between two of DC’s most prominent heroes.Without the divisive nature of Snyder’s bizarre decisions, the film could’ve had the potential to be a cinematic event on the same level ofThe Avengers.Perhaps after allowing its own identities for the characters to develop in their own solo projects, the DCU can once again pit their version of Batman and Superman against each other for better results.
Black Adam
Black Adam is a feature film centered around the DC Comics antihero Black Adam, portrayed by Dwayne Johnson. The story follows the titular character as he emerges in the modern world, freed after millennia of imprisonment, to deliver his own form of justice.
Even ifBlack Adamis a relatively unknown character compared to big names like Batman, Superman, or Wonder Woman, marrying a powerful DC hero with the star power of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson should’ve been a layup for DC’s moviemaking efforts. Sadly,Black Adamfailed to forever change the hierarchy of power in the DC Universe as promised, spending so much time developing future films that it forgets to present a good story in its own right. While there are elements ofBlack Adamto be enjoyed, it was a crushing blow to the DCEU’s momentum.
Black Adammay have done better as a more focused villain origin story, as per the likes ofJoker,rather than a pseudo team-up film. Black Adam is certainly a compelling character if given enough space to breathe and interact with his classic nemesis, Shazam. For now, theDC Universeis unlikely to bring Black Adam back to the spotlight.
