Plunge into the DC Universe and stream these movies and series

The DC Universe doesn’t have a straightforward, linear kind of timeline – but then, they don’t have straightforward heroes either. From the darkness of the Joker to the complex mind of Batman, to the craziness of Harley Quinn, to the patriotism of Peacemaker. The John Cena series is the latest addition to the chronology, and it’s screening first on Showmax.

If you’re wondering what to watch when, here’s a suggested order of the series and movies available to stream on Showmax, based on the chronological timeline.

The heroes often live in their own worlds that only cross over occasionally – such as in Zack Snyder’s Justice Leaguejo – so this chronology isn’t gospel and you can really go ahead and watch them in any order you please.

Joker (2019)

Introducing the Joker in his own standalone movie, this film is set in 1981. But it’s one you can watch whenever you’re feeling particularly dark. But it’s a good one to start with, perhaps after you’ve watched the original Wonder Woman (2017), and the 1980s Superman films.

Joaquin Phoenix is destruction personified in this dark look at Gotham’s clown prince, The Joker – and it won him the Best Lead Actor Academy Award in 2019. Don’t expect ridiculous plotlines. Don’t expect colourful, creative make-up. And don’t expect Batman to come swooping in to save the day. This isn’t a hero movie. It’s a raw psychological look at a mentally unstable man in a cruel world, unravelling as life beats him down at every corner.

Joaquin’s character, Arthur Fleck, a failed comedian and party clown, comes apart and his inner demons take over, clouding his psyche and turning him from an eternally optimistic young man into a ruthless menace with a laugh that’ll send chills down your spine. Making him even more unhinged is the make-up Joaquin developed for the role – a standard clown face, which transforms the typical circus comedian into the things nightmares are made of.

Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

Set in the Second World War, the 2017 Wonder Woman is the earliest in the chronology. This sequel is set in (you guessed it) 1984, with Diana working undercover at a museum by day. When she and her unassuming colleague, Barbara, discover the mysterious Dreamstone, it sets off a chain of events that brings the world to the brink of nuclear war.

Catwoman (2004)

Halle Berry’s Catwoman famously won her a Raspberry Award that she was game enough to collect in person. It might not be the highest rated among the DC Universe films (at 9% it doesn’t even crack double digits on Rotten Tomatoes), but it does fit into the timeline (after the Michael Keaton Batman films) so it’s worthy viewing for fans. Plus, it’s worth noting that until the release of Wonder Woman in 2017, it was the highest-grossing film starring a female superhero ever.

A shy graphic designer, Patience Philips, works for a company about to release an anti-ageing product. But Patience stumbles across her employer’s secret, and what happens next changes her forever.

Watchmen (series, 2019)

The series is very different from the movie (stream that on Showmax too). Regina King takes the lead as Angela Abar, aka Sister Night. She’s a cop in a universe where superheroes and villains are outlawed, but while she’s fighting crime by day as a detective, Angela wears a nun’s habit and a balaclava at night to save her city.

Slot this series in after watching the first two of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight series, starring Christian Bale as Batman, and Superman Returns with Christopher Reeve lookalike Brandon Routh.

The series is filled with references to the original graphic novel, while also giving new storylines – Angela begins investigating a colleague’s murder and she discovers a far greater plot to kill both heroes and villains alike. The problem is that no one can know her real identity – and hiding who she really is takes its toll on Angela as her mental health declines and she starts having flashbacks of her traumatic past. It’s do or die as she fights for justice – and the right to be who she really is.

Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Zack Snyder is also behind this one (watch it before Justice League to get the build-up), which sees the Man of Steel (Superman) take on the Caped Crusader (Batman). Why are they fighting? Batman thinks that the Kryptonian superhero is a threat to mankind and needs to be stopped. Using his billions as tech genius Bruce Wayne, Ben Affleck’s version of Batman takes on Henry Cavill’s Superman and they do battle.

Sure, Batman’s superpower is his cash and Superman is, well, Superman… but Batty has a trick up his sleeve: He’s found the one thing that can kill Superman – kryptonite, nuclear fragments of Superman’s destroyed home planet Krypton – which he fashions into a weapon to defeat the Man Of Steel. Is Batman right about his new foe, or has he bitten off more than his Bat Teeth can chew?

Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)

Forget the horror show that was Joss Whedon’s 2017 version. Joss blew $300 million on something that was just blah. Thanks to an online fan petition, the movie’s original director Zack Snyder, who left the project following his daughter Autumn’s suicide, was brought back and given the reigns to make the movie he imagined.

The likes of Batman (Ben Affleck), Superman (Henry Cavill), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), Flash (Ezra Miller) and more try to protect Earth from the vengeful bloodthirsty god Steppenwolf. This new version is flashy, high-action, and sports great acting and amazing special effects. It’s so good that you’ll be begging for more, even after the 242-minute runtime is up.

Birds of Prey (2020)

She’s as mentally unhinged as superheroes come – she’s actually an antihero but who’s counting? Following on from the storyline in the original Justice League movie, Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) is heartbroken after being dumped by Jared Leto’s incarnation of The Joker (Batman’s crazed enemy). And she has a new mission in life: to find happiness.

Harley, a former mental healthcare practitioner (woah!), also tries to save a young girl from a crimelord who’s terrorising her new neighbourhood. The fact that Harley is more of a criminal than her new foe is neither here nor there – the fact that she’s doing good for a change is the big thing. She also has a motley crew of miscreants helping her with her new goal in life … and trying to help Harley find love after having her heart torn in two.

Peacemaker (series, 2022)

It’s the superhero series you didn’t know you wanted! WWE wrestler John Cena plays Peacemaker, a patriotic assassin with an ego the size of the sun. He’s the be-all and end-all – no one is more important than him … in his mind, that is. But he has a problem Peacemaker needs to get his ARGUS crew back together to save the world from parasites that have been sent to end mankind. And Peacemaker’s ego will get in the way at every turn.

This one follows on from the events in The Suicide Squad, and it’s not a kid-friendly series: watching John Cena – who’s a very, very nice guy in real life – drop F-bombs, rip people’s heads off, and even run around in tighty whitey undies after having wild crazy sex, will get you choking on your popcorn.