5 DC Movie Sequels You Completely Forgot About

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We all know and generally love films like Superman II, Batman Returns, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and The Suicide Squad – and we remember them. However, there’s a similar number of DC sequels that are just incredibly forgettable. They aren’t even entertainingly bad, like Batman & Robin or Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. They’re simply bad, and quickly fade from memory once the movie ends.

These five DC movie sequels didn’t really add anything meaningful to their respective series, or to the superhero genre in general. They’re watchable if you’re a fan, but don’t anticipate being particularly impressed or remembering them for long.

5) Supergirl

While not a direct continuation, Supergirl is technically a follow-up to the original Superman films. The movie references Clark Kent, acknowledging his existence even though Christopher Reeve doesn’t appear on screen.

Sadly, Supergirl feels much more like the weaker Superman III and Superman IV than the excellent first two Superman movies. From the moment we see the artificial look of Argo City, it’s clear this film isn’t going to take itself seriously. The one bright spot is Helen Slater’s performance as Supergirl; she’s a strong performer, which explains why she reappeared in Smallville and the Supergirl TV show later on.

Stream Supergirl on HBO Max.

4) Shazam! Fury of the Gods

The first Shazam! movie was enjoyable because it successfully mixed action, humor, and a touch of suspense. What really stood out was its heartwarming portrayal of a foster family, which immediately drew viewers into the story.

While Shazam! Fury of the Gods aims for comedy, it unfortunately doesn’t land many laughs. The film suffers from two main problems. First, the villains, the Daughters of Atlas, aren’t very compelling or threatening, especially when compared to the memorable Dr. Sivana from the first movie. More significantly, Zachary Levi’s portrayal of Shazam feels off. Asher Angel successfully showed Billy Batson growing up, but Levi’s performance doesn’t reflect that; instead, he comes across as more immature than he was when he first gained his powers.

Stream Shazam! Fury of the Gods on HBO Max.

3) Wonder Woman 1984

The first Wonder Woman movie was a significant achievement for superhero films. While not the first female-led superhero movie, it was the first to become a major success—largely because, unlike Supergirl and Catwoman, it was a genuinely well-made film.

Wonder Woman 1984 flirts with being enjoyably bad, but ultimately falls short. It’s simply too long and has several slow parts. The film asks us to take the villains, Pedro Pascal’s Maxwell Lord and Kristen Wiig’s Barbara Minerva, seriously, but their motivations and transformations – Lord’s financial struggles and Minerva’s mistreatment contrasted with becoming a genie and growing fur – feel inconsistent. The movie never finds a consistent tone, and as a result, none of its attempts at a particular mood really stick with you.

Stream Wonder Woman 1984 on HBO Max.

2) The Return of Swamp Thing

Released in the same year as Tim Burton’s Batman, The Return of Swamp Thing is a lesser-known sequel to an already obscure superhero film. In fact, it largely retells the story of the original rather than continuing it.

This movie is essentially a remake of Wes Craven’s original, but with a lot more humor. While Heather Locklear does her best, she doesn’t quite match the acting talent of Adrienne Barbeau.

Stream The Return of Swamp Thing on Prime Video.

1) Joker: Folie à Deux

It’s surprising how quickly people have forgotten about Joker: Folie à Deux, especially considering it’s only been a year and a half since its release. But honestly, that’s understandable – most people didn’t see it, and there wasn’t much reason to. The movie is a long two hours and twenty minutes, filled with self-importance and a complete lack of anything truly engaging.

The movie mostly jumps back and forth between strange, uncomfortable musical numbers and a predictable courtroom story. It never really gives you anything to connect with, and it finishes with one of the most disappointing endings ever seen in a superhero film.

Stream Joker: Folie à Deux on Prime Video.

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2026-01-30 03:10