DC is experiencing a major creative comeback in cinemas. After the success of the 2025 film Superman, James Gunn and Peter Safran have established a new, cohesive universe focused on genuine storytelling. This positive trend will continue with several upcoming films, including Supergirl starring Milly Alcock and the horror-themed Clayface later this year, followed by Man of Tomorrow in 2027. Even standalone stories, like the continuation of The Batman series from Matt Reeves, are thriving. However, this success wasn’t guaranteed. For years, the previous DC movie universe struggled due to interference from executives and a lack of a clear plan, leading to disappointments like 2017’s Justice League, The Flash, and Wonder Woman 1984. Despite those challenges, some films from that era were still excellent.
I really think Birds of Prey, which came out six years ago on February 7, 2020, doesn’t get the credit it deserves. Directed by Cathy Yan and with Margot Robbie producing, it was a total breath of fresh air for the DC universe. It ditched the dark and gloomy style of previous films for something bright, fun, and totally R-rated, focusing on Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) after she finally broke up with the Joker. It’s a shame it didn’t do better at the box office – it only made $205 million with an $82 million budget. But honestly, while everything else in the DC movies felt a little lost, Birds of Prey was a really cool, stylish, and put-together film that I think deserves way more love.
Birds of Prey Is One of the Best DC Movies Ever
Birds of Prey distinguished itself from typical superhero movies with a unique visual style, unlike anything seen in Marvel or previous DC films. The movie’s non-traditional storytelling, guided by Harley Quinn’s unpredictable thoughts, made it feel like a dynamic comic book come to life, rather than a standard action film. The fight scenes were a significant improvement for the genre, thanks to collaboration with stunt team 87eleven, which ensured impactful and realistic action. This resulted in memorable sequences like the break-in at the evidence room and the climactic funhouse fight. Adding to the film’s strengths, Ewan McGregor delivered a frighteningly self-centered and dangerous portrayal of Black Mask, proving that a villain doesn’t need world-threatening power to be compelling.
It’s unfortunate that Birds of Prey wasn’t a bigger box office success, because it left some interesting storylines and characters unresolved. Jurnee Smollett’s portrayal of Black Canary was especially strong, offering a fresh, realistic take on the classic hero. Luckily, the new DC Universe is already allowing characters and stories to carry over. Since Birds of Prey wasn’t heavily connected to the previous DC films, it can now easily be reimagined as an important part of the new Gotham City story.
The DCU Can Pull a Peacemaker with Birds of Prey
As a fan, I’m really excited about how James Gunn is handling the DCU reboot! It seems like he’s already figured out how to save projects like Birds of Prey by using the Peacemaker Season 2 premiere as a model. They cleverly retconned the ending of Season 1, swapping out the old Justice League cameos for new team members like Guy Gardner and Hawkgirl, which proved that Peacemaker’s story still matters even with some changes. Plus, Creature Commandos directly acknowledged what happened in The Suicide Squad, making it clear that the Corto Maltese mission is still canon. Even though Blue Beetle didn’t perform as well as hoped, Gunn confirmed that the team behind it, including the director, will be back to continue Jaime Reyes’ story with an animated series – that’s a huge relief and shows they’re committed to building on everything!
The DC Universe can handle Harley Quinn’s story in a similar way, keeping her free from the Joker while disregarding the version of the Joker portrayed by Jared Leto in the 2016 film Suicide Squad. This allows DC Studios to celebrate Margot Robbie’s iconic performance without being tied to the old continuity, and it also lets them keep other good elements from Birds of Prey – its characters, story, and style. Yan’s film has a distinct and valuable voice that shouldn’t be discarded, particularly as the new universe is seeking strong, character-focused stories.
You can now watch Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) on HBO Max.
Would you like to see the characters from Birds of Prey appear in the new DC Universe? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
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2026-02-08 00:45