Ranking the Arrowverse Crossovers: Surprising Results Revealed!

Initially, when Arrow premiered on The CW in 2012, it was hard to predict that it would spawn an entire universe. However, within a few years, the Arrowverse took over superhero television with series like The Flash, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, Batwoman, and Black Lightning joining the fray. This growth in the Arrowverse not only introduced various DC characters to our screens but also offered fans an exciting bonus: the Arrowverse crossover. Each season, these Arrowverse heroes would unite across different shows to combat threats ranging from time travel, extraterrestrials, to alternate reality Nazis. These crossovers could be massive events spanning multiple episodes or smaller, more contained appearances, but regardless of the format, they consistently remained fan favorites.

Looking back now that the Arrowverse era has officially closed, with “The Flash” wrapping up in 2023 and “Superman & Lois” ending last year, we’re revisiting those unforgettable crossover episodes and ranking them. Although we’ve done this before, there were a few more crossovers added to the mix, causing a slight shake-up in our rankings. Before we dive into the rankings, here are some important details. This list primarily focuses on official crossover events like “Elseworlds” and “Crisis on Earth-X,” but it also includes episodes featuring significant appearances by characters from different shows, especially during The Flash’s final season. Here we go with the rankings!

15) All Star Team Up

In the 18th episode of its inaugural season, “All Star Team Up” marked the beginning of our list for The Flash. This particular episode brought in Felicity Smoak from Arrow, portrayed by Emily Bett Rickards, and Ray Palmer/The Atom (Brandon Routh), who visited Central City to seek Team Flash’s assistance regarding his suit. As it turned out, their arrival coincided with a predicament for Team Flash: they were currently dealing with Brie Larvan (Emily Kinney) who had released robotic bees against her ex-colleagues. This scenario made Team Flash appreciate some extra assistance.

In a broader perspective of crossover events, “All Star Team Up” wasn’t particularly exciting. The Team Flash could have managed Brie solo, and the episode included what seemed to be the most awkward dinner in the entire Arrowverse history. This dinner scene featured Barry, Felicity, Ray, Iris (played by Candice Patton), and Eddie Thawne (portrayed by Rick Cosnett) all sitting together for an uneasy semi-double date that was far from comfortable. Fortunately, future crossovers became more engaging.

14) Heroes Join Forces

The second major team-up in the Arrowverse, titled “Heroes Join Forces,” was a crucial event. This crossover episode paved the way for the upcoming series, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. In this episode, The Flash (Grant Gustin) and Green Arrow (Stephen Amell) combined forces to confront Vandal Savage, who was after Kendra Saunders (Ciara Renee) and Carter Hall (Falk Hentschel). Interestingly, these two individuals were the reincarnations of the legendary heroes Hawkgirl and Hawkman.

The crossover accomplished its intended purpose: it established Legends as a series and provided them with their initial significant adversary in Vandal Savage. However, for numerous viewers, the introduction of Legends was somewhat challenging. Given that Hawkman and Hawkgirl didn’t last too long within the Arrowverse, “Heroes Join Forces” remains close to the bottom in terms of popularity.

13) Armageddon

The five-episode special event known as “Armageddon” marked the final grand crossover for the Arrowverse, and it launched the eighth season of The Flash. In this crossover, an extraterrestrial danger named Despero invaded Earth. A dark future was shown in which Barry Allen destroyed the planet to correct a timeline manipulated by Eobard Thawne – Reverse-Flashpoint. The event brought together characters from other Arrowverse series, but Black Lightning stood out as he was initially sought by Barry to remove his powers.

12) Girls Night Out

The fourth season’s fifth episodes of The Flash offered an opportunity for the female characters to take center stage, as titled “Girls Night Out”. Initially, it seemed promising as Caitlin, Cecile, Felicity, and Iris set out for a bachelorette party. However, the fun was disrupted when Amunet Black made an appearance.

In this installment, there was plenty of enjoyable action. The female characters shone as heroes, and viewers were amused by a highly intoxicated Barry expressing his affection for chicken wings. However, the main issue lies in the fact that while the focus was on the ladies, it was the male characters who delivered the most captivating moments.

11) King Shark

The appearance of King Shark in the Arrowverse was undeniably a standout moment, and the second season episode of The Flash that showcased this character offers an entertaining watch, though it may not rank among the top crossover episodes. With King Shark having broken free from his A.R.G.U.S. confinement, John Diggle (David Ramsey) and Lyla (Audrey Marie Anderson) from Arrow travel to Central City to notify Team Flash of the situation.

As a movie lover, I must confess that despite my admiration for King Shark, this latest episode felt rather lackluster. In the narrative, King Shark pursues Barry to his residence, and the team attempts a deceptive maneuver to ensnare him in a trap. Regrettably, things don’t go according to plan, leading to a series of unexpected events. To wrap things up, an electrified underwater whirlpool, or cyclone, comes into play. Overall, it was an interesting episode, but the pacing and resolution could have been more engaging.

10) Invasion!

In its time, “Invasion!” was the most significant Arrowverse crossover event, marking the third official one. This epic saga brought together characters from Legends, Supergirl, Team Flash, and Team Arrow. Not only did it loosely adapt a 1989 comic book series with the same title, but it also served as a milestone for Arrow, being its 100th episode. This particular episode was arguably the best of the crossover, with a storyline where Team Arrow was kidnapped by Dominators and given a glimpse into what their lives might have become under mind control. The event also featured Brandon Routh acknowledging his past role as Superman, having starred in Superman Returns. This nod to fans has kept the event dear even today.

9) It’s My Party and I’ll Die if I Want To

I had the pleasure of witnessing the thrilling ninth episode of The Flash’s final season, titled “It’s My Party and I’ll Die If I Want To.” This unofficial Arrowverse crossover saw my birthday celebration disrupted by the resurfacing of Ramsey Rosso, aka Bloodwork. In essence, this episode revolved around Rosso’s sinister scheme to manipulate Wally West, aka Kid Flash (Keiynan Lonsdale), and exploit him as a means to access the multiverse with the intention of conquering it.

In the heat of the battle, I met my untimely end only to find myself face-to-face with none other than Oliver Queen, aka Green Arrow (Stephen Amell). Thankfully, I managed to return from the dead, and together we fought valiantly against Ramsey Rosso to save not just me but also the entire multiverse. What an exhilarating ride it was!

This installment offered a touch of resolution for the TV series Arrow, wrapping up following its association with the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” event. Moreover, it featured Diggle joining forces with Barry and Wally. It was satisfying to have some closure, yet the episode felt overly convoluted and perplexing, resembling more of an epilogue for Arrow rather than a true crossover experience.

8) Going Rogue

At the beginning of the series “The Flash”, we experienced several instances where characters from different shows interacted, and one such instance was the fourth episode of the first season titled “Going Rogue”. In this episode, Felicity paid a visit to Barry after learning about his speedster powers. There was a hint of romantic tension between the two characters; they even shared a kiss. At that time, Iris was dating Eddie and Felicity wasn’t involved with Oliver. It was all good. What made this crossover significant in hindsight is that it introduced us to Leonard Snart/Captain Cold (played by Wentworth Miller) and Mick Rory/Heatwave (portrayed by Dominic Purcell). These characters, initially portrayed as villains, later became heroes on “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”.

7) Star City 2046

In the first season of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, they joined the crossover events. Specifically, in the episode titled “Star City 2046”, the Waverider experiences technical difficulties and crashes in a grim Star City of the future, namely the year 2046. Upon arrival, the heroes discover that the city is under control of criminals and an embittered Oliver Queen. Although the crossover elements were relatively simple, what really makes “Star City 2046” stand out is the additional glimpses of a devastated future Star City in Arrow’s seventh season. These scenes provide a striking resemblance to the bleakness depicted in 2046.

6) World’s Finest

In addition, before “Supergirl” made its debut on The CW, it had already been part of the action. During the first season of the series, which initially aired on CBS, The Flash leaped not only between worlds but also networks when he crossed over to Supergirl’s universe. This encounter took place while Barry Allen was testing a tachyon device and found himself on Earth-38 where he met Supergirl/Kara Danvers (played by Melissa Benoist). Together, they fought against Livewire and Silver Banshee. Furthermore, there was an exciting race between the speedster and the Kryptonian that perfectly embodied the delight of comic book stories.

The episode is full of enjoyable moments, yet there’s something deeper too. “World’s Finest” was instrumental in introducing Supergirl into the Arrowverse, a transition that didn’t occur until Supergirl’s second season, when it shifted to The CW.

5) Duet

There’s simply no better pair than The Flash and Supergirl, so another crossover featuring these two is definitely on the agenda. In the third season of The Flash, we got “Duet”, an episode where music was central. Given that both Gustin and Benoist have musical backgrounds (they were previously on Glee), this episode had our heroes trapped in a coma. However, since it was Music Meister (played by Darren Criss) who caused the coma, they found themselves stuck in a musical world.

This installment features singing, dancing, a criminal underworld storyline, and characters resolving personal matters, including their romantic entanglements. To everyone’s surprise, Music Meister was not a villain but merely seeking resolution for their personal issues! It may seem peculiar, but it’s an enjoyable episode with tunes that are hard to resist humming along with.

4) Flash Vs. Arrow

Kicking off the series of crossovers, “Flash Vs. Arrow” featured Team Flash and Team Arrow squaring off against villains in both Central City and Starling (renamed Star) City. In terms of action, nothing out of the ordinary. However, what truly sets this crossover apart is its focus on Barry and Oliver getting to know each other. This unexpected friendship not only enhanced their personal bond but also proved instrumental when they had to work together as superheroes in future collaborations. It served as the foundation for all subsequent crossovers and remains one of the most memorable and well-executed.

3) Elseworlds

Essentially, “Flash Vs. Arrow” paved the way for “Elseworlds,” an event that transpired years afterward. As the fifth crossover, “Elseworlds” debuted characters like Batwoman/Kate Kane (played by Ruby Rose) and Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch) within the Arrowverse. Additionally, it featured Gotham City and a scenario where Flash and Green Arrow experienced their abilities and lives being interchanged due to Dr. John Deegan.

The “Elseworlds” event is strong in its own right, but what truly sets it apart is its role as a precursor to “Crisis on Infinite Earths”, the monumental and highly anticipated Arrowverse crossover that promises grand scale and ambition.

2) Crisis on Earth-X

Didn’t you think “Crisis on Infinite Earths” was coming up next? Well, you were close, but it takes the top spot. However, another Crisis is a very close second. The fourth official Arrowverse crossover was arguably the most intense of them all across various dimensions. On an alternate Earth named Earth-X, a Nazi regime held power with the Dark Arrow as leader of the New Reichsmen. After seizing control of a temporal gateway from the Freedom Fighters resistance, Dark Arrow, his Kryptonian wife Overgirl, and other Nazi versions of Arrowverse characters invaded our earth, disrupting Barry and Iris’ wedding ceremony.

It’s revealed that along with being malevolent Nazis, the Earth-X villains aim to take Supergirl’s heart. This is because Supergirl and Overgirl are mirror images of each other, and Overgirl is terminally ill. In the end, both Overgirl and Dark Arrow meet their demise, but it comes at a price. Martin Stein (portrayed by Victor Garber), one-half of Firestorm, passes away. The story concludes on a positive note as Barry and Iris tie the knot, though Oliver and Felicity do so simultaneously, which left some fans feeling uneasy.

1) Crisis on Infinite Earths

In simpler terms, “Crisis on Infinite Earths” can’t be easily condensed due to its complex narrative. This epic TV crossover, modeled after a famous comic book story, restructured the Arrowverse multiverse, merging Supergirl into the same world as other superheroes and incorporating Black Lightning officially. The event left fans shocked with the demise of Oliver Queen. Packed with numerous memorable guest appearances, including Tom Welling’s return as a Clark Kent variant and Brandon Routh donning the Superman suit again, it also spawned “Superman & Lois” and linked the Arrowverse to the DCEU. With its bold ambition, it successfully brought together multiple universes on screen.

The “Crisis” event marked not only the final large-scale Arrowverse crossover but also the culmination of “Arrow,” which was nearing its end. Over time, the remaining shows followed suit. However, “Crisis” took a comic that appeared to be unadaptable and transformed it into an exhilarating television experience for superhero enthusiasts. To this day, nothing has quite matched it, making it undeniably the best of the Arrowverse crossovers.

2025-03-01 07:11