10 worst DC movies that deserve a reboot

The DC Universe is full of bad movies with great concepts that deserve to be given another shot, despite what negative publicity may remain circling around their title characters. Cinemas have seen some true critical and commercial bombs released under the DC banner over the years, from one-off solo films to the movies of the DCEU. As bad as some of the adaptations can be, the fault is never to be laid with the source material itself, with some of DC’s most butchered concepts and characters deserving of another film attempt.

DC has previously made re-makes of poorly received films. Despite how rewilded 2016’s Suicide Squad was by both audiences and critics alike, by giving James Gunn another crack at the concept with The Suicide SquadThe franchise not only released one of their best films, but proved the concept for a James Gunn-led DCU. Other directors could do the same thing for many other DC properties, however infamous their movie versions might be.

10

Catwoman

Didn’t even try to represent the character

One DC movie that always remains an infamously poor attempt at superhero action is Halle Berry’s Catwoman. Can hardly be classified as a DC Comics adaptation at all, Catwoman Taking the title of the classic Batman villain and nothing else, crafting a completely 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.

Although Catwoman has had numerous film incarnations, her only solo project being completely divorced from her comic story is a sorely missed opportunity. In a modern age where movies and TV shows about Batman villains are increasingly popular, a single feature film revolving around Catwoman would be sure to do big numbers, especially with a luscious star attached on the same level as Halle Berry’s fame. After 20 years, it’s about time Catwoman got the respect she deserves with another crack at being a headliner.

9

Jonah Hex

Fumbled An atmospheric DC take on a classic western

An interesting character in the DC mythos, Jonah Hex is an Old West gunslinger who exists 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.. 2010s Jonah Hex Had to explore DC’s more distant chronological past a shot with Jonah Hex, Starring Josh Brolin in a comic book role long before his work in Deadpool 2 Or Avengers: Infinity War. Try as he might, Brolin’s acting skills aren’t enough to carry the unfocused mess of a story across the finish line.

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 has the potential to make an impression on audiences as a more unique comic book character. If DC ever decides to go west one more time, a stronger script could make a Jonah Hex Remake more than worth watching.

8

Steel

Could have really worked with stronger acting

One of the most painful forays into comic book movies in the late ’90s was none other than 1997’s. Steel. Starring NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal as the titular hero, Steel Taking a chance on a surprisingly dark DC character for the time it was made, John Henry Irons, an Iron Man-analog hero who uses his brilliant steel creations to fight crime in Superman’s image. sad, Steel was an utter flop in no small part to the starring athlete’s abysmal acting skills, not to mention the overall cheap production value.

Steele’s potential as a character is well-realized in animated Superman films like Reign of the Superman and live-action TV show appearances in dramas like Superman & Lois. With a bigger budget and a more experienced lead, another movie centered around Steele 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 the 1997s Steel Continues to plague John Henry Irons’ name.

7

swamp thing

A monstrous hero unique in the DC catalog

Swamp Thing may 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 in 1989 return from swamp thing, Which picks up where 1982s swamp thing Abandoned. Both films are closer to simple B-movie sci-fi horror fare than thoughtfully-crafted superhero stories, unapologetically campy to the point of excess.

With a more modern focus on the horror elements of the character, swamp thing It might actually succeed as a more mature R-rated DC movie, cultivating an ardent fanbase. The tragically short-lived swamp thing TV shows are the closest thing audiences have at the moment, never getting a chance to prove themselves 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 that requires less investment, Swamp Thing could be much better.

6

Green Lantern

Ryan Reynolds’s infamous bombshell

Few movie stars have been as openly antagonistic to their previous work as Ryan Reynolds has to Green Lantern. In interviews and the Deadpool In movies, Reynolds has relentlessly mocked the box office bomb in which he starred as Hal Jordan, failing to compellingly adapt the story of ​​one of the most important members of the Justice League. Since the film’s failure, Green Lantern has been largely avoided by live-action movies as a character, with a John Stewart Green Lantern cameo in Zack Snyder’s Justice League Even replaced with Martian Manhunter at Warner Brothers’ request.

Green Lantern is still a popular hero, getting his own solo film in the animated Tomorrowverse and slated to appear among the cast of the upcoming Superman: Legacy. Hopefully, this live-action appearance means that a DCU Green Lantern Remake is not far in the future, but with the negative stigma still attached to the title, it’s hard to say for sure. With how many different Green Lanterns there are, there are limitless directions a new solo film could go in, something that the DCU’s upcoming Lantern Series can touch.

5

The kitchen

A crime film that fails one of DC’s most obscure properties

Not commonly recognized as a DC Comics adaptation, The kitchen is an overlooked crime drama that deserves its place in pop culture obscurity by any measurable metric. While it’s obviously not in the same continuity as most of DC’s more famous characters, the original comic that the film is based on is indeed a DC story, albeit as a joint collaboration with Vertigo Comics. The movie was unable 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 of The kitchen is a woefully underrated collaboration that tells a wonderful 1970s crime story set in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen from Daredevil Room. Ripe for a proper movie adaptation, the female-led thriller already has a strong niche ready and waiting if it can be done justice. Unfortunately, with the 2019 failure of the kitchen, It’s unlikely that the lesser-known DC story will get the recognition it deserves.

4

Supergirl

Can’t live up to the Christopher Reeve movies

One of the earliest examples of a superhero movie spin-off, Supergirl It fell short of the high expectations placed on it by the iconic Christopher Reeve Superman movies. Tells the story of Superman’s cousin, Kara Zor-El, SupergirlHis unfortunate special effects and seeming lack of enthusiasm for his own character hindered any potential for critical success. While a version of Supergirl briefly appeared in the 2023s the place The character is yet to be blessed with another solo film.

Considering how iconic Supergirl is as one of DC’s leading heroes in the comics, it’s a shame that studios didn’t take 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 from House of the Dragon Rum is cast as Kara in Superman: Legacy. The forgettable villain and boring story of the original Supergirl Leave endless room for improvement.

3

The bottle

Missed one of DC’s most important stories

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 bottle was a pivotal breaking point for the DCEU, being the first live-action solo film to follow Barry Allen in an independent interpretation of the famous DC crossover story, Flashpoint. Unfortunately, between the abysmal CGI filling in painfully shoehorned cameos and the negative buzz surrounding star Ezra Miller’s controversy at the time, The bottle Failed to impress both commercially and critically.

Considering he was the star of a long-running TV drama that led 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.

2

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Didn’t feel like the epic crossover it was meant to be

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was one of the most 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 have seemed like an easy recipe for success.

That’s not to say there isn’t a lot of potential for a film that examines a fight between two of DC’s most iconic heroes. Without the divisive nature of Snyder’s weird decisions, the film could have the potential to be a cinematic event on the same level as The Avengers. Perhaps after allowing his own identity for these characters to develop into their own solo projects, the DCU can once again pit their version of Batman and Superman against each other for better results.

1

Black Adam

Failed to restructure DC’s hero hierarchy

Even if Black Adam is 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 have been a stepping stone for DC’s moviemaking efforts. sad, Black Adam Failing to permanently change the hierarchy of power in the DC Universe as promised, spending so much time developing future films that it forgot to present a good story in its own right. While there are elements of Black Adam To be honest, it was a crushing blow to the DCEU’s momentum.

Black Adam Could have done better as a more focused villain origin story, like per the likes of joker, Rather than a pseudo team-up film. Black Adam is certainly a compelling character if given enough room to breathe and interact with his classic nemesis, Shazam. For now, the DC Universe is unlikely to bring Black Adam back to the spotlight.

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