Smallville
2001–2011
The show takes place between 2001 and 2011 in a parallel universe.
The best media to introduce Superman's entourage and iconic villains.
If you're here, it's because you want to discover the DC Multiverse, or watch one of its branches, in its most optimized order, a mix of chronological order and release order. You'll find extra details by clicking on each media, and this entire site is guaranteed free of major spoilers.
Fair warning: this section is a huge mess. Even though a lot of media has been cut, watching everything that's left still takes a lot — a LOT — of time. If you're only here for the Arrowverse, the DCEU or the DCU, you can pick your line when you arrive on the page, or higher up, under the network map.
Fair question: how is this whole mess connected?
This order favors a progressive discovery of the DC Multiverse. Several shows and movies take place in different realities but end up sharing connections. Watching everything in this order helps you understand the characters, references and events that tie these universes together, while preserving the major surprises.
How to read this
The main chronologies
The universe's two main chronologies take place on Earth-1 and Earth-TUD13.
Soft-canon
The term soft-canon refers to media whose events partly happened the same way in another universe — more info in the descriptions.
Flashbacks
Some events work better as a FLASHBACK for understanding, and are marked as such.
Duplicate faces
The DC Multiverse works in a peculiar way: two different characters can have the exact same face (examples: Flash's father (2014) and Flash (1990), Supergirl (1984) and Superman's mother (Smallville) but also Supergirl's adoptive mother (2015)).
What's left out, and why4 entries
Some media is intentionally left out because it's not at all important for understanding the Multiverse's chronology and its key events.
- Everything released before 1989
- Every media released before 1989.
- The shows
- Flash (1990), Lois & Clark, Lucifer, Pennyworth, Swamp-Thing, Doom Patrol, Powerless, Birds of Prey (2002).
- The movies
- Constantine (2005), the Watchmen movie and show, both Joker movies, the Green Lantern movie, the Catwoman movie.
- The rest
- Plenty of other lesser-known movies and shows, almost every animated movie and show, every comic, every video game.
Filters, search, legend and sources147 / 147 shown
Level
Media types
Branches
MarkersFLASHBACK
SOFT-CANON
EARTH-XXXX
Superman origins
Krypton
???
The show takes place 200 years before Superman's birth on the planet Krypton.
Originally planned as a Man of Steel prequel, Krypton ultimately takes place in its own universe. Canceled after 2 seasons, but a nice way to expand Superman's lore.
Superman Returns
2006
The movie takes place in 2006, after the soft-canon events of Superman and Superman II, which happened the same way but in different eras.
Soft-canon sequel to Superman and Superman II — the events happened the same way but in different eras.
Batman origins
Batman
1989
The movie takes place in 1989 in a parallel universe.
One of the most iconic and genre-defining superhero movies.
Batman Returns
1992
Direct sequel to Batman (1989) in the same universe.
The 2 sequels Batman Forever and Batman & Robin were officially decanonized and take place in an alternate reality close to Burton's 2 movies.
Batman Begins
2005
The Dark Knight
2008
The Dark Knight Rises
2016
Gotham
???
The show takes place in an alternate past with no precise date, before Batman's appearance.
Like Smallville, a nice way to explore the origins of Batman's entourage and iconic villains.
Titans
2018
Titans
2019
Arrowverse
Arrow
2012–2014
Arrow
2014
The Flash
2014
Arrow
2014
The Flash
2014
Arrow
2014
The Flash
2014
Arrow
2014
The Flash
2014
Arrow
2014
The Flash
2014–2015
Arrow
2014–2015
Constantine
2014
Arrow
2015
The Flash
2015
Arrow
2015
Supergirl
2015
Arrow
2015
The Flash
2015
Supergirl
2015
Arrow
2015
The Flash
2015
Supergirl
2015
Arrow
2015
The Flash
2015
Arrow
2015
Supergirl
2015–2016
Arrow
2015–2016
The Flash
2015–2016
Supergirl
2015–2016
Arrow
2015–2016
The Flash
2015–2016
Supergirl
2015–2016
Arrow
2016
The Flash
2016
Supergirl
2016
Legends of Tomorrow
2016
Supergirl
2016
The Flash
2016
Arrow
2016
Legends of Tomorrow
2016
Black Lightning
2016
Supergirl
2016
The Flash
2016
Arrow
2016
Legends of Tomorrow
2016
Supergirl
2016–2017
The Flash
2016–2017
Arrow
2016–2017
Legends of Tomorrow
2016–2017
Black Lightning
2016–2017
Supergirl
2017
The Flash
2017
Arrow
2017
Legends of Tomorrow
2017
Black Lightning
2017
Supergirl
2017
The Flash
2017
Arrow
2017
Legends of Tomorrow
2017
Supergirl
2017–2018
The Flash
2017–2018
Arrow
2017–2018
Legends of Tomorrow
2017–2018
Black Lightning
2017–2018
Supergirl
2018
The Flash
2018
Arrow
2018
Legends of Tomorrow
2018
Black Lightning
2018
Batwoman
2018
The Flash
2018
Arrow
2018
Supergirl
2018
The Flash
2018–2019
Arrow
2018–2019
Legends of Tomorrow
2018–2019
Black Lightning
2018–2019
Supergirl
2019
Batwoman
2019
The Flash
2019
Arrow
2019
Black Lightning
2019
Supergirl
2019
Batwoman
2019
The Flash
2019
Arrow
2019
Legends of Tomorrow
2019
DCEU
Man of Steel
2013
The movie takes place in 2013 and marks the start of the DCEU on Earth-TUD13.
It's the starting point of the DCEU, DC's cinematic universe. Watch it before Batman v Superman.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
2015
⚠️ Ultimate Edition version!!!
Wonder Woman
1918
Wonder Woman 1984
1984
Suicide Squad
2016
Zack Snyder's Justice League
2017
Aquaman
2017–2018
Shazam!
2018
Birds of Prey
2020
The Suicide Squad
2020–2021
Peacemaker
2021
Black Adam
2021
Shazam! Fury of the Gods
2022
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
2022
Blue Beetle
2023
The Flash
2023
Final DCEU movie — reboots the universe into the DCU
The movie takes place in 2023 and closes out the DCEU.
This movie is the bridge between the DCEU and the DCU. It resets the universe and introduces James Gunn's new DC era. Watch it before Creature Commandos.
Arrowverse — After the event
Black Lightning
2019–2020
Supergirl
2019–2020
Batwoman
2019–2020
The Flash
2019–2020
Arrow
2019–2020
Legends of Tomorrow
2019–2020
Supergirl
2020–2021
Batwoman
2020–2021
The Flash
2020–2021
Legends of Tomorrow
2020–2021
Black Lightning
2020–2021
Batwoman
2021
The Flash
2021
Legends of Tomorrow
2021–2022
The Flash
2021–2022
The Flash
2023
Post-event Elseworlds
Stargirl
2020
Season 1 takes place in 2020 on the new Earth-2.
Stargirl
2021
Stargirl
2021
Titans
2021
Titans
2021
Superman & Lois
2021–2024
The show takes place between 2021 and 2024.
Originally conceived as a continuation of Supergirl's Superman, the show ultimately takes place in a very close but distinct reality.
The Batman
2022
The Penguin
2022
DCU — New Universe
Suicide Squad
2016
The movie takes place in 2016.
Some events happen just like in the DCEU minus the cameos, some characters faces that might change and the end is different.
The Suicide Squad
2022
The movie takes place in 2022.
Most of the events happen just like in the DCEU. We don't know yet whether every character will have the same face in the DCU.
Peacemaker
2023
The show takes place in 2023, after The Suicide Squad.
Most of the events happen just like in the DCEU, with the notable exception of the scene with the other heroes.
Clayface
~202X
Creature Commandos
2024
Superman
2025
The movie takes place in 2025 in the brand-new DCU.
The first big movie of James Gunn's DCU. A complete fresh start for Superman and the DC universe on the big screen.
Peacemaker
2025
Supergirl
2026
Lanterns
2016-2026