DC launched its DC Extended Universe (DCEU) with the release of Man of Steel in 2013 (more on that soon). The fifth movie in the DCEU was Justice League (2017), a blockbuster superhero team-up featuring the likes of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.

Justice League was plagued by production issues. Director Zack Snyder stepped down during post-production due to a family tragedy and was replaced by Joss Whedon, who oversaw extensive reshoots. The movie received a mixed critical response and holds a critic score of just 39% on Rotten Tomatoes, though the general audience score is more positive at 67%.

The film grossed nearly $656 million globally (approximately $875m/£650m today) against a production budget of $300 million (around $400m/£297m today). While not a total flop, it underperformed significantly.

In 2021, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, a director's cut restoring Snyder’s original vision, was released on HBO Max. It received a more favourable reception from both fans and critics.

Every Superman and Supergirl movie ranked by box office success