DC Comics has been known for paving the way for superheroes, both in comics and movies. It popularized the superhero genre with movies like The Dark Knight, Superman, and Wonder Woman. Unfortunately, the brand has also been a pioneer in producing several one-of-a-kind stinkers. Some of those failures have redeeming qualities. For instance, the much-maligned Suicide Squadis memorable for its alternative, punk take on the characters and even won an Oscar, or Batman & Robinis actually very entertaining in a less traditional, campy way.
However, the DC movies on this list are embarrassingly terrible. They adapted promising characters and translated them into poor depictions on screen. From baffling creative choices to laughable effects, the films on this list have earned lasting reputations for all the wrong reasons. With promising movies in theDCU horizon, let us hope that the movies on this list are just things of the past.
5
‘Jonah Hex’ (2010)
Jonah Hex (Josh Brolin) with a firearm in ‘Jonah Hex’Image via Warner Bros.
Jonah Hex follows the titular scarred bounty hunter played by Josh Brolin as he hunts Quentin Turnbull (John Malkovich), the man responsible for murdering his family and leaving him disfigured. In his quest, Hex uses his mysterious ability to communicate with the dead to gather information and track his Turnbull. Hex has to stop Turnbull from attacking the country using an experimental superweapon on July 4th.
Jonah Hex is one of the most confused comic-book adaptations ever released. At barely eighty minutes, the film rushes through major story developments so quickly that audiences barely have time to register what is happening. From the production, it was already a disaster. Original directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor quit the film and was replaced by the director of Horton Hears a Whoand there were extensive reshoots done in 12 days. The talented cast could not salvage the film, and with the tonal inconsistencies and rushed pacing, the result feels like a rough cut rather than a finished film.
4
‘Superman IV: The Quest for Peace’ (1987)
Superman fights Nuclear Man on the moon in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.Image via Warner Bros.
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace focuses on Superman’s (Christopher Reeve) decision to rid the world of nuclear weapons after receiving a letter from a concerned child. His efforts draw the attention of Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman), who was freed from prison by his cousin. They obtain Superman’s DNA and create Nuclear Man (Mark Pillow), a superpowered villain designed specifically to defeat the Man of Steel.
By the fourth film, Supermanhad nothing left in his tank. The third film was still a moderate success even though it was not received well by either critics or audiences. Despite a timely premise about nuclear disarmament, the film was marred by severe budget cuts, resulting in cheap visual effects. The action sequence between Superman and Nuclear Man is so laughable that it probably is a compliment to even call it an action sequence. Nuclear Man himself is among the least compelling comic-book villains ever put on screen. Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder‘s performances are buried under a disappointing film that should not be released at all. The Superman franchise was put on ice for 19 years because of this film.
3
‘Supergirl’ (1984)
Supergirl introduces Kara Zor-El (Helen Slater), Superman’s cousin, who leaves her home in Argo City after accidentally losing a powerful energy source known as the Omegahedron. Her search brings her to Earth, where the device falls into the hands of Selena (Faye Dunaway), an aspiring witch who wants to rule the world with her powers. Assuming the identity of Supergirl, Kara attempts to recover the Omegahedron while also living her life among humans.
Just several years before this film the Superman franchise was soaring with Superman II. When Superman III stumbled, Supergirl also followed suit. The film struggles with pacing, spending long stretches on subplots that add little excitement or emotional depth. The special effects were unimpressive even for their era, and the story lacks the sense of wonder. Most importantly, Supergirl herself is one-dimensional and thoroughly unappealing. On a positive note, Helen Slater found herself being involved in Superman-related projects afterwards, like Smallvilleand the SupergirlTV series. On an even more positive note, the new Supergirlfilm is miles better than this.
Collider Exclusive · Marvel Personality Quiz Which MCU Hero Are You? Spider-Man · Daredevil · Iron Man · Punisher · Thor · Cap
Six heroes. One destiny. Answer 10 questions to discover which Marvel Cinematic Universe hero shares your personality, values, and fighting spirit. Will you swing, fly, or thunder your way to glory?
🕷️Spider-Man
😈Daredevil
🤖Iron Man
💀Punisher
⚡Thor
🛡️Cap
01
What drives you to do what’s right? Choose the answer that feels most like you.
02
It’s 2 AM. Where are you? Your answer says more about you than you’d think.
03
How do you handle a villain who keeps escaping justice? Every hero has a method. What’s yours?
04
How do you feel about keeping a secret identity? The mask — or the lack of one — says everything.
05
You’ve lost someone important because of your heroism. How do you carry that? Every hero pays a price. The question is how they pay it.
06
What’s your role when working with a team? Who you are under pressure is who you actually are.
07
Where do you draw the line between justice and revenge? The answer defines what kind of hero you really are.
08
When you’re not saving the world, what does life look like? The person behind the mask is always the more interesting story.
09
What keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.
10
The battle is lost. You’re outnumbered, outgunned, and exhausted. What do you do? This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully.
Your Hero Has Been Identified Your MCU Hero Is…
Based on your answers, the Marvel hero who matches your spirit, values, and instincts has been revealed.
Queens, New York
🕷️ Spider-Man
You carry the weight of the world on shoulders that are younger than they should have to be — funny, loyal, and endlessly self-sacrificing.
You do the right thing not because it’s easy, but because no one else will.
You understand that responsibility isn’t a burden you choose — it’s one that finds you.
Whether it’s a neighbourhood mugging or a multiverse crisis, you show up.
Peter Parker’s lesson — that great power demands great responsibility — isn’t a slogan to you. It’s the code you live by, even when it costs you everything.
Hell’s Kitchen, New York
😈 Daredevil
You fight in the shadows between law and chaos, guided by a fierce moral compass that refuses to let the guilty walk free.
You use every tool available — your mind, your body, your faith — to protect those the system overlooks.
You’ve looked into the darkness and chosen not to become it, though the line has never been easy.
Matt Murdock’s duality — champion in the courtroom, devil in the alley — mirrors your own.
Relentless, conflicted, and unwilling to stop. That is exactly you.
Stark Industries, Malibu
🤖 Iron Man
Brilliant, driven, and occasionally insufferable — but always the person who solves the unsolvable problem.
You lead with your mind and back it up with resources, innovation, and a stubbornness that borders on heroic.
You started out looking out for yourself, but somewhere along the way the world became your responsibility.
Tony Stark’s arc — from ego to sacrifice — is your arc too.
You build, you plan, and when the moment comes, you’re willing to give everything. Because in the end, you’re Iron Man.
New York City
💀 The Punisher
You’ve been through fire that would break most people — and it did change you, completely. What’s left is unyielding, relentless, and operating by a code forged in grief.
You don’t ask for forgiveness, and you don’t expect gratitude.
You see a corrupt, broken world and you’ve decided to do something about it, consequences be damned.
Frank Castle’s war is born from love twisted by loss — and so is yours.
Uncompromising and unflinching — the world may not agree with your methods, but your conviction is absolute.
Asgard · Protector of the Nine Realms
⚡ Thor
Powerful, proud, and on a lifelong journey to become worthy of the legend you carry.
You lead with strength but have learned — sometimes painfully — that true greatness comes from humility and growth.
You’re larger than life, yet more vulnerable than you let on.
Thor’s story is one of transformation: from arrogant prince to worthy king, from isolated warrior to beloved protector.
You bring the storm when it’s needed — and the warmth when it matters just as much.
Brooklyn, New York · The Avengers
🛡️ Captain America
You believe in something bigger than yourself — and you fight for it even when the world has moved on and nobody else will.
You don’t bully the small guy, and you never stop when it gets hard.
Steve Rogers didn’t become a hero when he got the serum — he was always one. So were you.
Your strength isn’t in your fists; it’s in your refusal to compromise what’s right, no matter the cost.
In a world full of people taking the easy road, you’re the one who picks up the shield and stands up — every single time.
2
‘Steel’ (1997)
Shaquille O’Neal with a steel mask, looking at the camera in SteelImage via Warner Bros.
Steel follows weapons designer John Henry Irons (Shaquille O’Neill), who leaves the military after seeing his weapon accidentally cripple his colleague. When a former colleague begins selling experimental weapons to criminals, Irons decides to take matters into his own hands. Building a metal suit of armor and arming himself with a hammer, he becomes the vigilante Steel.
The film never justified itself for being a film. It unfolds episodically like a TV show, with a simplistic script and cheap production values. Stunt casting Shaquille O’Neal might looked cool on paper, but his limited acting range becomes a major obstacle when the film asks him to carry out dramatic moments. There is literally nothing memorable in this film other than it’s Shaq in a steel suit. Choosing a rather niche character like Steel was also a questionable business decision. The character Steel appeared in the series Superman & Lois, with a cooler depiction and stronger purpose.
1
‘Catwoman’ (2004)
Sharon Stone and Halle Berry as Laurel Hedare and Catwoman, talking intensely in CatwomanImage via Warner Bros.
Catwoman follows Patience Phillips (Halle Berry), a shy graphic designer who discovers a conspiracy at a cosmetics company after learning that one of its beauty products causes severe health problems. After being murdered to keep her quiet, she is mysteriously revived by a magical Egyptian cat and transformed into Catwoman. She uses her feline powers to investigate the corporation’s crimes and expose her boss (Sharon Stone)
The biggest problem with Catwoman is that almost every creative decision feels misguided. Rather than adapting the beloved DC character, the film invents an entirely new and unrelated mythology that strips away everything audiences associate with Catwoman. The character’s name is not even called Selina Kyle, but it still has the DC brand. Directed by the enigmatically named Pitof, the film has a weird sense of style that’s filled with fast editing and bizarre camera angles. Being the Oscar-winner that she is, Halle Berry fully commits to the role, making the film even campier. Live-action Catwomen have been successful after this film, proving that the cat has nine lives indeed.
