DC hasn’t had the best run of luck with their movies over the last decade or so, but some movies do end up making a lot more sense on a rewatch. While DC led the way in terms of movies as early as the 1940s down through the decades and into the 2000s, more recent entries lean into more complex storytelling.

This is in no way a bad thing, but it does mean that some of their stories require a rewatch to fully appreciate and embrace the messages behind the movie. And sometimes, this clarity helps to improve the finished product. However, there are films where the improved clarity doesn’t do much to improve the quality.

That being said, these are some of the biggest releases from DC that feel like they need a rewatch to fully get your head around the ideas being laid out, and fully appreciate the story. For better or for worse, these stories evolve upon closer, repeated inspection.

Watchman’s Murder Mystery Feels Even More Interesting On A Rewatch

Watchmen premiered in 2009, adapted from the incredibly popular comic book story by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. The movie is expansive, coming in at two hours and 42 minutes, and expanding even further in the beloved director’s cut editions of this iconic Zack Snyder film.

However, the story is complex, following several major characters, including Rorschach, Nite Owl, and Silk Specter, to name just a few of the film’s biggest characters. And the film is framed as a murder mystery, with Rorschach investigating a murder, and a plot to detonate a nuclear weapon in New York.

With so much going on, it’s difficult to digest it all in just one viewing. However, a rewatch can serve to drastically enhance the viewing experience and reveal new details about the story as it develops. It’s a stunning story, and one that benefits hugely from repeat viewings.

The Batman’s Story Makes Most Sense On A Second Watch

The Batman, by director Matt Reeves, managed to do something seemingly impossible after Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, delivering a stunning Batman story that reinvented the character and the city of Gotham once again.

The film features perhaps the greatest and most intimidating iteration of the Riddler ever to appear on-screen, played by Paul Dano, and over the course of the movie, the mysteries are slowly revealed. The way the film captures Batman’s perspective as he investigates the case is impressive.

However, upon a second watch, it’s easier to focus on Robert Pattinson’s performance as the character, and appreciate how he goes about investigating, without having the weight of those same mysteries nagging at the audience and demanding answers.

The first viewing is special as the audience grows with Batman and his discoveries, but a second watch enhances the character overall, and makes for a more captivating experience as Batman leads the story and grows beyond being a novice detective.

The Suicide Squad’s Villain Twist Totally Changes How A Rewatch Feels

The Suicide Squad also features a series of shocking twists and big reveals. From the movie’s earliest moments, when several characters who appeared heavily in the marketing end up being killed off in minutes, the story shifts its focus to the backup team of anti-heroes.

But beyond that, this movie reveals Amanda Waller for who she truly is. A self-serving, pragmatic, and cunning operative who is more than willing to put other people’s lives on the line to get her way. On a first watch, Waller seems to be a generally neutral character, until it’s revealed why she sent Task Force X to Corto Maltese.

On a rewatch, seeing Waller for who she is reframes the story, and changes the entire outlook of how these characters operate, and the orders they are beng given. As great as the movie is on a first watch, it gets better with subsequent viewings.

Wonder Woman Has An Incredible Villain Twist

Speaking of twists around the central villains in a story, Wonder Woman might just have one of the best in the entire DCEU. While the DCEU had many flaws, Wonder Woman was a shining bright spot in that run of films.

As Diana Prince grows up on Themyscira, she learns about legends and the history of the gods, with a particular focus on how the world outside has often fallen under the influence of Ares, the God of War. However, Themyscira is also destined to give rise to the God Killer, a legendary figure capable of slaying Ares himself.

When Diana learns about the Great War happening beyond the walls of her protected home, she is compelled to go and help those in need. In this effort, she allies herself with Steve Trevor, and works with the British Intelligence agency.

However, it is revealed later in the film that Sir Patrick Morgan, a high-ranking official in the British Intelligence agency, is in fact Ares. With this knowledge revealed, it entirely reframes every interaction Diana has with Sir Patrick earlier in the film. And hugely enhances David Thewlis’ performance.

The Dark Knight Rises Introduces Talia al Ghul Early On

In The Dark Knight Rises, Bruce Wayne develops a close connection with Miranda Tate, a wealthy socialite and philanthropist who Bruce builds a close relationship with. Throughout their encounters, Bruce finds that he has a lot of respect for Miranda, and he entrusts her with his company when things go awry.

However, Miranda Tate is revealed to be none other than Talia al Ghul, the daughter of Ra’s al Ghul, and his successor in the League of Shadows. Knowing from the start that Miranda Tate is a ruse to ensnare Bruce and the Batman changes how everything plays out.

Of course, as a Christopher Nolan movie, this is executed with incredible grace and skill in a way that makes subsequent viewings significantly more interesting and easier to understand.

Batman 1989 Changes Bruce Wayne’s Origin Story

Batman 1989 presents an incredible depiction of the тιтular hero, played by Michael Keaton, and one of the most enduring portrayals of Joker, played by Jack Nicholson, as the film slowly reveals Nicholson’s Joker’s origin story.

Initially, this Joker was a criminal named Jack Napier, but through a series of unfortunate events, Jack was left scarred and permanently disfigured, transforming him into the character of the Joker. But even more shocking is the reveal that this movie positions Jack Napier as the man who sH๏τ Thomas and Martha Wayne.

In the comics, the criminal who shoots Bruce’s parents is usually Joe Chill, but this change makes the story, and the rivalry between Batman and the Joker, all the more intense and compelling. Especially on a second viewing.

The Flash Rewrites History As The Film Goes On

Now, while many films demand a rewatch to improve the quality of the story, some simply stand out as too confusing and messy to be properly understood upon a first viewing. This is the case with The Flash, a movie that is incredibly dense, and attempted to restart the DCEU.

The movie includes several major twists, appearances from old and new heroes, and travels through time and multiple dimensions. With all of these developments in place, there is a lot to unpack, and it requires at least a second watch to make more sense of what is going on.

Overall, each of these movies benefits mᴀssively from a rewatch that makes the story more coherent, and often improves the piece. And even in the films, when it fails to improve the quality, it at least adds to the overall experience, which in turn results in an improved appreciation of these DC films across the board.