DCEU: All 16 DC Extended Universe films ranked from worst to best (including Aquaman 2)

8. Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)

Given how Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn was the silver lining of the reviled Suicide Squad, it was only a matter of time until she got her own starring vehicle. Enter Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of one Harley Quinn). Now, cumbersome title aside, the film promised to offer fans yet another different side to the continually-experimental DCEU and, for the most part, it pulled it off.

A fabulously enjoyable picture, Birds of Prey was a vivid experience in every way imaginable – though we’d expect nothing less from a film headlined by Harley Quinn – that gave life to an admittedly light story, while also managing to introduce some of DC’s most iconic heroines into the its shared universe of big-screen heroes.

Robbie stole the show once more, but she was given solid competition from Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Rosie Perez, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Ewan McGregor – all of whom delivered in their roles as Black Canary, Renee Montoya, Huntress and Black Mask.

It’s not perfect – the cutting back-and-forth in the first act is a rather off-putting and there really should be more focus on the titular group of DC heroines – but strong characterization, a decent plot and some of the best action scenes in recent cinematic history ensure that Birds of Prey might just be the DCEU’s most enjoyable showdown yet.

More of this, please!