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

5. Wonder Woman 1984

Wonder Woman 1984 had the unenviable task of having to follow its critically-acclaimed predecessor. The first genuine sequel the DCEU has spawned, that in itself is a testament to the popularity of Wonder Woman (the character and the film). The only thing WW84 had to do was prove itself.

That’s something it manages to do – and it does so in a bigger, louder and noisier way than before, making it clear from the offset that this is a much more ambitious film. Yes, the end result is still less successful than the original but that doesn’t make it a disappointment – far from it, in fact.

Wonder Woman 1984 is a larger-than-life adventure that gathers more and more momentum as it heads towards the finish line. It’s brighter than the previous one, with the colors bursting off the screen and drawing you into the events with ease. And it backs up its ambitiousness with another character-driven adventure.

Gal Gadot shines in the lead role, proving again why she’s the DCEU’s greatest asset and a worthy successor to the legendary Lynda Carter. This time, however, her performance is matched by Kristen Wiig and Pedro Pascal – both of whom have characters so richly layered that the stage was already set for some brilliant performances. And brilliant they were.

Wonder Woman 1984 didn’t outshine its predecessor and it isn’t quite as timeless either but what it is, though, is a ridiculously enjoyable thrill-ride that came into people’s lives when the world really needed the escapism. And, like Wonder Woman herself, its greatest asset is its heart.