With Superman: Man of Tomorrow landing July 9, 2027, here’s a quick-glance guide to exactly what’s worth watching first — from new DCU canon to essential DC classics.
Quick Table — Watch Order at a Glance
| # | Title | Year | Runtime | Type | Where to Watch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Superman | 2025 | 2h 9m | New DCU (Canon) | HBO Max |
| 2 | Creature Commandos | 2024 | 7 episodes (~30 min) | New DCU (Canon) | HBO Max |
| 3 | Peacemaker Season 2 | 2026 | 8 episodes | New DCU (Direct Setup) | HBO Max |
| 4 | Clayface | 2026 | TBA | New DCU (Canon) | Theatrical/HBO Max |
| 5 | Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow | 2026 | TBA | New DCU (Canon) | Theatrical/HBO Max |
| 6 | Lanterns | 2026 | 8 episodes | New DCU (Canon) | HBO Max |
| 7 | Man of Steel | 2013 | 2h 23m | Elseworlds (Prior DCEU) | HBO Max |
| 8 | Wonder Woman | 2017 | 2h 21m | Elseworlds (Prior DCEU) | HBO Max |
| 9 | The Dark Knight | 2008 | 2h 32m | Elseworlds (Standalone) | HBO Max |
| 10 | Watchmen | 2009 | 2h 43m (Theatrical) | Elseworlds (Standalone) | HBO Max |
Total time investment: Roughly 20–24 hours to complete the full list, depending on cut versions watched (e.g., Watchmen’s extended Ultimate Cut runs longer).
Introduction
James Gunn’s new DC Universe is building fast. With Superman: Man of Tomorrow confirmed for July 9, 2027, there’s a real question worth answering before then: what actually matters to watch first? Between the brand-new DCU continuity and decades of essential DC classics, it’s easy to feel lost. Here are the 10 titles worth prioritizing — a mix of direct DCU setup and essential DC viewing that’ll make you a sharper, more informed fan by the time Superman returns.
Genre, Platform
- Genre: Superhero / Action / Sci-Fi
- Platform: HBO Max, theatrical, digital rental
1. Superman (2025)
Runtime: 2h 9m | Rated: PG-13 | RT Score: 83% Critics / 93% Audience | Box Office: $579M worldwide The essential starting point. James Gunn’s DCU reboot introduces David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, establishing the new universe’s tone, key relationships, and Lex Luthor’s ongoing vendetta — a storyline Man of Tomorrow‘s title reveal directly teased with an image of Luthor in his Warsuit standing beside Superman. The film also introduces Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner, Edi Gathegi’s Mister Terrific, and Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl, giving early glimpses of the wider DCU roster that continues to expand across subsequent films. It became the highest-grossing superhero film of 2025 and set the biggest-ever domestic opening for a solo Superman film, making it a genuine commercial and critical reset for the franchise — reason enough on its own to prioritize this one first.
2. Creature Commandos (2024, Animated Series)
The actual first entry in the new DCU, this adult-animated series lays early groundwork for the universe’s tone and introduces several characters and government-level intrigue that connects to the wider DCU story, including Peacemaker. Created by James Gunn himself, the seven-episode series follows a team of monstrous, morally compromised operatives assembled by Amanda Waller for black-ops missions — establishing the DCU’s willingness to blend horror elements with superhero storytelling early on.
Why it matters to you: At only seven roughly 30-minute episodes, this is the lowest time-commitment entry on the list, making it an easy, low-risk way to get a feel for the new DCU’s tone before committing to the bigger films.
3. Peacemaker Season 2 (2026)
According to reports, Peacemaker Season 2 will “directly” set up the story for Man of Tomorrow, making it essential viewing rather than optional side content for anyone wanting full context before the Superman sequel. John Cena reprises his role as Christopher Smith/Peacemaker, continuing directly from the character’s Creature Commandos and Superman (2025) appearances, in what’s shaping up to be one of the most important connective pieces of DCU Chapter One.
Why it matters to you: If you only have time for one non-Superman title before Man of Tomorrow, this is the one to prioritize — skipping it means missing story beats that reportedly feed directly into the sequel.
4. Clayface (2026)
Directed by James Watkins and written by Mike Flanagan, this body-horror entry into the DCU expands the new universe’s tone into genuinely unsettling territory, starring Tom Rhys Harries and Naomi Ackie. The film follows a washed-up actor who becomes the shape-shifting villain Clayface after a desperate deal goes wrong, marking one of the DCU’s boldest genre departures and signaling Gunn’s willingness to let individual DCU films explore genres well outside traditional superhero action.
Why it matters to you: If body horror isn’t your genre, this one is more skippable for pure Man of Tomorrow context — but it’s worth watching if you want the fullest possible picture of how varied the new DCU’s tone can get.
5. Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (2026)
Directed by Craig Gillespie and starring Milly Alcock, this outer-space-set film expands the Kryptonian side of the DCU ahead of Man of Tomorrow, offering a parallel perspective to Superman’s own story. Based on Tom King’s acclaimed comic run, the film follows Kara Zor-El as a grittier, more hardened Kryptonian than her cousin, taking on a bounty-hunting mission across the galaxy that offers a very different tonal register from Gunn’s optimistic Superman.
Why it matters to you: Given the shared Kryptonian lineage, this is one of the more directly relevant entries for understanding the broader “Superman family” dynamics likely to matter in Man of Tomorrow.
6. Lanterns (2026, HBO Series)
Part of the DCU’s Chapter One rollout, this series brings the Green Lantern Corps into live-action continuity, rounding out the cosmic side of Gunn’s new universe before the next Superman chapter. Described by Gunn as more of a character-driven crime drama than a traditional space epic, the series centers on Hal Jordan and John Stewart investigating a mystery in rural America that has cosmic-level implications, expanding the DCU’s tonal range even further.
Why it matters to you: This is the most tonally distinct entry on the list — if you’re curious how far Gunn is willing to stretch the DCU’s genre range, this is worth prioritizing alongside Clayface.
7. Man of Steel (2013)
While not part of the new DCU continuity, Zack Snyder’s Superman origin story remains essential viewing for understanding how Superman has been reinterpreted on screen — a useful contrast for seeing exactly what Gunn’s version chose to do differently. Henry Cavill’s more brooding, morally conflicted take on Clark Kent offers a direct tonal counterpoint to David Corenswet’s warmer, more hopeful portrayal, making it valuable comparative viewing even outside current canon.
Why it matters to you: Watching this right after the new Superman (2025) makes the tonal shift Gunn made unmistakably clear — it’s the single best way to understand what “hopeful DCU” actually means in practice.
8. Wonder Woman (2017)
Widely considered one of the strongest films of the previous DCEU era, Patty Jenkins’s Wonder Woman remains essential DC viewing regardless of continuity, offering some of the most acclaimed superhero storytelling the studio has produced. Gal Gadot’s performance and the film’s World War I setting gave the DCEU one of its most critically and commercially successful entries, and it remains a useful benchmark for what DC films can achieve at their best.
Why it matters to you: If you’re new to DC film history and only have room for one “legacy” DCEU film beyond Man of Steel, this is the one most critics and fans agree is worth your time.
9. The Dark Knight (2008)
Christopher Nolan’s Batman sequel exists outside both DCU continuities as a standalone Elseworlds story, but no “essential DC viewing” list is complete without it — it remains one of the most influential superhero films ever made. Heath Ledger’s Academy Award-winning performance as the Joker redefined what a comic book villain could be on screen, and the film’s crime-thriller structure continues to influence superhero filmmaking nearly two decades later.
Why it matters to you: This one isn’t really optional viewing for any self-respecting DC fan — even if it has zero direct connection to Man of Tomorrow, it’s foundational to understanding the genre’s ceiling.
10. Watchmen (2009)
Zack Snyder’s adaptation of Alan Moore’s landmark graphic novel offers a darker, more deconstructed take on the superhero genre, giving fans important genre context even outside the mainline DCU continuity. Set in an alternate 1985 where costumed vigilantes are outlawed, the film interrogates the very idea of the superhero, offering a useful philosophical counterpoint to the more optimistic tone Gunn’s DCU has embraced.
Why it matters to you: Save this one for last — it works best as a palate-cleanser after nine more traditional superhero entries, showing just how far the genre can be pushed tonally.
Why This Order Matters
- Direct DCU continuity comes first — Superman (2025), Creature Commandos, Peacemaker Season 2, Clayface, Supergirl, and Lanterns are all part of the same interconnected universe leading into Man of Tomorrow.
- Peacemaker Season 2 is not optional — with reports confirming it directly sets up Man of Tomorrow’s story, skipping it means missing key context.
- Classic viewing rounds out the picture — Man of Steel, Wonder Woman, The Dark Knight, and Watchmen aren’t DCU-canon, but they inform the broader DC cinematic language Gunn is both building on and departing from.
- Timing works in your favor — with Man of Tomorrow not arriving until July 2027, there’s plenty of time to work through this list before release.
Recommendations — If You Want to Go Deeper
- Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) — for more context on the previous DCEU’s take on Superman and Luthor’s dynamic.
- Aquaman (2018) — the highest-grossing film of the previous DCEU era, worth watching for broader DC context.
- Joker (2019) — another acclaimed Elseworlds standalone, similar in spirit to The Dark Knight and Watchmen.
- Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021) — for fans wanting the more “definitive” take on the previous universe’s ensemble story.
- The Batman (2022) — Matt Reeves’s standalone take on the character, with a sequel currently slated for October 2027, just months after Man of Tomorrow.
Conclusion
With Superman: Man of Tomorrow still roughly a year out, there’s no better time to catch up on both the new DCU’s foundational entries and the essential DC classics that shaped the genre. Prioritize the direct DCU titles — especially Peacemaker Season 2 — and round it out with the must-watch classics, and you’ll walk into Gunn’s next Superman chapter fully prepared.