The long-gestating Black Adam, whose association with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson long predates the DC Extended Universe itself, is finally here. Exactly what’s described on its tin, the film never really fulfills Johnson’s hyperbolic overpromise of “changing the hierarchy of power of the DC Universe,” but there’s a fleet charm in its unapologetic goofiness and blunt-force alacrity. An uneven rebuttal of black and white superhero morality, Black Adam successfully — and at times sloppily — juggles its brutality and crowd-pleasing action; it’s a classic superhero team-up in a mixed bag. Minor spoilers ahead…

The Suicide Squad is comics legend John Ostrander personified through James Gunn’s brazen sensibilities. Surprising heart wrapped in ultra-violence, it’s the Task Force X I’ve always wanted to see, and it mines incredible fun from being brutally unkind to its “heroes.” Jettisoning the turgid continuity of its 2016 predecessor, The Suicide Squad dispenses with edgelord theatrics and gets straight to the dangerous fun. Minor spoilers ahead…

What can only be described as a fervently anticipated reclamation of an artist’s vision, Zack Snyder’s Justice League is a unique beast not just among comic book adaptations, but filmmaking in general. More than just a simple director’s cut, Justice League - or The Snyder Cut, as it’s been affectionately dubbed by fans - is a lumbering, bloated, and generic superhero epic, but it’s also a massive improvement over its 2017 iteration. Stripped of its director’s trademark grimness and imbued with a surprising amount of heart, Zack Snyder’s Justice League is finally the big screen team-up worthy of its iconic characters. Minor spoilers ahead…

Wonder Woman 1984 is one of the most disappointing films of the year. With its weightless action, incoherent plot, and tenuous grasp of common sense, this follow-up to 2017’s superheroine blockbuster is as choppy as they come. There are glimmers of promise with the film’s scenery-chewing villains, but almost everything is undercooked, making its interminable 151-minute runtime even more egregious. Minor spoilers ahead…

Baffling title drama aside, Birds of Prey is a boisterous and colorful addition to the DCEU. More “DC” than “EU,” director Cathy Yan assembles a squad of DC Comics heroines in a rollicking, stand-alone adventure. While there’s not much substance to its story, Birds of Prey’s narrative shortcomings are outweighed by its confidence and bombastic action, including a pitch-perfect performance from Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. Minor spoilers ahead…

The seventh entry in the DC Extended Universe, Shazam! continues Warner Brothers’ quest to find its footing among superhero features. Bringing in a remarkable sense of humor and fun, the film is the DCEU’s best installment yet. Shazam! coasts on the charms of its young cast plus the shenanigans of Zachary Levi in the title role, and is able to transcend its cookie-cutter villain and third act doldrums with an upbeat confidence. Mild spoilers ahead…

James Wan’s foray into the DC Extended Universe is a poorly paced and corny cheese-fest, but it never pretends to be anything other than fun. What Aquaman lacks in finesse, it makes up for in Jason Momoa’s attitude and charming commitment to the role. Leaps and bounds better than Zack Snyder’s Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League, the film is a flawed spectacle whose sole purpose is to entertain - an old-fashioned fantasy yarn with likable characters and frenetic underseas action. Mild spoilers ahead…