All 12 DC Movies on James Gunn’s Upcoming Slate, Ranked By Box Office Potential

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James Gunn, co-CEO of DC Studios, is planning a diverse range of DC films, with some expected to be more commercially successful than others. The new leadership team is willing to take risks on smaller, lower-budget projects, but they also have several large-scale films in development to compete with Marvel over the next ten years.

James Gunn and Peter Safran are planning a new lineup of DC movies that will balance large-scale, expensive films focused on popular heroes like Batman and Superman with smaller, more creative projects, such as Mike Flanagan’s Clayface.

The DC Universe (DCU) has released one movie so far: Superman. While it didn’t become a massive global blockbuster (earning $616.7 million worldwide), Superman was still a significant financial success for Warner Bros., reportedly earning around $125 million in profit.

The studio clearly considered the film a success, because James Gunn has already written a sequel, set to begin filming next spring. Titled Man of Tomorrow, the sequel will introduce the villain Brainiac to the DC Universe.

It looks like DC fans are excited about some of the announced movies, but others are uncertain and may never be made. This uncertainty will likely affect how well those films perform in theaters, particularly since not all of the planned 12 movies will actually be released. Also, if Netflix buys Warner Bros., they might shorten the time movies are shown in theaters, which could further impact box office numbers.

Upcoming DC Movies Ranked By Box Office Potential

The Batman Part 2

Release Date: October 1, 2027

Global Box Office Estimate: $750 million – $1 billion

If you want to understand where the money is flowing at DC Comics, look no further than Batman. He’s by far their most valuable character, consistently driving huge box office success for Warner Bros. since the 1989 film.

By 2022, after several previous attempts, Robert Pattinson starred in a new Batman film directed by Matt Reeves. The movie was a financial success, earning $772.2 million worldwide.

It’s been over five years since the last Batman movie, and fans are eagerly awaiting the sequel, especially now that Scarlett Johansson is joining the cast. The previous Batman film to earn $1 billion at the box office was The Dark Knight Rises. After 15 years, can this new Batman reach that same level of success?

The Brave and The Bold

Release Date: N/A

Global Box Office Estimate: $600-$900 million

As a film fan, I’m finding it tough to guess how well The Brave and the Bold will do at the box office. That’s because so much about the new Batman within the DC Universe is still up in the air – key details haven’t been finalized yet, and that makes predicting its success really tricky.

Andy Muschietti is still set to direct the film, but it’s in the very early stages of development. There’s no script finished, no actors cast, and currently, no release date has been set.

The movie was originally planned as a story about Bruce Wayne teaming up with his son, Damian. However, it’s now uncertain if that relationship will still be a key part of the finished film.

Another big question is whether moviegoers will be okay with two different Batman movies coming out around the same time, each set in its own separate world. Right now, almost everything about The Brave and the Bold – including the main idea behind the film – is still up in the air because the script isn’t finished yet.

Man of Tomorrow

Release Date: July 9, 2027

Global Box Office Estimate: $600-$800 million

Okay, so DC’s really kicking things into gear with Man of Tomorrow, and honestly, I’m excited. This is the first proper sequel in their new universe, and it’s setting up a classic showdown. We’re finally seeing David Corenswet as Superman go head-to-head with Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, and the threat? Brainiac! It feels like they’re building towards something big, and I’m here for it.

As a big fan, I’m really excited that James Gunn is writing and directing this! It feels like a smart, solid move for the DCU, and I’m hoping it does well in the summer of 2027. I think it has the potential to be even more successful than the Superman movie, but we should probably be realistic – the last movie didn’t do as well overseas, so that might affect this one too.

Wonder Woman

Release Date: N/A

Global Box Office Estimate: $500-$800 million

Even though a new Wonder Woman movie hasn’t been officially announced, DC Studios is said to be quickly developing a reboot, with the script being written by Ana Nogueira, who also wrote for the show Supergirl.

Recent reports about the casting for the Man of Tomorrow movie have led fans to wonder if Wonder Woman might appear in the DC Universe sooner than expected, but so far, there’s been no official confirmation.

James Gunn has consistently said they won’t choose a new Wonder Woman until the script is finished, but the casting process could start quickly once it is. The next actress to play Wonder Woman will be following Gal Gadot, who starred in the hugely successful 2017 film that grossed over $822 million – a major achievement for the DC Universe.

Teen Titans

Release Date: N/A

Global Box Office Estimate: $400-$600 million

Even though a Teen Titans movie could be a big success, it’s currently one of the most up-in-the-air projects for the new DC Universe. James Gunn has explained that there isn’t a completed script for Teen Titans yet, and the writer, Ana Nogueira, is now working on the Wonder Woman reboot instead.

This movie has the potential to be a huge success at the box office, particularly with a lead character connected to Batman, like Robin or Nightwing. It would also complement and expand upon the expected success of Brave and the Bold, helping to create a rich and exciting DC Universe. Considering how popular the early 2000s cartoon was, this film could be incredibly popular if everything comes together just right.

Supergirl

Release Date: June 26, 2026

Global Box Office Estimate: $475-$525 million

Milly Alcock, who first appeared in Superman, will star in her own movie, Supergirl, directed by Greg Gillespie. The film is scheduled for release next summer.

Looking at the big picture for 2026 movie releases, Supergirl is an unpredictable factor for DC. It likely won’t earn as much as Superman, but it’s not expected to fail, particularly since the first film in the new DC Universe was well-received and the character has a strong following from the comics.

Currently, the upcoming Supergirl movie appears to be aiming for a level of success between Wonder Woman and Birds of Prey, though those films performed very differently at the box office. Just like with Superman, if Supergirl does well, DC will likely move forward with a sequel quickly.

Bane & Deathstroke

Release Date: N/A

Global Box Office Estimate: $300-$500 million

A movie teaming up Deathstroke and Bane is one of the most secretive projects DC is currently working on – details about the plot and who will star haven’t been announced yet. However, the script is progressing, with writer Matthew Orton having turned in a draft for James Gunn to look over.

This project is particularly interesting from a business standpoint because it focuses on two of Batman’s most famous enemies, making it a key part of the future Batman-focused stories within the DC Universe.

Dynamic Duo

Release Date: June 30, 2028

Global Box Office Estimate: $200-$300 million

DC Studios’ upcoming film, Dynamic Duo, is generating buzz with early footage released over two and a half years before its planned release date of June 30, 2028. It’s shaping up to be one of their more unique projects.

The movie, created with Swaybox Studios, will use a mix of stop-motion animation, computer-generated imagery, and advanced puppetry. This distinctive visual style could make it stand out like the film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

The movie will likely center around Dick Grayson and Jason Todd working together as Robin in Gotham City. Having Batman appear in the film would likely increase its chances of success at the box office.

The Authority

Release Date: N/A

Global Box Office Estimate: $250-$350 million

It’s looking less and less likely that The Authority movie will happen anytime soon, as the project is currently stalled. James Gunn has admitted that it’s been challenging to fit the WildStorm team into the larger DC Universe, and as a result, the film has been put on hold with no script, director, cast, or planned release date.

Given the uncertainty about whether the movie will even be made, it’s extremely difficult to estimate how well it might perform in theaters, and the outlook isn’t promising.

Clayface

Release Date: September 11, 2026

Global Box Office Estimate: $200-$250 million

The upcoming Clayface movie from DC Studios marks a surprising first for James Gunn’s new DC Universe. Instead of focusing on a typical superhero story, it’s an R-rated horror film exploring the terrifying transformation of the classic Batman villain.

With a budget of about $40 million, Clayface cost significantly less to make than most superhero movies today, which means the financial risk is much lower. This lower cost also makes it easier for the film to become profitable, as it doesn’t need to earn a huge amount of money at the box office to succeed.

Because scary movies based on comic books often do surprisingly well without costing a lot to make, a Clayface movie could be a unique success story. It could prove that an R-rated comic book film can succeed by being lower-budget, genuinely frightening, and offering something different from the usual superhero blockbusters.

Swamp Thing

Release Date: N/A

Global Box Office Estimate: $100-$200 million

The DC project Swamp Thing is facing delays and uncertainty, mainly because director James Mangold is currently very busy with other commitments.

Despite waiting patiently, Gunn and DC Studios haven’t made much noticeable headway, and the project seems to have stalled.

Even though Mangold is a well-regarded and accomplished director, it’s hard to feel optimistic about how well Swamp Thing will do in theaters. Plus, it looks like Clayface has become the DC Universe’s low-cost, realistic horror film instead.

Sgt. Rock

Release Date: N/A

Global Box Office Estimate: $115-$175 million

The future of the movie Sgt. Rock is up in the air after director Luca Guadagnino left the project. While Colin Farrell, who was set to star, praised the script as “fantastic,” he says he doesn’t know what’s happening with the film now.

The film is being significantly reworked, probably needing a new writer and director, which puts Colin Farrell’s participation in doubt. It’s quite possible the movie will be cancelled altogether, and even if it is made, there’s no guarantee it will be a hit with audiences.

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2026-01-18 04:10