The Most Iconic Scene From Every DC Movie

DC Comics' film history stretches back a long time. From the early Superman serials to the DC Extended Universe, these superheroic films have left a lasting impression on moviegoers all over the world. Some DC movies are regarded as cinematic art, others are remembered as escapist fun, and a few, unfortunately, are considered major embarrassments.

Good or bad, however, all of these films offer memorable moments that evoke strong responses from audiences. With this in mind, we've gathered what we consider to be the most iconic scenes from modern live-action DC movies. While it's difficult to offer a definitive list of classic moments, we feel these selections stand out as the most inspirational, shocking, or dramatic scenes of their respective movies. We're also presenting them in order of release, allowing you to see just how dramatically DC films have changed over the decades. From Wonder Woman's brave march across the battlefield to the Joker's interrogation room antics, these are the DC movie moments no one can forget.

Considered to be a classic film in its own right, in addition to one of the greatest live-action Superman movies, Superman (1978) is one of the first DC films to truly take its hero seriously. This means lavishly depicting the planet Krypton, complete with Marlon Brando as Jor-El, as well as including an extended sequence of young Clark Kent's life in Smallville.

All of this provides many memorable scenes, but as the film nears the end of its first hour, most audiences are eager to see Superman make his debut. They aren't disappointed. Although the Man of Steel first appears in the Fortress of Solitude, he truly reveals himself to the world after a disastrous helicopter takeoff threatens the life of Lois Lane. Seeing he's needed, Clark Kent (Christopher Reeve) races across the street, rips open his shirt, and reveals the famous "S" emblem on his chest. After spinning through a revolving door, Superman takes to the sky where he catches Lois mid-fall before a crowd of shocked spectators.

Accompanied by John Williams' classic Superman score, this scene still sends chills down the spines of audiences today. Plenty of people have played Superman since Reeve, but this iconic moment set the standard for all future Superman transformations.

The first Swamp Thing movie was released when comic book films were still trying to strike a balance between serious storytelling and campy comedy. Thus, the main character comes across as a classic B-movie monster, albeit one of a more heroic variety. When Dr. Alec Holland (Ray Wise) is burned alive by Anton Arcane's (Louis Jourdan) henchmen, he transforms into the plant-like Swamp Thing (Dick Durock). Swamp Thing proceeds to battle Arcane after he uses Holland's serum to transform into a boar-like beast.

This is all a bit silly by modern standards. In fact, the final scene, where Swamp Thing fights Arcane in beastly form, is iconic for its sheer cheesiness. Both characters are obviously wearing rubber suits, and the bestial Arcane even uses a sword against his regenerating opponent. Later productions, like 2019's Swamp Thing TV series, emphasize the serious aspects of Swamp Thing, and offer better special effects. In contrast, this film is just goofy fun — but sometimes, that's memorable in its own way.

Though it proved to be a failed attempt to expand the Superman movie franchise, Supergirl still offers a memorable performance by Helen Slater as Supergirl, AKA Kara Zor-El. She truly shines in a great scene showing her arrival on Earth. Raised in the sterile world of Argo City, Kara has never seen trees or plants. When she journeys to Earth, she discovers both the wonders of the natural world and her new superpowers.

Slater displays an innocent wonder as she picks up a rock and accidentally crushes it in her hand. She plucks a flower, makes it bloom with her heat vision, and is shocked and delighted when she finds herself floating. As she grows more comfortable somersaulting through the air, Supergirl takes her first proper flight. She soars through the clouds and follows a herd of wild horses before landing on a beach to watch the sunset.

While the rest of the film doesn't measure up, this iconic scene helps distinguish Supergirl from Superman. Where Clark Kent had time to grow accustomed to his powers, since he had them as a child, Kara receives all of her powers as a teenager. Watching her discover them is a wonderful experience.

By 1989, Swamp Thing had undergone a revival in DC comics, thanks to superstar writer Alan Moore's reconfiguration of the character. The Return of Swamp Thing largely ignores these changes, opting instead to lean into B-movie comedy. Dick Durock reprises his role as Swamp Thing (this time in grosser makeup), but displays a more casual attitude as he beats up several new monsters, including one who needs to use an asthma inhaler. He also gets a new love interest in Abby Arcane (Heather Locklear).

One particularly funny scene unfolds when a baseball bat-wielding Swamp Thing saves a couple kids from a monster. When the kids try to take a photo of him for the tabloids, Swamp Thing not only obliges, he has one of the kids pose with him in the shot. If only Bigfoot was as accommodating.

One thing about Tim Burton's Batman movies? The villains almost always overshadow the hero. Nowhere is this more obvious than in Batman Returns: Even Batman co-creator Bob Kane admitted, "I think Catwoman stole the show."

Michelle Pfeiffer's Selina Kyle goes through a dramatic character arc in the film, starting out as a humble secretary to her corrupt boss Max Shreck (Christopher Walken). After he pushes her out of a window, Selina is revived by a colony of cats, and transforms into a more aggressive version of herself, with her own ideas about justice.

Her first big action scene establishes exactly who this Catwoman is. When she sees a mugger assault a young woman, Catwoman brutally kicks the thug into submission, clawing his face into a bloody pulp for good measure. But then, she assaults the would-be victim and berates her for waiting for a (Bat)man to save her. "I am Catwoman," the anti-heroine purrs, putting her own spin on "I Am Woman," Helen Reddy's 1971 hit, "hear me roar."

Batman & Robin is a movie that seems dead-set on one-upping itself with increasingly ridiculous scenes. One scene, however, elevates the silliness to unbelievable levels. While appearing at a charity benefit auction, Batman (George Clooney) and Robin (Chris O'Donnell) get exposed to pheromone-laden love dust, courtesy of Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman). They proceed to bid against each other for the right to date the villainess. To place the winning bid, the Dark Knight whips out his Bat-credit card, and informs the Boy Wonder, "[I] never leave the cave without it."

The infamous scene invites plenty of speculation among fans. Does Batman keep a secret bank account that can't be traced back to Bruce Wayne, for when he needs to make financial transactions? What exactly is his credit limit? Considering Batman is able to bid millions on Poison Ivy with his "GothCard" (which has an expiration date of "Forever"), this scene hilariously emphasizes the Dark Knight's true superpower: his wealth.

The 2004 Catwoman movie starring Halle Berry as the titular anti-heroine has been widely criticized for its nonsensical plot, bad acting, and poor special effects. Given that the film was nominated for seven Golden Raspberry Awards (and won four of them, which Halle Berry, ever the good sport, picked up in person), it won't surprise you to learn that the movie's most iconic scene isn't a great one.  

The scene in question is the massively panned basketball scrimmage between Patience (Berry) and her love interest, Detective Tom Lone (Benjamin Bratt). After being challenged to a one-on-one basketball game by some kids, Patience uses her cat-like coordination and agility to flirt with Lone, eventually dunking the ball from the free-throw line. It's a silly, weirdly edited scene that's been thoroughly ridiculed — yet it remains unforgettable because of its flaws. Does that count as success? Not really ... but it sure is memorable.

Batman Begins is significant — not only because it kickstarts the Dark Knight trilogy, but because it really is the first Batman film that's truly about Batman. Offering an in-depth look at the childhood trauma that shapes Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), the movie spends much of its runtime showing Bruce training, growing, and researching before he finally reveals himself as Batman.

An earlier moment, however, stands out as the film's most iconic scene. At the start of the film, a young Bruce Wayne falls into a cave and develops a fear of bats after they attack him en masse. This phobia causes him to make his parents leave a performance of Mefistolfele, after the bat-like costumes of the performers scare him. When this causes his parents to encounter a mugger who kills them both, Bruce's guilt and anger drive him to master his fear by training with terrorist leader Ra's al Ghul (Liam Neeson).

Upon returning to Gotham City, an adult Bruce descends into the cave and is once again attacked by bats. This time, however, Bruce remains calm and lets the bats circle him, immersing himself in his worst fear. He might not be wearing the suit yet, but in that moment, Bruce Wayne truly becomes Batman.

Heath Ledger's disturbing yet magnetic performance as the anarchistic Joker earned him a posthumous Oscar for The Dark Knight. While virtually all of Ledger's scenes could be considered iconic, the interrogation scene between Batman and the Joker stands out as the most memorable.

After allowing himself to be caught by the cops, the Joker is placed in an interrogation room where he's questioned by Batman himself. Taking the opportunity to share his twisted perspective on society, Joker informs the Dark Knight that the moral code he lives by is "a bad joke" that civilization will abandon. Although Batman uses his most brutal tactics against the Joker, his efforts prove useless against his laughing foe, who flat-out tells him, "You have nothing ... nothing to threaten me with ... nothing to do with all your strength."

It's an upsetting scene, made even more disturbing by the fact that the Joker makes no effort to defend himself or even fight, yet still manages to get everything he wants. Even Batman can't score a definitive win against a foe like that.

Years before he made history as the MCU's Thanos, Josh Brolin portrayed one of DC's more obscure anti-heroes: Bounty hunter Jonah Hex. While the 2010 Jonah Hex film alters the character somewhat by giving him the mystical power of resurrecting the dead, it retains Hex's most distinctive feature — his scarred face.

In the movie, Hex receives his disfigurement after his Confederate commanding officer Quentin Turnbull (John Malkovich) brands Hex's face with his initials. Hex then removes the brand by intentionally scarring that half of his face. Later, a smart-mouthed thug asks what happened to his face while brandishing a knife. In response, Hex shoots him dead without getting up from his bar stool. "Cut myself shaving," the bounty hunter growls. "What happened to yours?"

While most of Batman's most memorable movie scenes emphasize action and drama, The Dark Knight Rises offers an iconic scene that's deceptively low-key. After getting his spine broken by Bane, Bruce Wayne gradually rebuilds himself, escapes from prison, and returns to Gotham to save it from Bane's nuclear bomb -– seemingly at the cost of his own life.

But the movie isn't done with Bruce Wayne yet. In the film's final scenes, Bruce's butler Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Caine) takes a holiday to Italy and spies Bruce sitting at a nearby table with Selina Kyle, having finally let go of his vigilante lifestyle. The two men nod to each other and Alfred leaves, happy that his earlier fantasy of Bruce finding happiness outside Gotham has come true.

Unlike other Batman films that show the Dark Knight eternally locked into his crusade, Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy offers something new: closure. While some may argue that a symbol like Batman can never give up his role as Gotham's protector, The Dark Knight Rises establishes that, in at least one storyline, Bruce Wayne is able to get his happy ending.

Superman's "Save Martha!" line from Batman v Superman has become a heavily-mocked Internet meme among superhero movie fans who find it, and Batman's furious reaction, completely out of place. Even so, many people enjoy Ben Affleck's take on Batman, particularly his intense workout scene, which shows just how hard it is to remain the Dark Knight.

Moreover, the film's main draw -– the fight between the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight -– doesn't disappoint. The movie sees an older Bruce Wayne employ everything from sonic cannons to Kryptonite gas to a heavily armored battle suit to gain an edge on his god-like opponent. And it works — although the two eventually stop fighting to team up, Batman definitely gets in multiple good hits against a man who's supposedly unbeatable.

Successfully depicting a live-action Wonder Woman comes with many challenges. Diana needs to walk the line between being a nurturing caregiver and a powerful warrior — not an easy balance to maintain. Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman, however, contains an iconic scene that perfectly communicates exactly who Wonder Woman is and what she should be doing.

After accompanying Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) to Europe to help with World War I, Diana (Gal Gadot) finds herself at the war's front in Belgium. Seeing the suffering of soldiers and civilians breaks Diana's heart, and she insists on helping them. However, Steve claims making their way through the battlefield is impossible, as some of the men have been fighting for months and have barely gained an inch.

In response, Diana removes her cloak and marches onto the battlefield and across No Man's Land. Bullets and bombs try to cut her down, but the Amazonian princess doesn't relent, and leads the Allied forces to victory. It's a stunning action sequence that shows what an inspirational symbol of strength Wonder Woman can be.

Despite the fact that he's one of DC's strongest heroes, Aquaman is ridiculed as being the guy who "talks to fish." Even Batman pokes fun at this ability in Justice League.

Aquaman changes this. Fully embracing the ridiculous and fantastic aspects of the character, the film immerses Aquaman (Jason Momoa) in an Atlantis bursting with underwater arenas and octopi drummers. There, he accepts a quest to recover a powerful trident that grants him control over all sea life.

What this means is revealed in the movie's climactic battle scene, when Aquaman arrives during an all-out war between undersea kingdoms. Drawing on his enhanced powers, Aquaman summons an army of sharks, whales, and sea monsters that completely overwhelms his opponents. It might sound like a silly power on paper, but people who see this scene know that "talking to fish" can be a devastating superpower.

Joker manages to do what no other DC film does: It makes the Clown Prince of Crime into a sympathetic character. By introducing the Joker as lonely, abused Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), audiences get to empathize with the bullied man as he struggles to make people laugh. Soon, however, the constant abuse becomes too much, and Arthur snaps, becoming a sadistic clown who finds satisfaction in brutally killing the people who've wronged him.

Things come to a head when Arthur gets invited onto a TV show hosted by Murray Franklin (Robert De Niro), a man Arthur idolizes and considers a father figure. When Murray ridicules Arthur, Arthur's Joker persona fully manifests, and he decides to take his revenge. Originally planning to shoot himself on live television, Arthur changes his mind at the last second and shoots Murray in the face instead.

It's a shocking moment that shows how far Arthur has fallen. No longer an insecure man, this Joker has fully embraced his madness, revealing the worst supervillains can also be the most human.

Wonder Woman might be one of the most powerful superheroes in the DC universe, but that doesn't mean her job is easy. Demigods, magic spells, and even loneliness can all cause Diana pain, although she refuses to let these things stop her.

Wonder Woman 1984 shows us a vulnerable Diana, who accidentally wishes for her dead lover Steve Trevor to return to her. Her wish comes true, but as a consequence, Diana's power begins fading. This becomes a huge problem when she and Steve travel to Egypt where the film's antagonist, Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal), takes control of an oil tycoon's personal army. As Wonder Woman takes on the entire convoy, she discovers her reduced strength, speed, and stamina make the battle much harder.

Still, Diana refuses to back down even as she's shot and nearly crushed by the armored vehicles. It's a very different side of Wonder Woman, compared to the Diana we see storming No Man's Land in the first Wonder Woman film, but that's what makes the scene so memorable.