DC Comics' Extended Universe Movie Plots

MAN OF STEEL
The planet Krypton, unstable from years of industrial mining, faces impending destruction. Jor-El, chief advisor to Krypton's supreme council, recommends a full-scale evacuation of the planet's inhabitants. Before any action can be taken, soldiers led by General Zod, an old friend of Jor-El's, launch an uprising and arrest the councilors. Realizing that Krypton is doomed, Jor-El sends his infant son, Kal-El – to Earth. Donning his old armor, Jor-El sacrifices himself to buy time for his son to escape on a pre programmed rocket. Zod orders the rocket's destruction, only to learn that forces loyal to the council have suppressed the rebellion. In a brief trial, Zod and a handful of surviving rebels are convicted of treason and imprisoned in the Phantom Zone just seconds before Krypton explodes.

Following Jor-El's coordinates, the rocket lands in the Kansas town of Smallville. A childless couple, Jonathan and Martha Kent, recover the infant Kal and adopt him, naming him Clark. As he grows up, Clark becomes an outcast as a result of developing superhuman abilities. He then learns his true origins from Jonathan, who tries to push Clark into the right direction. Several years later, Clark leaves to wander the world under several aliases, seeking a purpose.

Lois Lane, a veteran journalist at the Daily Planet, receives an assignment to investigate the discovery of a Kryptonian scout ship in the Canadian Arctic. Clark, posing as a worker, enters the ship and activates its central computer using a key left by Jor-El, allowing him to communicate with an artificial intelligence modeled after his father. The AI explains that Clark was sent to Earth to guide its people, and presents him with a Kryptonian uniform bearing his family's symbol. Meanwhile, Lois, who had been following Clark, accidentally triggers the ship's security system. Clark saves her and uses his heat vision to cauterize her wounds before donning the uniform and testing his ability to fly. Lois attempts to get editor Perry White to publish an article on the incident, but he refuses to do so without proof. She later tracks down Clark, but eventually agrees to keep his secret safe.

Zod and his crew, having escaped from the Phantom Zone, travel to Earth after intercepting a transmission from the scout vessel. Deducing that Kal-El is nearby, they broadcast a global address demanding that he surrender or risk war. Clark meets with the U.S. Army and agrees to comply. Zod reveals that he possesses advanced terraforming equipment salvaged from Kryptonian outposts, which he intends to use to transform Earth into a new Krypton. His science officer, Jax-Ur, extracts Clark's genes so that he can create Kryptonian colonists who will exterminate humanity and build a society based on Zod's ideals of genetic purity. With help from Jor-El, Clark escapes and Zod and his forces kill Jonathan and confronts Martha before a furious Kal-El subdue them away. Clark warns the Army just as Zod orders his invasion.

Given the codename "Superman", Clark destroys the terraforming platform, while his human allies launch a suicide attack that kills Zod's troops. Enraged, Zod vows to eradicate all humans himself, and engages Superman in a brutal hand-to-hand fight. Superman is able to redirect the fight back to the Zod's ship and is able to activate the phantom drive, trapping Zod inside.

Recognizing that he is now the last surviving Kryptonian, Superman persuades the Army to let him act independently, so long as he does not turn against them. To allow access to dangerous situations without attracting attention, Superman is hired as a freelance reporter for the Daily Planet as Clark Kent.

BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE
Twenty two months after Superman 's (Henry Cavill) destructive battle with General Zod in Metropolis, Superman has become a controversial figure. Billionaire Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck), who has operated in Gotham City as the vigilante "Batman" for nearly two decades, sees Superman as a potential threat to humanity. After discovering Batman's brutal methods of justice, Clark views Batman as a threat and seeks to stop him. Lois Lane (Amy Adams) investigates a terrorist in Nairomi but after a mass shootout occurs, Superman's interference causes an international incident.

Meanwhile, Antiques dealer Arthur Curry and scientist Emmett Vale investigate large pieces of Kryptonite found in the bottom of the Indian Ocean following the results of Zod's terraforming attempt. They are ambushed by a paramilitary hired by LexCorp 's mogul Lex Luthor, and forced to abandon the Kryptonite they'd collected. Luthor tries to persuade Senator June Finch to allow him to import the kryptonite retrieved, claiming to use it as a "deterrent" against Kryptonians, but she denies the request. He also has side dealings with Finch's subordinate and demands access to "Project Cadmus" and the Kryptonian scout ship, where he enters and learns of its functions as well as recorded alien worlds. Wayne tracks a cartel and learns that Russian weapon trafficker Anatoli Knyazev (Callan Mulvey) has been contacting Luthor.

Diana Prince (Gal Gadot), masquerading as a wealthy humanitarian, is investigating Superman, whom her people believe to be a New God. Diana attends a fundraiser at LexCorp where she meets Bruce and steals his encrypted data from the company's mainframe in an attempt to learn more about Project Cadmus. However, Batman tracks her down after she is unable to decrypt it, and the two decide to infiltrate the scout ship before being cut off by Superman. Superman tells Batman to leave his city and Wonder Woman greets Superman where she discloses Project Cadmus to him. The two enter the scout ship where they learn of a genetically engineered creature with Kryptonian DNA. The creature is sent on a rampage and escapes. Learning of Luthor's involvement, Superman confronts him but Lex reveals that he had no part in Project Cadmus and blames Superman for misguiding humanity down that path. Lex, believing Superman's own power will only incite more challenge, believes himself to be humanity's last hope, and has launched LexOs, a global defense drone system, in hopes of finding the creature.

While decrypting the drive at the Batcave, Wayne is visited by an unidentified being who warns him of Lois Lane's crucial role in the distant future, and urges him to find "the others" before vanishing. Wayne later discovers on the drive that Luthor is also experimenting with kryptonite and is monitoring metahumans using a surveillance system called Brother Eye. Wayne admits to his butler Alfred Pennyworth (Jeremy Irons) that he plans to steal the kryptonite to weaponize it, should it become necessary to fight Superman. He pursues Knyazev and his men, along with the shipment, but he is cut off by Superman, who warns him to give up his vigilante crusade.

Finch learns that the villager who testified against Superman's actions in Nairomi was an actress hired and threatened by Luthor. Superman is called to a congressional hearing where Finch plans to expose Luthor, but a bomb planted by Luthor explodes, killing everyone present but Superman while Knyazev kills the actress. The public becomes frustrated by the mass causalities Superman seems to leave behind, and Clark struggles more by his failure to save people, believing he should have detected the bomb. Meanwhile, Batman breaks into LexCorp and steals the kryptonite, which he uses to build a kryptonite arsenal and a powered exoskeleton.

Lex calls and is greeted by Superman, where he gives his pity towards him and reveals Batman's animosity towards Superman, revealing that Batman has stolen the only weakness the monster has. Diana has a dream of a post-apocalyptic world where Batman leads a group of rebels against Superman while Superman goes to Gotham City and tries to reason with Batman, but Batman refuses to listen and instigates a brutal fight and ultimately wins with his kryptonian weapons that are nearly destroyed during the fight. Before Batman can kill Superman, Diana arrives and explains the situation, convincing Batman that Superman is not the threat. Batman is forced to unite with Wonder Woman and Superman and in the batcave, Bruce is able to hack into the Brother Eye satellite to find the monster. Lex drone system proves futile since the monster can absorb and redirect energy and grow stronger. Batman sends Superman to disable the drones and Wonder Woman holds off the monster, while Batman confronts Lex.

Luthor, seeing that his plan has failed, executes his backup plan, donning a power suit designed to fight even Superman with a Kryptonian spear. Batman is soon outmatched by its power, but Superman arrives and they retrieve the kryptonite spear. With Batman and Prince's help containing it, Superman impales the monster, killing it. In its last moments however, the creature fatally stabs a weakened Superman with one of its bone protrusions.

Luthor is arrested and his head is shaved bald, and Batman confronts him in prison, warning Luthor that he will always be watching him, also revealing that he has arranged for him to be transferred to Arkham Asylum. Luthor reveals that Superman's death has made the world vulnerable to powerful alien threats, and that something bigger is coming to Earth. A memorial is held for Superman in Metropolis. Clark is also declared dead and there's a private funeral for him in Smallville. Martha gives an envelope to Lane which contains an engagement ring from Clark. After the funeral, Wayne reveals to Prince that he plans to form a team of metahumans, starting with the metahumans from Luthor's files, to help protect the world in Superman's absence. The dirt atop Clark's coffin begins to levitate.

SUICIDE SQUAD
In the aftermath of Superman 's death, intelligence officer Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) assembles a team of dangerous criminals imprisoned at Belle Reve Prison, consisting of elite hitman Deadshot (Will Smith), former psychiatrist Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), pyrokinetic ex-gangster El Diablo (Jay Hernandez), opportunistic thief Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney), the genetically mutated Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), an archaeologist possessed by a witch-goddess known as the "Enchantress" (Cara Delevingne), June Moon, and specialized assassin Slipknot (Adam Beach). They are placed under command of Colonel Rick Flag and his bodyguard Katana to be used as disposable assets in high-risk missions for the United States government. Each member has a nano bomb implanted in their neck, designed to detonate should any member rebel or try to escape.

At the behest of Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg), Mercy Graves (Tao Okamoto) strikes a deal with Gotham's professional and notorious crime boss, The Joker (Jared Leto), as a scapegoat to find and kill Amanda Waller, who has put sanctions on LexCorp. Meanwhile, the Task Force are deployed to Gotham City to apprehend the Batman (Ben Affleck), who's vigilantism the government can no longer tolerate. However, Amanda Waller is compromised during a government meeting in Midway City by The Joker and Lex's mercenaries and the Task Force are sent to extract her, with Flag warning the team that if she dies, they die.

The squad's helicopter is shot down by Lex's men on the roof of Konig's Industries, forcing them to proceed into the building on foot. Boomerang then convinces Slipknot that the bombs are a ruse to keep them in check. Slipknot attempts to escape and is killed via his nano bomb, while the squad is attacked by Lex's men. Joker convinces Harley to join him, but she is knocked unconscious by Boomerang. She later awakens upset that The Joker has abandoned her.

The squad eventually manage to fight their way through to a safe room where they find Waller. They escort her to the rooftop for extraction, but the arriving helicopter has been hijacked by the Joker and his men, who open fire on the squad. Harley climbs aboard with The Joker and holds him at gunpoint for abandoning her earlier. The Joker gets her to lower the gun but Amanda orders Deadshot to shoot the Joker. Harley jumps in front of the bullet and the helicopter is shot down by Waller's men. Joker jumps off the helicopter as it crashes back on the roof. Harley is revealed to be alive and she rejoins the squad as they console her.

Enchantress quickly turns on Waller, deciding to kill her for their imprisonment. She transforms Lex's men into a horde of monsters, and summons the Incubus, a mystical being, to assist her. El Diablo embraces his abilities and manages to hold the Incubus down long enough for a bomb planted by Captain Boomerang to detonate, killing both the Incubus and El Diablo and returning June Moon from the curse.

Amanda Waller decides this squad is too unreliable and orders Flag to detonate the implants. He refuses and respites in a skybar with the squad as they await to be arrested. The squad members are returned to Belle Reve with ten years off their sentences and all but Captain Boomerang are allowed special privileges. The Joker breaks into the penitentiary and reunites with Harley. In a mid-credits scene, Batman gains access to the government's files on the expanding metahuman community.from A.R.G.U.S. but is confronted by Amanda Waller before warning her to stop what she is doing.

WONDER WOMAN
Around 6,500 BC, the God of War Ares breaks a pact between the Olympian Gods and the legendary Amazons, a race of fierce warrior women, and wages a war against them and their Queen, Hippolyta, in attempt to subdue man's world.

With the help of Zeus, Ares is defeated and trapped within an interdimensional realm, the Areopagus, with the Amazons isolated onto an island to forever guard the entrance of the realm and live in serenity. As a gift from the Gods, Hippolyta is granted a child born of clay whom she names Diana Prince. In the present day, Diana works at the Louvre as a curator. She receives a package from Bruce Wayne with a framed picture of her and Steve Trevor from Belgium 1918, and a letter asking Diana to help recruit a team of heroes in Superman 's absence.

The film flashes back to 1918, the peak of The Great War. American pilot Steve Trevor is sent on a mission to uncover Germany's military build up in the Aegean sea to aid the Allies warfare where he learns that Imperial German Army officer Baron Blitzkreig and Doctor Maru have created new deadly and unprecedented weapons. When Steve is discovered, his plane is damaged and he crashes into the sea. Diana spots the plane crash and brings Steve onto the shores of the Amazonian island where Steve is taken into the Amazon's custody for information where they learn of the war in man's world.

Diana nurses Steve back to health and the island is invaded by German troops. Ares begins to gain strength and energy from the battle to escape his dimension, but Hippolyta's second in command, General Antiope, sacrifices herself to close the opening of the dimension. Knowing the outside war will only benefit Ares in escaping, Hippolyta hosts a tournament to find a champion most suitable to aid in the war and take Trevor back to man's world, but forbids Diana from entering. Diana does so anyway and wins, with Hippolyta reluctantly allowing her daughter to fulfill her destiny.

Diana and Steve travel to London where Diana meets Etta Candy, Steve's secretary. Inside the MI6 offices, Steve reveals to Captain Darnell that the last hope Germany has in the war is from the weapons made by Maru and Blitzkrieg. Captain Darnell plots with Trevor and Prince to go undercover at a German Political ball to assassinate Blitzkrieg. To do this, they must cross the Western Front. Diana reveals her true form as she helps British forces cross enemy lines of defense. That night in Belgium, Trevor teaches Diana how to dance.

At the ball, Diana and Steve pose as Germans. Diana ignores Steve's advice and attempts to assassinate Baron. However, Diana begins to have visions and is taunted by Ares. Maru ignites a grenade unleashing one of her deadly poisons that kills everyone but Diana. She awakens and discovers Steve was sent to a prisoner of war camp. With the mission failed, British troops sent by Captain Darnell breach the camp along with Diana, who finds Baron and Trevor. Baron reveals his true form as the Duke of Deception, an agent of Ares. Baron reveals the war was not started by Ares, but from men themselves, and he was only sent to keep it brewing for Ares' escape.

Diana engages in a battle with the Duke of Deception as Trevor tries to stop Maru from unleashing a deadly explosion. Trevor fails,

JUSTICE LEAGUE
Thousands of years ago, the Old Gods led by Zeus, the Atlanteans led by King Atlan, and the Amazons led by Queen Hippolyta hold off a resistance against Darkseid's forces as they attempt to subjugate Earth. The source of Darkseid's power are three mother boxes, and they are kept amongst the Atlanteans, Amazons, and mankind to protect.

In present day, Bruce Wayne has a new restored faith in humanity that was inspired by Superman's selfless act. Batman infiltrates an A.R.G.U.S. facility to retrieve vital data. After learning that an imminent alien invasion is on the way, Bruce enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to recruit a team of metahumans in Superman's absence, starting with Barry Allen.

Meanwhile, Lois Lane is investigating a military operation led by the newly appointed leader of the DEO (Department of Extranormal Operations), Amanda Waller, under an abandoned Metropolis tunnel. She relays this information to Batman and he discovers the tunnel is connected to Gotham. Batman convinces Commissioner James Gordon to lure the GCPD down there and they discover that the tunnel is infested with Parademons. Batman, with the help of Wonder Woman and The Flash, attack the Parademons and learn that they are after the mother boxes. After learning that one of the mother boxes has been fused with former prodigy Victor Stone, they attempt to rescue him but he declines their help, afraid of what he's become.

Bruce, Diana, and Barry travel to Theymyscira and learn that the last two remaining mother boxes reside on the island and Atlantis. After realizing that one of the metahumans on Luthor's files was an Atlantean, they track Arthur Curry down to his lighthouse in Maine. Curry declines, revealing he gave up the throne to protect the surface world. However, his wife Mera and trusted advisor Vulko, persuade Curry to convince the Atlanteans help stop the invasion.

The New God Steppenwolf, uncle and lieutenant of Darkseid, makes his journey to Earth and learns that Coluan conqueror Vril Dox is already there. Dox attacks a Cadmus base where Victor is being held and studied by his father, Silas Stone, and Dr. Will Magnus. Discovering his newfound abilities, Victor is able to escape but his father and other scientists are kidnapped. Vril attempts to find Lex Luthor who is being held in Arkham Asylum. Gordon reveals these abductions to Bruce, Diana, and Barry, who are then joined by Victor, who wants help finding his father. The Justice League find out Arkham Asylum is under attack and tries to stop Vril from capturing Lex. When they fail, Lex is held captive and Bruce is inadvertently brought onto Vril's ship.

Steppenwolf attacks Vril's ship and heavily damages him, who is forced to merge himself with Lex while the remaining Justice League saves Bruce and the scientists. Steppenwolf learns of the locations of the mother boxes and prepares an assault on Atlantis but Aquaman, with the help of Mera and other Atlanteans, are able to destroy Vril's ship into the ocean. Steppenwolf is able to escape while the League interrogates Lex. They learn that Steppenwolf is preparing to resurrect Superman to subdue them. Bruce realizes that his nightmare he once had was a glimpse into the future of what Superman could become. Bruce has Barry reach the full extent of his powers by accessing the speed force and reluctantly pulls another Superman from a different timeline to help.

The League rushes to find Steppenwolf, who has stolen Clark's body. The League battles Steppenwolf's fleet as Bruce sneaks onto the mothership and finds Clark being tortured. Bruce frees Clark, but is attacked by him. The rest of the League begins to successfully push Steppenwolf's army off of Earth, but Cyborg gets into the mothership to save Bruce, who is almost killed by Clark. Bruce is saved by Superman from the different timeline and destroys the evil Superman clone. Superman then beats Steppenwolf into submission but allows him to live as a message to others not to invade Earth. Cyborg teleports them back to Earth.

The Justice League are praised for their heroic actions and are personally congratulated by the President of the United States where Barry informally calls them the "super six." The League recuperates in Cyborg's Watchtower, where he is able to become alert of any invasions or high level threats. If such an event happens again, the League promises to come together once more. As they go their separate ways, Clark reunites with Martha and Lois. However, Clark reluctantly decides he must leave Earth to find these threats that combat him and Earth. He finds Lex and unwillingly joins Superman because of his vast array of knowledge on the galaxy.

Meanwhile, Steppenwolf's ship is recovered by Darkseid, who has been missing in action. Darkseid scoffs his uncle's attempts on Earth then kills him. It is then revealed Darkseid has regained his control over Apokolips and is in search of the Anti Life Equation.