15 Best Live-Action DC Comics Shows, Ranked (According To IMDb)

While Marvel has dominated the box office the past decade, DC Comics has instead dominated the small screen. They may not have had much luck with major blockbusters, but fans are loving the television shows. There’s something about their television show formula that works well and fans aren’t complaining.

Some of these shows have brought to life beloved comic book characters like Swamp Thing, Batwoman, Supergirl and the DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. Over the years, there have been more and more shows in development, but some win the prize as the highest-ranked according to IMDb.

UPDATE: 2022/11/20 BY SHAWN S. LEALOS

With most of DC’s shows moving over to HBO Max, there is little left on other networks like The CW, which used to be the home of DC television shows. All that is left of the former Arrowverse is Superman & Lois and the final season of The Flash, which was just announced. However, there are more shows coming to HBO Max from DC. This will get even bigger with James Gunn taking the role as the co-CEO of Warner Bros. DC division. This means he is mostly in charge of creativity for the upcoming DC movies and shows, and if it ends up looking anything like Peacemaker, fans of DC entertainment is in for some big things.

Arrow (2012-2020): 7.5

Stream now on Netflix

The beloved CW show Arrow gets some high rankings, but sadly doesn’t win the top prize. The show brought to life the character of Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) as the vigilante Green Arrow of Star City. Fans fell in love with the show’s characters and storyline.

Arrow is one of the most successful DC shows to date, eventually leading to the creation of an entire spin-off franchise that some argue is more successful than DC’s cinematic outings. Additionally, what makes Arrow unique is that its storylines intersected with other CW shows and even nostalgic DC series in crossover episodes and events, especially in Crisis on Infinite Earths. Though Arrow is officially over, its impact on DC and TV in general will never be forgotten.

Titans (2018- ): 7.6

Stream on HBO Max

No, this isn’t the animated cartoon version many grew up with. This time, it’s the gritty live-action version. So far, fans have some good reviews about Titans and IMDb gave it a solid 7.6 rating. The Teen Titans have been some fan-favorite characters for quite some time, and they’re back to fight crime in San Francisco.

DC fans get to see Dick Grayson (Brenton Thwaites), Kory Ander (Anna Diop), Rachel Roth (Teagan Croft) and Garfield “Gar” Logan (Ryan Potter) band together to form a new group of Titans. Take note, though: this show’s storyline works in a way that older and former Titan members work with the new and younger ones.

The Flash (2014- ): 7.6

Stream now on Netflix

After the success of Arrow, The Flash was the second DC Comics show to gain massive success. So much so that the show’s pilot became the second-most-watched episode after The Vampire Diaries and even outlasted the show it spun off from.Grant Gustin took on the role as the fastest man alive a Barry Allen/The Flash.

So far, Gustin’s portrayal of The Flash has been highly noted and titled as one of the best renditions of the comic book character. Since its beginning, the show has had a sense of seriousness and action cohesively mixed with comedy that hooked fans. It has since been nominated for multiple awards.

The Sandman (2022-): 7.7

One of the most anticipated streaming shows in history arrived on Netflix in 2022 when Neil Gaiman’s Sandman finally saw its adaptation realized. The show is based on the comic book story of a man named Morpheus, who is the being responsible for the dream world. However, after a man uses magic to capture him, the world falls into chaos when people stop dreaming.

The Sandman series was extremely loyal to the comics, with Neil Gaiman serving as the producer. As Sandman tries to repair his fractured kingdom while bringing back the living embodiment of the nightmares that escaped, the first season was hugely popular with IMDb members.

Superman & Lois (2021-): 7.8

The last two Arrowverse shows standing are The Flash and Superman & Lois. While the later show had its characters introduced in the Arrowverse, it mostly lives off in a world of its own and that helped its popularity and the IMDb rating shows that.

In Superman & Lois, the story focused mostly on the family unit, as Superman and Lois Lane are married and have two boys, one of which discovers he has superpowers like his dad. The focus on the family made this different from every other Arrowverse show, and it should end up as the last Arrowverse show as long as people keep watching.

Sweet Tooth (2021): 7.8

Sweet Tooth is a show that many Netflix subscribers might not even know is based on a DC Comics series. Created by Jeff Lemire and published under DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint, this is a post-apocalyptic story of a world that falls into disarray when kids start bring born as half animal hybrids.

The Sweet Tooth series mostly followed the comics, with some changes for the small screen in mostly background information. The lead character is a deer boy who goes on the run to find his mother and only find a world where humans want to capture and experiment on his kind. Netflix renewed the show for a second season

Human Target (2010-2011): 7.8

Human Target is another show that TV fans might be surprised to learn it was based on a DC Comics series. Released under the Vertigo imprint by Peter Milligan, the non-superhero comic books follow the Human Target character that first appeared in 1972 in Superman’s Action Comics.

The TV series aired on FOX for two seasons. The Human Target was a man who would serve as a bodyguard for his clients, and make himself the target for anyone wanting to hurt them. Critics praised its action and sense of humor, and while it was highly praised, FOX canceled it after its second season.

Gotham (2014-2019): 7.8

Stream on HBO Max

Audiences have seen countless versions of Batman grace the screen over the years. Gotham took a new spin on the popular DC Comics characters. This time, Batman doesn’t exist yet. Instead, the show focused on the backstory and life of James Gordon (Ben McKenzie) and Harvey Bullock (Donal Logue) of the Gotham Police Department.

The show gained many viewers for its unique take of Gotham and the characters. Especially since the show gave audiences a deeper look into the uprising of many comic book characters. Audiences even meet young Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz) and go through his journey of anguish over his parents’ death. The show was dark, gritty and intense and fans loved it.

iZombie (2015-2019): 7.8

Stream on Netflix

For those unaware, iZombie is loosely based on a comic book from Vertigo. While the show had a relatively short run, audiences had a blast with the story. Here, Olivia “Liv” Moore (Rose McIver) wakes up as a zombie after a boat party. Realizing the implications of her new self, she pushes away everyone in her life and becomes a medical examiner.

The real fun came when she had to satisfy her zombie cravings concocting fun recipes with human brains. Besides keeping her secret, she also helps solve crimes around the city. Her secret starts to become part of a bigger picture and cover-up.

Doom Patrol (2019- ): 7.8

Stream on HBO Max

Based on the comic book of the same name, the titular Doom Patrol isn’t your normal group of crime-fighting superheroes. In fact, they’re really far from it. Instead, this is a group of individuals who were shunned by society because of their powers.

They’re brought together and given a residence by someone named the Chief (Timothy Dalton), who also gives them a new purpose in life. They initially don’t get along but were dealt the same hand and come together as a team.

Pennyworth (2019- ): 7.9

Stream on HBO Max

Ever wonder about Aflred’s prior life before becoming Bruce Wayne’s caretaker? Thankfully, Pennyworth is here to answer that. Audiences explore the action-packed life of Alfred Pennyworth (Jack Bannon), who is so much more than just a family butler.

Alfred was a former British SAS soldier who creates a security company in London in the ’50s and ’60s. He becomes the target of an organization that wants to rule the British government. A fun aspect of the show is the introduction of other characters like Thomas Wayne (Ben Aldridge) and Bruce’s future parents.

Preacher (2016-2019): 7.9

Stream now on Hulu & Prime Video

The subversive and oftentimes crude Preacher is based on the comic book series published by DC Comic’s Vertigo. The eponymous preacher isn’t the ordinary small-town church kind, though. Jesse Custer (Dominic Cooper) likes to drink, smoke, a bit vulgar but is given extraordinary power.

The show received favorable reviews throughout its seasons and many noted the main character struggle to find a better understanding of his gift and his God’s purpose for him. Many critics noted the show’s success in elevating its drama without losing its vital characteristics and edge that made the comics a hit back in the day.

Lucifer (2016- ): 8.1

Stream now on Netflix & Prime Video

The show Lucifer has taken over streaming platforms and social media. The show was a major win with audiences for its unique portrayal of the DC Comics book character. The character was first seen in Neil Gaiman’s sprawling epic The Sandman, where he abandons Hell. Sick of Hell, Lucifer Morningstar (Tom Ellis) moves to Earth where he enjoys a new day job. In the mortal realm, he becomes a nightclub owner and his path intertwines with Detective Chloe Decker (Lauren German).

As the series progressed, Lucifer battles love, enemies and his responsibilities as the Devil. The show was originally canceled by Fox after the third season but was picked up by Netflix. With the rallying support of fans, the show received the green light for a sixth and final season, much to the delight of the cast, crew, and fans.

Watchmen (2019): 8.2

Stream now on HBO Max

HBO’s Watchmen was too short, and many fans wished the series stuck around longer. The limited television series only lasted for one season, but it left a massive impact on viewers. The superhero drama is actually a sequel to the popular graphic novel of the same name, taking place years after the events of the original.

Set in an alternate 2019, a white supremacists group known as the Seventh Kavalry follows Rorschach’s journal to wage war against the police and minorities. The police are masked detectives and officers who are under law to not reveal their identity after a heinous attack by the Kavalry leaves many cops dead. As the masked cop Sister Night investigates the Kavalry’s motives and actions, a broader conspiracy involving the fate of the world begins to unfold.

Peacemaker (2022-): 8.3

Stream now on HBO Max

When DC announced it was making Peacemaker as a streaming series, few people expected it would work at all. John Cena’s Peacemaker was one of the most morally corrupt antiheroes in The Suicide Squad, but the fact that James Gunn created the series meant that it would be very different.

What happened was Cena turned the unlikable Peacemaker into a complex and deeply flawed character that fans fell in love with. Peacemake ended up as the highest-rated DC live-action series ever on IMDb. The show was not only a critical success, but DC is making a second season and creator James Gunn is now an executive for DC Entertainment.

NEXT: 10 Quotes That Perfectly Sum Up Peacemaker As A Character