This week finally sees the release of Andy Muschietti’s long-awaited The Flash, which seems like it’s been seen by everyone on the planet except me and a dozen or so unlucky folks. Regardless, I’m still plenty hyped to watch the flick, if only to see Michael Keaton’s much-publicized return as Batman. Plus, it sounds as though DC has snuck in an absurd amount of cameos for fans to gush over — and not just from the current DCEU slate, but also TV shows and films from my youth.
So, to prepare for the upcoming event, here’s a list of DC movies and TV Shows you should watch before The Flash.
Man of Steel
This isn’t too much of a spoiler since the marketing team at WB has featured Zod in literally every trailer for The Flash. From what I gather, when Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) screws up the space-time continuum, he squares off against Michael Shannon’s General Zod in an alternate take on Man of Steel’s explosive finale.
Of course, Henry Cavill’s Superman doesn’t appear (save for a faceless cameo). Instead, we’re treated to Sasha Calle’s Supergirl, who hails from Zack Snyder’s edgier superhero world. So, it’s best to check out Man of Steel — who knows, maybe most of you will finally wisen up to its greatness!
Justice League
Based on the footage I’ve seen, the various reviews, and YouTube videos, The Flash features the more obnoxious Barry we saw in Joss Whedon’s terrible Justice League film, not the kick-ass superhero who ran back through time to save the team in Zack Snyder’s Justice League. It’s probably best to rewatch Whedon’s cut to prepare yourself for more of this.
Batman and Batman Returns
Those who have never seen Tim Burton’s Batman flicks should brush up on your cinematic lore. Batman is an absolute blast from start to finish, while Batman Returns is less a Batman film than an absurd Tim Burton dark comedy, but still entertaining.
The caveat is that Keaton’s Bruce Wayne is barely a character in either film. Sure, the man looks great in the suit. He does a splendid job brooding about Burton’s lavish sets. Still, aside from achieving revenge in the original movie, Batman/Bruce doesn’t go through any character arc, especially in Returns, where Batman is relegated to what feels like an extended cameo. As such, the Burton films are essential for novices but not for The Flash. You dig?
Beware, the below section features spoilers. If you don’t want to know about any of the cameos, promptly exit now. All others, proceed.
The Death of Superman Lives: What Happened?
Speaking of Tim Burton, in the late 90s, the man decided to tackle Superman — the death of Superman, to be exact. Burton’s team was deep into production on the Superman Lives film before WB chickened out and pulled the plug. Oh, and Nicolas Cage was tapped to play the Man of Steel.
Why is this important? Well, according to several people who have seen The Flash, Cage’s Superman makes a brief cameo and is actually pretty cool. Those who know the history behind the sequence will cheer like rabid squirrels, while others will scratch their heads in confusion. Don’t be the latter. Watch The Death of Superman Lives documentary. It’s an incredibly fascinating look behind the scenes at one of the most peculiar films that never made it to the big screen.
Superman: The Movie, Supergirl, Batman and Robin TV Show, and Wonder Woman Clips
At a certain point, Barry/Flash races through time and stumbles across a series of alternate universes featuring Christopher Reeve’s Superman, Helen Slater’s Supergirl, Adam West’s Batman, and Linda Carter’s Wonder Woman, all brought to life via CGI. (Then again, some articles claim most of these cameos were cut, so what do I know?) Remember, these are merely brief cameos, so you probably don’t need to watch Supergirl (it sucks!) or any of Adam West’s Batman or Linda Carter’s Wonder Woman episodes.
Each has its own old-school appeal, but they’re incredibly dated and campy as hell. Check out clips on YouTube, then dive in further if you must. Otherwise, stick with Richard Donner’s still appealing Superman: The Movie, then check out either cut of Superman II, and stay far away from Superman III and IV.
Also, as a bonus, go check out George Reeves’ Superman TV series, which is old as hell but still goofy fun. I think he pops up in The Flash too.
Batman and Robin
Finally, in case you missed it, or if you love pain, pop in Joel Schumacher’s Batman and Robin and watch as George Clooney does everything he can to destroy his career. I guess he’s the super secret cameo at the end of The Flash, which is cool but also really … weird. I mean, kudos to Clooney for leaning into his Batman atrocity — and thank The Hollywood gods that he received a second chance! — but I find it bizarre that WB couldn’t figure out how to include Henry Cavill but managed to pay homage to one of the worst superhero films ever made.
