5 things DC Films should do if it wants to compete with Marvel

Build the new DC universe up slowly

So the big problem that DC had in its initial buildup is that it went too fast. Remember: Man of Steel came out a year after the MCU already had its first big climax with The Avengers. WarnerMedia wanted a hit of that size, and you could feel them rushing towards it. Superman got his own movie, and then he got one alongside Batman, and then we had the Avengers, where a bunch of a new heroes were introduced with very little preamble. No wonder it was a mess of a movie that underperformed at the box office.

Compare this to how Marvel did things. They took it slow, giving movies to Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and (sorta) the Hulk before bringing the lot of them together in The Avengers. We were invested in all of the characters by that point, and the movie had to do way less setup. It felt natural, not labored, and it reaped the rewards.

If DC Films really wants to compete with Marvel, their problem isn’t material — they’ve got plenty of that — it’s pacing. Zaslav, my buddy, my guy, you’re going to have to have patience, even if it’s hard. You’ll need to carefully introduce us to heroes in movies that stand on their own, and plan out sensible ways for the characters to meet up later in a big crossover event. It won’t get you a big payoff right out of the gate…but neither will rushing things. It’s the only way.

Embrace what makes DC different

Marvel movies tend to follow a certain pattern. Yes, there’s variation between them — the recent Thor movies lean more into the comedy whereas Eternals feels more epic — but they share a tone. Usually, that tone is, ‘Take it seriously, but pepper in enough jokes and action so people don’t get bored.’ Marvel heroes are famous for their little quips, the color palette is usually pretty bright, and of course, we all know that every Marvel movie will have a post-credits scene at the end.

The theatrical version of Justice League felt like it was trying to imitate this tone, to disastrous results. DC isn’t going to compete by Marvel by doing what they’re already doing; again, Marvel will always do it better. They’re going to have to find their own tone.

So far, the DC movies have felt a bit darker than the average Marvel film, with The Batman being a good example of a movie with some edge that still remembers to entertain. Not everything has to be as pitch black grim as Joker, but DC films will need to embrace the differences if it hopes to stand out.

Also, don’t be afraid of variation. A movie like Shazam! does feel a bit more Marvel-like, but there’s room for that as long as there’s someone minding how all the pieces fit together. Speaking of…