Film

Superman/Batman: Apocalypse

Name: Superman/Batman: Apocalypse
Genre: Science Fiction, Action, Adventure, Animation
Released: 2010
Cast: Tim Daly, Kevin Conroy, Summer Glau, Andre Braugher, Susan Eisenberg

A brisk, visually striking animated feature that introduces Supergirl into the DC Universe through a collision with Batman's detective work and Superman's Kryptonian heritage. It's lighter than its title suggests—action-packed but energetic rather than brooding—and works as both an origin story and a showcase for how these icons actually play together. Perfect for anyone who likes their superhero stories smart, fast-paced, and gorgeously drawn.

TMDb rating

3.6

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you want a brisk, snappy superhero team-up told in the old DC animated style, where the banter between Batman and Superman carries as much weight as the punches.

Skip it if you need a fully rounded, slow-burning mythology or lots of quiet character moments since it sprints through its 79 minutes with little room to breathe.

What it asks of you: Expect a short, brisk ride with little downtime; it moves fast and stays in bright, action-forward territory, so you give it your attention rather than your background.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Batman: The Animated Series1992

The template for how to do cape-and-cowl stories right: noir atmosphere, character depth, and animation that still holds up. Kevin Conroy voices Batman here too, which means continuity of performance across decades.

But It's episodic rather than serialized, so there's no grand arc driving you forward. Some early episodes feel slightly dated in their pacing.

Superman: The Animated Series1996

Equally essential: Superman as optimist and problem-solver rather than unstoppable god. Tim Daly's voice work here is warm without being soft. The design language is instantly iconic and influences everything DC animation has done since.

But Tonally lighter than Batman's show, which some find less gripping. A few episodes rely heavily on plot convenience.

Wonder Woman2009

DC's other great animated feature, using the same voice talent ecosystem and hitting the same sweet spot of action, character, and genuine stakes. Susan Eisenberg brings the same Diana energy she brings here. It proves this whole animation line is firing on all cylinders.

But It's bloodier and more martial than Apocalypse, which shifts the tone. If you want lighter action, this one leans harder into consequence.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Superman/Batman: Apocalypse

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Blue Exorcist2011

Both are origin stories where a teenage character with hidden powers must be trained by older heroes who are fundamentally at odds; both compress cosmic stakes into intimate character relationships.

A Japanese anime with the same energy as Apocalypse—a teenage protagonist discovering demonic heritage, training under reluctant mentors, gorgeous action that moves at thriller pace. It's got the same structure of young person caught between two worlds, but the emotional register is more raw and complicated. Subbed or dubbed, it hits.

But It's anime, so it has pacing and tonal shifts that Western audiences sometimes find jarring. The dub, while solid, takes getting used to if you've only heard Kevin Conroy.

Justice League Unlimited2004

Takes the animated universe and explodes it: dozens of heroes, serialized storytelling, real emotional arcs across seasons. Feels genuinely epic while staying character-focused. Daly and Conroy anchor a stellar ensemble cast.

But The early seasons are gentler than later ones; if you want maximum darkness immediately, you're building to it slowly. Some guest heroes get short shrift.

Batman Beyond1999

A reinvention that actually earns the risk: older Batman mentoring a scrappy teenager. It's got mystery, heart, incredible character design, and some of the best noir atmosphere in animation. Proves the formula stays fresh with the right voice and story.

But Conroy is voicing an older, wearier Batman—less of the gravitas he brings to the younger version. The teen protagonist isn't everyone's way in.

Man of Steel2013

A live-action counterpoint: grounded, intense, genuinely concerned with what godlike power actually does to the world and a person. Henry Cavill's performance is thoughtful. It asks harder questions than most Superman stories dare.

But It's dark in a way that frustrated a lot of Superman fans who wanted hope alongside the spectacle. The action can feel joyless compared to the animated films.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice2016

If you want to see these two at genuine odds—ideologically, morally—this commits to the conflict. Ben Affleck's Batman is older, more brutal. The film asks what happens when two gods disagree about how to save the world.

But It's 151 minutes long and doesn't always justify the runtime. The plot threads don't always knit together cleanly, and the tone can feel self-serious to the point of inertia.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice poster

Justice League Dark2017

An ensemble attempt to bring the animated universe's camaraderie to live action. When it works—and there are genuine moments—it has real charm. The banter between Superman and Batman crackles because of years of shared history and respect between these actors.

But The theatrical cut is visibly compromised. The Snyder Cut exists partly because this film was taken out of its director's hands, and it shows. Depending on which version you watch, this becomes either frustrating or three-and-a-half hours.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 12012

An animated adaptation of the Frank Miller story that redefined Batman: older, angrier, pulling himself back into service. Conroy again, and the stakes feel genuinely adult. If you liked how grown-up Batman vs Superman tried to be, this gets there more successfully.

But It's relentlessly grim and violent in a way that can feel exhausting. Superman here is less a character than a symbol of what Batman is fighting against.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 poster

Castlevania: Nocturne2023

Both use animation as a medium to achieve fluid, dance-like action sequences that live-action struggles to match; both are concerned with legacy, mentorship, and what good people owe the world they're cursed to protect.

A gorgeously animated series that takes superhero-level action and grounds it in genuine moral complexity. The animation rivals Apocalypse in craft; the writing is far sharper. It's got ensemble cast dynamics and real emotional depth without sacrificing spectacle. Fast and generous.

But It's medieval gothic vampire fantasy, not superheroes—a completely different genre. The ultraviolence will surprise you if you come from DC animated features. Also, the seasonal structure means waiting between entries.

Promare2019

Both use animation to achieve visual storytelling that film and television cannot, building menace and heroism through design and movement rather than dialogue; both are about young characters finding their purpose within a system of power older and bigger than themselves.

A Japanese animated film that matches Apocalypse's runtime and energy but turns everything sideways: instead of dark cosmic evil, it's bright, hot, fast, queer, and joyful without ever losing emotional weight. The animation is phenomenal—every frame moves. It's a complete film in 111 minutes that doesn't feel rushed.

But It's visually trippy and the narrative is deliberately stylized over naturalistic. If you need plot clarity and straightforward storytelling, this prioritizes mood and feeling. Reading subtitles adds another layer of attention.