Film

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies

Name: Superman/Batman: Public Enemies
Genre: Science Fiction, Animation, Adventure, Drama, Action
Released: 2009
Cast: Tim Daly, Kevin Conroy, Clancy Brown, Xander Berkeley, Corey Burton

A sleek DC animated film where President Lex Luthor frames Superman and puts a billion-dollar bounty on him and Batman. What follows is pure kinetic action: heroes and villains colliding, chases across cityscapes, the two most powerful friendships in comics tested under pressure. It's the animated superhero film at its most purely fun—no angst, no darkness, just spectacle and wit.

TMDb rating

3.5

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you love tight, talky DC animation where two stubborn heroes bicker their way through a chase, and the Bruce-and-Clark friendship matters more than the spectacle.

Skip it if you want a fully fleshed-out saga; at barely over an hour, this is a brisk sprint that skims its characters and rarely pauses to breathe.

What it asks of you: An hour of nonstop motion with little room between set pieces, so arrive ready to keep pace rather than linger for quiet character beats.

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

If you liked this

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 12012

Two-part animated adaptation that treats Batman and Superman's conflict with mythic weight. Kevin Conroy returns as Batman, delivering the definitive animated performance. Epic in scope and emotionally devastating.

But It's heavy and philosophical rather than action-focused. The pacing is deliberate; this is not a thrill ride.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 poster

Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox2013

A time-travel thriller that dismantles the DC universe and rebuilds it. The Flash drives a genuinely surprising narrative with real stakes. Stunning animation and a script that respects your intelligence.

But Requires some DC knowledge to fully land. The tone shifts from action to tragedy, and not everyone sticks the landing.

Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox poster

Wonder Woman2009

Another DC animated gem from the same era: intimate character work wrapped in mythological spectacle. Voice acting is stellar, and the romance actually matters. A complete and satisfying story.

But The animation style is slightly dated now. Some find the pacing slow compared to more recent superhero films.

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

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Batman: Gotham Knight2008

Same animation studio, same era, same voice cast. Where Public Enemies commits to spectacle, this commits to atmosphere. Both prove DC's animated division understood superhero cinema.

Six animated shorts in wildly different visual styles, all exploring Batman noir through kaleidoscopic lenses. Gritty, stylish, and utterly unlike the traditional superhero format. David Fincher didn't direct it, but it feels like he consulted.

But It's a collection of vignettes, not a plot. Some shorts work better than others. No payoff, just mood.

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm1993

The best Batman animated film ever made. Gorgeously rotoscoped, genuinely mysterious, with a score that haunts you. Proves animation can do noir better than live-action.

But It's older and slower than modern action films. The mystery relies on patience; instant gratification won't work here.

X-Men: Days of Future Past2014

Live-action, but captures the same energy: iconic heroes in conflict, time-travel stakes, a planet-sized threat. Ensemble cast firing on all cylinders. The Sentinel sequences are genuinely thrilling.

But Juggling this many characters means some feel underwritten. The time-travel logic frays if you examine it too closely.

The Avengers2012

Marvel's answer to superhero team dynamics. Genuinely funny, action-packed, and it actually earned the spectacle through character work. Loki is a villain worth remembering.

But A bit of a crowd-pleaser that tries to please everyone. Some find it tonally messy: comedy undercuts stakes.

Batman: Under the Red Hood2010

Jason Todd returns as a crime boss forcing Batman to confront failure and legacy. Brutal, personal, surprisingly moving. Jensen Ackles' voice work is magnetic.

But It's genuinely dark and graphic. The emotional beats require investment; this isn't a popcorn film.

Superman: Doomsday2007

Adapts the iconic Death of Superman story with real consequence. Superman feels fallible for once. The animation is clean and the action sequences pop.

But The plot is fairly straightforward and slightly outdated in tone. Some pacing issues in the second half.

LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: The Flash2018

Don't let the Lego branding fool you—this is genuinely clever about time travel and consequence. Funny without being condescending. The Flash's anxiety is oddly relatable.

But It's a Lego film, so the humor lands differently depending on your age. Some find the format inherently silly.

LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: The Flash poster

Harley Quinn2019

Public Enemies presents Superman and Batman as unstoppable power; Harley Quinn asks what happens when you're completely powerless against the system. Same universe, inverse perspective.

A chaotic, violent, hilarious origin story told as pure cartoon mayhem. Harley and Poison Ivy demolish Gotham's power structures with hammers and hijinks. Animated but genuinely adult. This is DC's best work in years.

But Crude humor and violence throughout. The tone is deliberately messy and anarchic, not a traditional story. Fifteen episodes is a commitment.

Superman: The Animated Series1996

Tim Daly originated this Superman voice and brought it to Public Enemies. But the series shows a different Superman—one who doubts himself. The film borrows the character; the show owns the soul.

Forty-two episodes of Superman done perfectly. Tim Daly voices a Superman who feels invincible but lonely. The show understands that Superman's real power is restraint. Episodic but surprisingly coherent.

But It's episodic 90s TV; some stories are lighter than others. The animation is slightly dated. Commitment of time for full appreciation.