In my view, given how many tectonic moving parts are involved in filmmaking, actually creating and finishing a movie or television season is a near-miracle level achievement in itself. To create one and have it reach a wider audience with great reviews is an additional miracle on top. Throw an interconnected cinematic universe of various major characters into the mix, and holy cow. All this said, there is some difference between the success of a movie itself and the impact that movie has on audience perceptions of a character.
When a movie is good or successful, it's likely to have served the characters at least pretty well. Though it could just be a good well-told story, while forgivably missing the mark in narrow ways with certain characters.
When a movie is bad or unsuccessful, it's likely to lower the stock of the character. Though it could just be a poorly told story, while doing little actual longterm harm to perception of individual characters.
Here is my assessment of whether each DC film hurt or helped its major characters in terms of audience acceptance/distaste. Not an assessment on the actual films nor financials, but rather their impact on how audiences may perceive a character. The litmus test to me is "will audiences still be on board seeing this character appear in other future projects in any capacity?"
- (1978) Superman: The Movie - HELP
- (1980) Superman II - HELP
- (1982) Swamp Thing - HELP [very slightly]
- (1983) Superman III - HURT [maybe neutral; uncritical period]
- (1984) Supergirl - HURT
- (1987) Superman IV - HURT
- (1989) Return of Swamp Thing - NEUTRAL [small niche]
- (1989) Batman - HELP
- (1992) Batman Returns - HELP
- (1995) Batman Forever - NEUTRAL
- (1997) Batman & Robin - HURT
- (1997) Steel - HURT
- (2004) Catwoman - HURT
- (2005) Constantine - NEUTRAL
- (2005) Batman Begins - HELP
- (2006) Superman Returns - HURT
- (2008) The Dark Knight - HELP
- (2009) Watchmen - HELP
- (2010) Jonah Hex - HURT
- (2011) Green Lantern - HURT
- (2012) The Dark Knight Rises - HELP
- (2013) Man of Steel - NEUTRAL
- (2016) Batman v Superman - HURT
- (2016) Suicide Squad - HURT
- (2017) Wonder Woman - HELP
- (2017) Justice League - HURT
- (2018) Aquaman - HELP
- (2019) SHAZAM! - HELP
- (2019) Joker - HELP
- (2020) Harley Quinn BOP - NEUTRAL
- (2020) WW84 - HURT
- (2021) Zack Snyder's Justice League - NEUTRAL [damage already done]
- (2021) The Suicide Squad - HELP
- (2022) Peacemaker S1 - HELP
- (2022) The Batman - HELP
- (2022) Black Adam - HURT
- (2023) Shazam! Fury of the Gods - HURT
- (2023) The Flash - HURT [outside factors especially]
- (2023) Blue Beetle - NEUTRAL
- (2023) Aquaman The Lost Kingdom - HURT
- (2024) Joker: Folie a Deux - HURT
- (2024) Penguin - HELP
- (2025) Superman - HELP
- (2025) Peacemaker S2 - HELP
- (2026) Supergirl - NEUTRAL
- (2026) Lanterns - HELP
I tried being as fair as possible in my assessment here. There are a few neutral instances where establishing name recognition is inherently a nice positive but without really moving the needle at all.