Warner Bros. was once renowned for its animation department. Initially focused on theatrical shorts, the animators began dedicating more time to television and film productions, including superhero movies set in the DC Universe. Today, many of these films are available for streaming on HBO Max.
What are the best animated superhero movies on HBO Max?
Unfortunately, the complete library of animated superhero movies produced by Warner Bros. Animation is not fully accessible on HBO Max. In recent years, the streaming service has gained notoriety for cutting costs by not hosting the entire Warner Archive. Nevertheless, there are still some excellent animated DC Comics movies available.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
There is considerable debate among superhero fans regarding which Batman movie stands out as the best. In these discussions, one dark horse candidate often emerges, argued against solely because it is animated: Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.
Ten years into his fight against crime, Batman encounters a new vigilante who does not share his code against killing. This Phantasm begins targeting Gotham City’s gangsters, prompting the Dark Knight to seek a common link. The investigation leads to businessman Carl Beaumont, who has recently returned to Gotham City after a decade abroad, and reconnects Bruce Wayne with Beaumont’s daughter, Andrea, who almost convinced him to abandon his superhero life before abruptly ending their engagement.
Produced by the same creative team behind Batman: The Animated Series, Mask of the Phantasm unfolds like an extended episode of the show. It features the same moody orchestral music and the series’ signature Art Deco backgrounds painted on black paper. However, it is the script and voice acting that truly elevate this movie to classic status.
Kevin Conroy delivered many iconic performances as the Dark Knight, but Mask of the Phantasm marked his first truly exceptional one. The scene where Bruce Wayne pleads at his parents’ grave during a thunderstorm was groundbreaking for its time in terms of portraying Batman and adult-oriented superhero animation.
Dana Delaney also received praise for her portrayal of Andrea Beaumont. Many believe her performance here led to her casting as Lois Lane in Superman: The Animated Series. Unsurprisingly, Mark Hamill delivers an outstanding performance as The Joker.
Green Lantern: Emerald Knights (2011)
For ages untold, the Green Lantern Corps has safeguarded the universe. Now, their home base on the planet Oa faces an attack from forces in the Anti-Matter universe. As the Corps prepare for their greatest battle yet, a new recruit named Arisia questions her worthiness to be a Green Lantern. However, her spirits are lifted by veteran Lanterns Hal Jordan and Sinestro, who share tales of challenges faced by other Corps members.
Numerous animated films have been based on Green Lantern comics; however, Green Lantern: Emerald Knights stands out as the best. This distinction is partly due to its anthology format that allows multiple stories to unfold within a larger conflict.
The most notable story adapts a comic by Watchmen creators Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons about an evil warrior named Bolphunga the Unrelenting, who hunts down the universe’s mightiest warriors in search of a legendary Green Lantern called Mogo. Ultimately, he learns why Mogo commands both respect and fear.
Green Lantern: Emerald Knights also features one of the most impressive voice casts in any animated superhero film. Elisabeth Moss from The Handmaid’s Tale voices Arisia, while Jason Isaacs lends his voice to Sinestro. Henry Rollins portrays Green Lantern drill sergeant Kilowog, and wrestling legend Roddy Piper voices Bolphunga the Unrelenting. Nathan Fillion’s performance as Hal Jordan anchors the film and led him to reprise this role in the DC Animated Movie Universe from 2013 to 2020.
Justice League: Doom (2012)
The immortal Vandal Savage has plotted world domination for millennia. His latest scheme involves two elements: a Legion of Doom composed of Justice League’s greatest foes and an internal attack using plans devised by Batman to neutralize his superhero allies should they ever go rogue.
The villains execute a divide-and-conquer strategy that puts their archenemies in perilous situations. The only hope for salvation lies with Cyborg, a new recruit overlooked in Savage’s plans. However, even if they save the day, will the Justice League recover from learning that Batman’s strategies nearly led to their demise?
Justice League: Doom is not set within the DC Animated Universe; this distinction is evident with Nathan Fillion voicing Green Lantern Hal Jordan and Hawkgirl’s absence. It also showcases a significantly different animation style.
However, it was scripted by Justice League Unlimited producer Dwayne McDuffie and adapted from the classic Justice League storyline ‘Tower of Babel.’ The film features many voice actors from the DC Animated Universe, including Kevin Conroy as Batman and Tim Daly as Superman. This gives Justice League: Doom a familiar feel despite its darker tone and artistic direction. It also includes intense action scenes like The Flash reenacting scenes from Speed while being tagged with a velocity-sensitive bomb.
The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
The Lego Movie was an unexpected hit upon its release in 2014; however, Batman’s character voiced by Will Arnett emerged as its standout figure. Three years later, he reprised this role in The Lego Batman Movie.
This film depicts Batman in distress as new Police Commissioner Barbara Gordon plans to restructure GCPD so they no longer require his assistance. This drives him overboard in proving his worth and inadvertently facilitates Joker’s escape from the Phantom Zone. With help from his newly adopted son Robin, a new Batgirl, and his butler Alfred, Batman may discover family values and that he does not have to shoulder everything alone.
The Lego Batman Movie retains many jokes about Lego figures from The Lego Movie while introducing several Easter eggs related to DCU and DC Comics. Featuring an excellent ensemble cast including Michael Cera as Robin and Zach Galifianakis as Joker makes this movie both touching and humorous.
Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020)
Aware of Darkseid’s threat to Earth, the Justice League teams up with Teen Titans to confront him once and for all but ultimately fails. Most superheroes perish or fall under Apokolips’ control during this battle.
Two years later, a depowered Superman attempts to rebuild what was lost and save Earth with assistance from Lois Lane, Raven, Robin, and John Constantine while forming a new superhero team that even includes members of Suicide Squad during Earth’s darkest hour. However, it may be too late to save their universe or Earth itself.
Justice League Dark: Apokolips War serves as a conclusion for the first chapter of DC Animated Movie Universe while demonstrating WB Animation’s capability to produce adult superhero animation effectively. Once again featuring an impressive script and talented voice cast; Matt Ryan shines as he reprises his role as John Constantine after portraying him live-action in Arrowverse.
How we picked the best animated superhero movies on HBO Max in 2026
In addition to whether it was available on HBO Max or not, three criteria guided this list: First, is the movie well-regarded and historically significant? Second, is it adapted from a notable comic book story? Lastly, does it feature exceptional voice acting?
