The Max streaming service is implementing content rotation for DC movies, and the latest turn means 31 fewer projects to watch in April.
Max (formerly HBO Max) is the default home for DC movies and TV shows, but the service has just removed 31 projects as of April 1. Marvel and DC are still the two big names in the superhero media industry, and each is tied to some degree to one streaming service. Marvel movies and TV shows can be found on Disney+ with very few exceptions, and Warner Bros. is behind both Max and DC. However, while the streaming era makes watching more content easier than ever, it also has caveats.
While Disney+ has remained relatively consistent with its Marvel offerings, Max is employing a different approach. At the start of April, 31 animated and live-action DC movies have been removed from the program. They’ll almost definitely be back at some point, but when that is (and if they can be watched in the meantime elsewhere) is yet to be seen.
31 DC Movies Are No Longer Available To Stream On Max
DC Movies No Longer On Max (By Release Year)
Release Year
Supergirl
1984
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
1993
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
2000
Catwoman
2004
Constantine
2005
Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo
2006
Watchmen: Motion Comic
2008
Superman/Batman: Public Enemies
2009
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths
2010
Batman: Under the Red Hood
2010
Green Lantern
2011
Justice League: Doom
2012
The Dark Knight Returns – Part 1
2012
The Dark Knight Returns – Part 2
2013
Lego Batman: The Movie – DC Super Heroes Unite
2013
Justice League: War
2014
Batman: Assault on Arkham
2014
Batkid Begins: The Wish Heard Around the World
2015
Justice League: Throne of Atlantis
2015
Batman vs. Robin
2015
Batman: Bad Blood
2016
Justice League vs. Teen Titans
2016
Teen Titans: The Judas Contract
2017
Batman: Ninja
2018
Batman: Hush
2019
Teen Titans Go! vs. Teen Titans
2019
Batman: Death in the Family
2020
Justice Society: World War II
2021
Injustice
2021
Legion of Super-Heroes
2023
Scooby-Doo and Krypto Too
2023
There doesn’t seem to be any particular rhyme or reason for which DC movies were removed from Max this month. However, a few franchises are safe in their entirety. Of note is that the movies of the DCEU, the Christopher Nolan Batman films, the Burton Batman movies and their sequels, and the Reeves Batman films are all still intact (sans the Supergirls spinn-off) on the service. With a few exceptions, at least one movie has been removed from most years between 2004 and 2023.
While the full list of removals can be seen above, it’s worth pointing out a few outliers. While the majority of the movies are animated DC projects, Ryan Reynolds’ and Halle Berry’s infamous live-action Green Lantern and Catwoman movies are out, as is Keanu Reeves’ cult classic Constantine. The documentary Batkid: The Wish Heard Around The World is also no longer available.
Animated features have taken a bigger hit (particular Batman-related movies). Spanning several continuities, audiences will have to look elsewhere for iconic stories like Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, The Dark Knight Returns – Part 1 and 2, and Batman: Under the Red Hood. Of course, given DC’s prolific animation output over the years, plenty of other animated films remain on Max.
Why DC Movies Have Been Removed From Max
While it may be disappointing for some viewers that they can no longer watch certain DC movies on Max (at least for the time being), the move first in with the streaming service’s content strategy. Despite Max being owned by Warner Bros, who also owns DC, the platform uses a rotating content strategy that frequently seems movies and TV shows enter and exit availability. Usually, this is to license content out to other streaming services on limited contract.
So, it seems likely that most – if not all – the removed Max content will soon be available on other services. While that may not allay disappointment from those looking for their DC fix to stay under one roof, the above movies certainly aren’t gone for good. It is currently unclear when DC‘s removed movies will return to.
