How to prep for The Flash, in as few movies as possible
The Flash multiverse doesn’t require as much homework as you might think—just a revisit with Batman, Superman, and Marty McFly
The following includes some minor spoilers from The Flash. Reader discretion is advised.
Less than nine months after Warner Bros. Discovery announced its series of interconnected DC-branded films would undergo yet another reboot, The Flash is finally speed-forcing its way to theaters, dredging the remains of Warner’s last decade with it. Regardless of how insecure Warner Bros. has become about spoilers of the studio’s latest attempt at attracting an audience to its formerly divisive, now fledgling DC Cinematic Universe, the movie is far more streamlined and self-contained than we’ve been trained to believe.
Fifteen years of Marvel movies have taught us that one doesn’t simply walk into a multiplex without watching three films and a TV series first. Yet, one could probably enjoy The Flash without having seen a Flash comic book, let alone the dozen or so DC movies it follows. In that way The Flash more closely resembles its animated siblings, The Lego Batman Movie and Teen Titans Go! To The Movies, than The Suicide Squad. Despite some surprising cameos, Easter eggs, and bridges to other universes, director Andy Muschetti focuses on his titular character and allows the surprises to be accouterment.
But that doesn’t mean there’s no homework. This is a superhero movie, after all, and at this point, each one is a sequel to something, and The Flash is no exception—even if one doesn’t need to see all 14 DC movies to get their money’s worth. But there are a few films that most movie-goers should see before lacing up their boots and taking a run with the Scarlet Speedster.
-
tv Vince Gilligan includes "This show was made by humans" disclaimer in Pluribus credits By William Hughes November 8, 2025 | 2:20pm
-
music U.S. Cabinet department now feuding with Olivia Rodrigo By William Hughes November 8, 2025 | 12:56pm
-
aux Staff Picks: Get Freaked out by some Shiny Happy People By A.V. Club Staff November 8, 2025 | 12:00pm
-
tv Pluribus' Rhea Seehorn unpacks this week's "crushing twist" By Saloni Gajjar November 8, 2025 | 8:00am
-
film Jeremy Renner denies allegations of misconduct from filmmaker Yi Zhou By William Hughes November 7, 2025 | 10:41pm
-
tv Brett Goldstein lands "accidental male escort" comedy at Prime Video By William Hughes November 7, 2025 | 9:09pm
-
film Tilly Norwood creator says she's got 40 more just like "her" in the works By William Hughes November 7, 2025 | 7:54pm
-
tv The war for Jeopardy! and Wheel Of Fortune is over By William Hughes November 7, 2025 | 6:17pm
-
film Meryl Streep and Sigourney Weaver are Useful Idiots By Emma Keates November 7, 2025 | 4:40pm
-
aux Read this: A new report shows X is amplifying far-right accounts By William Hughes November 7, 2025 | 4:34pm
-
film R.I.P. Lee Tamahori, director of Die Another Day and Once Were Warriors By Mary Kate Carr November 7, 2025 | 4:17pm
-
music 3 new songs and 3 new albums to listen to this weekend By Drew Gillis November 7, 2025 | 4:00pm
-
tv Disney and YouTube aren't gonna stop fighting any time soon By Mary Kate Carr November 7, 2025 | 2:56pm
-
tv Nate Bargatze will reward Americans for being average in new game show By Emma Keates November 7, 2025 | 2:53pm
-
film Like their prey, the Predator movies have evolved in order to survive By Jesse Hassenger November 7, 2025 | 2:00pm
-
film NBC reportedly removes "power-hungry dictator" comment from Wicked concert special By Emma Keates November 7, 2025 | 1:26pm
-
tv Tom Hiddleston needs therapy in The Night Manager season 2 teaser By Mary Kate Carr November 7, 2025 | 12:52pm
-
tv Palm Royale season 2 is a messy, over-the-top delight By Jenna Scherer November 7, 2025 | 12:00pm
-
music Here are the nominees for the 68th Grammy Awards By Emma Keates November 7, 2025 | 11:32am
-
news Blake Lively puts a price on sexual harassment and retaliation suit against Justin Baldoni By Mary Kate Carr November 7, 2025 | 11:08am
-
games ARC Raiders is the most miserable a game has made us in a minute By William Hughes November 7, 2025 | 11:00am
-
tv First 5 minutes of Stranger Things season 5 feature de-aged Will and plenty of squelchy tentacles By Emma Keates November 7, 2025 | 10:22am
-
film Get ready for The Whole Bloody Affair in new Kill Bill re-release trailer By Mary Kate Carr November 7, 2025 | 9:24am
-
film A unique, thought-provoking animated adventure for kids? In Your Dreams By Jacob Oller November 7, 2025 | 9:00am
-
tv Vince Gilligan's Albuquerque breaks even badder in Pluribus By Noel Murray November 7, 2025 | 3:00am
-
tv Stranger Things execs call David Harbour/Millie Bobby Brown bullying stories "wildly inaccurate" By William Hughes November 6, 2025 | 11:34pm
-
film Great Job, Internet!: Martin Scorsese is pretty good at guessing his movies from Letterboxd reviews By William Hughes November 6, 2025 | 9:25pm
-
film Zach Cregger and Netflix are reportedly having a spat about theatrical releases By William Hughes November 6, 2025 | 8:45pm
-
film Director Bi Gan dreams up a surreal trailer for his latest, Resurrection By Matt Schimkowitz November 6, 2025 | 7:56pm
-
aux MrBeast holds-my-beer Riyadh Comedy Festival with Saudi Arabian theme park pop-up By William Hughes November 6, 2025 | 7:05pm
-
games Rockstar chases union-busting allegations, protests with another Grand Theft Auto 6 delay By Matt Schimkowitz November 6, 2025 | 6:35pm
-
film French animated color blast Arco gets a high-flying trailer By William Hughes November 6, 2025 | 6:17pm
-
music R.I.P. Gilson Lavis, former drummer of Squeeze By Matt Schimkowitz November 6, 2025 | 5:09pm
-
aux Condé Nast, union employees battle after "illegal firings" By Mary Kate Carr November 6, 2025 | 4:26pm
-
aux FBI goes after archiving website Archive.is By Matt Schimkowitz November 6, 2025 | 3:33pm
-
film Amanda Seyfried Shakes herself closer to God in Testament Of Ann Lee trailer By Matt Schimkowitz November 6, 2025 | 2:12pm
-
film Diane Lane on the cautionary Anniversary, the slept-on Rumble Fish, and panicking on live TV By Will Harris November 6, 2025 | 2:00pm
-
music Spotify will now wrap up your listening data weekly By Mary Kate Carr November 6, 2025 | 1:36pm
-
film Win tickets to a special advance screening of Hamnet By Drew Gillis November 6, 2025 | 1:00pm
-
music Journey to go on (and on, and on, and on) one final tour By Emma Keates November 6, 2025 | 12:28pm