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DC Universe (Creator)

DC Universe was a streaming service by DC Comics which began operating in September 2018 and was discontinued in January 2021. It was exclusive to the United States of America.

DC Universe was created to serve as a platform that both gathers a large backlog of past live action and animated DC shows and films, digital comics, and brand new material exclusive to the service. Born out of the former Cartoon Network show Young Justice (2010)'s success on Netflix, and frustrations in dealing with corporate execs trying to impose their will onto them under the threat of cancellation, the service is intended to be the ultimate source of entertainment for DC fans. Its selection of comic books now includes the archives of nearly every series that DC sells digitally under their mainline imprint, including kids content, with new issues arriving a year after their original publication.

In terms of new content, the service began with Titans, the first of several planned live-action shows, and the long-awaited third season of Young Justice after steadfast fan support led it to be Un-Cancelled, called Outsiders. Also, new entries in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line, starting with Reign of the Supermen in 2019, are on the service on the same day they're released on home video.

By the time DC Universe launched, AT&T had acquired Time Warner, the parent organization of Warner Bros. which in turn owns all DC media. The newly rebranded WarnerMedia then swiftly announced their intentions of launching a new large-scale and all-encompassing streaming service for all their properties, HBO Max, to compete with Netflix and Disney+. In the wake of the announcement, it was confirmed that DC Universe would continue to operate independently; when HBO Max launched, Doom Patrol was available on both services (new episodes were released simultaneously). Several DC Universe shows have been licensed to air on linear television as well, including Swamp Thing and Stargirl (on The CW) and Harley Quinn (on Syfy).

Several events in 2020 marked a transition in the streaming service's model. Other than the launch of HBO Max and its simulcast of Doom Patrol, the economic crisis resulting from the COVID-19 Pandemic led to major layoffs and restructuring in WarnerMedia, as well as the cancellation of the service's oldest original programming, DC Daily. Stargirl moved to The CW after just one season and a few weeks afterward DC removed the streaming service's annual subscription plan.

After months of speculation about the service's future, DC Content Officer Jim Lee announced in August 2020 that all new series forthcoming for DC Universe would air on HBO Max, following Doom Patrol's footsteps. The service was renamed DC Universe Infinite in 2021 and now focuses solely on the distribution of digital comics, fan interactions and merch. It stills feature new content, but these are limited to comics (called DC Universe Infinite Originals). Unlike the original, DC Universe Infinite would expand outside America as early as summer 2021.

For the DC Universe in terms of the fictional comic book setting, see The DCU. It is also not to be confused with the DC Universe Online MMORPG.

Launch Trailer, 2019 Trailer.


DC Universe original series (moved to HBO Max or other networks as noted)

This is for DC Universe exclusives; only add shows that predate the service if new content is being made for it.

    open/close all folders 

    Live-Action TV 
  • DC Daily (2018-20)
  • Titans (2018-19) note 
  • Doom Patrol (2019-20) note 
  • Swamp Thing (2019)
  • Stargirl (2020) note 

    Western Animation 
  • Young Justice (2010) (2019) note 
  • Harley Quinn (2019-20) note 

Content that aired on the service included:

    Documentary 
  • Batman Tech
  • Batman Unmasked: The Psychology of the Dark Knight
  • Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman
  • The Science of Superman
  • Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics
  • Under the Hood

    Film — Animation 

    Film — Live-Action 

    Live-Action TV 

    Western Animation 

General tropes applying to shows on the service include:


Alternative Title(s): DC Streaming Service

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