The DC Universe has provided fans with a host of cinematic moments that have left audiences astonished. From sudden narrative turns to unexpected character revelations, here are the 10 best DC movie twists that truly surprised audiences:

1. “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” – The Death of Superman: In a stunning turn of events, Superman sacrifices himself to defeat Doomsday, leaving fans shocked at the demise of the iconic superhero so early in the DC Extended Universe.

2. “Wonder Woman” – Ares Revealed: The identity of Ares, the God of War, was cleverly concealed throughout the movie until it’s revealed that Sir Patrick Morgan, the seemingly benevolent supporter of peace, is actually the war-mongering god.

3. “The Dark Knight” – Harvey Dent’s Downfall: Harvey Dent’s transformation into Two-Face represented one of the most heartbreaking character arcs in superhero cinema — as Gotham’s White Knight falls from grace in a narrative no one saw coming.

4. “Shazam!” – Family of Heroes: When Billy Batson shares his powers with his foster siblings, they all transform into adult superheroes. This collective embodiment of Shazam was a heartwarming surprise that heralded the importance of family and teamwork.

5. “Aquaman” – The True Heir to Atlantis: Audiences were led to believe that Arthur Curry would need to retrieve the lost Trident of Atlan to claim his birthright but instead discovers that simply being worthy is enough when he communicates directly with the ancient weapon through a deep connection to his heritage.

6. “Justice League: Snyder Cut” – Martian Manhunter’s Introduction: In an epilogue scene, it is revealed that General Swanwick was actually J’onn J’onzz/Martian Manhunter all along, introducing another iconic character into the fold unexpectedly.

7. “The Dark Knight Rises” – Robin Emerges: The revelation at the end of Christopher Nolan’s trilogy that Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character John Blake is actually Robin electrified audiences and hinted at a future for Gotham’s vigilantes beyond Bruce Wayne’s Batman.

8. “Suicide Squad” – Enchantress’ Betrayal: While expected to be an asset to the team, Dr. June Moone’s alter ego Enchantress quickly turns against her handlers in a twist that sets off the chaotic events which bring together this team of anti-heroes.

9. “Birds of Prey” – The Explosive Betrayal: Roman Sionis aka Black Mask’s right-hand man Victor Zsasz turns out to be even more manipulative and treacherous than initially suspected, betraying his boss in an explosive twist.

10. “Wonder Woman 1984” – Steve Trevor’s Return: Seeing Chris Pine reprise his role as Steve Trevor was definitely surprising considering his character’s fate in the first film — a clever trick using another man’s body orchestrated by the Dreamstone caught everyone off guard.