Superman: Unbound

The machine is coming

RELEASED 23 Apr 20131h 15m★ 6.6 TMDB

Superman and Supergirl take on the cybernetic being known as Brainiac, who boasts that he possesses "the knowledge and strength of 10,000 worlds."

Why it matters in DC

Brainiac's threat puts Superman and Supergirl into the same confrontation with a force associated with knowledge and overwhelming power. The pairing gives the film a way to explore the Superman family's response to a cosmic adversary beyond Earth's usual criminal conflicts.

Watch these first

4 titles to watch before Superman: Unbound — 5h 7m in total.

All Star SupermanOptional background1h 16m★ 6.9
A separate adaptation of Superman and Lois Lane; useful for comparison, but unrelated to Superman: Unbound’s story continuity.
Justice League: DoomOptional background1h 17m★ 7.4
A separate adaptation of Superman and Lois Lane; useful for comparison, but unrelated to Superman: Unbound’s story continuity.
Superman vs. The EliteOptional background1h 16m★ 6.9
A separate adaptation of Superman and Lois Lane; useful for comparison, but unrelated to Superman: Unbound’s story continuity.
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2Optional background1h 18m★ 7.9+1 before this
A separate adaptation of Superman; useful for comparison, but unrelated to Superman: Unbound’s story continuity.

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How these titles are selected

Story prerequisites are curated. Likely prerequisites are inferred from sequel numbering or explicit synopsis references. Recommendations are earlier stories in the same continuity; background picks are separate adaptations. Series lists cover whole shows, not an episode-by-episode watch order.

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Where it fits in the DC universe

Superman: Unbound is title 17 of 40 in our Animated Elseworlds viewing sequence. Superman: Unbound offers a separate animated Superman and Supergirl story centred on Brainiac. It is not a missing chapter of the connected animated Superman pair or the DCU's live-action sequel plans. Familiar characters provide an accessible starting point, while their precise relationships should be taken from this film's own setting.

Explore this viewing sequence