What are the Best DC Performances Of 2023?

Highlights

• Michael Keaton’s return as Batman in The Flash was a highlight of DC performances in 2023, with his unique energy stealing the show and making it seem like he had been playing the character for decades.
• Xolo Maridueña’s performance as Blue Beetle was masterful and enjoyable, even if the film didn’t perform well at the box office.
• Kaley Cuoco’s voice performance as Harley Quinn in the animated series was phenomenal, giving the character a unique kind of heart.

While DC has had its ups and downs over the course of 2023, there have been a handful of excellent performances that deserve to be highlighted. It can’t be easy to take the role of a superhero in his origin or even a villain in the same role and make it something special, but even as DC film quality has had dips, the same can’t be said about every performance. With some surprising returns, complete newcomers, and bittersweet farewells, this year has been solid for DC.

It should be said that none of the DC performances of 2023 are going to be Oscar-worthy, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t fun. One of the easiest ways for fans to enjoy a performance is to tell that an actor is having fun, and these actors truly seem like they’re having a blast. Rivaling the best of the MCU, these are the best DC performances of 2023.

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The Flash – Michael Keaton

Pretty much no one had Michael Keaton returning as Batman on their bingo card for 2023, but that is exactly what fans got in The Flash. The movie may have been marred with controversy, but Michael Keaton remained a shining light both before and after the movie’s release. Bringing back his unique energy to the role, Keaton managed to make it seem as if he’d been playing the character for decades instead of having returned to the role for the first time in roughly two decades. Most reviewers point out Keaton as a high-point for the film, acting as the best DC cameo to date.

It’s pretty clear that the return to the role meant a lot to Keaton, as his stellar comedic and heart-filled performance resonated with a lot of people. In a report from Collider on an interview, The Flash director Andy Muschietti shared a story from his time on set with Keaton:

“It was funny because at one point during the scene where we shot him in the full suit, he was like, ‘Can you take a picture? It’s for my grandson. It was one of those moments where he really showed something was inside that was very emotional.”

Some might call out the role because it seemed like some kind of nostalgia play, but in the context of the film, it is so much more. Making perfect sense instead of being shooed into the movie, Michael Keaton stole the movie in a lot of people’s minds.

Blue Beetle – Xolo Maridueña

One of the saddest things about Blue Beetle not performing particularly well at the box office is the fact that many people missed out on the masterful performance from Xolo Maridueña as the lead character. Even those who didn’t particularly love the film were able to acknowledge just how far Maridueña’s performance went in terms of enjoyment. One of the biggest struggles that DC movies have had to date is having genuine and enjoyable characters that can’t rest on their mantle in order for fans to excuse their shortcomings. With many unfamiliar with Blue Beetle as a character, Maridueña’s performance as Jaime Reyes stands out as both believable and endearing.

It’s clear that praise for Maridueña in the role of Blue Beetle isn’t just held by fans, as it seems that he will be one of the few characters continuing into James Gunn’s DCU era. Gunn made this clear on Threads, though it was reported on by Digital Spy:

“”Xolo Maridueña will continue playing Blue Beetle in the DCU, as Viola Davis will Amanda Waller, and John Cena will Peacemaker,” Gunn wrote on Threads, confirming the stars will reprise their roles at some point in the DCU.”

Harley Quinn – Kaley Cuoco

With the fourth season of the surprising and raunchy hit Harley Quinn released in 2023, Kaley Cuoco has continued the responsibility of portraying the fan-favorite character in voice alone. If the high ratings for the show are any indication, she’s doing a phenomenal job despite being an actress that many may not have pegged as a potential voice for the character. Giving Harley Quinn a unique kind of heart behind her performance, Kaley Cuoco has been working in tandem with other talent to make this version of Harley the most human she’s ever been.

While the humor of the show is often seen as a high point, especially with Cuoco’s comedic timing, many more people point out just how enthralling the relationship between Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy is thanks to the actors. From the performers to those working behind the scenes, everyone seems to know what makes the animated Harley Quinn the character she is, and they aren’t afraid to jump right into those things. Whether it’s being funny, violent, or shockingly human, Harley Quinn has become a new favorite to even more people as the show has absolutely let loose with the character.

The Flash (Show) – Grant Gustin

With The Flash TV series ending in 2023, Grant Gustin’s time battling horrific villains as the character has officially come to an end, much to the dismay of fans. Even when the writing for the CW show was spotty, Grant Gustin always did his absolute best to make Barry Allen relevant. To date, it’s not uncommon to see Grant Gustin mentioned as giving one of the best DC performances of all time, with his time in the role of Barry Allen being looked upon as fondly as Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen, or even Henry Cavill back when he was Superman. For nine long seasons from 2014 to 2023, Gustin gave the series his all.

Managing to balance charm, humor, and heroics into one tight package, Gustin brought something to The Flash that may not be seen again. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Grant Gustin praises the show’s ending:

“that feels very Flash,” he says. “It’s the universe, the multiverse, the Speed Force — it’s all so much bigger than Barry Allen. It felt very appropriate for the note for us to go out on.”

His time in the spotlight may have ended, but with a massive shift in direction for the DCU, fans have been calling for Grant Gustin to be given the role on the big screen.