What is the difference between Justice League and Justice League: Unlimited?

We’re still more than one month away from the release of DC’s next big movie, The Flash, but if you’re looking for a quick fix to see your favorite DC Comics superheroes in action, then Netflix might have the answer for you. On May 8, Netflix added the animated DC series Justice League and Justice League: Unlimited!

For those who haven’t seen these two series, they’re critically acclaimed and considered some of the best in the DC Animated canon. They’re definite must-watch shows for those who love DC content. Here’s what you need to know about them.

What is Justice League about?

The animated series followed Wonder Woman, Batman, The Flash, Superman, Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and more DC superheroes as they worked together to combat various threats and villains.

Spread across two seasons and 52 episodes, Justice League is widely praised by fans, especially due to the multiple two and three-parter episodes that allowed for greater-scope stories to be told.

What is Justice League: Unlimited about?

Justice League: Unlimited is the successor series to Justice League, running for 39 episodes. It was technically three seasons but has been condensed into two seasons since airing. Unlimited is a very continuity-heavy addition to the DC Animated Universe as it references plotlines from previous shows like Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, and Justice League.

It was also meant to conclude the shared universe that started with BTAS. Justice League: Unlimited featured a much wider variety of DC villains and superheroes, some of whom were being animated for the first time. It also featured more single episodes and a compelling myth arc that ran through the bulk of episodes.

If you’re planning to watch both shows, you should definitely start with Justice League since Unlimited is set a few years after the end of its predecessor.

Are all episodes of Justice League and Justice League: Unlimited on Netflix?

On May 8, 2023, Netflix added the entirety of the two animated shows to its catalog. All episodes of both series are currently streaming. If you want to watch the other series in the DCAU, you’ll need to get HBO Max.