The Aquaman movies and shows in order span several distinct versions of DC’s underwater superhero rather than one continuous screen universe. The earliest major Aquaman television adaptation arrived in 1967, with animated adventures following Arthur Curry, Aqualad, Mera, and their battles against threats including Black Manta and other enemies of Atlantis. Decades later, Jason Momoa’s Aquaman received his first solo live-action feature in 2018. Set within the DC Extended Universe, Aquaman follows Arthur as he embraces his Atlantean heritage, challenges his half-brother Orm, and ultimately claims his place as king. For first-time viewers, the recommended watch order is release order.
Aquaman: King of Atlantis arrived in 2021 as a separate animated miniseries centered on Arthur’s first days ruling Atlantis, with a comedic style and its own continuity. The live-action storyline then continued with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom in 2023, reuniting Arthur with Orm as Black Manta returns with the dangerous Black Trident. Because the 1967 cartoon, King of Atlantis, and the Jason Momoa movies represent different adaptations of the character, there is no single timeline connecting every entry. The two live-action films do form a direct continuity and should be watched in their release sequence, while the animated shows stand independently. Watching the full Aquaman franchise by original release date therefore provides the clearest way to experience the character’s evolution across television and film without forcing unrelated interpretations into one chronology.
Release Order
Watching the Aquaman movies and shows in order by release date keeps the franchise’s separate adaptations easy to understand. Begin with the 1967 animated Aquaman series, which established an early television version of Arthur Curry and Atlantis. Aquaman (2018) then introduces Jason Momoa’s live-action solo storyline within the DC Extended Universe. Aquaman: King of Atlantis offers a separate animated interpretation before Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom continues the live-action film continuity. Release order clearly separates the independent animated versions from the connected theatrical movies while showing how Aquaman’s screen portrayal evolved across more than five decades.
Chronological Order
There is no single chronological order connecting every Aquaman movie and television series because the major adaptations belong to separate continuities. The 1967 animated series stands on its own, Aquaman: King of Atlantis creates another independent animated universe, and the Jason Momoa films form their own connected live-action storyline. Within that film continuity, Aquaman takes place before Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Trying to combine the animated and live-action versions into one timeline would create a false chronology, so release order remains the most practical Aquaman watch order for the complete screen franchise.
