All Arrowverse TV Shows, Ranked From Worst to Best by Rotten Tomatoes
There were some big hits and even bigger misses.
While all of The CW's Arrowverse shows have been the constant butt of jokes from pretty much everyone on the Internet, it's hard to argue that they've all made a huge impact not only on the network, but on the television industry in general. Perhaps that is part of the reason why each and every one of them has been critically acclaimed.
If you are feeling nostalgic and want to go back to the days of DC's reign on The CW, you can use the ranking below as a starting point for a rewatch. Here are all 6 of The CW Arrowverse TV shows, ranked by Rotten Tomatoes.
6. Batwoman (2019-2022) – 83%
As is often the case, the latest installment of the sprawling comic book franchise received the least positive reviews of all. However, the critics' approval rating for Batwoman was still relatively high, at 83% overall.
It's the viewers who weren't happy with the show at all. The audience rating plummeted to 23%, with critics saying that the show lacked charm and that the characters were too bland to relate to in any way. Still, given the huge difference between the two scores, it might be worth checking out for yourself.
5. Arrow (2012-2020) – 86%
The show that started it all, Arrow, is second to last in this ranking, all thanks to the quality of the writing, which took a big dip toward the end of the run. Back in 2012, when it was just released, The CW was going through an identity crisis similar to the one it's going through now, and Stephen Amell's Oliver Queen was the savior the network needed.
Whatever you think of the last few seasons, it's hard to deny the phenomenon that Arrow was in the beginning. So don't let its position fool you, 86% is still a very good rating to have!
4. Supergirl (2015-2021) – 88%
Fans who knew Melissa Benoist from her role on Glee were as excited to welcome her to the Arrowverse as they were to welcome her former co-star Grant Gustin, who portrayed the Flash. Though not many people believed the show would succeed, the story of Kara Zor-El took off immediately and ended up becoming even more popular than the original Arrow.
Perhaps this is due to all the fun crossover possibilities the show introduced and the way the writers took advantage of every single one of them, even turning the DC Universe into a musical.
3. The Flash (2014-2023) – 89%
The love that fans still carry for Grant Gustin’s Flash to this day is a true testament to the quality of the show. While everyone was quick to throw a condescending joke at any other Arrowverse series, The CW’s Barry Allen unironically became the favorite portrayal of a hero, which couldn’t be beaten even by James Gunn ’s DCEU reboot.
If you are looking for a show which will immediately throw you back in time and will be just as comforting as it is thrilling, The Flash would be a perfectly safe Arrowverse choice of a series.
2. Legends of Tomorrow (2016-2022) – 89%
While critics gave DC's Legends of Tomorrow the exact same rating as The Flash, viewers have a stronger preference for this show, which is why it takes second place in this ranking. Following the team of heroes and villains assembled by Rip Hunter, fans loved every second of their journey to stop Vandal Savage from destroying the world.
One of the reasons it may have fewer critics is its length. While Legends of Tomorrow is nowhere near the shortest on this list, it has managed to escape the fate of being too long, reaching the 6-season mark before its finale.
1. Black Lightning (2018-2021) – 92%
One of the most underrated by audiences, yet hyped by critics, The CW shows is Black Lighting. Focusing on the life of ex-vigilante Jefferson Pierce, the show approaches the topic of the responsibility the hero may have, not only to his family, but to the entire world that depends on people like him.
The show only got to air 4 seasons, but each of them was rated in the 90% range, so if by chance you missed it, or decided to skip it when it was on, now might be the best time to give it another try.