There have been some great DC performances this year, particularly from the women. Margot Robbie continues to display Harley Quinn's dark sense of humor, along with arguably her best action scenes to date in The Suicide Squad. Ratcatcher 2 is another Squad character (well played by Daniela Melchior) who provides the most humanity in James Gunn's film with her youthful innocence, her care towards others, and her crazy love for rats.
There are also DC characters who don't have superpowers but are intelligent and commanding leaders, such as Viola Davis' stern Amanda Waller (who enjoys yelling orders) in The Suicide Squad, and Silas Stone (an emotionally powerful Joe Morton), who's a persistent scientist and sentimental father to Victor Stone/Cyborg in Zack Snyder's Justice League. However, the top five DC performances include a combination of heroes and villains who have gone through transformations and/or have multiple dimensions to their characters.
Ciarán Hinds - Steppenwolf
Unlike the Steppenwolf audiences viewed in the 2017 version of Justice League, the villain in Zack Snyder's cut has a shinier and more refined look, and he's more menacing. He has the appearance of a strong and deadly monster who is on a mission to destroy the world. Not only does Steppenwolf methodically plan to wipe out Earth with three powerful mother boxes, but the villain also shows his vulnerability because he desperately seeks the approval of Darkseid, an even bigger baddie.
Actor Ciarán Hinds portrays Steppenwolf with the right amount of aggressive anger and emotion, while also having some terrifically bloody R-rated action sequences, including one of his first battles against Queen Hippolyta and her army (in which the villain slashes down Amazonians with his large and sharp Electro Axe). There's also a gruesome sequence in which Steppenwolf uses a metallic spider to extract information from a fatally-injured Atlantean's brain. Steppenwolf may seem like Thanos or any other villain seeking global domination, but he's also an antagonist who intends to prove his worth to his masters and show that he is better than everyone else, including powerful metahumans like the Amazonians and Atlanteans (especially when he says, "No protectors here. No Lanterns, no Kryptonian. This world will fall, like all the others").
Ray Fisher - Victor Stone/Cyborg
In 2017's Justice League, Ray Fisher's Victor Stone/Cyborg was pretty much reduced to a sidekick character, but in Snyder's version, he is the emotional centerpiece of the story because he's a hero who feels broken and unwilling to accept his "gifts." Victor's backstory is well established, from a football athlete who is strong and energetic, to a vulnerable man who nearly loses his life in a horrific car accident that killed his mother. Thanks to his father Silas, Victor is now part man, part machine, with a second chance at life. Out of the members of the league, Victor's journey is one of the most challenging because he tries very hard to figure out how to use his technical abilities to do good in the world.
Victor has some great moments in action, but his best scenes are the most intimate, especially with his father and how he resented him for not always being around. However, despite that, Victor still loved his dad very much because he saved his life and gave him a new purpose. Silas's death leaves Victor heartbroken but also more determined as Cyborg to take down Steppenwolf and destroy the mother boxes. Cyborg also has great interactions with the league, especially Wonder Woman and Flash, when he feels doubtful about himself or needs reassurance.
John Cena - Peacemaker
John Cena delivers his best performance to date as the hilarious and ultra-violent Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad. This is a character who may initially appear like another Captain America due to his masculine physique and claims to 'keep the peace" in the world, but is in fact a ruthless mercenary who's most committed to following orders and completing his objectives. His character also has some of the best action scenes in the film, taking down people with his long desert eagle pistol, a large sword, an ax, and other valuable weapons, along with hand-to-hand combat skills.
Peacemaker's best scenes include his funny and competitive banter with Bloodsport as he tries to prove that he is the best killer with cooler weapons, while also displaying crude and profane R-rated humor. Peacemaker also showcases his serious side when he faces off against Rick Flag over whether or not Project Starfish should be revealed to the public. The best part about Peacemaker is that he is a man of two sides: a comical tough guy who likes to show off his fighting skills, and a killer whose primary focus is on the mission at hand (making it difficult to classify him as a hero or villain). Cena perfectly balances Peacemaker's dramatic and comedic sides, which will undoubtedly carry over on the character's new HBO Max series.
Ben Affleck - Bruce Wayne/Batman
Ben Affleck's Bruce Wayne/Batman was way too vulnerable, doubtful, and weak in 2017's Justice League. Thankfully, his Dark Knight has some great action moments in Snyder's Justice League epic, showcasing Batman's strengths, both as a leader and as a hero with effective resources. The Caped Crusader is a strategist who understands that he faces powerful enemies like Steppenwolf and Darkseid, and recognizes that he needs the best heroes on his side to defeat evil from overtaking the planet.
Affleck loosens up Bruce's role a bit here, thanks to his friendly partnership with Wonder Woman, and a funny introductory meeting with Flash. He also displays some of Batman's darkest moments when he confronts Jared Leto's Joker in his Knightmare sequence, threatening the clowned prince of Gotham with his vow to kill him. This Knightmare shows that Batman is still fearful of the dangers to come, but thanks to his leadership in bringing the league together, resurrecting Superman, and defeating Steppenwolf, there is more hope for the future. Affleck's last portrayal of Batman may be in the upcoming Flash movie, but here he delivers a powerful and intense portrayal of a hero doing everything he can to ensure that his world will survive.
Idris Elba - Robert DuBois/Bloodsport
Idris Elba enters superhero territory in James Gunn's Suicide Squad film and delivers an intense and comical performance as Robert DuBois aka Bloodsport. He's a mercenary who is highly skilled in combat and carries gadgets and weapons all over his unique suit, from a bow and arrow set to forming a large gun out of small parts. Bloodsport's also a man who isn't afraid to go against authority, which is shown during his confrontations with Amanda Waller and sometimes defying her orders.
Along with his fighting and marksman skills, the best part about Bloodsport is that he pretends not to care about anyone else, but he actually does, especially Ratcatcher 2 (since he has a young daughter who he worries about). Bloodsport slowly develops a friendly bond with his squad and becomes an admirable leader. He also has some competition with Peacemaker when it comes to who's the best fighter. Despite no Deadshot this time around, Bloodsport is a perfect substitution.
Honorable mention goes to Joel Kinneman, who upgrades his portrayal of Rick Flag by combining seriousness and humor, and Sylvester Stallone is a welcome addition to the DCEU thanks to his effective voiceover work as the viciously funny King Shark. Jared Leto's Joker is also more villainous than before. It'll be interesting to see which DC performances come out on top in 2022, thanks to projects like The Batman and Peacemaker.