The Flash movie was important for another reason besides potentially ending the DC Extended Universe. It also adapted the now iconic Flashpoint storyline that's considered easily the best story based around the Barry Allen Flash. Unfortunately, the movie had a bit of turbulence, and this suggests a harsh reminder of the reality of comic books.
Certain comic book events and crossovers work well because they're told through comic book. This medium is far different from movies and even TV shows, offering storytelling opportunities that simply aren't possible elsewhere. For this reason, trying to properly adapt them in outside mediums is a recipe for disaster, as the same heights simply can't be reached.
Flashpoint Was a Massive DC Comics Event
Flashpoint ended the post-Crisis on Infinite Earths DC Universe, with the storyline essentially having the same purpose as the preceding crossover from over 20 years before. Unbeknownst to fans at the time, the conclusion of the event would culminate in the New 52 reboot that reset decades of character development and story. This was incredibly controversial, namely due to so much having been established by that point. Major heroes such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Justice League had long since carved their own niches in this universe, so upending them in Flashpoint and the corresponding reboot were big deals.
Many of the changes made in the alternate universe event corrupted familiar DC icons, with Aquaman and the Atlanteans at war with Wonder Woman and the Amazons. Conversely, Superman was initially nowhere to be found while Batman was a more violent incarnation of the character whose son Bruce Wayne was killed years before. This worked because it completely went against reader expectations of how these characters should act, and that's one big reason why the movie version didn't work quite as well.
The Flash Failed to Adapt Flashpoint - But It Was Always Going To
Many of the most notable elements of the Flashpoint comic book were nowhere to be found in the 2023 movie The Flash. This was despite characters such as Superman, Batman, Aquaman and Wonder Woman being present in the DC Extended Universe theretofore. While an alternate Batman is in the movie, it's a take on the version played by Michael Keaton in past films. Superman's premise in Flashpoint is switched to a very different take on Supergirl, who wasn't in the comic book at all. This was nothing like what fans were expecting given the movie supposedly pulling from this comic so much, but it was ultimately inevitable.
The DC Extended Universe had been around for a decade by the time The Flash came out, but even this is nothing compared to the depth of the DC Universe in the comics before Flashpoint released. That had almost 30 years worth of comics, with various heroes, teams and concepts each getting consistent monthly comic books. Thus, status quos and other elements could be more firmly established, which was necessary in order for something as subversive as Flashpoint to work. There was no way for a movie to capture this vibe, even if it were almost three hours long or even released in two parts. It didn't help that the DCEU was notably darker and less accurate than some fans wanted, resulting in its being controversial and of little interest to some.
The same thing has plagued both of Fox's adaptations of X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga, though these were quite loose with the source material. Even if they were more accurate, however, it would take years of build up to make an adaptation that was as impactful as the comics. Audiences would have had to "know" Jean Grey for years for her turn to villainy to truly be tragic. It's not even a problem that only affects movies, as more long form mediums still struggle to bring these sprawling plots outside the comics to full effect.
Some of the Best Comic Book Stories Don't Work Outside the Comics
A recent TV series that disappointed many was Marvel Studios' Secret Invasion. Based on a well-known crossover story from the comics, this series completely everything about the central premise beyond the threat of the shapeshifting alien Skrulls. The superhero characters were completely gone, with the tone instead being that of a spy thriller. The quality of the finished product left a lot to be desire, but again, there was simply no way that a more accurate take on the story could have ever worked. It would have involved all manner of special effects and actors, some of whom played now dead characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This would have easily made the series the most expensive TV show ever made, which is likely not something that Disney and Marvel Studios wanted to risk making. An animated adaptation might have worked, but it still would have required a lot of set up to get right.
Some fans noted that the cartoon Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes handled the Secret Invasion storyline much better. Again, this was mainly due to being a long form show that built up its universe, as well as one that was animated and avoided the costs of live-action productions. Even then, changes had to be made, showing how some stories are incredibly difficult to perfectly adapt. That was definitely the case with Flashpoint, which already had numerous changes made when adapted into The Flash. In cases such as these, the storylines simply work best as comic book due to the strengths of the genre. Readers get substantial "chapters" of the story every month, and that can include tie-ins that bolsters the main story of such events.
It's a far cry from superhero movies and TV shows, which are far more sporadic in release when compared to the comics. Likewise, certain concepts are also better suited to comics books, such as DC and Marvel's recent fad of the multiverse. Again, there's simply more time to devote to these divergent worlds in comics, whereas they can derail the narratives of movies due to these parallel universes taking attention away from the main one. That's exactly what happened with The Flash, with the title character's supporting cast and villains taking a backseat to fanservice, Easter eggs and cameos. It was a logical choice in terms of giving Barry Allen his own movie, but in the end, the story is likely best told in a medium outside live-action movies.
The Flash is now playing in theaters.