History Film / TheFlash2023

* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Barry admits that the Justice League does not provide adequate access to mental health treatment. Barry's actor Ezra Miller has had several very public difficulties with mental health.

* {{Homage}}: [[spoiler: Keaton-Batman's death bears a trong resemblance to [[Film/ReturnOfTheJedi Darth Vader's death scene.]] Both feature the protagonist futiletly trying to keep the black-clad figure alive, only for the latter to resign themselves to their fate and reassure the hero that they've already saved them. Then a sadder version of their theme tune plays them out.]]

''The Flash'' is a 2023 {{superhero}} film directed by Creator/AndresMuschietti, from a screenplay written by Christina Hodson. It is the thirteenth film and a SoftReboot of the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse, and the [[SavedFromDevelopmentHell long-awaited]] solo theatrical film adaptation of the Creator/DCComics character [[ComicBook/TheFlash of the same name]], loosely inspired by the ''ComicBook/{{Flashpoint|DC Comics}}'' storyline, a quasi-sequel to both ''Film/{{Batman|1989}}'' and ''Film/BatmanReturns'', and a WhatIf version of ''Film/ManOfSteel'' all at once.

* GrandFinale: While ''Film/{{Blue Beetle|2023}}'' & ''Film/AquamanAndTheLostKingdom'' follow this film theatrically, ''The Flash'' marks the end of the original DC Extended Universe timeline that launched with ''Film/ManOfSteel'' in 2013. This is due to Barry's changes to the timeline causing in effect a SoftReboot. So the DCEU as we've known it up to this point is gone after ten years, thirteen films and one TV series.[[note]]''{{Series/Peacemaker|2022}}'', which is said to be carrying over to the new harder ContinuityReboot called just the DC Universe or DCU, which is functionally unconnected and irrelevant to the {{Soft Reboot}}ed DCEU via this movie's reality-changing events.[[/note]]

* GrandFinale: While ''Film/{{Blue Beetle|2023}}'' & ''Film/AquamanAndTheLostKingdom'' follow this film theatrically, ''The Flash'' marks the end of the original DC Extended Universe timeline that launched with ''Film/ManOfSteel'' in 2013. This is due to Barry's changes to the timeline causing in effect a SoftReboot. So the DCEU as we've known it is gone after ten years, fifteen films and one TV series.[[note]]''{{Series/Peacemaker|2022}}'', which is said to be carrying over to the new harder ContinuityReboot called just the DC Universe or DCU, which is functionally unconnected and irrelevant to the {{Soft Reboot}}ed DCEU via this movie's reality-changing events.[[/note]]

''The Flash'' is a 2023 {{superhero}} film directed by Creator/AndresMuschietti, from a screenplay written by Christina Hodson. It is the fifteenth and final film and a SoftReboot of the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse, and the [[SavedFromDevelopmentHell long-awaited]] solo theatrical film adaptation of the Creator/DCComics character [[ComicBook/TheFlash of the same name]], loosely inspired by the ''ComicBook/{{Flashpoint|DC Comics}}'' storyline, a quasi-sequel to both ''Film/{{Batman|1989}}'' and ''Film/BatmanReturns'', and a WhatIf version of ''Film/ManOfSteel'' all at once.

* ContinuitySnarl: While the DCEU Flash has interacted with a wider DC Multiverse before through the Franchise/{{Arrowverse}}'s ''Series/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths2019'' TV event, specifically interacting with his [[Series/TheFlash2014 Earth-Prime]] counterpart and thus making the DCEU itself part of the Arrowverse's multiverse (later designated as Earth-1), no real attempt is made to link or stay consistent with what that previously established. [[spoiler:Both the movie and ''Crisis'' use previous live-action DC adaptations for their depictions of alternate universes or timelines to the "main" ones they're respectively showing, but in different and sometimes arguably incompatible ways.]] So thanks to the movie, the appearance of Ezra Miller's Flash in ''Crisis'' is now SchrodingersCanon at best for the wider DCEU, though clearly canon for the Arrowverse (and since he wears his ''Justice League'' outfit there, it's another can of worms whether he comes from the theatrical or Snyder cut of that movie).

* {{Irony}}: Alternate Barry accuses Prime Barry of doing the exact same things Prime Barry resents the older superheroes for doing--failing to explain things and generally unfriendly.

** In the first official trailer, [[https://www.dc.com/blog/2023/02/13/racing-through-the-flash-trailer-what-it-all-means when appearing before the two Barrys in costume]], the Creator/MichaelKeaton version of Bruce reprises his {{Catchphrase}} from the Creator/TimBurton ''Film/{{Batman|1989}}'' movie:

* OhCrap: Lampshaded when Barry's reaction to seeing his younger self approaching the house--and realising the implications of that--is to shout "SHIT!", then quickly explain to his startled not-actually-his-parents that [[INeedToGoIronMyDog he has to leave the room in a hurry to take a shit]]. More OhCrap's follow as things go FromBadToWorse.

* BackForTheFinale: A variation with Creator/MichaelShannon and Creator/AntjeTraue. Zod was the very first BigBad of the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse (and with Faora as TheDragon). With ''The Flash'' rebooting the original shared cinematic setting that ''Film/ManOfSteel'' kicked off, [[https://www.polygon.com/23594892/ezra-miller-the-flash-movie-trailer Zod and Faora thus fittingly return for its]] 'finale', as the existing current timeline is overwritten due to this film's events. The film also has Creator/BenAffleck return to play Batman one more time after previously retiring from the role. Ultimately downplayed because this is not the final planned DCEU movie to release - that would be ''Film/AquamanAndTheLostKingdom'', and ''Film/{{Blue Beetle|2023}}'' came out in between. But technically those two are in the altered timeline that results from this movie.

* DamnYouMuscleMemory: PlayedForLaughs, Prime Barry is depowered and didn't realize it until he tried to phase through a wall. And his running style is a very distinctive form emulating a gazelle or speed skating, but without SuperSpeed and in a small room he just plods around in an exaggerated, arm flailing fashion.

* SteppingStonesInTheSky: Barry's first action scene outside a collapsing hospital have him using debrises, falling furnitures, and other assorted objects to jump around and catch falling babies in mid-air.

** The armory kept by Michael Keaton's Bruce contains various nods to Batman's comic designs over the decades. One has a distinctly [[Usefulnotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] style mask with a pair of GrapplingHookPistol holsters ([[https://twitter.com/westonfront/status/1625442676161093633?s=20&t=68hIT-6KnEnWIkHiOMSG6w confirmed]] via WordOfGod to be a nod to Batman's short-lived use of firearms) and [[https://twitter.com/westonfront/status/1625126670800658438?s=20&t=68hIT-6KnEnWIkHiOMSG6w the chest emblem]] design from the old Creator/{{Adam West}} [[Series/{{Batman}} show]]. Another is a gray suit with a blue cape and cowl, based on Batman's classic [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] costume. Similarly, the new Batsuit worn by Ben Affleck's iteration of the character incorporates the classic blue and gray color scheme.[[invoked]]

* AdaptationDeviation: Instead of having one Barry Allen who replaces his counterpart and inheriting his memories like the ''Flashpoint'' comics, there are two Barrys in the movie.

* SchrodingersCanon: While the presence of Creator/KierseyClemons as Iris West suggests the film follows ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague'', there are enough references to both versions of the film to where either version can be accepted as a lead-up. Barry mentioned going back in time a few seconds during the events of ''Justice League'', Iris West also comments on knowing and interacting with Barry in the past, which makes it slightly more aligned with the Snyder cut. But when Barry looks up the whereabouts of the League Members in the new timeline Martian Manhunter is not mentioned, which is a major ending event of the Snyder cut but wasn't present in the theatrical version. On the other hand, Wonder Woman's golden lasso continues to force her compatriots to confess comically embarrassing secrets, in the tradition of [[Film/JusticeLeague2017 the theatrical version]].