Actually DC was first with the Nolan trilogy, but they shot themselves in the foot with the limitations Nolan imposed on his trilogy (they did not adapt).
Even then, it wasn't too late for them to build their universe. They simply failed at planning it. For example, they did not capitalize with MoS, leaving a huge gap (3 years) to BvS. Those 3 years could have been spent world-building with some solo films for their characters. How many films did Marvel churn out in those same 3 years?
In that same 3 years, Marvel released 8 films, both solo character films and 1 Avenger movie. While DC was twiddling their thumbs, Marvel was building the world of their cinematic universe and fleshing out their characters further.
And that's the gist of my problem with DC's latest films. They lean too much on the spectacle and their characters' names rather than the characters themselves. Nothing in the DCEU films feel earned to me. I never felt an attachment with Superman's death in BvS because I barely knew this Superman and he wasn't even likeable in the first place. Likewise, people in the film mourning his death does not seem earned either in JL because he was a polarizing figure at best in the BvS film.
Of all their films so far, WW was the only one that resonated for me because I feel that this was the only film where the character went through a proper arc. The WW we saw at the start of the film is not the same one at the end and we get to see her grow emotionally and in wisdom through the film. It was the only film in the DCEU lineup to properly focus on the character rather than just the spectacle of a superhero in my opinion.
