We have a ton of superheroes in movies today, don’t we? Even before the dawn of the MCU, comic book movies have always drawn major media attention. Some people even view superheroes like Batman or Spiderman as modern Greek myths. As a matter of fact, some superheroes actually are based on Greek mythology like Thor.
My point here is that much like Greek mythology, today there is plenty of variety when it comes to comic book movies. From the epic Marvel Cinematic Universe to the slightly less epic DC Extended Universe and beyond, superhero movies are a big deal and don’t appear to be going away anytime soon.
But with so many heroes and different cinematic versions of those heroes, the question arises, which of these versions is the best? Which movie had the swiftest action, told the greatest stories, and all around did our favorite heroes justice? Well, after much thought and consideration, I have found what I believe to be the 10 finest superhero films ever to grace the silver screen.
When looking at these not only will I judge how smooth the action is, or how gripping the story is, but I also will be judging how well these films have held up or will hold up.
Now keep in mind none of this is fact just my opinion on what makes a great superhero movie. So, don’t hammer down on the keyboard in the comments if your favorite is not featured. With that said, let’s take a look at the top 10 best superhero films of all time.
10. Superman II (1980)
I’m putting this one at the very top of the list, seeing as it hasn’t aged as well as other Superman films. That is due mostly to the effects and budget that simply look dated compared to movies like “Man of Steel.” But when you get down to it, “Superman II,” along with its predecessor, are far superior to Zack Snyder’s take on the son of Krypton.
True they are campy, but they’re just so earnest. The size and scale of the production may not be as grand but the gripping story, along with the late Christopher Reeves’ perfect portrayal of Superman, remains timeless in a way that Snyder’s dark depiction of the character never will.
Now a lot of you might be expecting the first Christopher Reeves Superman film to make this list over its sequel. While I love both the first two Superman movies, I believe “Superman II” is the best Superman movie to date.
In this film, Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) begins to suspect that her co-worker Clark Kent is in fact Superman. When his identity is eventually revealed to her, Superman faces a choice to stay super and alone, or give up his powers to be with the one he loves the most. Things become even more complex when General Zod (Terence Stamp) comes to earth with the intent to enslave all humanity.
This film is slightly superior not only due to higher emotional stakes, but because we actually get to see Superman fight another super-being of equal power. The last film only featured him saving people, lifting objects and turning back time itself!
It was very cool getting to see Superman in battle for the first time. Maybe not the grandest film on this list, nevertheless, “Superman II” remains a camp classic that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
9. Wonder Woman (2017)
Now, this is how you do an origin story. In the third DCEU film, Gal Gadot takes center stage in her highly anticipated stand-alone Wonder Woman movie. Regardless of the years of feminist hype driving this movie, “Wonder Woman” is probably the best DC movie since “The Dark Knight.”
This film takes place during and before World War II and shows Princess Diana’s childhood, as well as her teen years. We get to see how she trained and eventually left to discover the world outside the island of Themyscira. Much like the comics, Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) is stranded on Themyscira and Diana journeys with him back to America.
There she discovers the world outside her secret island is ridden with conflict and chaos. Together, along with a band of rag-tag soldiers, the two must stop the Nazis from unleashing a deadly chemical weapon, while Wonder Woman is also seeking out a greater threat known as Ares.
While the whole subplot of Diana being the daughter of Zeus and everything with Ares delves a little too far into the fantasy genre for my taste, it is tied into the plot very well and makes for a complex yet interesting story. What could’ve just been another dark gritty revision of a classic character, was actually a rather well put together film.
Balancing solid character development with great action, “Wonder Woman” lived up to the hype and set the standard for all female superheroes movies to follow.
8. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Serving as the third installment in the Captain America Trilogy, “Captain America: Civil War” brings one of the most infamous Marvel comic book stories to life. While its predecessor, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” was fantastic, this movie eclipses it with a deeper story, debuting fan favorites like Spiderman (Tom Holland), and features some of the most jaw-dropping superhero fights ever caught on screen.
Never before have we seen superheroes fighting superheroes on such a grand scale. Witnessing Captain America throw down with Spiderman, or Bucky (Sebastian Stan) take on the Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman). These brief matchups and many more made for an unforgettable thrill ride of a movie.
In addition, the story is also very interesting. While superheroes being persecuted by the government is nothing new, this movie gives a unique enough spin on the setup to make for some thought-provoking moments. Neither Team Cap or Team Stark is completely wrong, but it’s their differing ideologies and ways they handle situations that ultimately lead to war between the two.
The one nitpick I would have with this movie is the villain. Nothing about him was memorable, and he just felt like another expendable Marvel villain. Luckily, he doesn’t bog down this movie too much. Besides a lackluster villain, “Captain America: Civil War” manages to satisfy both critics and nerds alike with breathtaking fight scenes and clever commentary on the greater responsibilities of a superhero.
7. X2: X-Men United (2003)
With so many different X-Men films these days, people often forget how good the first X-Men trilogy was. These movies, along with Sam Raimi’s “Spiderman” trilogy, brought superheroes back into Hollywood and paved the way for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
In the center of this trio sits what I believe to be the best X-Men movie to date. In many ways, ”X2: X-Men United” is the “Empire Strikes Back” of superhero sequels, even down to escaping a secret snow-covered base.
This film is more tightly scripted than the previous, with the mutants of Charles Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters being forced to flee when government agents storm the school. The prejudice against mutants continues as a man named William Stryker (Brian Cox) plots to manipulate Professor X (Sir Patrick Stewart), and his powers to destroy all mutants. With the Professor compromised and the students scattered, the X-Men are forced to unite and fight alongside their nemesis Magneto (Ian McKellen) to stop Stryker before it’s too late.
Much like “The Empire Strikes Back,” this film takes the franchise in a dark, yet focused direction and builds on the characters introduced in the previous installment. The only reason “X2” isn’t any higher on this list is due to the confusing continuity of the X-Men films that followed. Still, even if these movies are near impossible to follow, there’s no denying that “X2” remains one of the highlights of the series, and set the bar for all super-sequels to live up to.
6. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
You know what they say, “third time’s the charm”, except for movie sequels. From “The Godfather III,” to “Spiderman 3,” to “The Dark Knight Rises,” the third part of any trilogy tends to always be a drop off in quality from the first two. The Avengers trilogy differs from this pattern slightly with a good first movie, an enjoyable but underwhelming second movie, and a third installment that surpasses them all, and that’s what “Infinity War” did. It raised the stakes, the action and surprisingly the drama to unbelievable heights.
For starters, we have Thanos (Josh Brolin), who is possibly the greatest comic-book movie villain since Heath Ledger’s Joker. He’s not just another cookie-cutter Marvel villain, but a being corrupted by his lust for balance. He desires to wipe out half the universe with the power of the infinity stones to prevent the overpopulation that destroyed his homeworld.
This motive, while absolutely insane, is somewhat understandable considering his past. In addition, his backstory and connection to Gamora (Zoe Saldana) is both touching and heartbreaking. He was willing to destroy himself and the one he cares about the most all for power and balance. This made him both irredeemable and sympathetic in a way I wasn’t expecting.
The premise of this film is simple yet complex: the mad titan Thanos is on a quest to obtain all six infinity stones to wipe out half the universe, and it’s up to the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy and many other fan-favorite characters to stop him. This results in a film split into many different subplots.
You have Iron-Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Spiderman (Tom Holland) and Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) who eventually meet up to fight Thanos with everyone’s favorite ragtag band of space mercenaries. Two of those mercenaries team up with Thor and go off to create a weapon to kill Thanos. Then there’s Captain America and Hulk (Chris Evans and Mark Ruffalo) along with the other Avengers in Wakanda preparing to defend themselves against Thanos’ army, all while trying to remove the mind stone from Vision (Paul Bettany).
My point here is, a movie with this many characters and subplots to juggle shouldn’t have blended together as well as it did. Many times in the past, I’ve seen films try to tell multiple stories in one film and fail miserably due to too much going on. Walking into the theater as excited as I was, I feared the third Avengers installment would fall victim to this problem.
In some ways, the flowing narrative was a little choppy, but this movie wasn’t all about story, though the story was very compelling. This film was the culmination of 18 Marvel movies. Not only is it a ton of fun seeing characters like Tony Stark interact with the likes of Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), but the apocalyptic final battle and a devastating ending made this movie an unforgettable thrill ride that left us all speechless.
5. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
“Guardians of the Galaxy” is about as perfect a movie as you could imagine. Its action packed, its raunchy, all the characters are great, it features an incredible soundtrack and it is the funniest Marvel movie to date, while still packing an emotional punch. In short, it’s a modern-day classic.
This movie introduces characters from an old Marvel comic book series that not many people remember. Our main hero Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) is a “legendary outlaw” with a massive bounty on his head when he acquires a capsule containing an infinity stone. When a villain named Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace) is in hot pursuit of the stone, Quill must form an alliance with four rag-tag prisoners: daughter of Thanos, Gamora (Zoe Saldana), bounty hunter Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper), his tree sidekick Groot (Vin Diesel) and the war-hungry thug Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista). Together, they must unite to take down Ronan before he destroys Planet Xandar.
Despite how cliché this premise might sound, “Guardians of the Galaxy” manages to entertain on almost every level. The villain is the only thing holding this movie back from being in the top four on this list.
Like most Marvel villains, he simply felt like another big baddy for the heroes to fight. But as far as bland Marvel baddies go, he got the job done fine enough to not hold the movie down.
Like I previously said, “Guardians of the Galaxy” is a modern-day classic. By this I mean this is a movie that despite only coming out four years ago, has obtained an iconic status that will last for years to come. It feels both old and new at the same time, blending a rather 1980s concept with thrilling modern space action. This makes the film all the more timeless, and one of the most rewatchable comic-book movies ever made.
4. The Dark Knight (2008)
It’s practically a cliché to put “The Dark Knight” on a best superhero film list, but it’s a cliché for a reason. “The Dark Knight” pushed the envelope of what comic-book movies could be. Like the previous film “Batman Begins,” it reinvented how people view the Batman character. While I personally prefer the stylized mystery of Tim Burton’s Batman films, it’s hard not to admire Christopher Nolan’s realistic take on the caped crusader.
In Nolan’s second Bat-film, Batman and Commissioner Gordon (Christian Bale & Gary Oldman) have collaborated to keep a tight lid on crime in Gotham. Thanks to the endeavors of the district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), the crime bosses are back-peddling, and it looks as if Gotham City could once again be returned to its former glory.
However, the city is thrown into chaos when a homicidal clown calling himself The Joker (Heath Ledger) begins to spread anarchy throughout Gotham. He axes off several cops, mobsters and lawyers, including the love of Harvey’s life Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal). Driven insane and left physically scarred by the Joker, Harvey Dent becomes the villainous Two-Face. Spit between good and evil, he rampages against anyone involved with Rachel’s death, including Commissioner Gordon. With corruption everywhere, Batman must blur the line between hero and vigilante.
Christopher Nolan plays to his absolute strengths in directing this film. It is not a flashy superhero movie like some of the Batman adventures of the past, but more of a dark crime thriller. But perhaps it was too realistic. Many people, myself included, have complained that “The Dark Knight” focuses too much on the legal aspect of Gotham and contains less of the stylized bat-action that fans crave.
It initially took a couple viewing in order for me to fully appreciate “The Dark Knight” for the cinematic masterpiece it is. But over time, I have come to realize the genius of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy. First of all, the original Batman comics contained a great deal of police work like this movie. So maybe, Christopher Nolan follows the comics more accurately than we give him credit for. But most notably, he was able to take larger than life heroes and villains, and bring them down to earth with a more realistic take on the caped crusader.
While it doesn’t resonate with me like the following movies, “The Dark Knight” is one of the most refined takes on a comic book character ever brought to film. From brilliant action sequences to deep commentary on the human condition, all tied together with two fantastic villains, “The Dark Knight” really is the complete package and it sure put a smile on my face.
3. The Incredibles (2004)
Now if this list was being determined by how much fun it is, then “The Incredibles” would very well be number one. Where most directors attempt to update the source material and portray superheroes in less colorful or extravagant ways, Brad Bird offers a take on the genre that’s old-fashioned yet relevant.
In the golden age of superheroes, Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) stands tall among the rest. He falls in love with and marries fellow superhero Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), and the future is looking bright for both of them. However, one night when Mr. Incredible saves someone attempting to commit suicide (in a Pixar movie), people all over America begin suing superheroes for physical health, property damage, mental scars etc.
Eventually, hero work is outlawed and Mr. and Mrs. Incredible are forced into hiding. As years go by, they have and raise three kids, who each have superpowers. While Elastigirl and the children are managing to adjust to suburban life, Mr. Incredible, now Bob Parr, misses the glory days he used to save. After he is fired from his job, Bob is secretly contacted by a mysterious woman named Mirage (Elizabeth Pena), who invites him to return to hero work. He eagerly agrees, and journeys to a tropical island behind his wife’s back to stop an out-of-control robot. While on the island, he is ambushed and captured by a villain calling himself Syndrome (Jason Lee), who has quietly been killing off superheroes over time.
Concerned about her husband, Helen Parr/Elastigirl tracks Bob down and ventures to the island, fearful he is having an affair (in a Pixar movie). Along with her are two of her children; Violet (Sarah Vowell), and Dash (Spencer Fox). While Baby Jack-Jack is at home with a sitter, Elastigirl and the kids are off to find Mr. Incredible and are unknowingly walking into a trap.
What makes “The Incredibles” such a great film is how well it balances family/marital dilemmas with fantastic superhero action, while also adding a spy thriller edge. From the music, to the art style, to the villain, it greatly resembles spy films of the 1960s while still being its own thing. In a world full of movies trying to be more gritty and realistic, Brad Bird’s “The Incredibles,” along with its sequel, is a refreshing take on the superhero genre that’s fun for kids but possesses a mature story for adults to sink their teeth into.
2. Spiderman 2 (2004)
Continuing on the topic of 2004 superhero flicks, here’s another film where the main hero must stop a runaway train. Unlike “The Incredibles” however, “Spiderman 2” was tasked with living up to the highly successful Spiderman movie released two years prior. Not only did it live up to the immense hype of “Spiderman 1,” it surpassed it.
Our hero Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) is struggling to balance being the city’s greatest hero with his life as mild-manor Peter Parker. The love of his life, Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) is in love with Peter, but he doesn’t reciprocate due to the fear of putting her in danger as Spiderman. Meanwhile, his best friend, Harry Osborn (James Franco), loathes Spiderman after he thinks he was behind his father’s death in the previous movie. Torn between love and responsibility, Peter’s life is made worse when his mentor Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina) is driven insane during a science experiment gone wrong and fused to a set of mechanical arms.
With his wife dead and his reputation soiled, Octavius goes on a rampage, robbing banks to complete his deadly experiment under the name, Dr. Octopus. With the threat of Dr. Octopus at large and his powers fading, Peter must choose to either remain under the red mask, or hang up his tights forever for the woman he loves.
This story is very reminiscent of “Superman 2,” having to choose between love and heroism. “Superman 2” told this story rather well, but not to the same psychological degree as this movie. Not only does “Spiderman 2” have a better flowing narrative but it manages to elevate the emotional and physical stakes to greater heights, while still holding fast to the campy web-slinging fun that made the first movie so enjoyable.
Spiderman, in fact, isn’t in this movie as much as you’d expect. This movie is more about the struggle within Peter Parker. It focuses more on the hero behind the mask. So, when he does put on the mask and Fight Doc Ock on the train, you feel much more invested. I’m not sure if I can call this the greatest superhero movie ever made, but it just might be the greatest superhero sequel ever made.
Before I talk about number one, here are a few honorable mentions.
Batman Returns (1992)
Personally, this is one of my favorite superhero/Christmas movies of all time. The chemistry of the three main leads, plus Tim Burton’s style, made for an entertainingly bizarre take on Batman. Sadly, the script is not as strong as the film’s predecessor.
Dr. Strange (2016)
Visually amusing and well written, “Dr. Strange” is a refreshing origin story with a strong lead that offers a different kind of experience compared to other Marvel movies.
Spiderman (2002)
While it hasn’t aged quite as well as its sequel, Sam Raimi’s first Spiderman film holds up very well in terms of story and characters. Balancing Spidey’s origin story with flashy action scenes, it’s a campy yet enjoyable film that broke box office records at the time.
Superman: The Movie (1978)
What this movie lack in action, it makes up for in story. Director Richard Donner’s portrayal of the man of steel is still one of the most polished superhero origin stories in film history.
The Avengers (2012)
While “Avengers: Infinity War,” was better, let’s not forget just how much fun the first Avengers film was. While the story was kind of weak, the spectacle of all our favorite Marvel heroes joining forces for the first time along with some amazing fight sequences, make for a very re-watchable film.
1. Batman (1989)
Topping the list is the film that redefined the caped crusader, Tim Burton’s 80s classic, “Batman.” Not only did this reintroduce Bruce’s alter-ego in the dark, gothic style of the original comics, but it gave possibly the most influential take on Batman across any media.
Much like the comics, Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton) is an orphan turned Billionaire/vigilante. When he’s not silently grieving his parent’s death, he purges the crime-ridden streets of Gotham as the Mysterious Batman. However, his world is turned upside-down when he meets a reporter named Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger), who is fascinated by the rumors of a Bat-like vigilante. The two grow close, and Bruce even invites her to the mansion.
Meanwhile, the mob is taken over by the “homicidal artist” known as The Joker (Jack Nicholson). With all the mob resources at his twisted fingertips, he begins to reign terror down on Gotham via poisoned healthcare products.
Despite the best efforts of Commissioner Gordon (Pat Hingle) and Harvey Dent (Billy Dee Williams) law enforcement is simply overwhelmed by the killer clown. With the city in panic and Vickie in danger, Bruce must confront his parent’s killer and rescue Gotham before The Joker gets the last laugh.
One of the most noteworthy aspects of “Batman 89” is the visual style. Tim Burton has always been famous for taking a standard idea and adding a dark and gothic twist to it, and Batman is no exception. I think it’s safe to say the Tim Burton’s Batman movies are visually superior to the other Bat-films.
Most notably with the bat-cave, bat-suit and Batmobile. As awesome as Christian Bale’s tumbler is in “The Dark Knight,”it appears more as a military tank, rather than a Batman vehicle. Keaton’s Batmobile had a very classy, yet threatening designs that still looks fantastic today.
As fantastic as the visuals are, one of the strongest points of this movie is the sense of mystery it possesses. In modern DC films, I feel like we’ve been shown too much regarding why or how Batman does things. My one issue with The Dark Knight movies is that they analyze everything. The conversations about why he does what he does, while fascinating, feel like conversations we as an audience would have, not the characters themselves. “Batman 89” talked little, but said so much through visuals, especially during Bruce Wayne’s flashbacks.
All in all, “Batman 89” is a classic of the cinematic medium that emulates the older comics, while still adding new twists. From traditional yet brutal fight scenes, to over the top villains and gadgets, it felt like more of a classic superhero story than any bat-film before or since.
With a perfect balance of character development, psychotic humor, and gritty action scenes, “Batman 89” helped spark a trend in cinema that we are still witnessing today. It was a revolutionary film then and is a nostalgic classic to look back on now.
Samuel Claude
Reporter