In 1978, superhero films became more mainstream than ever before with the release of Richard Donner's Superman. In the decades since, superhero movies have continued to expand their reach, to the point that the genre was able to completely dominate the box office in the 2010s, with movies like Black Panther and Avengers: Endgame proving to be enormous, record-breaking hits.
Of course, now that there are so many, it can be difficult to narrow down exactly which superhero movies are worth watching. Some require a deep knowledge of cinematic universes that have now lasted for decades, diluting the entertainment value for those who haven't been keeping up, while others, like 2011's Green Lantern, are just plain bad. But there are also some all-time greats; superhero films that are extremely entertaining, and stand on their own, even if they're part of a larger franchise. These are 10 essential superhero movies that everyone should see at least once, ranked based on their impact and overall quality as a superhero film.
10
'Guardians of the Galaxy' (2014)
Directed by James Gunn
Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
By 2014, the Marvel Cinematic Universe had proven itself at the box office with a steady stream of successes centered on major comic book names like Captain America, Thor and the Hulk. However, despite Marvel's winning track record up to that point, fans were skeptical when it was announced that the Guardians of the Galaxy, a fairly obscure team within the world of comic book superheroes, would make their way to the big screen.
Luckily, this concern was completely unfounded. James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy was a critical and financial hit upon its initial release, but in the time since, it has maintained a steady reputation as one of the MCU's best films, and for good reason. Guardians of the Galaxy features a unique combination of Gunn's signature quirky comedic style and a ton of genuine heart that makes it a standout among Marvel's offerings. Its cast, led by Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel, is also notable for the great chemistry that they share, allowing Gunn's dialogue to truly shine. It may not be a particularly groundbreaking superhero film, but it's a ton of fun, and one of the most charming releases in the genre, cementing Guardians of the Galaxy as a movie that everyone should see at least once.
WritersJames Gunn
, Nicole Perlman
, Dan Abnett
, Andy Lanning
Tagline
Website
9
'X-Men' (2000)
Directed by Bryan Singer
Image via 20th Century Studios
While previous releases like 1978's Superman and 1989's Batmanhad proven the financial viability of superhero films, the later films in both franchises took bizarre turns into cheesier territory that damaged the reputation of the genre among adult filmgoers. 1998's Blade, an R-rated action film starring Wesley Snipes as the titular vampire hunter, was the hit the genre needed to stay afloat, presenting a narrative directed at more mature audiences. Then, 2000's X-Men adopted Blade's more mature tone, and applied it to one of Marvel's most beloved superhero teams, further broadening the appeal of movies within the genre.
X-Men did a lot of things right that helped it achieve box office success. For one, many of the casting choices made are fantastic. Sir Patrick Stewart and Hugh Jackman make their first appearances as Professor X and Wolverine respectively, with both becoming some of the most iconic big screen superhero portrayals of all time, but Sir Ian McKellen's performance is also of note, lending the film a threatening antagonist in Magneto. Its script has more thematic depth than most superhero films at the time, provided by plot points covering the discrimination that mutants face in society, directly mirroring a number of real-life circumstances. In terms of overall impact, it's somewhat overshadowed by the release of Sam Raimi's Spider-Mantwo years later, but X-Men is still a solid superhero movie that serves as an excellent time capsule of where the genre was in the late '90s and early 2000's.
Iron Man is the story of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), the brilliant CEO of a weapons company who is forced to develop a weaponized suit when he is kidnapped by terrorists in Afghanistan. When he escapes, he finds that his experience has given him a new perspective on life, prompting him to immediately halt his company from producing any more weapons, while also attempting to protect those in need with a new version of the suit he crafted earlier.
While it may not have seemed like it at the time, Iron Man is one of the most consequential movies released within the last 25 years. It was a hit both critically and financially, successfully launching the Marvel Cinematic Universe while simultaneously playing a huge role in kicking off the superhero trend of the 2010s. On top of its historical significance, Iron Man is a legitimately great movie. Downey Jr. is perfectly cast as Stark, crafting a charismatic, but also very flawed, protagonist that is easy to root for, while Jeff Bridges is an intimidating presence as Obadiah Stane, the film's villain. The fact that it continues to be regarded as one of the MCU's best releases, while also being its first, solidifies it as a superhero film that everyone should see at least once.
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Release Date
May 2, 2008
Runtime
126 minutes
Writers
Matt Holloway
, Art Marcum
, Hawk Ostby
, Mark Fergus
Studio
Tagline
7
'The Incredibles' (2004)
Directed by Brad Bird
Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Pixar's The Incredibles, released in 2004, is a rare superhero film not based on a comic book franchise. Written and directed by Brad Bird, known for doing the same work on The Iron Giant, The Incredibles focuses on a family of superheroes living in a world where heroism has been outlawed following a number of public, superhero-related incidents. While it is a fantastic superhero film in its own right, it's also notable for using its genre to take a unique look at family dynamics, a theme not typically explored so directly in superhero fiction.
Bird's script is extremely thoughtful in how it presents its characters. Bob (Craig T. Nelson), Helen (Holly Hunter) and their kids, Dash (Spencer Fox) and Violet (Sarah Vowell), are all given appropriate time in the script to be fleshed out as real people with relatable problems, despite the fact that they are also facing more traditional superhero threats. The dialogue between the members of the Parr family is also incredibly entertaining, making it one of Pixar's funniest films, and a superhero movie that anyone can easily enjoy.
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The Incredibles
Release Date
November 5, 2004
Director
Brad Bird
Runtime
115 minutes
Writers
Brad Bird
Studio
Tagline
6
'The Avengers' (2012)
Directed by Joss Whedon
Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Crossover stories have long played a prominent role in superhero media, but for many years, they were oddly absent in most big screen comic book adaptations. This began to change with the release of The Incredible Hulk in 2008, in which Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark made a brief appearance in a post-credits scene. This scene signaled to viewers that future crossovers would be coming, with Stark making mention of "putting a team together". 2012's The Avengers was the pay-off to that post-credits scene and a number of others, finally treating fans to a team-up between Iron Man, Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo).
The Avengers quickly became a massive box office success, while also being widely recognized as a truly fantastic superhero film. It is filled to the brim with amusing quips between its stars, exciting action scenes showcasing each of its heroes' unique abilities, and enough fan service to make the decades-long wait for a crossover of its scale worth it. Subsequent Avengers films would throw even more iconic heroes into the mix, but the 2012 original is a classic that heavily influenced the future of filmmaking within the genre.
Character(s)
Steve Rogers / Captain America
, Tony Stark / Iron Man
, Bruce Banner / The Hulk
, Thor
, Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow
, Clint Barton / Hawkeye
, Loki
, Agent Phil Coulson
, Agent Maria Hill
, Selvig
, Nick Fury
, Pepper Potts
, Jarvis (voice)
, The Other
, NASA Scientist
, Georgi Luchkov
, Weaselly Thug
, Tall Thug
, Young Girl
, Calcutta Woman
, World Security Council
, Carrier Bridge Tech
Writers
Joss Whedon
, Zak Penn
Producers
Avi Arad
, Chris Brigham
, Jon Favreau
, Kevin Feige
, Louis D'Esposito
, Victoria Alonso
, Jeremy Latcham
Franchise
Marvel Cinematic Universe
Characters By
Stan Lee, Steve Ditko
Sequel
Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame
1989's Batmanwas another crucial film in establishing the mainstream appeal of superheroes. Starring Michael Keaton in the title role and Jack Nicholson as his most famous foe, the Joker, Batman was a massive financial success that solidified both Keaton and director Tim Burton as household names. It achieved this success partly by treating its title character as a human being first and a superhero second, spending more time developing Bruce Wayne than his superhero alter ego, making for a more interesting story.
Of course, while Keaton shines as one of the best actors to play Batman, Nicholson is just as show-stealing. His interpretation of the Joker is wild and unpredictable, fully leaning into the character's title as the Clown Prince of Crime and making him an exceedingly memorable villain. The movie has also aged remarkably well, with the style and script being just as refreshing nowadays as it was in 1989. In recent years, Batman has been overshadowed in popularity by other releases in the franchise, but it continues to stand as one of the character's best cinematic outings.
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Batman
Release Date
June 23, 1989
Runtime
126 Minutes
Tagline
Budget
$48 Million
Studio(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Distributor(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures
4
'Logan' (2017)
Directed by James Mangold
Image via 20th Century Studios
While the Marvel Cinematic Universe was dominating the box office in the 2010s, other superhero franchises were providing unique alternatives to mixed levels of success. The X-Men franchise, still continuing from the 2000 original, was one of the most prominent examples, but while films like X-Men: Apocalypse and Dark Phoenixproved to be franchise lows, other releases like Deadpooland Logan were some of the most influential superhero movies of the decade.
Both films proved that R-rated superhero movies could be immensely successful, but while Deadpool is a great comedy, it is unlikely to appeal to anyone who isn't a fan of its particular brand of humor. Logan, on the other hand, is an outstanding drama with an extremely compelling script, and some of the best performances in any superhero movie. Hugh Jackman and Sir Patrick Stewart nail their roles once again, but in totally different contexts, as Professor X is living with dementia and Wolverine is slowly dying. These changes to the characters heavily impact their dynamics and relationships, giving audiences insight into different sides of their long-established personalities. For some, the violence and gore might seem a little excessive, but for those who don't mind, Logan is a stellar superhero film, and one that everyone should be sure to watch at least once.
While 2002's Spider-Man made superhero movies bigger than ever before at the box office, its sequel, Spider-Man 2, is often regarded as one of the best superhero films of all time. It follows Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) as he attempts to balance his life as Spider-Man with his new responsibilities as an adult. Overwhelmed by stress, Peter eventually loses his powers, just as a new foe named Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina) appears to terrorize New York.
Spider-Man 2 fully earns the lofty reputation that it has gained over the years. From beginning to end, the film is stuffed with engaging action sequences, strong, albeit occasionally cheesy dialogue and, most importantly, a genuinely relatable protagonist. Peter's internal struggle is sure to resonate with many audience members, and Maguire's performance lends an extra layer of relatability, applying an endearing amount of awkward charisma to the role that made his Spider-Man a standout, especially when compared to the other popular, brooding superheroes of the era. Some of its effects work is dated nowadays, but Spider-Man 2 is still an excellent superhero movie, making it more than worth a watch for anyone who has somehow missed it.
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Release Date
June 30, 2004
Runtime
127 minutes
Writers
Alvin Sargent
Sequel
Spider-Man: No Way Home, Spider-Man 3, Spider-Man 2
Budget
$200 million
Studio(s)
Sony
Distributor(s)
Sony
2
'Superman' (1978)
Directed by Richard Donner
Image via Warner Bros.
1978's Superman, starring Christopher Reeve as the eponymous Man of Steel, was a major hit when it was first released. The film tells the origin story of its hero, depicting his ejection from the collapsing Planet Krypton before crashing down to Earth and being found by Martha (Phyllis Thaxter) and Jonathan (Glenn Ford) Kent, two good-natured humans who name him Clark and take him in as their own, giving him the love and support needed to become a positive force in the world.
At the heart of Superman is an astounding performance from Reeve. Throughout the film, the actor seamlessly transitions between the impressive and confident Superman, and the shy and reserved Clark, giving the larger-than-life hero more humanity than might be expected. The movie is further elevated by Gene Hackman, who brings plenty of life to villain Lex Luthor, and legendary composer John Williams, who does some career-best work. Many of its special effects haven't aged particularly well, but if that detail can be ignored, Superman is still an all-time classic, more than worth watching, even almost 50 years after its original release.
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Superman
Release Date
December 15, 1978
Runtime
143 Minutes
Writers
Mario Puzo
, Jerry Siegel
, Joe Shuster
, David Newman
, Leslie Newman
, Robert Benton
, Tom Mankiewicz
Studio(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures
1
'The Dark Knight' (2008)
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
While plenty of superhero films have received positive critical reception over the years, few have managed to reach the level of acclaim of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight. A sequel to 2005's Batman Begins, TheDark Knight reacquaints audiences with Christian Bale's interpretation of Batman and his secret identity, Bruce Wayne, this time pitting him up against the Joker (Heath Ledger) in an attempt to protect the people of Gotham City.
Bale does a fantastic job as Batman, bringing an intimidating menace to the role that no other actor has been able to replicate, but Ledger is the true star of the show here, with the actor even winning an Oscar for his performance. Many fans consider him the best actor to ever play the Joker, and that is completely justified. Backed by a strong script, Ledger is able to make the character truly terrifying, with his portrayal in some scenes landing closer to a horror villain like Saw's Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) than a standard supervillain. The power of its lead performances alone, enhanced by a genuinely outstanding script, makes it the number one superhero movie that everyone should see at least once.
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