There’s no doubt about it: superhero movies have been all the rage within the last couple of decades, and don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. By no means was the genre invented in the 21st century, as there were plenty of iconic superhero films to be released during the previous century. However, the genre’s seemed to click with modern-day viewers more than generations in the past, with many of the highest-grossing movies of the century so far being superhero movies.
There might not be as many superhero movies out there as movies in other, broader genres (like action movies, comedies, Westerns, etc.), but trying to pick the best of the best is still a daunting task. What follows is a ranking of some of the most exceptional superhero movies, representing the various ways larger-than-life heroes can be depicted on screen, whether in live-action or animation. These are some of the best in an ever-growing genre, and are ranked below from great to greatest.
45 ‘The Rocketeer’ (1991)
Director: Joe Johnston
Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
A charming film that also goes to show how science fiction doesn’t always need to be futuristic, The Rocketeer delivers an old-school adventurous spirit and feels rather quaint today, given how prevalent the superhero genre’s become. It’s set during World War II, and involves a pilot becoming an instrumental figure for America in the war against Nazi Germany.
Notably, he gets a rocket-pack that allows him to fly around at a great speed, and from there, he takes part in a simple yet thoroughly engaging “good vs. evil” story that works well for what it is. Other parts of The Rocketeer may not hold up as well, at least on the technical side of things, given the film’s age. But, on the other hand, many flaws are able to be overlooked, or even go so far as to add to the film’s charms.
44 ‘Chronicle’ (2012)
Director: Josh Trank
Image via 20th Century Studios
Chronicle takes the found footage format and pushes it in an interesting direction, not being a found footage horror movie but, in actuality, a found footage superhero origin story… in a way. The plot involves three high school students learning that they’re developing strange powers, which at first is thrilling, but then becomes harrowing when one of the three starts enjoying the power he’s been given a little too much.
It’s presented in a way that won’t appeal to those sensitive to motion sickness, but might well appeal to those who’ve grown tired of seeing stories about people with superpowers presented in traditionally cinematic ways. Chronicle is grounded, intense, and very well-paced, coming in at under 90 minutes and delivering a simple yet effective story bolstered immensely by its novel presentation.
Chronicle
Release Date February 1, 2012
Director Josh Trank
Runtime 86
43 ‘The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension’ (1984)
Director: W.D. Richter
The textbook definition of a 1980s sci-fi cult classic, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension can also count itself as an offbeat, charming, and quite funny superhero film. The titular character is a man of many talents, and he runs a gang called the Hong Kong Cavaliers, all of whom band together to defend Earth from alien invaders that hail from the (also titular) 8th dimension.
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension is wild and more than a bit silly (if you couldn’t tell from the title alone), but it’s the kind of thing that’s unafraid to do its own thing, taking no prisoners all the while. There’s a sense of style and confidence here that’s truly admirable, and those after a superhero movie that feels like no other superhero movie ought to check this underrated 1980s movie out.
Watch on Tubi
42 ‘Zebraman’ (2004)
Director: Takashi Miike
Another unique superhero movie, Zebramancomes from the mind of Takashi Miike, the relentless and prolific Japanese filmmaker best known for controversial movies like Audition and Ichi the Killer. Zebraman, however, sees Miike tone down some of his more alarming or disturbing sensibilities, making something that feels like it could generally appeal to people of most (not all) ages, so long as such people also possess suitably strange senses of humor.
Zebraman follows a man going through a midlife crisis, and the way his life changes drastically when he decides to take on a vigilante persona in secret: the titular hero, Zebraman. Absurd comedy and some rather silly action scenes ensue, with things getting even wilder once aliens enter the picture. It’s not going to be for everyone, but its willingness to do something weird and commit to it wholeheartedly does make Zebraman admirable and oftentimes fun.
Watch on Tubi
41 ‘Dick Tracy’ (1990)
Director: Warren Beatty
Image via Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Starring Warren Beatty, Madonna, and a surprisingly Oscar-nominated Al Pacino, Dick Tracy could well claim to have one of the most impressive casts in the history of comic book/superhero movies. Beyond that main three, the cast also includes the likes of Mandy Patinkin, Dustin Hoffman, Dick Van Dyke, Paul Sorvino, James Caan, Kathy Bates, and Catherine O’Hara, to name just a few.
The look of Dick Tracy is similarly impressive, bringing comic book styling and sensibilities to the format of a live-action film in a bolder – and arguably better – way than most comparable films. The storyline, on the other hand, is fairly barebones, revolving around the titular hero taking on a group of vicious gangsters… but it’s the star power and style of Dick Tracy that go hand-in-hand to make it an impressive oddity, and one that still holds up as quite surprising and entertaining to this day.
Dick Tracy
Release Date April 5, 1990
Cast Warren Beatty , Charlie Korsmo , Michael Donovan O’Donnell , Jim Wilkey , Stig Eldred , Neil Summers
Runtime 105
40 ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ (2021)
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
Image via Marvel Studios
While its action might not quite be great enough for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsto feel like an all-time great martial arts movie, it was cool to see a film from the MCU take inspiration from such films. The titular hero is incredibly talented at hand-to-hand combat, leading to plenty of great action set pieces that are melded well with various fantastical elements that also serve to distinguish the film from most other MCU entries.
On top of all that, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings does have the kind of familiar humor and pacing one finds in a modern superhero movie, but it’s all executed better across the board than much of the rest of the MCU’s fourth phase. It gets the job done and then some, and proves to be an incredibly entertaining watch.
Watch on Disney+
39 ‘Watchmen’ (2009)
Director: Zack Snyder
Image via Warner Bros.
Violent and brooding in an uncompromising way, 2009’s Watchmen feels like a Zack Snyder movie through and through, meaning fans of the director’s style will have a blast, and his detractors will likely remain unconverted. It’s an adaptation of the famed comic book series of the same name, and though it doesn’t prove as successful as a deconstruction of superhero-centered stories, it still at least touches upon that side of things.
Watchmen’s potential thematic shortcomings are easier to overlook, however, when a film adaptation looks as consistently great as this 2009 movie does. It’s bombastic, hyper-stylized, and makes sure you see it all, thanks to plenty of sequences unfolding with healthy amounts of slow motion. Additionally, those who want to see another adaptation align a little closer to the comic series’ tone and themes thankfully have the HBO miniseries to watch, which was released in 2019.
Watchmen
Release Date March 4, 2009
Director Zack Snyder
Runtime 162 Minutes
38 ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ (2017)
Director: James Gunn
Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
There were an unusually high number of great movie sequels released in 2017, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 just so happened to be one of them. After the 2014 movie did a great job of making the titular squad instantly lovable and fan favorites within the MCU, Vol. 2 of what ended up being a trilogy was able to hit the ground running with already-established character dynamics, and was able to particularly explore Peter Quill’s past following him being reunited with his estranged father.
It might not run as smoothly as the first Guardians film, but Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 works by once again being funny, visually dazzling, well-scored with plenty of iconic music, and pushing its characters into some deeper and more emotionally intense areas. The mid-to-late 2010s were a good time to be a fan of the MCU, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 was one of many reasons for that.
37 ‘The Super Inframan’ (1975)
Director: Hua Shan
The Super Inframan is fairly obscure by superhero movie standards, but that doesn’t mean it’s undeserving of being considered up there with the very best. It’s something of a cult classic, being an absurd martial arts movie that also ambitiously sets its sights on being a work of science fiction and a weird superhero film, following a man who agrees to be experimented on, so he can become the titular hero.
From there, his destiny is to battle various monsters that are being led by a dangerous alien who wants to conquer the world, effectively being the only hope for the human race. The Super Inframan is very cheesy and one would be hard-pressed to call it high-budget… yet it’s also super charming and feels a little like it was written by a 10-year-old in the best way possible. It’s the kind of movie where, while watching it, it’s hard to imagine someone not having a good time.
Rent on Apple TV
36 ‘Super’ (2010)
Director: James Gunn
Image via IFC Midnight
Some years before ever working for Marvel or DC, James Gunn directed his first superhero movie (of sorts) with Super, in 2010. It’s definitely more low-budget and crudely made compared to his later efforts, but it did demonstrate that he had serious potential in both writing and directing subversive or slightly offbeat films that also managed to fit within the superhero genre.
In the case of Super, it’s incredibly dark and brutally realistic, telling the story of a disturbed man with nothing to lose becoming a vigilante known as Crimson Bolt. Super is unafraid to show some seriously graphic violence, especially considering Crimson Bolt’s weapon of choice is a wrench, but those with strong stomachs and a willingness to see something different as far as superhero/vigilante movies go ought to check it out.
Super
Release Date April 16, 2010
Runtime 96 minutes
35 ‘Captain America: Civil War’ (2016)
Directors: Anthony and Joe Russo
Image via Marvel Studios
The third movie within one of the most compelling trilogies in the MCU, Captain America: Civil War is a huge film featuring many of the characters who appeared throughout the first three phases of the MCU. As the title suggests, the heroes are at odds and are torn apart by a series of conflicts that may have been orchestrated by a mastermind who wants to see Earth’s mightiest heroes implode.
Captain America: Civil War was a movie that did a good job of shaking up the status quo, with the effects of the film’s ending ultimately having an influence on several years worth of movies that followed. Additionally, this movie’s also home to one of the biggest and most celebrated action sequences in the entire MCU: that of the airport battle.
Captain America: Civil War
Release Date May 6, 2016
Cast Chris Evans , Robert Downey Jr. , Scarlett Johansson , Sebastian Stan , Anthony Mackie , Don Cheadle , Jeremy Renner , Chadwick Boseman , Paul Bettany , Elizabeth Olsen , Paul Rudd , Tom Holland
Runtime 147 minutes
34 ‘X2: X-Men United’ (2003)
Director: Bryan Singer
Image via 20th Century Fox
The original X-Men series got off to a decent enough start with the original film in 2000, which was one of the first truly successful superhero blockbusters. Despite that, it’s hard to argue against its 2003 sequel – X2: X-Men United – being even better. It revolves around an anti-mutant former Army Commander who causes trouble among the heroes.
X2: X-Men United is a more confident film with more satisfying action, and balances an even larger cast of characters exceptionally well. The icing on the cake of it all is that it’s also home to a Brian Cox performance, where he plays the lead antagonist, Col. William Stryker. Anyone who’s seen the excellent HBO series Succession will be well aware of how much Cox can bring to a villainous role.
Watch on Starz
33 ‘Hellboy II: The Golden Army’ (2008)
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Image via Columbia Pictures
After a solid original Hellboy movie in 2004, Guillermo del Toro really let loose with its sequel, 2008’s The Golden Army, by combining superhero action with wonderfully dark fantasy. Hellboy II: The Golden Army also ups the stakes considerably, forcing the titular hero and his team to take on an elvish prince who’s threatening to take over the world with his mechanical army.
Some could accuse the first Hellboy of being style over substance, but those people might be ignoring just how good the style is. And when it comes to the second movie, the style’s even more stylish. There is also some genuine substance and emotion to its compelling story, making Hellboy II: The Golden Army a remarkably improved sequel and one of the most underrated superhero movies in recent memory.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Release Date July 11, 2008
Runtime 110
32 ‘Batman Begins’ (2005)
Director: Christopher Nolan
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
Batman Begins may well be the most comprehensible and least overwhelming movie Christopher Nolan’s ever directed. As the title suggests, it’s an origin story for the character of Bruce Wayne/Batman, showing his tragic past and how he came to take on the responsibility of being a vigilante who fights wrongdoers in the crime-ridden city of Gotham.
The best was yet to come, when it came to Nolan’s trilogy, but Batman Begins got things off to an undeniably compelling start. It was a breath of fresh air back in 2005 to have a superhero movie take itself so seriously, and generally carry itself well, making this film a historically significant one for how people viewed the superhero genre going forward.
31 ‘The Suicide Squad’ (2021)
Director: James Gunn
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
After a 2016 movie that really didn’t work, The Suicide Squad proved to be a reboot/sequel of sorts to Suicide Squad that was an overall much stronger film. Both had similar premises, having criminal characters given dangerous missions to take part in with the promise of reduced sentences if the missions were successful, but the execution made all the difference here.
The Suicide Squad is a blast to watch, and combines violent action, crude humor, and some genuinely emotional moments together to great effect. It’s a strange superhero movie, somehow feeling both risky and accessible at once, and thankfully exists to at least in part redeem the franchise after the 2016 movie.
The Suicide Squad
Release Date July 28, 2021
Runtime 132
Watch on Max
30 ‘Blade II’ (2002)
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Image via New Line Cinema
The first Blade, released in 1998, was a significant superhero movie in numerous ways, as it pushed boundaries in terms of violence, felt a little more hard-edged than the superhero movies that had come before it, and also was one of the first comic book movies with a Black lead. It is a solid movie, but its sequel, 2002’s Blade II, is even better.
While the first laid the groundwork, Blade II is simply more fun, with a little more personality and better action sequences, at least partially thanks to it being directed by Guillermo del Toro. It is unabashedly cheesy and silly at points, but it feels self-aware and confident throughout, making it a blast to watch.
Blade II
Release Date March 22, 2002
Runtime 117 minutes
29 ‘Kick-Ass’ (2010)
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Image via Lionsgate
Nowadays, there are numerous darkly comedic superhero properties that take their characters to dark places while also being unafraid to show explicit violence (demonstrated by shows like The Boys and the Deadpool movies). Back in 2010, this kind of approach felt more novel, and was one reason why Kick-Ass felt like such a breath of fresh air.
Kick-Ass is a tad more grounded than many superhero movies, showing the inevitable struggles that a teenage boy would experience should he one day decide to become a superhero/vigilante. For those who want another violent and darkly funny deconstruction of the genre released in 2010, Super is also easy to recommend. What’s difficult to recommend, on the other hand, is 2013’s Kick-Ass 2. That one should be avoided, as it, unfortunately, kicks very little ass.
Kick-Ass
Release Date April 16, 2010
Director Matthew Vaughn
Runtime 117 minutes
28 ‘The Crow’ (1994)
Director: Alex Proyas
Image via Miramax
The Crow absolutely screams 1990s in every way, and is all the more glorious for it. It’s a dark and brooding gothic revenge movie, adding a supernatural twist to the superhero genre by having the plot revolve around a man who comes back from the dead, and seeks vengeance on the criminals who gunned him and his fiancée down.
The Crow is an incredibly stylish movie, and does a remarkable job of capturing comic book visuals in a live-action format while telling a simple yet emotionally moving story. It’s also regrettably one of the few films Brandon Lee ever starred in, as he tragically died at just 28 years old while filming The Crow, after an accident with a prop gun on set proved fatal.
The Crow
Release Date May 11, 1994
Runtime 102
27 ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ (2021)
Director: Zack Snyder
Do not watch the 2017 version of Justice League, as it’s a complete mess, lacks both heart and logic, and overall serves as a textbook example of how not to do a superhero team-up movie. Thankfully, the director’s cut – Zack Snyder’s Justice League – is not a complete mess, and though it’s a gigantic and imperfect film, it is an impressive one, and ultimately stands as a much stronger movie.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League runs for a staggering four hours, but uses that time to flesh out all the members of the titular team while ensuring their first mission together feels suitably grand. It suffers a bit toward the end, given it has a series of epilogue-type scenes setting up movies that’ll probably never happen, but the rest of it works well, and to this day remains the longest superhero movie of all time.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League
Release Date May 18, 2021
Director Zack Snyder
Cast Ben Affleck , Henry Cavill , Amy Adams , Gal Gadot , Ray Fisher , Jason Momoa , Willem Dafoe , Jesse Eisenberg , Jeremy Irons , Diane Lane , Connie Nielsen , J.K. Simmons
Runtime 242
26 ‘Big Hero 6’ (2014)
Directors: Chris Williams, Don Hall
Image via Walt Disney Animation Studio
Animation and superhero stories go together well, given the format can be used to depict heightened fantastical and/or futuristic worlds in ways that most live-action films would struggle to. Big Hero 6 is an example of how to do an animated superhero movie right, and holds up as a fun, emotional, and exciting family-friendly film.
It follows a young boy who befriends an inflatable robot called Baymax after a tragedy in his family, with the boy eventually forming a superhero team with said robot and his friends. It’s a colorful and heartfelt movie, and one of those great kid’s movies where it doesn’t feel like it’s only designed to appeal to children.
Big Hero 6
Release Date October 24, 2014
Director Don Hall , Chris Williams
Runtime 108