Superhero movies are currently the most popular genre of movies out there. Even a decade ago, movies based on book series were the most anticipated productions of the year. below in this article, we will cover list of The 30 Best Superhero Movies.
Superhero movies, even if they were part of a series, tended to be stand-alone in terms of popularity. A series of Superhero movies usually lost its popularity by the time the third (and usually the final) movie of a series came out.
The year 2008 changed that forever. Since then, the Marvel Cinematic Universe(MCU) has dominated the market with hit after hit, with one long chain of movies. Let’s take a look at the 30 Best Superhero Movies that ever existed.
30. Captain America: The First Avenger(2011)
This origin story remained under-appreciated until the release of The Avengers. This incredible script by Christopher Markus and Stephen Mcfeely was transformed into a masterpiece by director Joe Johnston.
This movie showed the world how Captain America became one of the most powerful superheroes of all time.
29. Hellboy II: The Golden Army(2008)
The first movie, “Hellboy,” drew a lot of fans to the franchise. Director Guillermo del Toro managed to properly deliver this highly anticipated sequel. Watch the series to discover people’s favorite prince of hell.
28. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen(2003)
Another underrated piece of art, this movie brings to light this glorious steampunk comic by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill. When you watch it, you will surprisingly discover how much resemblance the plotline has to The Avengers(2012).
27. Deadpool(2016)
Ryan Reynolds’ mind-blowing portrayal of Marvel’s most crude, sarcastic, and hilarious antihero really steals the show. Deadpool is certainly not for kids, but it is one hell of a movie.
26. Kick-Ass(2010)
Back in 2010, Kick-Ass was a teenager’s dream. Many people don’t know that Kick-Ass is also a Marvel Comic. A rollercoaster ride of dark comedy and witty dialogue make this movie a hit.
25. Blade II(2002)
Back in 1998, Blade came out and rescued the dying superhero movie industry. Not the first superhero movie of color, but it was the most popular one until Black Panther. This sequel is one of the coolest vampire movie/superhero movies of all time.
24. The Incredible Hulk(2008)
This movie is the reason why we never got a Mark Ruffalo Hulk movie we deserved. Even though Edward Norton did not stick around for the franchise, his portrayal of Bruce Banner was nothing short of incredible.
23. X2(2003)
The X-Men movies were the dream for people who grew up watching the X-Men animated series from the 80s and 90s. The first movie was good enough, but the second one really hit the bullseye.
22. Spider-Man(2002)
The Spider-Man trilogy truly brought this popular superhero to the big screen, which was dominated by DC. The second movie is the best production of the series. It took us quite a while to get over Tobey Maguire’s Spiderman.
21. Batman Begins(2005)
Underrated when it came out, Batman Begins is the perfect Batman movie. If you really want to know Bruce Wayne, this is the movie to watch. However, its sequel, The Dark Knight, overshadows it.
20. X-Men: Days of Future Past(2014)
Most people had a hard time keeping up with the plot of this movie. However, this sequel to three movies of the same series was quite well made. It did a wonderful job of tying all the loose ends of the series.
19. Thor: Ragnarok(2017)
The third movie of the Thor series literally tears the entire series apart in the most jaw-dropping way possible. MCU really knows how to deliver complicated storylines. If you love Thor, you will absolutely love Ragnarok.
18. Doctor Strange(2016)
Before this movie, we could not imagine Benedict Cumberbatch as anyone other than Sherlock Holmes. This movie did justice to Stan Lee’s doctor strange. This funny, action-packed story really brought Doctor Strange to the MCU.
17. Batman(1989)
A lot of people won’t agree, but this movie was the pioneer of dark superhero movies. Tim Burton’s twisted and dramatic delivery of our favorite caped crusader was magnificent. However, the fans prefer its 1992 sequel over the first movie.
16. Watchmen(2009)
Another wacky, steampunk creation by Alan Moore, Watchmen is definitely not for children. This movie really shows the dark side of superheroes. Its outstanding plot will leave your brain truly tickled.
15. The Dark Knight Rises(2012)
The last installment of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight series does not disappoint. The movie sucked the audience into Gotham’s dark world. Amazing performance by the cast made this finale top notch.
14. Guardians of the Galaxy(2014)
This movie single-handedly introduced the 2010s audience to the vibrant music from the 80s. This movie manages to stay focused on earthly things while showing very unearthly characters.
13. Captain America: Civil War(2016)
Every Captain America movie had its moments. However, the Civil War had one of the most heartbreaking moments in superhero history. This cinematic gem brought Avengers phase II to life.
12. The Incredibles(2004)
Yes, it is an animation. It also happens to be one of the most popular superhero movies out there. Director Brad Bird brings this family of crime-fighting heroes to life with this incredibly relatable and hilarious movie.
11. X-men: First Class(2011)
This movie brought the dead X-men franchise to life. Without disappointing the cult following of the trilogy, this film managed to bring fresh blood into the series. Director Matthew Vaughn and the talented cast of this movie makes it possibly the best X-Men film in existence.
10. Avengers: Infinity War(2018)
One of the two most anticipated movies of MCU, this movie, literally brought the entire movie-loving world together. Infinity War ended with the most impactful cliffhanger in the history of films. Watch the entire series Infinity Saga to truly appreciate this cinematic marvel.
9. Avengers: Endgame(2019)
The most dramatic finale since The Deathly Hallows Part II, Avengers: Endgame, was the most anticipated movie of all time. We really love this emotional finale to the Avenger’s series “3000”.
8. Superman(1978)
This is the movie that started the superhero movie craze. Even if it didn’t have the best animation, but it really stays true to the comics. People did not get over Christopher Reeve’s Superman until Henry Cavill came and swept us off our feet.
7. Iron Man (2008)
With this first film of Infinity Saga, Robert Downey Jr. single-handedly lifted up the MCU with his portrayal of Iron Man. When people couldn’t see past Superman, Batman, and Spiderman, he made Iron Man the world’s most popular superhero.
6. Wonder Woman(2017)
Wonder Woman is the very first female superhero movie. The innocent but just portrayal of Diana by Gal Gadot won many hearts. This fan-favorite may not be the best superhero movie, but it made a place for female superheroes in this male-dominant industry.
5. Logan(2017)
You are not human if you didn’t cry while watching this movie. Largely inspired by the comic Old Man Logan, this movie is like a memorial to Huge Jackman’s portrayal of Wolverine. This moving piece of art really shows the human side of superheroes.
4. Captain Marvel(2019)
Captain Marvel was, without a doubt, the best portrayal of female superheroes in movies. This movie is empowering and insanely good. Brie Larson really becomes the most powerful woman on earth with her portrayal of Captain Marvel.
3. Spiderman: Into The Spider-verse(2018)
This is the first MCU animation that came out as a feature film. The animation and storytelling are so unique, you feel like you are living inside a comic book. This movie gave more information about the “Spider-verse” than any other Spiderman movie.
2. Black Panther(2018)
Black Panther was the live-action Lion King before the actual one came out. This movie has driven the MCU fans insane with its vibrant, emotional, and passionate storytelling. The racial and cultural message runs so deep in this movie that you are left in awe of the creators who made this masterpiece.
1. The Dark Knight(2008)
Christopher Nolan is well-known for making spectacular movies. We should be really thankful that he blessed us with this outstanding film. Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker made this role wholly untouchable for other actors. Better superhero movies have been made since, but no one can replace The Dark Knight.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have an entire list of the best superhero movies, you know what to binge-watch next weekend. Watch out for amazing future releases by both DC and Marvel.
