50 Best Superhero Movies of All Time, Ranked

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.

50 ‘Darkman’ (1990)

Directed by Sam Raimi

Sam Raimi is a director who’s intrinsically tied to the superhero genre, mostly thanks to a certain web-slinger whose movies will be mentioned a little later… but his first foray into the genre is less well-known. That movie is Darkman, with the titular character (AKA Dr. Peyton Westlake) not being based on a previously established comic book character, and instead being from a short story that Raimi himself had already written.

Darkman is a strange kind of superhero movie, being a good deal darker in tone than many others out there, and also being a homage to classic horror movies from decades past, particularly those produced by Universal Pictures. Exploring a story about a wronged man impacted severely by a medical experiment, Darkman is all over the place but in a generally fun way, and has earned its cult status for sure.

49 ‘Man of Steel’ (2013)

Directed by Zack Snyder

The films of Zack Snyder can certainly be divisive, but he’s nevertheless made a mark on the superhero genre and has an undeniably distinctive style (some would say for better, some would say for worse). He’s also noteworthy for kicking off the ultimately short-lived DC Extended Universe with Man of Steel, a movie that confidently took the legendary character of Superman and revitalized him for the modern day.

It’s another origin story, so it’s one that people are likely familiar with, but Snyder’s style and the expert casting of Henry Cavill helps it stand out and largely work. The action gets over-blown at a point, but Man of Steel effectively makes Superman feel like a modern-day mythological figure, with Cavill being supported by a talented cast that includes – but is not limited to – the likes of Kevin Costner, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, and Laurence Fishburne.

48 ‘The Mask’ (1994)

Directed by Chuck Russell

1994 was a good year for movies in general, but it was also a notably great 12-month period for Jim Carrey. The actor exploded in popularity to a considerable extent, with lead roles in three movies that performed well financially and are still up there with his most well-known: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Dumb and Dumber, and The Mask.

The last of those is perhaps the strangest of the bunch, standing alongside the other two by being a comedy, but also functioning as an offbeat superhero movie with crime/fantasy/action elements added for good measure. It centers on an ordinary man who finds his personality and appearance changing after discovering and wearing the titular mask, with chaos and comical misadventures ensuing. It’s certainly a film of its time, but The Mask was a relatively early indication of how profitable/popular comic book movies could be, predating the genre’s boom in the early 2000s by a few years.

47 ‘The Rocketeer’ (1991)

Directed by Joe Johnston

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.

46 ‘Chronicle’ (2012)

Directed by Josh Trank

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.

45 ‘The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension’ (1984)

Directed by 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.

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44 ‘Zebraman’ (2004)

Directed by 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.

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43 ‘Dick Tracy’ (1990)

Directed by Warren Beatty

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.

42 ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ (2021)

Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton

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.

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41 ‘Watchmen’ (2009)

Directed by Zack Snyder

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.

40 ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ (2017)

Directed by James Gunn

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.

39 ‘The Super Inframan’ (1975)

Directed by 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.

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38 ‘X-Men’ (2000)

Directed by Bryan Singer

Standing as an introduction for many (though not all) to the X-Men franchise and the variety of characters within it, 2000’s X-Men was a landmark film for the superhero genre. X-Men balanced a wide variety of heroes and villains with superpowers, showing how best to execute this kind of movie with an ensemble cast, allowing everyone to shine and establishing plenty of memorable character dynamics.

Perhaps it all looks and feels a bit quaint by today’s standards, but the original live-action X-Men movie was a big deal when released at the start of the 21st century. Beyond introducing characters, it also tells a compelling story of heroic mutants battling evil ones for the fate of the world, and paved the way for many sequels/spin-offs/reboots to continue the series, and sometimes even surpass this initial film.

37 ‘Super’ (2010)

Directed by James Gunn

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.

36 ‘Captain America: Civil War’ (2016)

Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo

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.

35 ‘X2: X-Men United’ (2003)

Directed by Bryan Singer

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.

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34 ‘Hellboy II: The Golden Army’ (2008)

Directed by Guillermo del Toro

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.

33 ‘Batman Begins’ (2005)

Directed by Christopher Nolan

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.

32 ‘Spider-Man’ (2002)

Directed by Sam Raimi

A well-balanced, well-cast, and very well-written film all around, 2002’s Spider-Man worked in tandem with the original X-Men (2000) to prove there was box office gold to be mined from the superhero genre. It was an origin story for Peter Parker/Spider-Man, and though that term might be tainted by a proliferation of such narratives, it felt fresh in 2002, particularly for anyone who didn’t know much about the character of Spider-Man beyond the basics.

And even comic book readers would have found themselves impressed by various elements of Spider-Man, because while the story could’ve been familiar, the scale, ambition, budget, and tone made the movie unlike much else before it. A landmark Spider-Man movie, it was a true blockbuster in every sense of the word, and a seminal entry within the overall – and ever-expanding – canon of comic book/superhero movies.

31 ‘The Suicide Squad’ (2021)

Directed by James Gunn

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.

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