The Best Superhero and Comic Book Movies

Superhero and comic book movies are all the rage these days. Even if there's an ongoing debate over whether superhero fatigue is hitting moviegoers, the studios won't stop making them. People just can't help but come back for more adventure.

The best superhero movies are the ones that let viewers live out their wildest fantasies about being a hero as a kid. Marvel and DC have created universes of comic book movies, such as Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and The Dark Knight, that unleash childhood dreams in colorful trips or grounded crime dramas. However, not all the best superhero action movies are based on comic books, and not all comic book movies need superheroes — The Incredibles and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World prove so.

Updated on December 27, 2024, by Jordan Iacobucci: This list has been updated to expand on the best superhero and comic book movies.

55 Doctor Strange Introduces the Magical Side of the MCU

Benedict Cumberbatch Makes His Debut as the Sorcerer Supreme

Director Scott Derrickson's Doctor Strange introduced a more magical side to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch as star neurosurgeon Dr. Stephen Strange, who suffers a terrible accident that renders him incapable of the precise fine motor skills necessary to continue his profession. Desperate to find a way back to the height of his career, Strange finds himself initiated into a mysterious group of sorcerers who claim to protect reality from interdimensional threats. Growing in power, Strange becomes the last line of defense between his world and the ruler of the Dark Dimension, Dormammu.

Doctor Strange was criticized upon its release for using many of the same story beats that often populate superhero origin stories, particularly those in the MCU. However, several years after its release, the film stands out as one of the strongest origin films in the MCU. With a solid performance from Cumberbatch that would make him an anchor of the franchise moving forward, a host of memorable supporting characters, and some of the best visuals in the franchise, Doctor Strange changed the MCU forever.

54 Batman Returns Includes Several Fan-Favorite DC Characters

Tim Burton's Last Batman Movie Is Fun and Campy

Batman Returns is the sequel to the classic 1989 film that first featured Michael Keaton as the Caped Crusader. After his battle with the Joker, Batman finds Gotham City plagued by yet another round of supervillains with devious plots of their own. Batman Returns includes appearances from major DC Comics characters, including Danny DeVito as the Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman.

Although it isn't as highly regarded as the original film, Batman Returns still includes most elements fans loved from Michael Keaton's first outing as the Dark Knight. The sequel maintains Tim Burton's unique flair presenting a distinct view of Gotham and its whacky comic book characters. Unfortunately, this would be the last passable Batman movie for some time, as its two sequels, Batman Forever and Batman and Robin, were considered extreme disappointments.

53 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Is a Tragic Contemplation of Grief

The MCU Rallies Behind Chadwick Boseman's Legacy In This Emotional Sequel

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was one film that struggled more than the average installment of a major superhero franchise. After the death of T'Challa star Chadwick Boseman in 2020, director Ryan Coogler heavily reworked his Black Panther sequel to deal with the star's passing. In Wakanda Forever, T'Challa's loved ones each deal with his death in their own ways, but Shuri struggles the most. As she lingers in her grief, she finds herself thrust into a new role as the protector of her people when a new civilization led by Namor the Sub-Mariner, declares war on Wakanda.

Wakanda Forever is a touching contemplation of grief and legacy in the wake of real-life tragedy. Despite the many factors working against it, the sequel shines through the sorrow to deliver an emotional ride that leaves audiences in tears. The film features unforgettable performances from its supporting cast, particularly Angela Bassett as Queen Ramonda, earning the actress an Academy Award nomination (the first time that an actor had ever been nominated for their performance in an MCU movie). Wakanda Forever also features the first appearances of several important new characters, including Namor and Ironheart.

52 Thor: Ragnarok Is the Best In Thor's Solo Franchise

Taika Waititi Reinvents Thor In the MCU

The Thor franchise had always been the weakest of the MCU's tentpole film series, with Thor and The Dark World underwhelming when stacked against other films from Phases 1 and 2. However, the 2017 sequel Thor: Ragnarok changed everything for Chris Hemsworth's god of thunder. The film follows Thor as he tries to prevent his evil older sister, Hela, from taking over Asgard, forcing him to team up with Loki and a host of other new characters.

Thor: Ragnarok is hands-down the best installment of the Thor franchise. Thanks to the visionary direction of Taika Waititi, the film flourishes in a palette of bright colors reminiscent of Jack Kirby's artwork in the original comics. The film also tells a tight emotional story that helps reinvent Thor, extending his tenure in the MCU and helping him climb the ranks of viewers' favorite superheroes. Unfortunately, the sequel, Thor: Love and Thunder, pales compared to Ragnarok, making the third film a standout in the tetralogy.

51 Guardians of the Galaxy Launched James Gunn's Superhero Career

C-List Marvel Characters Become Fan-Favorites In This MCU Film

James Gunn exploded onto the superhero scene with 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy, an installment in Phase 2 of the MCU. The film follows a group of down-and-out losers who band together to save the galaxy. It features the live-action debut of characters like Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), Groot (Vin Diesel), and Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper), who make up the first lineup of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Before Guardians of the Galaxy, nothing of its kind had ever been made in the MCU. The film's electric soundtrack, tight character development, and expert direction instantly made it one of the best installments of the cinematic universe, launching a beloved trilogy that still stands out as the best the MCU has to offer. The movie changed the superhero genre forever, with many other films trying to replicate its success in the years that followed. Moreover, Guardians of the Galaxy launched the blockbuster career of James Gunn, who now runs DC Studios and plans to rehabilitate the brand with the new DCU.

50 Man of Steel Was a Strong Start to a Turbulent Cinematic Universe

Henry Cavill Shines as Superman in the First DC Extended Universe Film

Man of Steel reboots the Superman franchise with a new, much darker take on the character's origin story. The film stars Henry Cavill as Clark Kent, an unassuming young man who the world doesn't know hails from the destroyed planet Krypton. Now on Earth, Clark connects with his alien heritage to become Superman—just in time to defend his new planet from the villainous General Zod, who hopes to re-establish Krypton on Earth.

Man of Steel received mixed reactions upon its release but has only gotten better with age as critics and fans have come to adore Cavill's performance as the titular superhero. The film launched the DC Extended Universe, which continued for over a decade before being rebooted in James Gunn's DCU. While Man of Steel has its flaws, it still sets a high bar for Gunn's upcoming Superman reboot in 2025.

49 Deadpool & Wolverine Breaths New Life Into the MCU

Deadpool and Wolverine Join the Marvel Cinematic Universe in This Multiverse Adventure

Deadpool & Wolverine is the 34th entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, marking what is hopefully a positive turning point for the Multiverse Saga. The film follows Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) as he desperately tries to save his universe from destruction. He drags a Wolverine variant (Hugh Jackman) along for the ride, trekking through the cameo-filled wasteland of the Void at the end of time. Deadpool and Wolverine overcome their differences to defeat Cassandra Nova, a villainous warlord with a connection to the X-Men.

Deadpool & Wolverine may not be the most artistic superhero film, but it delivers on the lofty promises of the Multiverse Saga in a way that no previous film has before. With cameos from Jennifer Garner as Elektra, Dafne Keen as X-23, Channing Tatum as Gambit, Wesley Snipes as Blade, and more, Deadpool & Wolverine shows promise for the final act of the Multiverse Saga, setting a high bar for Avengers: Secret Wars.

48 Zack Snyder's Justice League Was the Team-Up the DCEU Needed

The Long-Awaited "Snyder Cut" Was Everything It Promised to Be

Although the original theatrical cut of Justice League was a massive disappointment, DC fans held out hope that Warner Bros. would eventually release Zack Snyder's director's cut, the so-called "Snyder Cut." These wishes were finally fulfilled in the form of Zack Snyder's Justice League, a four-hour HBO Max event that finally delivered the director's unadulterated vision of the DCEU's first all-encompassing team-up film.

Much to many fans' surprise, Zack Snyder's Justice League lived up to the hype, delivering terrific character moments for each team member while promising bigger things for the DCEU's future (which will unfortunately never come to pass). Although the film likely could have been an hour shorter, it depicts the artistic vision that could have carried the DCEU into the future, had Warner Bros. not gotten cold feet.

47 Blade Deserves More Credit for Launching the Superhero Movie Craze

Blade Predates Spider-Man, X-Men, and the MCU

1998's Blade stars Wesley Snipes as the titular Daywalker, a trained killer who hunts vampires to rid them of the world entirely. Joining forces with new allies, Blade battles against the villainous Deacon Frost, the leader of a vampire cult that has been particularly problematic in recent weeks.

The original Blade deserves more credit as the film that launched a new era of superhero/comic book movies. The film predates some of the most famous Marvel franchises, including the MCU, Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, and even the X-Men films. Blade showed what a comic book movie could be, reigniting interest in the genre that would lead to the redefining of cinema itself.

46 Sin City Caters to a Very Specific Aesthetic

The Neo-Noir Comic Book Film Is Still One of the Best-Looking of the Genre

From co-directors Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller, Sin City is an adaptation of the graphic novel series of the same name, originally written by Miller. The film follows several interconnected stories taking place in the same city and stars an impressive ensemble cast that includes Bruce Willis, Jessica Alba, Mickey Rourke, Benicio del Toro, Powers Boothe, Rosario Dawson, and more.

Set almost entirely in black and white, Sin City is a unique-looking comic book film that strikingly resembles the literature on which it is based. The film delivers one of the best aesthetics of any entry in the genre and still looks incredible even over a decade after it was first released. The movie's success inspired a sequel, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, though the second film wasn't nearly as well-received.