Best Superhero Movies

Every year, several superhero films are released by different studios, so it’s no surprise that the total number of movies in this genre has long exceeded a hundred. Naturally, a catalog of this size also includes plenty of weak or outright bad entries. But there are also truly great ones. This article is dedicated to those: here we’ve gathered some of the most successful superhero films from different eras that are worth watching.

Arguably the most important entry in this list. Whether it’s the best can be debated, but Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 became the gold standard for superhero films for decades to come — and in many ways still remains so.

The film has an almost flawless structure, balancing thrillingly shot action, Peter Parker’s personal drama as he juggles both heroic and everyday struggles, and just the right dose of humor. All of the characters, including antagonist Dr. Otto Octavius, are strikingly human, which is one of the key aspects of great cinema — something that, unfortunately, not all filmmakers manage to achieve.

If Spider-Man 2 can be seen as a template for more traditional superhero movies, then Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight is an excellent example of how to reinterpret iconic characters in a less “comic book” style.

Nolan placed Batman and villains like the Joker and Two-Face into a grounded, less fantastical setting. The result is not so much a superhero movie as it is a tense crime thriller. The lack of superhuman powers, focus on technology, politics, and complex social issues made the film believable enough that it resonated even with people who typically dislike comic book adaptations.

A stunning animated feature that easily outshines most live-action Spider-man films. The art style and animation look spectacular, turning every frame into a piece of art.

More importantly, the story is just as strong. At its center are Miles Morales and Peter Parker — one a rookie and the other a veteran — forced to work together despite their many differences. The dynamic between them is one of the film’s greatest strengths. The characters learn from each other, and through friendship they gain the confidence they previously lacked.

Director James Gunn took relatively obscure comic book characters and crafted a lively, yet surprisingly deep adventure that instantly made these heroes among Marvel’s most beloved. This is Gunn’s strength — he’s unafraid to focus on unconventional, complex personalities, often outcasts and misfits, knowing full well that they’re the most compelling to watch. Even more engaging is seeing how such characters work together as a team, leading to countless humorous yet heartfelt moments.

The best Wolverine film, built on a strong dramatic core. In Logan, the hero is far from his prime: regeneration is slow, his adamantium claws barely extend. Most importantly, mentally he is broken — exhausted, embittered, almost shattered. Logan is tired of life, disillusioned with himself, and haunted by the fact that mutants have all but disappeared. He cares for an ailing Professor Xavier and works as a limousine driver to get by.

When he meets a girl with powers similar to his own, Wolverine finally regains purpose — to help and protect the child. While Logan is not the first story about a hardened surrogate father guiding a child on a long journey, the concept fits Wolverine perfectly.

The first two Thor films felt overly heavy-handed and, frankly, dull, with flat characters and uninspired dialogue. By the time Thor: Ragnarok came around, Taika Waititi made a bold choice: he leaned into comedy, gave Thor quirky supporting characters, and focused more on colorful, unusual environments. The result is a film that’s effortlessly entertaining.

It’s only a shame that in its sequel, Thor: Love and Thunder, Waititi failed to recapture the balance between seriousness and humor, leading to a movie that felt overly forced in its jokes.

A film that became a true cultural phenomenon: Infinity War was the talk of the entire internet until its sequel came out. The shocking cliffhanger, the formidable presence of Thanos, and the palpable sense of real danger left viewers in awe. For the first time, Marvel’s superheroes faced a challenge that felt insurmountable.

Even today, if you watch all Marvel films in order without spoilers, Infinity War leaves a powerful impression. With all the key characters already introduced in their own movies, the film wastes no time on setup and instead delivers a relentless stream of thrilling events.

A cult film that critics dismissed at launch for a simplistic script and clichés. Today, many consider Blade 2 one of the best action films of the early 2000s, praised for its fight choreography, unique atmosphere, and memorable visual style. The movie is steeped in Guillermo del Toro’s signature aesthetic, which makes it stand out among other superhero films.

Speaking of Guillermo del Toro, Hellboy 2 is a must-mention. It’s both a big-budget blockbuster and, in some ways, an auteur film. The movie’s visual style is stunning without exaggeration: the troll market, the unusual design of elves, monsters, and mythological creatures — all drenched in the imagination of one of Hollywood’s foremost visionaries. The emphasis on mythic fantasy also makes the film unique within the superhero genre.

A Tim Burton classic. Despite its age, the film is still worth watching: although gothic atmospheres appear in many Batman stories, here it takes center stage. Burton’s Gotham isn’t a modern metropolis but a Victorian, almost fairy-tale city. The visuals draw from German cinema of the 1920s, such as Metropolis, giving the film a unique dark charm unlike any other superhero movie.

Not your typical superhero movie. V for Vendetta is an adaptation of Alan Moore’s cult graphic novel, focusing on complex political themes rarely touched upon in the genre.

The story unfolds in an alternate Britain under totalitarian rule. A mysterious figure in a Guy Fawkes mask, known only as V, wages a guerrilla war against the regime. He blows up symbols of power and calls the people to rise up. At one point, V gains an unlikely ally — a young woman named Evey, who becomes inspired by his ideals and joins the resistance.

A true celebration for Spider-Man fans. This film weaves together the stories of all three cinematic Spider-Men, as well as the villains they faced in their respective films. It features an outstanding cast, a fine balance of action, comedy, and drama, along with a wealth of references for longtime fans.

All the praise directed at Guardians of the Galaxy applies here as well. Once again, James Gunn delivered an energetic blockbuster held together by the relationships between eccentric and unusual characters. But The Suicide Squad leans even more heavily on dark humor — a definite plus, given how naturally Gunn handles this type of comedy.

After the success of The Suicide Squad, Gunn was given full control to reboot the DC cinematic universe. This year’s Superman is the first major project introducing audiences to this reimagined world and its heroes. The start is promising, even if imperfect: it’s clear that James Gunn and his team truly understand the comic book characters. Here, Superman behaves as close as possible to his original archetype, prioritizing the saving of innocents — a vital trait absent in Zack Snyder’s version.

A film balancing somewhere between the adaptations of Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan. On one hand, The Batman dives into the gothic atmosphere of the comics, while on the other, it strives to tell a realistic story. It’s less of an action film and more of a detective story. It also offers a fascinating take on Bruce Wayne’s character, portraying him as a damaged man, just as strange in his own way as the psychopaths he faces.

And what about you? Which superhero movies are your favorites? Share your thoughts in the comments.