Top 10 Superhero Movies
#10: “Hellboy II: The Golden Army” (2008)
In this exhilarating sequel, Hellboy and his crew return to face off against the evil Prince Nuada and stop his evil forces. The movie is an ambitious yet powerful creature feature that never slows down the action. It’s an urban fantasy that fits pretty well within the superhero sandbox but also isn’t afraid to get weird. Guillermo del Toro’s iconic style of filmmaking keeps the character of Hellboy front and center. Hellboy isn’t your typical cape and cowl superhero, but when the world needs saving from monsters, there’s no one better! The set pieces in this film are magnificent, the fight sequences are entertaining, and the characters are incredible. For “The Golden Army” we give it a golden star!
#9: “Blue Beetle” (2023)
When fresh out of college Jaime Reyes accidentally bonds with a dangerous alien scarab he becomes the superhero known as the Blue Beetle. He isn’t just another run-of-the-mill costumed crimefighter though, he’s a champion of his community. He’s always looking out for the little guy and never forgetting his roots. The “Blue Beetle” movie is visually stunning, funny, action-packed, and full of heart. But while the film was well-received critically, it didn't soar at the box office. It didn’t help that it came at a time when Warner Brothers officially threw in the towel with the DCEU. Either way though, “Blue Beetle” deserves more recognition. At its core it’s a superhero story that emphasizes family, and shows how we’re all stronger together.
#8: “Thor” (2011)
There are lots of rags-to-riches movies out there but the first “Thor” movie is kind of a riches-to-rags movie instead. When the arrogant god of thunder gets knocked down from his royal throne on Asgard, he has to slum it on Midgard with the poor folks for a while. Thor experiences real character growth and discovers humility. He also grapples with the betrayal of his adoptive brother Loki. It’s so interesting to look back and see Thor as a genuine character here before he became a parody of himself in later installments. When looking at the best stuff from the superhero genre, or even just the MCU, “Thor” often slips under the radar. However, we think it’s a movie that caught lightning in a bottle.
#7: “Sky High” (2005)
Ever wondered where superheroes and supervillains go to get their education? Well, look no further than the movie “Sky High”! It’s about the son of a superhero power couple who attends the school and has to quickly learn the ropes or risk crashing and burning. It might be cheesy but it wears its heart on its sleeve and has a clear love for the superhero genre. It’s also got lots of major stars. Some of the cast members include Bruce Campbell, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and Kurt Russell to name a few. Though “Sky High” released before the big superhero movie boom and wasn’t an established DC or Marvel IP, it’s an all-around great family-friendly cape flick!
#6: “The Wolverine” (2013)
Wolverine hanging out in Japan kicking butt and taking names, what’s not to love? Simply put, “The Wolverine” has a lot going for it. Dropping this feral member of the X-Men into Japan and seeing what chaos comes from it makes this movie an entertaining spectacle. Sure, it stumbles a bit in the third act with the Silver Samurai, but it’s not enough of a problem to make us bitter. Director James Mangold has a clear understanding of this character and doesn’t shy away from showing all of Logan’s emotional and physical battle scars. “The Wolverine” is a brutal action drama that reminds us that Logan is one of Marvel’s coolest and dangerous heroes.
#5: “The Crow” (1994)
Dark and brooding heroes wouldn’t be the same without the gothic force of nature that is the Crow. When Eric Draven and his girlfriend are killed by criminals he seeks vengeance and gets his chance when a crow resurrects him as a supernatural being. This isn’t a traditional superhero movie but the common tropes of stopping bad guys and seeking retribution are all still there. While the movie enjoyed both critical and commercial success it’s forever haunted by the tragic passing of its lead actor Brandon Lee. “The Crow” will probably never be mentioned in the same breath as “Spider-Man 2” or “Avengers: Endgame” but this artistic film more than holds its own.
#4: “Mystery Men” (1999)
There weren’t as many superhero movies in the 90s like there are today, but superhero movies in the 90s that weren’t either DC or Marvel were extra rare. So a movie like “Mystery Men” simply existing is kind of a victory all on its own. It’s about a bunch of costumed rejects with bizarre powers who have to come together to save the day. It’s a hilarious satire of superheroes that shows us what happens when the oddballs end up in charge. Despite being a cult classic the movie failed to break into the pop culture zeitgeist. Still,“Mystery Men” might be obscure but if you want to see the craziness that unfolds in Champion City then this is the movie to watch!
#3: “The Amazing Spider-Man” (2012)
Spider-Man's story is a tale that’s as old as time, but that doesn’t mean it can’t get some updates. With Andrew Garfield’s iteration of the character, he brought a brand new spin to the webslinger in this 2012 reboot. It made things darker and atmospheric for the wallcrawler while still maintaining a level of charm and playfulness. The story was grittier but Spider-Man himself stayed a beacon of good. Not everyone loved the way Peter’s parents factored in, or how he was almost made into a chosen one archetype, but those gripes don’t hold the movie back. It wasn’t perfect, sure, but it was far from a failure. Plus, Peter and Gwen have insane chemistry. So, all things considered, “The Amazing Spider-Man” is…well…an amazing movie!
#2: “Batman Begins” (2005)
It’s almost criminal to call “Batman Begins” underrated or overlooked, because in many ways it isn’t. The start to Christopher Nolan’s iconic Batman trilogy was a critically acclaimed return to form for the Caped Crusader. It brought Batman back to basics and delivered on telling an emotionally-compelling story. This film basically saved Batman, and that’s not an exaggeration! However, while the movie is beloved, it’s been undeniably dwarfed by its own sequel “The Dark Knight”. That movie dominated the superhero genre and changed the game. In a perfect world, “Batman Begins” would be considered one of the absolute best superhero movies ever made. But as long as “The Dark Knight” exists, it’ll always live in its shadow. Still though, it’s a dang good Batman film.
#1: “The Rocketeer” (1991)
Set in 1938 LA, hotheaded pilot Cliff Secord discovers a rocket-pack prototype and soon becomes the Rocketeer. In his quest to save his old flame he soars through the skies and battles evil. Look, sometimes less is just more. Sure this ‘90s flick doesn’t have the best effects or the flashiest action but there’s just a sheer beauty to the film’s gorgeous aesthetic. This is a period piece with a lot of style but plenty of substance to go with it too. You’re not going to find obscure easter eggs or unnecessary cameos here! This is just a nice movie about someone with a heart of gold trying to do good. In many ways “The Rocketeer” walked so comic-book movies like “Iron Man” could run.
Are there any other superhero hidden gems we missed? Hype them all up in the comments!