Top 10 Most Underappreciated Superhero Movies
#10: “Sky High” (2005)
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Whatever your high school experience was, there’s no way it was as exciting as this. “Sky High” is about a school for superheroes, one that happens to be floating in the air. When young superhero Will Stronghold starts to develop his powers, he loses touch with his old self as well as his friends. But he eventually learns that it takes no special powers to be there for the people you love. With a clever script and excellent performances from actors like Kurt Russell, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and Cloris Leachman, "Sky High" earns high marks.
#9: “Kick-Ass” (2010)
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Most superheroes movies take place in a different kind of reality, where things like spider bites can give you superpowers. “Kick-Ass,” an incredibly R-rated adaptation of Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr.’s comic book, imagines what it would be like if someone with no powers became a masked crimefighter. The results are brutal but also brutally funny. It’s also full of memorable characters, including Chloë Grace Moretz's breakout role as the foul-mouthed Hit-Girl and Nicolas Cage as her father. It’s not the kind of superhero movie you take your kids to, but for adults, “Kick-Ass” does indeed kick ass.
#8: “Megamind” (2010)
Superhero movies put people into groups like “heroes” and “villains,” but reality is a lot more nuanced than that. While “Megamind” isn’t a particularly serious examination of what it means to be a hero, it is very entertaining. When supervillain Megamind defeats his superhero foe, Metro Man, he falls into a depressive rut. To solve this, he forges a new superhero with Metro Man's DNA, but that backfires, and it's now up to Megamind to save the day. With great voice work from Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, and Brad Pitt and plenty of hilarious gags, "Megamind" is another excellent animated superhero movie.
#7: “Code 8” (2019)
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Real-life cousins and actors Robbie and Stephen Amell have plenty of experience playing superheroes on TV shows “The Flash” and “Arrow.” They also co-starred in one of the most interesting takes on the genre we’ve ever seen. Based on director Jeff Chan's short film, "Code 8" depicts a world in which superpowered individuals are treated as a lower class. This is made painfully clear when Connor Reed's mother falls ill and he turns to crime to pay for her treatment. While many superhero movies are full of impressive special effects but light on feeling, “Code 8” manages to be economical in budget but rich in emotions.
#6: “Batman vs. Robin” (2015)
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The relationship between Batman and his young ward, Robin, is one of the most enduring in all of comics. However, there are different versions of the Boy Wonder, and not all of them are morally righteous. “Batman vs. Robin” finds Bruce Wayne squaring off against Damian Wayne, his son with Talia al Ghul. After supervillain The Dollmaker is killed, Bruce believes his son is responsible and confines him to Wayne Manor. Damian escapes and learns more about his relationship with his father and himself. Though it's just under 80 minutes in length, "Batman vs. Robin" still manages to combine great animated superhero action with an emotionally resonant story.
#5: “Watchmen” (2009)
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Alan Moore’s “Watchmen” deconstructed and revolutionized what superhero stories could be, so any adaptation would have a lot to live up to. While the big-screen adaptation from director Zack Snyder isn’t quite as good as its source material, it’s still a worthy interpretation. “Watchmen” is set in a dystopian 1985, where costumed crimefighters are real and under systematic attack. The striking visuals are reason enough to see the movie, but it's also helped by its great cast of characters, including Silk Spectre II, Doctor Manhattan, and Rorschach. And if you want to see the best version of “Watchmen,” we recommend seeking out the director’s cut.
#4: “Fast Color” (2018)
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Do you find most superhero movies to be too big on spectacle and too light on emotional stakes? If so, you might appreciate “Fast Color,” a more intimate kind of superhero story from director Julia Hart. Gugu Mbatha-Raw stars as a woman with no home and devastating abilities. After an attempted abduction, she runs home to her estranged mother, as well as her daughter, who has forgotten her after years apart. "Fast Color" doesn't have any elaborate costumes or post-credit teasers. But what it does have is an incredible sense of heart and belief in the strength of both individuals and families.
#3: “Mystery Men” (1999)
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Sure, the Avengers and Justice League might be more impressive in terms of actual abilities. But when it comes to delivering laughs, no superhero team can match the Mystery Men. Featuring the likes of Mr. Furious, Shoveler, and Invisible Boy, the Mystery Men are superheroes in the most charitable sense of the term, but they still manage to come together against the evil and wonderfully named Casanova Frankenstein. With a cast full of comedic talent, including Ben Stiller, William H. Macy, and Janeane Garofalo, the biggest mystery about "Mystery Men" is why it doesn't get more love.
#2: “The Rocketeer” (1991)
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The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first “Captain America” movie did a great job of being a retro superhero film. It’s no wonder, as its director, Joe Johnston, also made “The Rocketeer,” a superhero story set in 1938. A tribute to old movie serials, “The Rocketeer” is free of cynicism and full of wonder, especially in the beautiful production design and delightful score. Billy Campbell stars as a stunt pilot who comes across a souped-up jet pack and finds himself targeted by some dangerous individuals. Co-starring Jennifer Connelly in an early role, "The Rocketeer" shoots for the moon and lands in our hearts.
#1: “Dredd” (2012)
The Sylvester Stallone-starring “Judge Dredd” is, in a word, dreadful. But don’t let its reputation scare you away from “Dredd,” one of the 2010s’ most unfairly ignored superhero movies. Donning the Dredd helmet is Karl Urban who manages to create a rounded character with most of his face obscured, and he has a great match in rookie partner and fellow Judge Cassandra Anderson, played by Olivia Thirlby. "Dredd" is heavy on violence but it still manages to thrill where so many other movies bore. Although it might have not gotten its due when it was first released, "Dredd" has held up as an example of a great superhero movie.
