Top 20 Animated Superhero Movies of All Time

Things get a little backwards in this DC DVD release. In an alternate universe, there’s no Justice League. Instead, the world is lorded over by a group of supervillains known as the Crime Syndicate. That world’s noble Lex Luthor eventually travels to a world of traditional Justice League heroes to get help and stop the evil team. There’s a lot of fun to be had in watching these famous characters interacting and, of course, fighting with their evil counterparts. While it doesn’t dwell long on how they got corrupted, it shows that absolute power can corrupt absolutely. The film also offers plenty of slick action scenes and nice character moments. It all builds up to a nail biting ending that you’ll never forget.

This DreamWorks comedy seeks to answer an important question: what would a villain do without their hero? After seemingly defeating his arch-nemesis, Megamind becomes the world-dominating baddie he always wanted to be. But when his victory starts to feel hollow, he tries to create a new hero with disastrous results. The jokes always land in particular thanks to cast members like Will Ferrell and Tina Fey. The bright visuals pop and the action offers some unique moments of spectacle. While it may not be your typical superhero fair, its offbeat nature makes it a hidden genre gem.

Cartoon Network’s original “Teen Titans” series is beloved to this day. Despite ending too soon, it at least got to end its run with a pretty great made-for-TV movie. “Trouble in Tokyo’s” intriguing plot gets going when a supervillain that speaks Japanese attacks the team at home. This event leads the titans to travel abroad and face a villain that can turn his artwork into real-life creations. While the movie has a few dark elements, it still has just as much charm as you’d expect. This is particularly the case in moments where Robin and Starfire navigate their feelings for one another. However, it’s when the team is together that the movie shines the brightest.

If you like when Suicide Squad stories feature gory mayhem, it doesn’t get much better than this. In “Hell to Pay”, a terminally sick Amanda Waller sends the team out into the world to find an artifact that will save her soul from being sent to hell. But she’s far from the only one after the card. Since villains like Professor Zoom and Vandal Savage are also vying for the prize, the main team has to constantly fight their way out of bloody confrontations. The movie’s dark sense of humor strangely pairs well with the absurd levels of violence as characters drop left and right. It all makes for a great Suicide Squad story where you question who’s truly good and evil.

This DC animated film may be one of the most faithful comic adaptations the company’s ever released. “Year One'' follows Bruce’s return to Gotham after over a decade of training. Instead of the confident hero we’re used to, this early career vigilante struggles to deal with common criminals. As we learn more about Batman’s early days, we also follow Gordon’s beginning as a GCPD officer dealing with rampant corruption. The two men eventually team up to take on the corrupt city. Their dynamic is handled incredibly well. Additionally, Ben McKenzie’s Batman and Bryan Cranston’s Gordon are definite high points. At just over an hour, it’s a bit short. But that just left us wanting more.

It seems like we were all begging Pixar for an “Incredibles” sequel for years. And after nearly a decade and a half, we finally got one. Set directly after the first, it dealt with the family coming to terms with Jack-Jack’s new powers as well as Supers being allowed to work again. The truly stunning animation led to plenty of jaw dropping set pieces that blew us away. However, just like the first, “Incredibles 2” was at its best when dealing with the family’s relationships. It also gave Elastigirl plenty of time to shine. Although the villain didn’t live up to expectations, the Parr family’s second outing is still worthy of any super fan’s time.

The goofy “Teen Titans Go!” series has been dividing fans since its inception. But even the show’s biggest detractors can’t deny how remarkably good this incarnation’s first feature film is. In a quest to be taken more seriously as a hero, Robin tries to get his team to star in their own story. This setup allows the entire runtime to be filled with meta jokes about superhero cinema. And we can’t deny that there are a few surprisingly catchy musical numbers. Not only does the original voice cast nail their goofy characters, but Will Arnett slays as Slade Wilson. This excellent animated comedy just might get naysayers to take “Teen Titans Go!” more seriously.

Batman is smart enough to have contingency plans for each member of the Justice League should they ever turn evil. Unfortunately, that decision comes back to haunt him in this adaptation of the “Tower of Babel” storyline. Led by Vandal Savage, a newly formed Legion of Doom uses Batman’s own plans to target him and his closest allies. It’s riveting to see each hero get pushed to their breaking points with schemes that target their weaknesses. While Bruce gets a little more screen time than the others, all the major players get moments to shine. And together, the team is able to avoid certain doom.

Although Superman’s death at the hands of the deadly Doomsday had been told in live-action and animation beforehand, no adaptation did as much justice to the story as this one. After the infamous villain arrives on earth, we’re treated to great action scenes. The Justice League’s battle against the monster and Superman’s final stand against it are both great. But there’s more here than just fantastic action. Throughout the story, we get to learn about Clark’s human life and his struggle over whether or not to reveal himself to Lois. The movie handles his internal conflict extremely well. Thanks to the emotional stakes, the tragic and beautifully animated conclusion left us stunned.

“Apokolips War” got everyone talking when it was released due to the utterly brutal carnage on display. During the movie, heroes of all ages are killed after a failed attack on Darkseid. The majority of the survivors are either captured, brainwashed or doomed to live a cursed life . And the movie only gets bleaker from there. Darkseid’s attack on earth leaves the planet hanging by a thread. Friends and foes are forced to team up to fight a seemingly impossible uphill battle because the threat of defeat had never felt so real. As they try to overcome their plight, every character's journey was compelling and each death was upsetting. This story is so well done that even when they achieve victory, it feels bittersweet.

The “Batman Beyond” series followed a grizzled Bruce Wayne mentoring a new Batman named Terry as the younger hero dealt with new threats. But this movie saw a ghost from Bruce’s past return. Despite his apparent death long ago, the Joker begins wreaking havoc on Gotham once again. And since Terry didn’t know much about the clown, he goes on a journey to learn why this villain’s no laughing matter. Return of the Joker” is delectably dark, bordering on disturbing. A scene of a young Robin’s brutal torment and brainwashing at the hands of Joker and Harley Quinn was particularly upsetting. This futuristic Batman movie ultimately ends up being a great showcase for Mark Hamill’s clown prince of crime too.

Inspired by the comic of the same name, the movie follows a young boy named Hiro who has huge ideas and a talent for technology. After losing his older brother, he risks his promising future to go after the villain responsible. And Hiro’s not alone. Along for the ride are some high tech-equipped allies and a lovable healthcare bot named Baymax. Each one of them brings memorable personalities to the table. From the streets of San Fransokyo to the inventive specialties of each teammate, the film radiates energy. Additionally, it’s got all the elements of Disney’s expertise in pulling at our heartstrings. It’s one of the most heartwarming superhero stories out there.

“The LEGO Batman Movie” is one of those standout DC films that keeps most of the movie light while having tons of heart. After making a fantastic debut as Batman in the 2014 original, Will Arnett starred in his own film. This meant we got more clever visual stop motion gags throughout. At the same time, we got a pleasantly silly take on Batman’s entire mythos and his famous gallery of rogues. But it’s more than just humorous. There are genuinely emotional moments where Batman has to come to terms with his loneliness and grief. But before dwelling too long on darkness, the animators incorporate brilliant LEGO movement. With just enough warmth and loads of adventure, the movie’s built to please just about everyone.

After traveling back in time to stop the death of his mother, Barry Allen awakes in a world where that change brought disastrous consequences. Aquaman and Wonder Woman are locked in a brutal world war. On one fateful night, Bruce Wayne died instead of his parents, prompting Thomas Wayne to become Batman instead. This nightmare reality that Barry accidentally concocted is undeniably an engrossing one. There’s a real sense of dread and urgency as it all descends further into chaos. Additionally, Barry’s arch-nemesis Eobard Thawne adds more tension to the story. With all around strong performances from the voice cast and stellar fights, this film races to the forefront of must see Flash tales.

Adapting Frank Miller’s rich, dystopian take on Gotham City was going to be no easy feat. Thankfully, DC took the time to do it justice across two parts. With crime at an all-time high courtesy of a gang called the Mutants, a once retired and aged Batman returns to the streets. Unfortunately, he isn’t as spry as he used to be. The reappearance of Batman also brings the Joker out of retirement. With the hero far past his prime, each physical encounter feels more tense and dangerous. There’s also brilliant commentary about everything from vigilantes to the cold war. Peter Weller is phenomenal as the seasoned hero while Michael Emerson’s performance as the revitalized Joker is absolutely chilling. Don’t miss this return of a legend.

With such a strong first outing, Marvel fans couldn’t wait to get another taste of the Spider-Verse. And the 2023 sequel did not disappoint. Set a year and a half later, it picks back up on Miles struggling to balance home and superhero life. Unfortunately, he accidentally creates a destructive new villain, Spot. Doing so puts him at odds with heroes like Spider-Man 2099. While Miles is definitely the main focus, audiences are also treated to incredible plots about major heroes like Gwen Stacy. Plus, in every universe, in every moment, we get to witness stunning and groundbreaking animation. The story admittedly feels like Part One of an incomplete story. However, it still has plenty of strengths to stand on its own.

Comic readers may have voted to kill off Jason Todd’s Robin, but there’s no denying how strong a character he is as Red Hood. This 2010 film adapted his return and managed to surpass the source material with a more focused plot, incredible performances, and thrilling action scenes. It follows Batman contending with the mysterious new villain who seems to know him too well. As the plot unfolds, Red Hood leads the detective down a trail towards the truth of his revival. “Under the Red Hood” expertly explores Bruce’s guilt over Jason’s death at the hands of the Joker. And the former Robin’s bitter anger is palpable in Jensen Ackles’ delivery.

It should come as no shock that one of Pixar’s finest is also one of the best animated superhero movies of all time. Fifteen years after supers were outlawed, the retired Mr. Incredible yearns for the old days. But he bites off more than he can chew with his new hero job. It’s a joy to see how the unique powers of each family member reflect their personalities. And just like the best Pixar films, this superhero story takes you through emotional highs and lows. “The Incredibles” arrived on the scene with a glorious style and a familial bond that could make anyone cheer. It’s impressive that this spectacular movie became an Oscar winning classic even without any capes.

Over the years, some critics have declared the “Mask of the Phantasm” to be the greatest Batman movie ever. And honestly? We find that hard to argue against. Made during the run of the acclaimed animated series, the film expands on what was already wonderful. The plot, focusing on a new villain hunting mob bosses in Gotham, is both suspenseful and dreary. Additionally, the story takes a deep dive into what it meant for Bruce to be Batman and give up on everything else. It also showcased the prowess of the filmmakers as well as their immense love of the character and the mythos of the world they were building. When combined with excellent voice work and a gripping climax, this Batman movie stands tall.

In every single aspect, from every single angle, “Into the Spider-Verse” is a wonder to behold. Miles Morales’ journey as an accidental Spider-Man thrust into an impossible situation is as captivating as it is filled with joy. Every character instantly grabs you with their unique charm and quirks. The blend of hand-drawn and CGI animation makes the visuals pop, as if they transcend the screen. Never before had the title “comic book movie” been taken so literally and displayed with such love and care. “Spider-Verse” was a breath of fresh air and originality that we’re supremely grateful wasn’t a one-off. Not only did Miles return, but the Oscar winning film and character inspired other studios to take their own creative leaps of faith.