Superhero and comic book movies are all the rage 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 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. But not all the best superhero action movies are based on comic books, and not all comic book movies need to have superheroes -- The Incredibles and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World prove so.
Updated September 18, 2023 by Katie Doll: This list has been updated to meet CBR's current formatting standards and to add even more of the best superhero and comic book movies.
15 Avengers: Endgame
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has, theoretically, led up to the moment where every superhero comes together to defeat an enemy like no other. Many thought this time would come in Avengers: Infinity War -- and while it partially did -- it wasn't until Avengers: Endgame when lives and the fate of the universe truly felt at stake. It's one thing failing the first time around, but failing another time would've been the last straw.
Five years after the catastrophic events of Infinity War, which saw half of the universe's population disappear, the remaining Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy are given one last chance to bring back the victims of Thanos' Snap by employing the use of time travel. Even if the logic of the MCU's time traveling is a little iffy, and a certain character's choice raises eyebrows (did Steve Rogers completely ruin Peggy Carter's life for his own happiness?), Endgame is the pinnacle of the MCU, and it'll take some time before another Marvel movie lives up to its grandiosity.
14 Thor: Ragnarok
After a semi-successful introduction of Thor in the self-titled 2011 film and the extremely dull sequel Thor: The Dark World, the God of Thunder took some time and reflection to make up for past mistakes. Many believed the solo Thor films were far from redemption, even if he thrived in the Avenger team-ups. The real hero to swoop in and save the day was Taika Waititi.
Waititi completely disregarded the status quo of the previous Thor movies, and instead opted for a more comedic route for the third film Thor: Ragnarok. It ended up working in Thor's favor, creating a colorful and wild film that embraced the weirdness of comic books as Thor and his allies banded together to prevent the end of Asgard.
13 Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Sequels are a hit or miss in the comic book adaptation world. Across the Spider-Verse manages to live up to its predecessor's name by bringing back what made Into the Spider-Verse so beloved, while also continue Miles Morales story with a refreshing look. Across the Spider-Verse defies all expectations by never limiting itself as an artist's dream come to life.
Using its animation as part of its storytelling, Across the Spider-Verse picks up after the events of the first film as Miles and Gwen Stacy reunite to protect the multiverse with a team of Spider-People. The heroes are at odds about how to handle the new threat, leaving Miles to question what it means to be a hero.
12 Snowpiercer
While not technically a superhero flick, the 2013 post-apocalyptic drama Snowpiercer does have comic book origins. The movie is based on the French graphic novel Le Transperceneige, which was later retitled The Escape. The story has been adapted into a television series as well, but it likely wouldn't have existed without the success of Bong Joon-ho's film.
Taking place on a class-divided train that circles a Snowball Earth, Snowpiercer follows the survivors of the lower-class end of the train as they carry out a rebellion to the elitist front of the train. Snowpiercer masterfully creates an expansive world on just one train alone, touches on important issues like climate change and the performances of Chris Evans and Tilda Swinton aren't to miss.
11 Black Panther
There hasn't been a superhero or comic book movie as culturally significant to Black Panther, other than perhaps its sequel Wakanda Forever. Black Panther not only was the first superhero film nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, but it was also the first movie in the MCU to be led by a predominantly Black cast.
Black Panther takes place in the fictional country of Wakanda, whose civilians are suspicious of outsiders and keep their status as a thriving country hidden to avoid risk of invasions. The decision to hide from the rest of the world puts the new king of Wakanda, T'Challa, at odds with his cousin Killmonger, who strives to lead a global revolution.
10 Superman
When people think of a generic superhero, Superman likely comes to mind. And it's not just because of his iconic appearance and tenure in comics -- the 1978 film solidified Clark Kent as a household name long before the DCU and MCU. At the time of its release, a budget of $55 million made Superman the most expensive movie ever made and was innovative in its use of special effects.
A classic Superman tale, the film acts as an origin story of Christopher Reeves' hero during his infancy on Krypton and his childhood years on Earth in Smallville as Clark Kent. His adult years depict his romance with Lois Lane as he works as a reporter in Metropolis while also dealing with the villain Lex Luthor.
9 The Incredibles
In a superhero entertainment industry crowded by Marvel and DC, The Incredibles is a rare treat. The computer-animated film was released in 2004 by Pixar and Disney at the height of the Spider-Man and X-Men phenomenon. Although at first glance it appears as a kid's movie, The Incredibles appeals to all age groups as a family-friendly outing.
The Incredibles follows two superhero parents who attempt to hide their powers and live a quiet life with their children in a futuristic version of the 1960s. But as the father's desire to unleash his inner hero becomes too big to handle, the family is thrown into a conflict with a former fan.
8 Iron Man
The hype around Iron Man doesn't just focus on the eccentric billionaire titular character and his transformation into the heroic metal man -- it's the fact that this film ended up being a masterpiece. Before Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. was a wild horse to bet on. But over 10 years later, Jon Favreau's insistence to hire Downey ended up being one of the best casting choices in film history.
Iron Man took an underappreciated and relatively unknown character from Marvel Comics and ended up creating an entire universe with 20+ movies and television shows to this day. Without the man without a plan, the Marvel Cinematic Universe probably wouldn't be what it is today.
7 Wonder Woman
Although the sequel left much to be desired, the 2017 movie Wonder Woman broke grounds for featuring a female superhero as the lead and giving the DCU a culturally significant film to its name. It may have been many years too late, but Wonder Woman finally convinced moviegoers and filmmakers to take female superheroes seriously.
Princess Diana sets out beyond her comfort zone to stop World War I, as she believes the conflict is being manipulated by her longtime enemy Ares. In the midst of the action, though, is an empowering story of feminism in a male-dominated world and a love story that continues in its sequel.
6 Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is proof that not only comic book movies have to feature superheroes, even if Scott Pilgrim does get his hero moment here and there. The movie was a box-office bomb at the time of its release but has since become a cult classic for its quirky style and humorous aesthetic.
Based on the graphic novel series Scott Pilgrim, the Edgar Wright-directed movie follows the titular character as he battles the seven evil exes of his girlfriend Ramona Flowers as he also tries to score a record deal. Many big-named actors feature in the movie, such as Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Brie Larson and Chris Evans.
5 Spider-Man 2
As the name suggests, Spider-Man 2 is a sequel to the 2002 film Spider-Man and is set two years after those events. The sequel ranks higher than its predecessor on the basis that it deals with Peter Parker's emotional crisis as a superhero and develops Dr. Otto Octavius as one of the best villains of all time.
In Spider-Man 2, Peter struggles to balance his superhero and regular personas. The loss of his powers comes at a tricky time when Dr. Otto Octavius recreates a dangerous experiment that killed his wife, forcing Peter to fight against his mentor.
4 Captain America: The Winter Soldier
There's a reason why Captain America: The Winter Soldier is regarded as the blueprint for MCU movies, for better or worse. It was the first time the franchise had finally managed to create a gritty, political atmosphere that other movies and shows have tried to replicate in years to come. But with The Winter Soldier being the first, it's been hard to beat it.
Like Spider-Man 2, The Winter Soldier follows the rare suit of "the sequel is always better." The movie takes place in the present day as Steve Rogers/Captain America works with Nick Fury and Black Widow to uncover a dark conspiracy in S.H.I.E.L.D. and the mysterious backstory of the assassin Winter Soldier.
3 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
At the time of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse's release, Tom Holland had already taken up the mantle of the web-slinging hero in the MCU. But Sony still had a few tricks up its sleeve. A result of Sony's magic was the animated film Into the Spider-Verse, an eclectic and bouncy ode to the exaggerated and heartfelt aesthetic of comics.
Although Peter Parker is a character in Into the Spider-Verse, the movie centers on Miles Morales, who previously didn't have big roles in movie or television adaptations of the superhero. The animated feature follows Miles and other Spider-People from parallel universes as they swing into action to stop the villain Kingpin.
2 Logan
Logan was a shocker of a film to walk into to. What was previously thought to be the last film to feature Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, Logan was a bittersweet farewell to the actor's long-standing portrayal of the character. Like many good superhero movies do, Logan kept the flashy action sequences and goofs to a minimum, focusing instead on internal conflicts and relationships.
As the final installment of the Wolverine trilogy, Logan takes inspiration from the "Old Man Logan" comics storyline, dealing with the titular character way past his prime. The movie follows Logan as he tends to an ill Charles Xavier and cares for a young mutant named Laura.
1 The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight has been hard to beat as the best comic book movie. With a director like Christopher Nolan, the sequel to Batman Begins had guidance to take Bruce Wayne's story in a grounded direction that made it more of a crime drama than a superhero flick. What sets it as the best of the best though, is Heath Ledger's iconic performance as The Joker.
The Dark Knight follows Bruce Wayne after the events of Batman Begins as he continues his work as the vigilante Batman. He works with police lieutenant James Gordon and district attorney Harvey Dent to put a stop to organized crime in Gotham City until the anarchist Joker begins wreaking havoc on the city.