The Top 10 Best Superhero Movies Ever
August 22nd, 2008
With a summer that gave us three notably excellent superhero movies (IRON MAN, HELLBOY 2, and THE DARK KNIGHT) it seems as good of a time as any to reevaluate what I believe are the greatest superhero flicks of all time. Please note this is a superhero movie list, not a comic book movie list (hence no GHOST WORLD, AMERICAN SPLENDOR, HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, etc.)
As always, please feel free to post your love, your hate, your indifference or – even better – your own Top 10 list below.
10. UNBREAKABLE
The second film on this list with an original, un-established superhero, M. Night Shyamalan’s films is a quiet, meditative, heavily existential take on the traditional origin story of a superhero discovering who he really is, and where he and his powers place him in the world. The film also proves that with loving, insightful, and weighty consideration an origin story does not have to be necessarily something to get out of the way to get to the good stuff (or sequel).
9. THE INCREDIBLE HULK
I think the Hulk is a dumb character. He’s a one-note, uninteresting character who has little appeal beyond being able to smash and destroy with unbridled force. That makes me more surprised than anyone that I not only enjoyed THE INCREDIBLE HULK, but that I feel it merits a place on this list. The thing is, the film made me realize that if it’s done well without any pretension (looking at you Mr. Ang Lee), a movie about a big green ogre engaging in unchecked destruction – via competently choreographed action sequences – can be a very enjoyable, fun movie experience. Watching the Hulk tear through a very recognizable downtown Toronto Yonge Street? That’s just the green icing on the cake.
8. HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY
Though the first HELLBOY to me felt like a film that never met its own potential, HELLBOY II made up for it and then some. Certainly the most visually stunning superhero film to date (thanks to Guillermo Del Toro’s bottomless well of imagination) it also gave us a slightly more morally ambiguous villain than most – one whose intent we could understand, if not his method. Above all else though it was the film’s attempts to highlight the costs of being unique (and perceived as such) despite being unmistakably human – even if you don’t look it. Also HELLBOY II is the only superhero film to dare to use a cheesy song (Barry Manilow) and make it work. SPIDER-MAN 2’s use of Burt Bacharach comes a close second.
7. SPIDER-MAN
For years fans waited for their friendly neighborhood Spider-Man to grace us with his presence on the big-screen, but never without some hesitation as to whether it would work or not. Thanks to Sam Raimi and his crew, Spider-Man fans everywhere breathed a sigh relief as the film unspooled. Even if the Green Goblin was a bit hokey, I know many a person (including myself) who giggled like a little school girl while watching Spider-Man and Peter Parker come to life before their eyes. Seeing him swing across New York City for the first time in his costume rivaled that childish sense of wonder and awe that you only rarely get in a film experience where you are discovering a new world full of possibilities.
6. THE INCREDIBLES
I generally tend to regard THE INCREDIBLES as the best adaptation of the Fantastic Four on screen. Like THE DARK KNIGHT though, what distinguishes Brad Bird’s opus is the fact that it’s not a movie, it’s a film (as one poster pointed out here). Aside from the exciting action at the end of the film, I never entirely understood why children latched on to this film so much, given that’s its essentially an adult drama about a middle-aged man going through a midlife crisis that threatens the very stability of his family and marriage. That’s what makes the film so good though. It’s ultimately a family drama that explores what one’s existential place in life is which just happens to have a super family and a delightful supervillain in it.
5. X2: X-MEN UNITED
If for no other reason, this film earns its spot for the fact that they finally declawed Wolverine and let him go berserk. It certainly doesn’t hurt though that the cast finally came into its own and had a story to back them up, creating stakes worth caring about. The not so subtle anti-racism undertones from the comic are wonderfully smoothed out here with a plot that uses it effectively, but never over-handed. Everyone got their moment to shine, whether in an action sequence or a dramatic one, creating an almost perfectly balanced superhero narrative that makes the film so easy to rewatch.
4. BATMAN BEGINS
BATMAN BEGINS seems now almost quaint compared to its intense sequel, but it still holds up remarkably well on second viewing despite perhaps some minor quibbles. At the time though what made it so great, and allows it to remain great, is that it never cuts any corners with Batman’s origins – giving us all the reasons and training that go into how Bruce Wayne becomes Batman. It acknowledges the seriousness of Batman, and the real-world setting draws attention to reminding us that unlike other superheroes, he has to work hard for what he does. Watching him find his way, and often falling along his path, is why BATMAN BEGINS is so good. It gives us a Batman who is human and fallible, and therefore that much more interesting.
3. SPIDER-MAN 2
With the origin out of the way, SPIDER-MAN 2 had enough room to easily become the best thing to happen to Spider-Man since Gwen Stacy (in the comics, not in the horrible third installment of the series). The film was able to give us a humane, sophisticated villain in Dr. Octopus, as well as a humanistic story that delved into the weighty responsibilities and sacrifices of being a superhero. That, coupled with no end of fantastic web-slinging action moments, certainly makes SPIDER-MAN 2 one of the most fun, rich, and exciting superhero films to date.
2. IRON MAN
For all of THE DARK KNIGHT’s cerebral and brooding ambitions, IRON MAN is the perfect example of why superheroes have become so popular: the joy we derive from their adventures. The second most important thing IRON MAN does right (after Robert Downey Jr.) is to understand that the fun of superheroes is what makes them so appealing. THE DARK KNIGHT may be the quintessential example of how to make a darker, more adult superhero film, but IRON MAN is now the watershed mark for how to make a simpler, lighter, but no less fun superhero movie.
1. THE DARK KNIGHT
Many of the films on this list are undoubtedly great superhero films and many are even simply great films. THE DARK KNIGHT is something else all together. It’s a superhero film that transcends the film genre, tacking on lofty artistic ambitions in exploring some of the fundamental elements of our everyday society. It does all that giving us a solid representation of Batman, an intense and epic story with action scenes to match, as well as one of the best villains ever to grace the big screen.
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Linda B. Says:
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:28 am
I mostly agree w/ your list with a few exceptions.
I think Unbreakable (even though it’s not a typical superhero movie) should be higher up on the list. You being the M. Night fan you are I’m surprised it isn’t. Really enjoyed this film. Did not at all see the surprise at the end.
I liked the original Hellboy better than the sequel. Don’t know why, i guess i just expected more from the sequel and was really impressed by the originality of the first one.
Glad to see none of the Fantastic Four movies made it. Other than the shaving cream scene in the first one, I was bored w/ both.
Still mixed on whether I liked The Incredible Hulk. It was definitely better than the Ang Lee version, just don’t know if I’d put it in my top ten.
Would like to know what other films you considered while making this list and which ones never came close to being on it. Maybe I’m in the minority, but I really enjoyed Daredevil. NOT ELEKTRA though. I think i fell asleep. zzzzzzzzzzzzz
Also, the very first Batman. At the time it was really cool. I saw it at midnight opening day. The audience went wild. I think for this experience alone, it would’ve made my top ten.