There�s no denying that superhero movies are the thing in Hollywood these days.
Thanks to their portrayal of fan-favorite characters with decades of mythology and the
ability to blend multiple genres, they have been going strong for years.
We could even argue that superhero films have joined the ranks of the Western and the action
flick as one of the most iconic types in the industry�s history.
Here are Screen Rant�s 10 Greatest Superhero Movies Ever Made.
Superman: The Movie
Long before the movement in the early 2000s pushed superhero films to the forefront of
pop culture, director Richard Donner set out to prove a man could fly in 1978.
Most of the film�s success is due to the pitch-perfect casting of Christopher Reeve
as The Man of Steel.
Reeve was able to convey the All-American charm of Clark Kent and the strong values
of Superman to make a memorable protagonist.
Like other blockbusters of that era, Superman also set out to wow audiences with a sense
of wonder and amazement, with a joyous tone that made the movie wildly entertaining and
exciting to watch.
Blade
Bryan Singer�s X-Men gets a lot of credit for launching the new wave of superhero movies,
but Blade got there first.
Blade showed how comic book films could be a viable enterprise in a modern Hollywood.
Wesley Snipes� performance as the half vampire hero sold audiences.
Blade also received praise for its stylized action sequences.
Director Stephen Norrington really delivered, crafting scenes that are thrilling to watch.
Blade also illustrated how superhero movies could combine various genres.
The film's horror and thriller elements gave it a unique flair that showed how filmmakers
could get creative with superhero flicks.
The Incredibles
Brad Bird�s Oscar-winning original superhero tale really struck a chord with audiences
young and old.
Its a heartfelt story of a family looking to overcome their differences while coming
together to save the world.
The themes and subplots of dealing with a midlife crisis and finding your place in society
were considered to be bold and mature for an animated �kids� film and made the Incredibles
something all audiences could appreciate.
It also didn�t hurt that all of the characters � from Mr. Incredible to Edna Mode � felt
like real people and provided several touching and hilarious moments we�ll remember forever.
Bring on the sequel!
Spider-Man 2
It wasn�t too long ago that Peter Parker was at the top of the superhero movie food
chain, and 2004�s Spider-Man 2 is why.
Director Sam Raimi expanded on the 2002 original and treated moviegoers to an emotional character-driven
story.
Peter's struggle with tough choices we all have to make in life showed why Spider-Man
is one of the most relatable superheroes.
The film had standout action sequences, but it's the villain that made Spider-Man 2 an
all-time classic.
Alfred Molina injected a sense of ambition in Docter Octopus.
He gave Octavius a human side, making him one of the more complex characters in the
trilogy.
His sacrifice was a perfect representation of the series� overarching themes.
The Dark Knight
Christopher Nolan�s Batman trilogy is one of the watershed film series of the 21st century,
and this middle chapter is why.
The film built on the �escalation� teased in Batman Begins and treated audiences to
an engrossing movie that explored the darker side of justice and heroism.
The tone and techniques Nolan employed became so revolutionary that Dark Knight spawned
countless imitators � including other iconic franchises.
We�d be crazy not to mention Heath Ledger�s Joker, which raised the bar for movie bad
guys to a whole other level thanks to Ledger's unhinged and terrifying performance.
Iron Man
Iron Man is a film that could have gone horribly wrong for many reasons, but Jon Favreau and
Robert Downey, Jr. churned out an elite superhero film.
As one of the few Marvel projects �free� from the shared universe building of other
films, Iron Man was able to focus solely on developing the character of Tony Stark.
The film also set up the basic template that future Marvel releases followed.
It embraced a tight balance between comedy and drama that made it a captivating and entertaining
watch.
If only every Marvel movie could have such a rich and interesting arc as this one.
The Avengers
Joss Whedon�s massive crossover made fans� dreams come true and s studio�s gamble pay
off.
It broke box office records and earned critical acclaim doing it.
The novelty of seeing so many characters fighting alongside each other for the first time instantly
made Avengers an event, and Whedon�s writing made everything matter.
Between sharp, witty dialogue and the chemistry between actors, the Avengers was able to deliver
style and substance in spades.
And don�t forget about Tom Hiddleston who cemented his status as the Marvel Cinematic
Universe�s best evildoer as the plotting and scheming villain Loki.
The Avengers had a huge impact on Hollywood in numerous ways and changed the superhero
game forever.
Guardians of the Galaxy
Once upon a time, this film was a huge risk, but now it�s hard to envision the Marvel
Cinematic Universe without the Guardians.
James Gunn used his creativity and enthusiasm to create an awe-inspiring space opera complete
with great characters we can�t wait to see again.
The cosmic setting of the film was certainly different than what we�re accustomed to
seeing in the genre, but somehow it worked.
Guardians was still grounded by a big sense of heart that made it instantly relatable
to casual audiences and die-hards alike.
We�re all hooked on a feeling.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Joe and Anthony Russo are going to have a big role to play in Marvel�s Phase 3, and
their work on Captain America 2 is why.
The Winter Soldier sports some of the most sophisticated and thrilling Marvel action
sequences to date, and the film's villain made a big impression with viewers.
He was impossible to stop every time he was on-screen, and his dynamic with Steve Rogers
was fascinating to watch.
But it wasn�t just the action that made this stand out from the crowd.
The Russos added layers of governmental intrigue and espionage to the film, giving it real-world
sensibilities and smart social commentary.
X-Men: Days of Future Past
X-Men: First Class brought the franchise back to respectability, and Days of Future Past
became the most successful film in the series yet.
Fans couldn�t wait to see Bryan Singer return to the director's chair and do the iconic
storyline justice.
The film was ambitious.
It didn�t just operate as a solid time-travel sci-fi story.
The action sequences really set a new standard, and the acclaimed cast brought their characters
to life.
Plus, the film provided a soft-reboot and wiped out the lesser X-Men films.
Win-win all around.
Those are our picks for the best superhero movies ever made.
Are there any we missed?
Which ones are your favorites?
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