Love ’em or hate ’em, superhero movies have become some of the biggest movies in the world.
Some have missed the mark, but others have started to ascend genre and be hailed as some of the best movies of all time. Everyone remembers seeing Captain America saying the famous line in Endgame. We have also seen many stories of struggle and perseverance, sometimes in a world where the heroes aren’t wanted.
Deep down, we also face some of the struggles heroes face on screen in our daily lives. Here are eight of the best superhero genre has to offer.
Captain American: The Winter Soldier
The fans didn’t expect the shift to a more mature tone and the movie to be a political thriller. Captain America: The Winter Soldier depicts Steve Rogers’ as he struggles to adapt to a life different from the one he left behind.
His trust and morality are tested as he discovers hidden agendas within S.H.I.E.L.D. The reveal of Bucky as the Winter Soldier added a deep emotional layer to the film. The deep story and some of the best action sequences in the MCU make the movie one of the best in the genre.
The Incredibles
At its core, The Incredibles is about family relationships as much as it is about superheroes. Each family member’s powers are strong metaphors for the role within the family. The movie critiques the superhero genre by exploring the consequences of a world that rejects heroes.
The idea of superheroes being forced into hiding and living normal lives due to public backlash is thought-provoking. You watch the parents struggle for purpose and watch them battle a midlife crisis. The film celebrates the importance of working together as a family and valuing each individual’s unique contributions. Combine all this with stunning visuals, and you have a top-tier superhero movie for all audiences.
Spider-Man 2
Alfred Molina’s portrayal of Dr. Otto Octavius is the standout performance that elevated the film. While Peter is battling his responsibilities as Spider-Man and how to be an ordinary young man, an accident turns his mentor into the film’s main antagonist.
Octavius’ motivations, grief over his wife’s death, and eventual redemption towards the movie’s end make him a compelling character. You see the toll that being Spider-Man takes on Peter, and that humanizes his character. Danny Elfman gives a masterful emotional soundtrack that pairs well with Raimi’s film, both nailing the essence of Spider-Man.
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The Mask
The Mask shows that changing from the source material isn’t always a bad thing. Leaning towards comedy and casting a young Jim Carrey elevated the movie to something special.
Its CGI was revolutionary, considering its release in the early ’90s. It blended live-action with effects mimicking Tex Avery cartoons’ exaggerated, slapstick style. The movie solidified Jim Carrey’s status as a comedy legend and introduced Cameron Diaz to the world in her film debut. The Mask celebrated up-and-comers, comedy, and the imagination.
Logan
Logan feels more like a drama with a pinch of Western than a superhero movie. The father-son dynamic between Charles and Logan adds layers of love and tragedy to the story. Dafne Keen’s portrayal as a young X-23 was an emotional anchor of the movie.
She mirrored Logan, even down to her feral nature. This tragic epic was a 17-year send-off to the Wolverine we knew and loved. Hugh Jackman and Dafne Keen gave masterful performances that almost made you forget it was a superhero movie while you cried your eyes out.
Batman Returns
Tim Burton’s goth aesthetic created the best and most visually appealing Gotham on the big screen. The film is unapologetically dark with pinches of romance, noir, and psychological horror.
Danny DeVito played a grotesque but sympathetic version of the Penguin. Watching Michelle Pfeiffer’s Selina Kyle become Catwoman was such a great transformation. Pfeiifer’s Catwoman is easily one of the most iconic performances in superhero cinema. It shows the duality of the struggle between Keaton’s Batman and Bruce Wayne. That struggle is also shown within the Penguin and Catwoman as well. The gothic style, rich characters, and the comic book feel make this one a winner.
Unbreakable
M. Night Shyamalan made a superhero movie so subtle and grounded that the audience didn’t even realize it would be about someone with powers.
David Dunn (Bruce Willis) grapples with his purpose after discovering his near-invulnerability in a tragic accident. His relationship with his son, who believes in his heroism before he does, adds emotional weight to the film, which is unusual in the genre. The Shyamalan twist is one of his best.
With this film, M. Night laid the groundwork for more grounded superhero films.
X2: X-Men United
The original X-Men trilogy had a lot of flaws, but X2 was about as close as you could get to a perfect X-Men film.
X2 had one of the best casts in the genre. The opening scene, featuring Nightcrawler’s attack on the White House, is still one of superhero cinema’s most iconic and visually stunning scenes. It explored the relationship of the team with an action-packed but emotional film. The choreography and action scenes are top-notch.
The influence X2 had on the future of superhero movies can be seen in films like The Avengers.
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