With James Gunn’s “Superman” arriving in theaters this Friday and yet another DC Universe reboot on the way, now’s a perfect time to reflect on the best superhero movies of the 21st century. Drop your top 5 or 10 picks in the comments below — I’ll tally the votes and post the results next week.
The superhero movie, as we know it today, didn’t begin with Batman or Superman. Those were premonitions. The real beginning—when the genre began to metastasize into the cultural monolith it is now—was in 2000 with Bryan Singer’s “X-Men.” That was the spark. Then came the explosion: Jon Favreau’s “Iron Man” in 2008. That film, whether you love or loathe what it eventually ushered in, was ground zero for a seismic shift in modern filmmaking. From that point forward, Hollywood stopped making movies and went on overdrive manufacturing IP.
I’ve voiced my disdain, plenty of times, about the creative bankruptcy currently plaguing studio cinema. And yes, a significant part of that decay stems from this very genre, which has slowly but surely been showing signs of farigue. The MCU, the DCEU, multiverses, endless reboots, and box office gluttony that leaves little room for mid-budget adult dramas or formal experimentation. You want those? Go to streaming, say the studios.
However, despite it all, and like any genre, superhero movies still carry the potential, however minimal, for greatness. There’s something strangely poetic about how this genre has absorbed every cinematic tradition from the past hundred years: Science Fiction, Horror, Noir, Drama, and in the case of Marvel, a heavy-handed dose of sitcom comedy. In some backwards, franchise-driven way, these films are fulfilling what the Lumière brothers and Georges Méliès once dreamt of—spectacle-driven narrative cinema amplified by cutting-edge technology.
Of the hundreds of superhero movies released since the MCU started back in 2008, not a major bunch have genuinely stood out, artistically speaking. Yes, there have been diamonds in the rough—films that managed to rise above the brand-first, filmmaker-second model that has come to define the era.
I’ve handpicked ten superhero movies that, in my view, actually, somewhat, justify the genre’s dominance in the 21st century. These are works that didn’t entirely sacrifice narrative for spectacle. They maintained a distinct, often auteur-driven voice amidst the CGI noise. Some are Marvel, some aren’t. But all of them are, in one way or another, outliers—films that remind you what this genre can be.
#1: “The Dark Knight” (2008)
If you’ve somehow managed to avoid “The Dark Knight,” you might not be living on this planet. Christopher Nolan’s towering achievement in blockbuster filmmaking was more than just another superhero flick — it was the moment comic-book cinema grew up. Anchored by Christian Bale’s stoic Batman and, most memorably, Heath Ledger’s now-legendary turn as the Joker, the film became a cultural event upon release, tapping into post-9/11 anxieties with its murky moral code and unsettling portrayal of chaos. Many have since read the film as a metaphor for the U.S.’s war on terror — a story of a society trying to out-evil evil, only to end up staring into the abyss.
#3: “Spider-Man 2” (2004)
After the solid but uneven first entry, “Spider-Man 2” saw Sam Raimi fully lean into his strengths — a dynamic blend of high-stakes action, emotional weight, and character-driven storytelling. The result? One of the greatest superhero films ever made. With a surprisingly tender core, and jaw-dropping set pieces, including that now-iconic train sequence, Raimi crafted a blockbuster that wasn’t afraid to slow down and let its characters breathe. He understood that the stakes only matter if the people do, and in “Spider-Man 2,” every moment feels earned. A rare sequel that improves on the original in every way — this remains the gold standard for how to make a true comic book movie.
#3: “Logan” (2017)
“Logan” was a much-needed jolt to the comic-book genre — a brutal, elegiac farewell to a character Hugh Jackman had spent nearly two decades inhabiting. This wasn’t just another superhero movie; James Mangold’s film played more like a dust-coated neo-western than a traditional Marvel product. It’s a somber, R-rated meditation on aging, trauma, and the weight of past sins — a rarity in a genre often allergic to genuine emotional stakes. Patrick Stewart is also great in a gutting turn as a frail, deteriorating Charles Xavier. Mangold, liberated from the shackles of Marvel’s interconnected machinery, leans hard into the violence, and it’s unrelenting. The farmhouse set piece alone is a masterclass in visceral action, but it’s the moments of quiet despair that really land.
#4: “The Incredibles” (2004)
In an era where we’re buried under an avalanche of superhero content, “The Incredibles” felt like a revelation — proof that the genre, when handled with vision and heart, could still soar. Brad Bird, who already gave us the wonderful ‘Iron Giant,’ brought his sharp storytelling instincts to Pixar and delivered what remains one of the most exhilarating superhero films ever made. With action set pieces that rival the best of the genre, Bird blends kinetic spectacle with sharp wit. Every frame is meticulously composed, every beat purposeful. Rarely has the genre felt this vibrant, this alive. It’s one of the few superhero films where a sequel wasn’t just inevitable, but genuinely earned, until it was actually seen (not a fan).
#5: “Unbreakable” (2000)
Before superhero movies became all about IP and sprawling universes, M. Night Shyamalan’s “Unbreakable” quietly reinvented the genre. So grounded and restrained, you don’t realize it’s a superhero origin story until the final moments. It doesn’t announce itself as a comic book film — it simply becomes one. Stripped of spectacle and fan service, Shyamalan crafts something mythic yet deeply personal. Bruce Willis’ weary David Dunn and Samuel L. Jackson’s fragile Elijah Price unfold in eerie, slow-burning tension. This film is about the idea of superheroes, why we’re drawn to them, and how their myths live in our everyday lives.
#6: “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” (2023)
A rare sequel that improves on an already innovative original, “Across the Spider-Verse” is the most visually audacious superhero movie ever made. Directors Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson push animation to its outer limits, crafting a pop-art spectacle that feels like a graphic novel brought to life. A mind-melting, hand-crafted collage of animation styles. Every frame is a living painting, combining CGI, 2D line work, dot shading, and painterly textures to create a new movie language. This isn't just style for the sake of style — it's immersive, expressionistic, and emotionally resonant. Whether it’s a neon-drenched chase through futuristic Mumbai or the layered noir of Nueva York, each universe feels fully realized and stunningly distinct.
#7: “Iron Man” (2008)
Jon Favreau’s Iron Man wasn’t just the film that launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it was a shot of adrenaline. Arriving in 2008, just months before a seismic shift in American politics and economics, the film doubled as both blockbuster escapism and sharp cultural commentary. It was slick, funny, and self-aware in ways superhero films hadn’t quite been before, setting a tone, better or worse, for the next decade. Robert Downey Jr.’s performance became iconic, but most importantly, Iron Man felt like it belonged to the present, perfectly timed for the post-Bush era and presenting a new kind of hero — one armed with tech, arrogance, and just enough conscience to believe in redemption. It remains a time capsule of late-2000s optimism, and the foundation for a cinematic empire.
#8: “Avengers: Endgame” (2019)
Love it or hate it, “Avengers: Endgame” was a sprawling, overstuffed, and surprisingly introspective victory lap that manages to close out the MCU’s 22-film saga with a rare mix of gravitas, spectacle, and fan service. The Russos go full-tilt here, stuffing the 182-minute runtime with time-travel, character reckonings, and a reverent dive into Marvel’s past glories. The film kicks off the central “Time Heist” plot, and from there the film unfolds like a greatest-hits remix laced with unexpected emotional depth. The ensemble cast finally gets room to breathe, and despite the inevitable Marvel excess—those bloated farewells and overcooked finales—the sheer ambition and self-awareness of the whole thing makes “Endgame” feel more like a Nolan-esque sci-fi epic than a corporate
#9: “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014)
Forget “The Avengers,” which remains popcorn spectacle with little staying power, ‘The Winter Soldier’ is where the Marvel Cinematic Universe hits its peak. Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, this was a tightly wound political thriller disguised as a superhero movie. If “The Dark Knight” redefined what comic-book cinema could be, then ‘The Winter Soldier’ took notes and pushed the Marvel brand into far more mature, grounded territory. Drawing inspiration from '70s paranoia thrillers like “Three Days of the Condor” and “The Parallax View,” the film had hard-hitting action with an undercurrent of real-world anxiety. The fight choreography was sharp, the pacing relentless, and unlike most MCU entries, there’s an emotional core here.
#10: “X2: X-Men United” (2003)
You had to be there in 2003 to really understand just how seismic “X2: X-Men United” felt. From its jaw-dropping White House attack — still one of the best opening sequences in any superhero movie — to its somber, haunting finale, this was the film that legitimized the ‘X-Men’ franchise. Where the 2000 original felt like setup, ‘X2’ was the full realization — bolder, darker, and far more confident in its thematic ambitions. Director Bryan Singer dials up the scale without ever losing sight of the characters. Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine gets deeper shading, while the ensemble — led by Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, and a scene-stealing Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler. It’s the kind of superhero film that dared to be about something, and in doing so, set the tone for everything that followed.