There's no doubt about it: superhero movies have been all the rage within the last couple of decades, and don't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. By no means was the genre invented in the 21st century, as there were plenty of iconic superhero films to be released during the previous century. However, the genre's seemed to click with modern-day viewers more than generations in the past, with many of the highest-grossing movies of the century so far being superhero movies.

There might not be as many superhero movies out there as movies in other, broader genres (like action movies, comedies, Westerns, etc.), but trying to pick the best of the best is still a daunting task. What follows is a ranking of some of the most exceptional superhero movies, representing the various ways larger-than-life heroes can be depicted on screen, whether in live-action or animation. These are some of the best in an ever-growing genre, and are ranked below from great to greatest.

50 'Darkman' (1990)

Directed by Sam Raimi

Sam Raimi is a director who’s intrinsically tied to the superhero genre, mostly thanks to a certain web-slinger whose movies will be mentioned a little later… but his first foray into the genre is less well-known. That movie is Darkman, with the titular character (AKA Dr. Peyton Westlake) not being based on a previously established comic book character, and instead being from a short story that Raimi himself had already written.

Darkman is a strange kind of superhero movie, being a good deal darker in tone than many others out there, and also being a homage to classic horror movies from decades past, particularly those produced by Universal Pictures. Exploring a story about a wronged man impacted severely by a medical experiment, Darkman is all over the place but in a generally fun way, and has earned its cult status for sure.

49 'Man of Steel' (2013)

Directed by Zack Snyder

The films of Zack Snyder can certainly be divisive, but he’s nevertheless made a mark on the superhero genre and has an undeniably distinctive style (some would say for better, some would say for worse). He’s also noteworthy for kicking off the ultimately short-lived DC Extended Universe with Man of Steel, a movie that confidently took the legendary character of Superman and revitalized him for the modern day.

It's another origin story, so it's one that people are likely familiar with, but Snyder’s style and the expert casting of Henry Cavill helps it stand out and largely work. The action gets over-blown at a point, but Man of Steel effectively makes Superman feel like a modern-day mythological figure, with Cavill being supported by a talented cast that includes – but is not limited to – the likes of Kevin Costner, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, and Laurence Fishburne.

48 'The Mask' (1994)

Directed by Chuck Russell

1994 was a good year for movies in general, but it was also a notably great 12-month period for Jim Carrey. The actor exploded in popularity to a considerable extent, with lead roles in three movies that performed well financially and are still up there with his most well-known: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Dumb and Dumber, and The Mask.

The last of those is perhaps the strangest of the bunch, standing alongside the other two by being a comedy, but also functioning as an offbeat superhero movie with crime/fantasy/action elements added for good measure. It centers on an ordinary man who finds his personality and appearance changing after discovering and wearing the titular mask, with chaos and comical misadventures ensuing. It’s certainly a film of its time, but The Mask was a relatively early indication of how profitable/popular comic book movies could be, predating the genre’s boom in the early 2000s by a few years.

47 'The Rocketeer' (1991)

Directed by Joe Johnston

A charming film that also goes to show how science fiction doesn’t always need to be futuristic, The Rocketeer delivers an old-school adventurous spirit and feels rather quaint today, given how prevalent the superhero genre’s become. It’s set during World War II, and involves a pilot becoming an instrumental figure for America in the war against Nazi Germany.

Notably, he gets a rocket-pack that allows him to fly around at a great speed, and from there, he takes part in a simple yet thoroughly engaging “good vs. evil” story that works well for what it is. Other parts of The Rocketeer may not hold up as well, at least on the technical side of things, given the film’s age. But, on the other hand, many flaws are able to be overlooked, or even go so far as to add to the film’s charms.

46 'Chronicle' (2012)

Directed by Josh Trank

Chronicle takes the found footage format and pushes it in an interesting direction, not being a found footage horror movie but, in actuality, a found footage superhero origin story… in a way. The plot involves three high school students learning that they’re developing strange powers, which at first is thrilling, but then becomes harrowing when one of the three starts enjoying the power he’s been given a little too much.

It's presented in a way that won’t appeal to those sensitive to motion sickness, but might well appeal to those who’ve grown tired of seeing stories about people with superpowers presented in traditionally cinematic ways. Chronicle is grounded, intense, and very well-paced, coming in at under 90 minutes and delivering a simple yet effective story bolstered immensely by its novel presentation.

45 'The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension' (1984)

Directed by W.D. Richter

The textbook definition of a 1980s sci-fi cult classic, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension can also count itself as an offbeat, charming, and quite funny superhero film. The titular character is a man of many talents, and he runs a gang called the Hong Kong Cavaliers, all of whom band together to defend Earth from alien invaders that hail from the (also titular) 8th dimension.

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension is wild and more than a bit silly (if you couldn’t tell from the title alone), but it’s the kind of thing that’s unafraid to do its own thing, taking no prisoners all the while. There’s a sense of style and confidence here that’s truly admirable, and those after a superhero movie that feels like no other superhero movie ought to check this underrated 1980s movie out.

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44 'Zebraman' (2004)

Directed by Takashi Miike