Superhero and comic book movies are all the rage these days. Even if there's an ongoing debate over whether superhero fatigue is hitting moviegoers, the studios won't stop making them. People just can't help but come back for more adventure.
The best superhero movies are the ones that let viewers live out their wildest fantasies about being a hero as a kid. Marvel and DC have created universes of comic book movies, such as Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and The Dark Knight, that unleash childhood dreams in colorful trips or grounded crime dramas. But not all the best superhero action movies are based on comic books, and not all comic book movies need to have superheroes — The Incredibles and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World prove so.
Updated on May 7, 2024 by Katie Doll: This list has been updated to expand on the best superhero and comic book movies.
45 V for Vendetta's Political Imagery Changed Pop Culture
Review: "V For Vendetta" At The New York Comic Con
Our New York Comic Con coverage is almost over, but not before CBR brings you an early review of "V For Vendetta." Does the film live up to the standard of the classic graphic novel? Come in and find out.|
IMDb Rating |
8.2/10 |
|---|---|
|
Rotten Tomatoes Score |
73% |
|
Metacritic Score |
62/100 |
Most people probably recognize the squinting, smiling mask of V for Vendetta, which is now commonly used as an icon fighting against political oppression. The Guy Fawkes mask helped people remember V for Vendetta forever, but the film's story itself made it one of the most best comic book films of all time.
V for Vendetta is set in a fascist regime where V, the wearer of the famous mask, begins a rebellion for freedom. While the original author of the V for Vendetta graphic novel, Alan Moore, declined to watch the film or be credited for its story, he missed out on a revolutionary piece of media. The anarchist politics are bold and riling, but the stunning visuals and social commentary creates a timeless political thriller.
V For Vendetta
Following world war, London is a police state occupied by a fascist government, and a vigilante known only as V (Hugo Weaving) uses terrorist tactics to fight the oppressors of the world in which he now lives. When V saves a young woman named Evey (Natalie Portman) from the secret police, he discovers an ally in his fight against England's oppressors.
- Director
- James McTeigue
- Release Date
- March 16, 2006
- Studio
- Warner Bros
- Cast
- Natalie Portman , Hugo Weaving , Stephen Fry , John Hurt , Stephen Rea , Rupert Graves , Imogen Poots , Roger Allam
- Writers
- Lana Wachowski , andy wachowski
- Runtime
- 2h:12min
- Main Genre
- Action
44 Doctor Strange Is Visually and the Most Magical MCU Film
REVIEW: Doctor Strange Fails To Live Up To MCU Standards
Perhaps the best thing to come from Marvel's latest film is Stephen Strange's autonomous, flowing cape.|
IMDb Rating |
7.5/10 |
|---|---|
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Rotten Tomatoes Score |
89% |
|
Metacritic Score |
72/100 |
One thing that the MCU was sorely missing out on in its first couple of phases was magic. The source of Wanda Maximoff's powers wasn't confirmed as magic and any reference to Loki's abilities hardly ever mentioned the "M" word. Then Doctor Strange came along and opened up a portal into a world of sorcery, spells and all the magic that can change time and space forever.
Doctor Strange isn't exactly a fan-favorite MCU installment, but some would be surprised at how well-crafted the story is. Although it does follow the typical MCU formula, it contains profound themes of faith vs. science and growth after trauma. The visuals of Doctor Strange are the obvious holy grail of the film, using CGI to turn an entire city into a reflective puzzle.
Doctor Strange
While on a journey of physical and spiritual healing, a brilliant neurosurgeon is drawn into the world of the mystic arts.
- Director
- Scott Derrickson
- Release Date
- November 4, 2016
- Studio
- Marvel
- Cast
- Benedict Cumberbatch , Chiwetel Ejiofor , Rachel McAdams , Benedict Wong , Mads Mikkelsen , Tilda Swinton
- Writers
- Jon Spaihts , Scott Derrickson , C. Robert Cargill
- Runtime
- 115 minutes
- Main Genre
- Superhero