Summary

• Fast Color focuses on honest emotion over visual spectacles, highlighting Gugu Mbatha-Raw's stellar performance.
• Defendor may have storytelling flaws, but Woody Harrelson shines as the everyday superhero in an overlooked performance.
• The Phantom's careful camera movements, impressive stunts, and Treat Williams' villainous performance make it a must-watch for superhero fans.

Even if they’re currently traversing somewhat of a downward slope, superhero movies are still without a doubt the most popular ilk of film to warrant a trip to the movie theater. But with Marvel and DC constantly putting out one film a year at the bare minimum, there’s an obvious sense of franchise fatigue on both accounts permeating throughout the industry. This list will shed light on the more underappreciated projects the subgenre has to offer.

There is one further note to make: this list is relegated to American superhero movies. Danger: Diabolik (1968) would have made the list, but that Italian cult classic didn’t even release within theaters in America. So, it won’t apply. All that said, these are the 19 most underrated superhero movies of all time, ranked.

Updated May 16, 2024: If you are a fan of superhero movies, you're in luck. This article has been updated by Ben Hathaway with even more underrated superhero movies.

19 Jonah Hex (2010)

If there's a comic book movie that more obviously reeks of major moments being left on the cutting room floor, it's Jonah Hex. Running at an hour and 21 minutes (with credits), it's a mighty quick affair, but a film about an undead gunslinger on a path of vengeance is entertaining, even if it was blatantly held back from being what its creators intended. Not to mention, who better to play an Old West (undead) gunslinger type than Josh Brolin?

There's Worse-Tasting Cheese Than Jonah Hex

The script is, admittedly, quite weak from time to time. And, back to the cutting room floor concept, it can leap from one scene to the next without reverence for coherence. But, when John Malkovich is blowing up towns with orbs and Michael Fassbender (early in his swiftly-growing recognizability in the United States) is flipping knives around with a grin, it's hard not to have a bit of a smile as well.

18 The Punisher (2004)

Was Ray Stevenson also an amazing Frank Castle in Punisher: War Zone? Absolutely, and that film is both superior to this one and equally underappreciated. But the 2004 version of The Punisher was and remains more openly bashed than that financially catastrophic reboot. Yet, even with fake fire hydrants and a performance from John Travolta that oscillates between bored and too much, Tom Jane is just too perfect in the title role to not watch this at least once.

Tom Jane Is The Punisher

Now that Marvel has embraced the multiverse angle, there are few actors in major comic roles that fans would like to see back than Jane. He nails Castle as a family man just as he nails Castle as a killer with a conscience. The only true differentiation between him and the Frank Castle of the comics (particularly under the guidance of Garth Ennis) is that Jane's take is more likable...but some things are unavoidable in life.

17 Daredevil (2003)

To call the theatrical cut of Daredevil a success would be a mischaracterization. However, the Director's Cut (which for all intents and purposes is exactly what Mark Steven Johnson intended), is a winner. It reinserts material that doesn't just make it R-rated, which is never a bad idea for the IP, but it also makes it more coherent.

Daredevil's Director's Cut Is a Marked Improvement

One other thing the Director's Cut does is make it feel more true to Frank Miller's iconic time with the character. Speaking of which, there are things about the theatrical edition that work, like none other than Miller's cameo appearance (as well as similar appearances from Stan Lee and Kevin Smith, who also wrote some incredible material for the character back in the day). And then there's the one-two punch of Colin Farrell and Michael Clarke Duncan as Bullseye and Kingpin, respectively. Vincent D'Onofrio has gone on to make the role his own in his own right, but there's little doubt that, deep down, the late, great Duncan was the ultimate Kingpin.

16 Man of Steel (2013)

The DCEU had troubles from the start. Man of Steel, while neither critically-reviled nor a financial flop, didn't exactly win over non-superhero movie fans or set the box office on fire. Its third act also ruffled a few feathers, especially when it came to why Supes would fight his battle right in the center of the densely-populated Metropolis.

Man of Steel Is Arguably the Best the DCEU Ever Got

But, that was all part of Zack Snyder's pre-determined arc for the character. And, if that five-film arc could have been completed, it might have very well felt fully organic to a modernized take on the character. Even given the letdown of not being able to see that happen, Man of Steel is a visually stunning film with compelling action sequences and a star-making performance by Henry Cavill. Not to mention, Michael Shannon has an absolute ball as General Zod.

15 Batman Forever (1995)

Especially considering the recent release of Batman '89, a graphic novel which essentially serves as Tim Burton's Batman 3, the sting of change that came with Batman Forever has been greatly dissipated. Now, the positive elements of it are what stand out. For one, Val Kilmer's was and remains the best cinematic portrayal of Bruce Wayne. Two, while Tommy Lee Jones tries to emulate Nicholson's Joker a bit too much, Jim Carrey knocks the movie out of the park as Riddler. Not to mention, visually, the film is fairly well-aged, especially if viewing a 4K disc.

Batman Forever Is a Major '90s Timepiece

One of the most purely entertaining films of its respective decade, Batman Forever is a rewatchable joy. Can the script let down the visual flourish and devotion of the performances from time to time? Sure. But, for the most part, it's a solid Batman movie and certainly an enjoyable one.

14 Fast Color (2018)

Going down as a bit of an anomaly on the list, Fast Color focuses less on sheer entertainment value by dint of visual spectacles and witty one-liners and instead highlights honest emotion as a story primarily focused on character. In this case, the protagonist is Ruth, played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw.

Fast Color Is Not the Average Superhero Movie

The plot is fairly straightforward. The government seeks her out, attempting to conduct experiments to discover the truth behind her supernatural abilities. But it's how director Julia Hart — who cowrote the film alongside Jordan Horowitz — focuses on the development of the character that renders Fast Color a modern superhero hit. The performance by Mbatha-Raw alone warrants a spot on the list, as the overall product was slept on by audiences despite some great reviews from critics.

13 The Old Guard (2020)

Many films on this list feature characters that classify as superheros despite their paucity of supernatural abilities. But the lead characters in The Old Guard (2020) have legitimate powers of rejuvenation. The action sequences are brutal, but brilliantly choreographed, and the film as a whole features an intense soundtrack that works wonders with the film’s calculated camerawork.

Some Netflix Originals Are Actually Worth Watching

With Charlize Theron in the main role, it’s surprising to see how little name value The Old Guard holds from the perspective of sheer popularity. Critics had positive things to say regarding Theron’s efforts and the film’s engaging action segments. But for the most part, general film fans hardly even know that this superhero stint exists.

12 Blade II (2002)

Both the original Blade (1998) and its sequel Blade II hold a 57% approval rating on critical consensus website Rotten Tomatoes. Now, the series in general actually made decent waves at the worldwide box office upon release, and the original is well-regarded today. But from a modern standpoint, this high-caliber sequel with an immersive visual style doesn’t hold near the name value it should.

Blade II Is Arguably the Best of the Trilogy

Of course, Wesley Snipes stars as the titular superhero Blade, a human-vampire hybrid who protects people from vampires. In this follow-up, he combats a group of mutant vampires who plan to wipe out both races entirely. And although it features a paucity of proper character development and never takes risks in its plot, the mindless entertainment value is more than enough to warrant a spot on this list.

11 Defendor (2009)

Starring Woody Harrelson in the lead role, Defendor never truly found its footing from a storytelling perspective — questionable character dynamics and an undecided tone. But with regard to the superhero at hand, Harrelson, without a doubt, shines as Arthur Poppington, an everyday man who doubles as the titular character: Defendor. It’s easily among the more overlooked performances of his career.

If You Liked Kick-Ass, You'll Love Defendor

Defendor searches the streets and alleyways for his archenemy, Captain Industry. And as you may have guessed by the fatuous monikers, the project features its fair share of comedic moments. Ultimately, the solid acting efforts in Defendor compensated for its technical shortcomings.

10 Swamp Thing (1982)

In what was a slight deviation from his usual, straight-up horror stints, American filmmaker Wes Craven was at the helm of this DC Comics adaptation. It stars Ray Wise as Alec Holland, a scientist whose experiments are tampered with by the antagonist, Anton Arcane. That’s how he transformed into the titular superhero in Swamp Thing.

Swamp Thing Shows Cheese Can Be Entertaining

There’s also a fun performance herein from Adrienne Barbeau as Alice Cable, the damsel in distress love interest, with impressive visuals to boot. And overall, it’s the charm produced by the convincing performances and atmospheric landscape that lands Swamp Thing a spot on the list.

9 Mystery Men (1999)

Starring Ben Stiller, William H. Macy, and Jeaneane Garofalo, among many notable others, Mystery Men follows a group of misfit superheroes with unimpressive abilities. Early in the plot, they receive a call to action. Ben Stiller leads the bunch as Roy (or Mr. Furious) whose power is simply his rage. Then, there’s Hank Azaria, who plays Jeffrey — also called Blue Raja. He can throw cutlery with tremendous accuracy. He steers clear of knives, though.

Mystery Man Is One of the Late '90s Definitive Cult Classics

The other hero of the bunch is Eddie. Played by William H. Macy, he simply carries a shovel as a weapon. That’s his "power," and as a cast, all of these characters shared a wonderful dynamic from start to finish. If you still aren’t sold, rest assured that the result is an overlooked, comedic superhero romp that, sure, sometimes misses the mark with regard to its overall humor. But for the most part, Mystery Men will have you giggling the whole way through.

8 Hancock (2008)

This superhero film with Will Smith and Charlize Theron is fairly well-known from an audience’s perspective, as it made tremendous money at the worldwide box office and is generally well-known today. But neither critics nor audiences had particularly positive things to say about its overall quality, which is a shame. With Smith as the titular character, Hancock stands out among its contemporaries for featuring a fairly unconcerned and therefore intriguing hero.

Hancock Is Certainly One of Smith's More Interesting Roles

Hancock drinks, curses, and really only has himself in mind. But that left room for tremendous character development that should have resonated more fondly with critics than it did. Of course, the film also features spectacles galore, with engaging action sequences around every corner of its comedically inclined plot. If you haven’t revisited Hancock in a while, it’s time to give it another shot.

7 The Crow (1994)

Considering The Crow is commonly considered today to be a film with a devout cult following, it’s hard to consider it too underrated. A lot of film fans have familiarized themselves with this project either due to the insurgence of superhero films as of late, or because of the unfortunate and accidental death of Brandon Lee that took place during filming.

The Crow Is Forever a Dark Classic

But really, The Crow was met with positive reception from critics upon release, and made pretty impressive waves at the box office. It earns a spot on this list because, in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t get mentioned as it should when discussing all-time great superhero stints. And just with style points alone, The Crow has earned that mantle.

6 The Rocketeer (1991)