Summary

• Marvel and DC have both delivered some iconic superhero movies.
• Examples like "Logan," "Infinity War," and "Into The Spider-Verse" combined critical acclaim & box office success.
• Superhero films like "The Dark Knight" redefined the genre, setting high standards in storytelling for comic book adaptations.

Comic book movies may receive a little too much flak, but there is no denying that a select few iconic comic book movies launching the genre into the stratosphere. The sheer number that exists today means that creators are under more pressure to deliver some semblance of uniqueness - and these examples certainly deliver.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe remains the most successful movie franchise in history with a total worldwide box office that feels unassailable at this point. While DC is refreshing its cinematic franchise with the DC Universe's slate, it can also rest easy that it has offered up some of the most iconic movies - though they do typically center around one character in particular. The best movies that Marvel and DC have provided over the last few decades were not only box office hits but also critical successes.

10 Logan Is Hugh Jackman's Wolverine At His Best

Released In March 2017

Hugh Jackman's Wolverine is the superhero genre's second-longest-serving character, and his 24-year career is about to continue with his celebrated appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine. After so many years on the big screen, it is no surprise that Fox's X-Men franchise aimed to give the character as heartfelt a sendoff as possible as it rounded out his story in Logan. With an R-rating that ensured there could be no half-measures, Logan's swansong was the work of art he deserved.

X-24, who made her live-action debut in Logan, first appeared in X-Men: Evolution before ing the comics.

The cinematography perfectly conveyed the post-apocalyptic tone in which several beloved X-Men characters meet their ends either off-screen or on. A visibly bedraggled Logan exuded the air of a man at the end of his arc, which was poetically brought to an end by a younger clone of himself. The movie was mature beyond anything seen thus far in live-action superhero movies, and stood out for its excellent cast, heart-wrenching conclusion, and visceral choreography that truly conveyed what Wolverine interacting with real life would look like.

9 Avengers: Infinity War Changed Everything

Released In April 2018

Avengers: Infinity War's ending remains one of the most memorable and shocking conclusions to any movie, let alone in the superhero genre. The sheer weight of the titular heroes' failure can be felt in every second of the silence and feeble last words of beloved characters in the movie's final sequence. Bringing fans of the MCU to the brink of despair, however, is not the only place where Avengers: Infinity War excels.

The sheer weight of the titular heroes' failure can be felt in every second of the silence and feeble last words of beloved characters in the movie's final sequence.

The sense of hopelessness is felt immediately as the audience is quickly shown a team of Avengers that look decidedly disparate in the face of their greatest threat yet. Half of Asgard is immediately wiped out as Thor and the other erstwhile Avengers embark on their ill-fated attempts to quell Thanos, bringing together every facet of Marvel's sprawling cinematic universe. Despite the risks, Infinity War never feels overstuffed and instead forms a beautifully paced and stunningly shot culmination of a decade's worth of stories while managing to be just as compelling as ever.

8 Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse Is Worthy Of Its Awards

Released In December 2018

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse won the award for Best Animated Feature Film at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, and the Academy Awards. Simply looking at the stills of the movie demonstrates how this occurred, but the game-changing animation style of Into the Spider-Verse was just the tip of the iceberg. After several years and three iterations of Peter Parker being adapted into live-action movies, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse championed a new Spider-Man story, and capitalized wholeheartedly on its premise.

A soundtrack featuring such artists as Post Malone and Juice WRLD not only diverted from the musical norm in Superhero movies but became one of the movie's most beloved features. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse also pulled off the multiversal premise with aplomb, delivering such memorable variants as Doctor Olivia Octavius, Spider-Noir, and Spider-Ham while delivering a story that felt wholly unique. It was hilarious and poignant in equal measure, throwing out all notion that animation is purely for kids and proving that comic book movies can be works of art.

7 Thor: Ragnarok Turned The Hero's MCU Story Around

Released In October 2017

There are very few who would suggest that Thor: Ragnarok is not the best of the four Thor movies, but Thor: Ragnarok’s quality extends far beyond its own franchise. The third Thor movie is helped by the fact that its predecessor, Thor: The Dark World set its eponymous hero on an unfortunate trajectory after failing to inspire audiences with its dark and dingy premise. Thor: Ragnarok righted that boat and then some, catapulting Thor into being one of the most charismatic and lovable figures in the MCU.

Thor is currently the only MCU character to receive four solo movies, and may soon be given a fifth.

Taika Waititi's penchant for wit was prevalent throughout the lighthearted yet heartfelt narrative. From the jump, the movie felt like the spectacle that a regal alien race revered as gods warrant, with Sakaar evoking a colorful cyberpunk aesthetic bolstered significantly by its magnificent synth-heavy soundtrack. Hela still stands as one of the MCU's greatest villains, proving that lacking a motive beyond bloodthirst and tyranny is very far from boring. Jeff Goldblum's seminal MCU debut as the Grandmaster, meanwhile, is one of the most inspired casting decisions of the entire MCU.

6 The Dark Knight Delivers DC's Best Villain

Released In July 2008

Heath Ledger's Joker is one of the most iconic characters in all cinema and a prime example of what makes The Dark Knight so compelling. The Dark Knight bucked a trend in superhero cinema by delivering one of the most grounded takes on a comic book adaptation and bringing characters and a gritty plot that hardly feels inconceivable. Heath Ledger's seminal take on the Joker was just one facet of what made The Dark Knight so perfect, but he was as enthralling as he was terrifying, turning the typically hammy depiction of Joker completely on its head.

Heath Ledger tragically ed away before The Dark Knight was released, and received a posthumous Oscar award for his performance - the first in any comic book movie.

The physical and ideological struggle in the face of Joker's unpredictability brought a whole new dynamic to the typical cat-and-mouse story as both good and bad guys were forced to reckon with a force for pure chaos. In the wake of more cut-and-dry superhero movies depicting good vs. evil, The Dark Knight delivered something distinctly fresh. Along with visceral action sequences, another stellar score from Hans Zimmer, and fresh but believable takes on iconic DC characters, The Dark Knight remains a paradigm of what comic book movies can be.

5 Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox Is A Testament To Animation

Released In July 2013

Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox manages to be one the best DC Animated Movie Universe entries and a visually enthralling installment - thanks in no small part to its decision to turn its heroes into hulking beefcakes that ittedly befits their inordinate power levels. This is significantly bolstered by the effort put in by Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox’s voice actors, who throw their heart and soul into their animated roles. C. Thomas Howell's Reverse Flash is a standout example among several highlights.

The movie's tone belies the fact that it is a cartoon. There is a pervasive sense of hopelessness that is intensified substantially by seeing DC heroes who were once paragons of virtue embody a ruthless and warlike role at the expense of humanity. For its memorable and fresh takes on so many beloved characters in an impossibly engaging alternate universe story, it remains one of DC's best animations - which is a high bar to clear.

4 Captain America: The Winter Soldier Earns Its Reputation

Released In March 2014

Of the main Avengers that earned sequels (or solo movies to begin with), Captain America: The Winter Soldier bucked an unfortunate trend. With Iron Man 2 and Thor: The Dark World becoming two of the MCU's worst-rated installments (at least, at the time), Captain America: The Winter Soldier remains to this day one of the best MCU movies ever made. The reasons are multifaceted but similar to why Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy is also so beloved. Marvel Studios took a risk with the second Captain America movie by dipping its toe in a new genre: spy thriller.

Sam Wilson takes over the mantle of Captain America in Captain America: Brave New World.

It was an inspired move that perfectly fits Captain America's characterization and relatively modest powers (at least when compared to half of his Avengers colleagues). The score for Bucky Barnes' Winter Soldier is haunting, as is his presence on screen as some of the MCU's best choreography plays out with him at its center - not counting, of course, the iconic enclosed elevator brawl. Cap's unerring sense of honor and morality is on full display as he kicks back against authority to "do what's right," before culminating in one of the most heartbreaking fights in the MCU.

3 Spider-Man 2 Defined The Genre

Released In June 2004

Spider-Man's characterization in his original cinematic trilogy remains unassailable, and nowhere is the faithful depiction of his struggle as a reluctant superhero more prevalent than in Spider-Man 2. Peter Parker's battle with the burden of his great power is painstakingly depicted as he agonizes over keeping necessary secrets from his loved ones while confronting challenges that nobody that young has ever faced. This is then counterbalanced by one of the best and most sympathetic villains in comic book movie history.

A compelling in-universe MCU theory suggests that Octavius' change of heart at the end of the movie was thanks to the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home where Peter Parker fixed his inhibitor chip.

Alfred Molina's Doctor Octopus is undoubtedly one of the coolest Spider-Man villains that ever graced the big screen. It is also no secret - nor a rarity for Marvel movies - that sympathetic villains tend to be a surefire win. Nonetheless, the action sequences, a Spider-Man in full swing, and a single villain for Spider-Man to bounce off of make for a comic book movie that will forever stand the test of time.

2 Batman Returns Is A Champion Of Comic Book Characterization

Released In June 1992

Although 1989's Batman established Batman's legendary movie legacy with Michael Keaton's iconic rendition of the Caped Crusader, the sequel was an improvement. Tim Burton's classic gothic style worked swimmingly with Batman's tone, which in Batman Returns was campier than modern iterations but perfectly rendered nonetheless. Much of the credit for Batman Returns' quality, it cannot be overstated, is thanks to the excellent casting and costumes.

As the DCU's Batman will debut around the same time as Matt Reeves' The Batman trilogy, it may lean into a lighter take on the character more akin to Keaton's.

Michelle Pfeiffer's enchanting take on Selina Kyle remains one of the best versions of the character and one that is unlikely to be paralleled in modern takes. The same must be said for Danny DeVito's Oswald Cobblepot, whose exaggerated take on the character is one of the most memorable characters in cinema. The overall somewhat brightly gothic tone of the movie sticks in the mind and cements itself as one of the greatest adaptations to date.

1 Iron Man Changed The Future Of Cinema

Released In May 2008

The MCU's Iron Man is largely to thank for the record-breaking success of the franchise. His cinematic debut brought a new spin on the genre by blending sharp wit, colorful fun, mind-bending spectacles, and a strange believability to the notion that one modern-day Da Vinci can build an all-singing-all-dancing suit of armor. What makes Iron Man so perfect, especially on a re-watch, is knowing how much it changed the face of cinema by launching the superhero craze.

From the jump, it was clear that Robert Downey Jr.'s casting was inspired. Iron Man was a lesser-known superhero by the time Iron Man was released in 2008 compared to other Marvel and DC titans, but his boundless charisma and repartee turned him into an overnight sensation and one of the most beloved comic book characters in existence. Thankfully, RDJ wasn't exactly needed to carry the movie, which remains second to none in of its choreography, special effects, expertly picked soundtrack, and punchy pacing.

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  Marvel Cinematic Universe

  Created by

  Kevin Feige

  First Film

  Iron Man

  First TV Show

  Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

  Cast

  Jonathan Majors

  The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount's Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.

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  DC Universe

  Created by

  Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson

  First Film

  Man of Steel

  First TV Show

  Peacemaker

  Cast

  Xolo Mariduena

  The DC Universe is one of the biggest comic book franchises and often competes with Marvel. DC Comics started as National Allied Publications, founded by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson in 1935. Since then, the franchise has exploded with thousands of comic books, movies, TV shows, and video games. 2013 marked the beginning of the most recent iteration of the superheroes, with Zack Snyder introducing Henry Cavill as Superman. After several movies with mixed reviews, DC underwent a soft reboot under the helm of James Gunn and Peter Safran.

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