A good superhero movie is almost always synonymous with big box office. The genre has always been very popular with the general public, but it has grown even more since the consolidation of the MCU with films like Avengers, Iron Man and Spider-Man. DC isn't far behind either, bringing many viewers to enjoy the adventures of Batman, Wonder Woman and Flash on the big screen with their wonderful special effects and epic stories.
If you're a lover of this genre and want to know which were the best superhero movies, you've come to the right place! In today's article we'll bring you a list of the thirteen most beloved titles of all time! Want to know if your favorite film is among them? Come and see for yourself!
Avengers (2012)
How can we talk about superhero movies without mentioning Avengers? This movie was a milestone in the history of the hero movie subgenre, grossing a total of UU$ 1.5 billion against an initial budget of just US$ 220 million. The meeting of Marvel's main heroes had a very positive impact on audiences and critics alike and remains many people's favorite film to this day.
In the story, Loki, who is the brother of the heroic Asgardian god Thor, is introduced as the main villain. He ends up getting his hands on a very powerful cosmic cube and needs to be stopped before his evil plans come to fruition. To solve the problem, Nick Fury, director of the S.H.I.E.L.D. assembles a massive team to go after the God of Mischief: Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye. A group that needs to learn to work as a team if the mission is to be truly successful.
Spider-Man: No Return Home (2021)
Spider-Man: Homecoming was the most anticipated superhero movie for a long time. Marvel introduced the concept of the multiverse and that versions of other web-head movies appear to help Tom Holland's Spidey save the day, which caused a whole generation of fans to cheer like crazy in the movie theaters.
The plot tells how everything begins to spiral out of control when Peter Parker (Tom Holland) asks Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to help him make everyone forget that he is Spider-Man. Something goes wrong when the wizard is performing the spell and the Earth begins to run into a great inter-dimensional danger that needs to be stopped as soon as possible by Parker. But not without help, of course. The film had an initial budget of US$ 200 million and grossed over US$ 1.9 billion.
Batman - The Dark Knight (2008)
This is considered not only by a large part of the public, but also by critics, to be the best superhero movie of all time. Batman - The Dark Knight brings the DC comic book hero to life in a way that viewers had never seen before, and it managed to win over practically everyone who saw it. Its budget was US$ 185 million and it grossed more than US$ 1 billion at the box office worldwide, making it a real success.
The movie takes place two years after Batman (Christian Bale) emerged as Gotham City's vigilante. He has managed to keep things in order with the help of the local police, but the appearance of a villain who is totally out of his depth and adherent to the ideals of anarchy could totally shake up this peace that everyone cherishes so much. He intends to test Batman to the limit and will go to any lengths to do so!
Deadpool (2016)
And if you think that a superhero movie needs to be politically correct and with light-hearted scenes to please all audiences, Deadpool comes flying at that concept and knocking everything to the ground, including the fourth wall. The feature film about the most beloved mercenary of all time is full of dirty jokes and heavy cursing, just the way comic book fans really like it, raking in US$ 782.6 million on a budget of just US$ 58 million.
It is set against the backdrop of the saga of Wade Wilsom (Ryan Reynolds), a former agent who ends up having to make a living as a mercenary. When he is diagnosed with cancer, his life takes a turn for the worse and, with no other way out, he ends up offering to be a guinea pig in an experimental treatment. This experiment ends up disfiguring him, but it cures his cancer and gives him special powers. These powers he uses to take revenge on the person responsible for all the pandemonium that took place in the laboratory where he almost lost his life.
Captain Marvel (2019)
Captain Marvel is an essential superhero movie for anyone who wants to understand everything that happens in the final stretch of the Infinity Saga in the MCU. It attracted a considerable number of fans to the cinema and managed to gross US$ 1.1 billion while its budget was US$ 152 million, which is proof of its success.
The protagonist of the movie is Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) who served for years in the US Air Force, but lost her memory and went to work for an alien army. Now her rival alien group seems to have targeted Earth and Danvers has to return to her home planet to protect it from everything but her lack of charisma.
The Suicide Squad (2021)
After the fiasco of both critics and audiences attracted by the first Suicide Squad movie released in 2016, the feature got another chance, now in the hands of director James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) and secured its place as a superhero movie worthy of being among the best. Suicide Squad was an immediate success in terms of critics, although it didn't pay for itself, with its budget of US$ 185 million and takings of US$ 168.7 million.
The idea of forming a group of super villains in the service of the government to carry out suicide missions came from Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), a government agent who believes that the State needs its own weapons against super-powered threats after the appearance of Superman. To put her plan into practice, she gathers Harlequin (Margot Robbie), Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney), Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) and many others to be part of her team.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
Another superhero movie that had been eagerly awaited since its announcement was Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The story consolidated the multiverse phase in the MCU, which would continue the events experienced by Marvel's strongest characters in the Infinity Saga. The film had a budget of US$ 350.6 million and grossed US$ 955.8 million at the worldwide box office.
In this new installment, Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) is introduced as the main villain, having gone completely mad using forbidden magic, becoming obsessed with the idea of bringing her children into the reality where she is. The mission to stop her and make her see the truth falls on the shoulders of Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), as he is the only being powerful enough on Earth to stand up to the mighty Scarlet Witch.
Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
After the success of the Wonder Woman solo movie released in 2017, it was no surprise that a sequel would be produced. Wonder Woman 1984 is a superhero movie that captivates from the very first minutes, although many viewers may say that it loses its way as time goes on. In any case, it failed to pay for itself completely, with a budget of US$ 200 million and grossing only US$ 169.6 million.
This movie is a direct sequel to the first one, set in 1984 where Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) ends up involved in a dangerous war of interests engineered by businessman Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal). Another enemy also appears to make things more difficult for the heroine, Cheetah, played by Kristen Wiig, all while she finds herself in an unexpected reunion with her love interest from the last movie, Steve Trevor (Chris Pine).
Black Panther (2018)
On a touching journey to take over from his deceased father, Prince T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) of Wakanda returns to his home country to reunite with his family and the tribes of his kingdom. This superhero movie managed to bring tears to the eyes of many moviegoers and also reached the mark of US$ 1.3 billion at the box office against a budget of US$ 200 million.
However, the prince's path to the throne will be far from easy. A lost cousin who has known the worst side of life having grown up outside Wakanda returns to claim the throne and presents one of the worst challenges T'Challa will face. This is because he will also have to fight his own fears, insecurities and the pain of grief while discovering how to be a true king.
The Incredibles (2004)
This 2004 animation is a movie that marked the childhood of many young adults today. To this day, it's considered a big name in superheroes who got a feature film to call their own, earning US$ 631.6 million on an initial budget of just US$ 92 million.
The story follows a family made up of people with special powers who try to lead a quiet life after the government banned superheroes from acting freely as a regulated profession. However, the father of the family misses his years as a hero and sneaks out with a friend from time to time to reminisce about old times. Until an out-of-control situation forces all the family members to put on their costumes and enter the industry again.
Iron Man (2008)
Iron Man was one of the main reasons for the MCU's success with audiences. It's a superhero movie that leaves its mark on those who watch it and revisit it years later, especially after the end of the main character in the Infinity Saga. Its box office was also very positive with US$ 585.8 million and a budget of US$ 140 million.
Here we follow Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr), a very intelligent inventor who is also the billionaire behind a company that manufactures weapons. His life is turned upside down when he is kidnapped and forced by terrorists to invent a powerful and destructive weapon. He ends up making a technological suit that gets him out of this situation and allows him to act as a superhero from then on, while also rethinking his position in the arms market as a whole.
The Flash (2023)
The Flash is one of a group of superhero movies that have been eagerly awaited since they were announced, but which took a long time to get off the ground. After delays and many controversies involving the cast, the film was released in June 2023, making US$ 268 million against a budget of US$ 200 million.
In the story of the movie we follow young Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) who uses the acceleration force to try to go back in time and prevent the murder of his mother. The problem is that this small detail he has modified basically wipes out everything he knows about the future and it won't be easy to fix the whole situation and sacrifices will have to be made.
Spider-Man in the Spider-Verse (2018)
Returning to animations that are also superhero movies, we have the Oscar-winning Spider-Man in the Spider-Verse. This movie was an instant hit with audiences and critics, telling a captivating story without wearing out a character who was already well known to the public. Its budget was US$ 90 million, but the box office far exceeded that with a total of over US$ 600 million.
Our protagonist is Miles Morales, a young black man who grew up in Brooklyn in the United States and was bitten by a radioactive spider. He faces several personal challenges when the Peter Parker of his world, who was supposed to be his guide, is eliminated. He doesn't have enough time to grieve properly, as he is surprised by a Peter from another dimension and thrust into a multifaceted plot much more complex than he expected. Is the boy prepared for this?
Conclusion
These were the thirteen best superhero movies released so far. However, as this is a matter of taste, we want to know what you think! Is there a title missing here? Let us know in the comments! Be sure to also check out our article on Marvel's 13 strongest characters and the video we've put together for you below!
