10 Most Important Superhero Movies of All Time, Ranked

Even through all its ups and downs (and, as of late, the downs seem to, unfortunately, be a bit more common than the ups), the superhero genre remains one of the most prolific and successful of not just the modern day, but all of all time. What was once a silly, campy genre meant just to be escapist entertainment has nowadays repeatedly proved that it can be taken seriously.

Of course, being a genre with such an extensive and varied history, superhero movies have had plenty of entries that could be considered among the most important in the canon. From films that kickstarted a certain stream of superhero cinema to crossovers that broke the box office to classics without which the genre would probably not have existed in the first place, these ten movies are the most important outings in superhero cinema, ranked in order of their importance, impact, and influence.

10

‘Blade’ (1998)

Directed by Stephen Norrington

Back in 1998, before the release of the vampire-hunting action spectacle Blade, Marvel had never really had a successful film. This unexpected gem was their first hit—and boy, was it successful. It had a favorable reception at the box office, and even though a considerable number of critics didn’t love it, everyone who saw it seemed to agree that if anything about it was beyond reproach, it was the stylish action and Wesley Snipes‘s portrayal of Blade.

The movie was far darker, bloodier, and more mature than anything fans of comic book movies had ever been treated to before. Blade was also admittedly more of an action horror film than a movie that truly felt like it belonged to the superhero genre, but the distinction is a little nitpicky. A monumental entry in the superhero, vampire, and action canons, it’s a movie whose influence is undeniable. Blade‘s style and aesthetics may have been much less influential than other much more superhero-y movies that would come later, but from an industry perspective, its importance can’t be overstated.

Blade

Release Date

August 21, 1998

9

‘X-Men’ (2000)

Directed by Bryan Singer

Blade walked so X-Men could run. Right before the turn of the century, 20th Century Studios, then 20th Century Fox, came out with their adaptation of the titular team of mutant superheroes, easily one of the most iconic lineups in the world of comics. Fans had high expectations, and non-fans couldn’t really have cared less for a genre they still thought was a little goofy.

Then, the movie actually came out and lived up to everything everyone hoped it would be. It revitalized a genre on the brink of death, paving the way for the superhero movie boom of the 2000s. It also leaned into the allegorical aspects of the X-Men mythos and the vastness of its cast, proving two things that are key to the genre’s evolution in the 21st century: superhero films can be serious and meaningful, and that ensemble superhero films are the way to go.

X-Men

Release Date

July 13, 2000

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8

‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ (2018)

Directed by Peter Ramsey, Robert Persichetti Jr., and Rodney Rothman

At this point in the journey, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse needs no introduction. One of the biggest action masterpieces of the 2010s, it’s also a huge number of people’s favorite interpretation of the legendary Wall-Crawler. Feeding into the multiversal story craze sparked by the MCU but adding plenty of spice into the mix, it had a revolutionary impact on animation and superhero animation.

This colorful and wildly original gem is the standard that all animated superhero films today are held to, and that’s not likely to change anytime soon. Into the Spider-Verse subverted all expectations with its high-energy visual style, unique sense of humor, and abundance of entertaining characters. It pioneered an animation style that films like Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem would try to replicate in the future and proved that animated films could be just as artful and exhilarating as any live-action movie.

7

‘Batman’ (1989)

Directed by Tim Burton

Before 1989, and particularly because of Adam West‘s campy take on the character, Batman remained in the general public consciousness as a silly, funny hero—far from the dark, psychologically layered, morally complex vigilante he’s known as today. That perception changed when Tim Burton and Michael Keaton burst into the scene at the end of the ’80s with Batman.

One of the best superhero movies of the 20th century, Burton’s Batman showed that the Caped Crusader was a hero to be taken seriously. The dark tone, more mature story and themes, vibrant and artistic directing, and incredibly well-crafted production qualities all proved that superhero films could be legitimate summer blockbusters and not just simple little movies for kids. The 5th highest-grossing film ever at the time of its release, Batman sent a loud and clear message: superheroes were here to stay.

Batman

Release Date

June 23, 1989

6

‘Spider-Man’ (2002)

Directed by Sam Raimi

X-Men ran so Ram Raimi‘s Spider-Man could swing from the buildings of New York City and deliver superhero movies into the comfortable niche that they occupy today. Some may say that it was Fox’s take on the mutant team, but most would agree that it was Raimi’s unique take on Spidey that really sparked the huge superhero movie sensation that continues to characterize the 21st century’s blockbuster scene.

Raimi, best known for his work in horror, showed in Spider-Man that he was more than perfectly capable of handling the reins of such a big comic book franchise. While Spider-Man 2 is usually agreed to be the superior film, it was Tobey Maguire‘s first time stepping into the webbed suit that really shook Hollywood to its core, leading studios to realize the commercial potential of the genre. Having made nearly a billion dollars, Spider-Man was by far the highest-grossing superhero movie ever at the time. At that point, it was next to impossible for the money people to ignore this new cinematic phenomenon.

5

‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)

Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo

It’s no wild statement to say that the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole is the single biggest and most influential film franchise of not just the superhero genre but all of American cinematic history. And, love or hate the way the franchise looks nowadays, there’s no denying that the monumental epilogue of the Infinity Saga, Avengers: Endgame, is probably the biggest pop culture sensation that the Seventh Art has ever produced.

By far one of the most essential movies of 2019, Endgame may not be a flawless way of closing off the first chapter of the MCU (in many ways, its predecessor, Avengers: Infinity War, is an even better film), but it sure is the biggest cultural event that the superhero genre has ever been home to. From 2019 to 2021, Endgame was the highest-grossing film of all time (until Avatar reclaimed its record), and it isn’t hard to see why. It set a new precedent for how superhero cinema had to handle its crossover events in the future and served as a testament to the fruits of patiently building an expansive cinematic universe for over a decade.

4

‘The Avengers’ (2012)

Directed by Joss Whedon

While Endgame was definitely a bigger cultural event, it’s hard to beat the one that started it all as far as influence and importance go. Indeed, The Avengers represented the first time that a superhero crossover event of this scope came together, and the result couldn’t have been more positive. If this movie had failed, it’s unlikely that the MCU—and, by proxy, the future of the superhero genre—would have looked even remotely similar to what they look like today.

Through its thrilling story, showstopping action sequences, and the way it perfectly balanced characters that very well could (and, in most cases, had) led other standalone films, The Avengers became one of the greatest team-up movies of all time. It set a new standard, pushed the envelope for superhero movie franchises, and confirmed that these kinds of events bringing together the results of several films were a tried-and-true success.

3

‘Superman’ (1978)

Directed by Richard Donner

Before 1978, superhero content outside of comic books was mostly confined to theatrical serials and television movies and shows. It was a small, purely fun genre that didn’t demand any particular kind of serious attention. Things would never be the same again after Richard Donner and Christopher Reeve made Superman. It proved to be Warner Bros.’ most successful film up to that point, and it was the second highest-grossing film of 1978 after Grease.

Superman is one of the best movies of the 1970s—and considering how that’s easily the greatest decade for American cinema of all time, that’s saying a lot. Its success at the box office and with critics surprised audiences and higher-ups alike, proving that there was plenty of room on the big screen for superhero films that were family-friendly entertainment but also deserving of more serious treatment. It’s not often that a film truly makes people believe that a man can fly.

Superman

Release Date

December 15, 1978

2

‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)

Directed by Christopher Nolan

In superhero cinema, there’s a before and after Christopher Nolan‘s The Dark Knight. To this day, many would still confidently call it the best comic book film ever made, and it would be hard to blame them. That’s in no small measure thanks to the fact that, if one took away the associations with the legendary Batman mythos, this would still be an extraordinary action thriller.

With adrenaline-pumping action, phenomenal direction and performances, a fantastic score, and one of the best villains in the history of movies, it’s no wonder why The Dark Knight is held in such high regard. Its snub for Best Picture at the Oscars in 2009 was a scandal so loud that it partly led to the expansion of possible nominees in the category from 5 to 10 in 2010. Today, it’s still held as the golden standard that all superhero dramas should aspire to. Loved for its gritty and grounded tone, impeccable writing and production qualities, and the psychologically complex treatment of its characters, The Dark Knight is the landmark of excellence that all serious superhero movies try to channel to this day.

1

‘Iron Man’ (2008)

Directed by Jon Favreau

Since there is no cornerstone of the superhero movie genre more essential and influential than the MCU, it’s pretty fair to say that the one that kicked things off, Jon Favreau‘s Iron Man, is the single most important superhero movie ever made. Had it not existed—or, worse yet, had it been a flop—there would have probably never been an MCU. Without an MCU, it’s anyone’s guess whether the superhero film would ever have become the dominant genre in Hollywood.

Logically, Iron Man is perhaps the most essential Marvel Cinematic Universe movie. It’s a well-written, incredibly entertaining movie with a legendary Robert Downey Jr. performance in the lead. Is it the best superhero movie ever, or even the best MCU entry? Probably not, but as far as influence and impact go, that hardly matters. Iron Man set the bar for the quality, tone, and scope of the genre going forward. It changed the film industry forever, and as such, it’s even one of the most important movies of the 21st century, period.

NEXT:Essential Superhero Movies Everyone Should See At Least Once