Best superhero movie of all time? (Nominations thread)

[Zardnaar]

If I am being as neutral as possible (which is hard considering all the super-hero feels I have inside) I think the best one might be Blade.

It at once captures the essence of the character, while also being extremely broadly accessible.

An honorable mention that will probably get a lot of pushback based on rigid definitions: Robocop.

Blade 1 or 2?

I like a more grounded super hero movie so for me Dark Knight, Blade 1 or 2 maybe Batman 89.

 

[Tonguez]

Couldn’t disagree more. They’re clearly cousins as one is the inspiration of the other, but they are distinct. There’s overlap in the Venn diagram between the high-end pulp hero and the low-end superhero, but there’s just too much unique to each that makes them distinct.

I would really love to hear what you think the factors that make them distinct are - I cant think of any

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Folks are drawing much clearer lines as to what is a "superhero" than the history of the genre allows for.

Superman, the original Sandman, and The Spectre were all superheroes.

I think you're profoundly missing the point.

The history of the genre is irrelevant. Totally irrelevant. You want more precise definitions from people (not just me, I see), but that's not how it works. This is about people's opinion re: the best superhero movie. They don't need to consider the "history of the genre". They just need to consider what makes a "superhero movie" (and note movie specifically - not TV show, not comic book, etc.) great to them.

And to me, if we're asking this from a genre perspective, imho, it's very important that movie really embraces that genre (superhero movies in this case), rather than trying to subvert it, or rather than just making a movie that's basically another genre but which has superheroes in it. Like if it deconstructs it, it'd better also reconstruct it (I think you can argue Spider-Man: No Way Home does both - not in depth, but to some degree - for example - in fact you could probably also argue that about Into the Spider-Verse).

As I said, I think the question of:

A) What's the best movie which [technically] is about a superhero?

and

B) What's the best "superhero movie"?

Are completely different questions with different answers. They don't have to be for everyone, but I think it's entirely valid to consider that. And AFAIK there's never been an OG Sandman movie, or Spectre movie, so they can get stuffed, frankly. And for my money, The Dark Knight, whilst a really cool movie, is basically a crime movie with some slightly goofy elements. And that's no accident! It was much intentional and conscious, they actively eschewed superhero/supervillain stuff. No Joker gas, no Smilex, for example, just bombs and guns.

(Also I have an alternate theory of superhero movies which is that they can be identified as movies that make my wife go "Ugh I'm not watching that" - note she's fine with the Nolan and 2022 Batmans, Deadpool 1 (but not 3), GotG, and a few others, so these must not be "superhero movies"!)

 

[Reynard]

I think you're profoundly missing the point.

The history of the genre is irrelevant. Totally irrelevant. You want more precise definitions from people (not just me, I see), but that's not how it works. This is about people's opinion re: the best superhero movie. They don't need to consider the "history of the genre". They just need to consider what makes a "superhero movie" (and note movie specifically - not TV show, not comic book, etc.) great to them.

And to me, if we're asking this from a genre perspective, imho, it's very important that movie really embraces that genre (superhero movies in this case), rather than trying to subvert it, or rather just making a movie that's basically another genre but which has superheroes in it. Like if it deconstructs it, it'd better also reconstruct it (I think you can argue Spider-Man: No Way Home does both - not in depth, but to some degree - for example - in fact you could probably also argue that about Into the Spider-Verse).

As I said, I think the question of:

A) What's the best movie which [technically] is about a superhero?

and

B) What's the best "superhero movie"?

Are completely different questions with different answers. They don't have to be for everyone, but I think it's entirely valid to consider that. And AFAIK there's never been an OG Sandman movie, or Spectre movie, so they can get stuffed, frankly. And for my money, The Dark Knight, whilst a really cool movie, is basically a crime movie with some slightly goofy elements. And that's no accident! It was much intentional and conscious, they actively eschewed superhero/supervillain stuff. No Joker gas, no Smilex, for example, just bombs and guns.

I think.we are miscommunicating. I am certainly not asking for a more precise definition. The opposite in fact. From my perspective, you were the one labeling superhero movies as Not-Superhero movies. If I misunderstood you, mea culpa.

My point was only that "superhero" is as wide and encompassing (and slippery) a genre as "science fiction" or "fantasy" or "horror." Blade is a superhero movie. Robocop is a superhero movie. Rocketeer is a superhero movie.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

The opposite in fact. From my perspective, you were the one labeling superhero movies as Not-Superhero movies. If I misunderstood you, mea culpa.

I'm not saying they're "not superhero movies" in any broad sense, I'm saying that if we're looking for THE definitive best "superhero movie" we should consider that specific movie genre and what the film does with it.

And thus that separates out these two different approaches to the question to me.

My point was only that "superhero" is as wide and encompassing (and slippery) a genre as "science fiction" or "fantasy" or "horror." Blade is a superhero movie. Robocop is a superhero movie. Rocketeer is a superhero movie.

At that point though it's so broad as to be kind of meaningless and to me not very interesting, because what about The Matrix, say? That's why I'm saying I'd focus down on movies which are really SUPERHERO movies, not just movies with characters who have superheroic levels of power in them but which intentionally avoid heroism/sacrifice (or keep it to crime thriller levels).

I'm not saying people have to agree, but to me it seems like a fairly straightforward distinction.

I actually think the real genre is a bit narrower than just "technically has a superhero or someone who could be argued to be one in it". It includes Nolan Bats, but to me that's towards the edges rather than the center.

 

[James Gasik]

If Robocop is a superhero movie, that shoots it up towards the top. I never saw it that way (well maybe Robocop 3) because while Murphy does have superpowers (being a cyborg), the focus of the movie isn't so much on superheroics as showing us a dystopian society and confronting the Ship of Theseus- how much of a man can you replace and have him still be a man?

I'm not saying you can't call it a superhero movie, but this shows how nebulous the "genre" is. Ghost in the Shell covers many of the same themes, and the Major is a superhuman cyborg, but I wouldn't call any of it's iterations "superhero" fare.

What makes The Punisher a superhero and Paul Kersey (Deathwish) not a superhero? Is it just being from a comic book? Is it wearing a costume? If it's being over the top and unrealistic, let's look at any 80's action movie. Is John Rambo a superhero?

Or how about the McManus brothers from Boondock Saints (where the idea of them being superheroes is mocked by Willem Dafoe's character in-universe).

I think we have to have some kind of consensus on what is a superhero movie. It can't just be a "comic book" movie, because Darkman exists- superhero without comic. Or on the other hand, The Losers, comic book movie without superheroes (unless you count that hilarious scene with Chris Evans).

It can't just be about a guy wearing a funny costume- unless you count shredded pants for the Hulk.

It can't just be about over the top CGI, because 300 was a movie.

To further illustrate these points, is the original Ghostbusters a superhero movie or not?*

*man, I feel like I might be responsible for creating another pointless "is Die Hard a Christmas movie" debate with this one, lol.

 

[AnotherGuy]

I feel like I might be responsible for creating another pointless "is Die Hard a Christmas movie" debate with this one, lol.

What the fuzz, I didn't know there was a debate, I thought it was settled.

= everytime.

 

[Reynard]

To further illustrate these points, is the original Ghostbusters a superhero movie or not?*

This is a great question that I had never even considered before.

Without thinking too hard about it -- yes, I'm hedging-- my gut says it qualifies. It ticks a number of the boxes, from costumes to sacrifice to specialness, and the mercenary motivations of some of the characters does not undermine that (Heroes for Hire, anyone?).

But I might have to think about it more, especially since my memory and feelings about Ghostbusters is deeply affected by The Real Ghostbusters cartoon, which is overtly more superheroic.

 

[Mannahnin]

For me, it depends on the day, but the choice is between

• Across the Spider-verse
• Ant-Man
• Black Panther
• Big Hero 6
• Captain America: Winter Soldier
• Into the Spiderverse
• Iron Man

Honorable mentions: Captain America: First Avenger, Superman: The Movie (1978), The Incredibles

One nomination that I think has been neglected: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The original 90s film. A great blend of fun-for-kids stuff, action, and drama. It represents everything I want out of a superhero movie, without resorting to over-the-top manufactured apocalypses or over reliance on special effects.

I'll also second a vote for Raimi's Spider-Man being a solid contender, but I'd need a rewatch to pick between 1 and 2.

Great short lists. 1978 Superman ranks pretty highly for me, too, in part because of the wonderful John Williams score, as someone else already highlighted.

For me Into the Spiderverse clinches the top spot. It's practically flawless. That's a movie I went to see multiple times in the theater and have made a point of evangelizing and bringing people to see.

 

[James Gasik]

What the fuzz, I didn't know there was a debate, I thought it was settled.

= everytime.

Yeah but it sure made the rounds for awhile, didn't it?

By the way, Lethal Weapon is a better Christmas movie.