Ranking All Superhero Movies – Movies Spotlight – March 2015

Empire Magazine put out a feature article called The Greatest Superhero Movies of All Time, which got me thinking – how many superhero movies have I seen? The answer is ninety-five. Here is my ranking from worst to best (broken down into five tiers).

Tier 1: Painfully Bad

These are the superhero films to never see… ever.

95.)        Catwoman (2004), directed by Pitof

94.)        Batman & Robin (1997), directed by Joel Schumacher

93.)        Steel (1997), directed by Kenneth Johnson

92.)        Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987), directed by Sidney J. Furie

91.)        Supergirl, (1984), directed by Jeannot Szwarc

90.)        Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011), directed by Mark Neveldine & Brian Taylor

89.)        Captain America (1990), directed by Albert Pyun

88.)        Elektra (2005), directed by Rob Bowman

87.)        The Phantom (1996), directed by Simon Wincer

86.)        Ghost Rider (2007), directed by Mark Steven Johnson

Tier 2: Really, Really Bad

These films are also just bad, but diehard fans may find some redeeming qualities.

85.)        My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006), directed by Ivan Reitman

84.)        Zoom (2006), directed by Peter Hewitt

83.)        The Shadow (1994), directed by Russell Mulcahy

82.)        The Meteor Man (1993), directed by Robert Townsend

81.)        Blade: Trinity (2004), directed by David S. Goyer

80.)        Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995), directed by Bryan Spicer

79.)        Blankman (1993), directed by Mike Binder

78.)        Superman III (1983), directed by Richard Lester

77.)        Sky High (2005), directed by Mike Mitchell

76.)        Spawn (1997), directed by Mark A.Z. Dippe

75.)        The Toxic Avenger (1984), directed by Michael Herz & Lloyd Kaufman

74.)        The Specials (2000), directed by Craig Mazin

73.)        Daredevil (2003), directed by Mark Steven Johnson

72.)        The Spirit (2008), directed by Frank Miller

71.)        Jonah Hex (2010), directed by Jimmy Hayward

70.)        The Punisher (1989), directed by Mark Goldblatt

69.)        Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014), directed by Jonathan Liebesman

68.)        Mystery Men (1999), directed by Kinka Usher

67.)        Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), directed by Tim Story

66.)        Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Secret of the Ooze (1991), directed by Michael Pressman

65.)        X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), directed by Gavin Hood

64.)        Hulk (2003), directed by Ang Lee

Tier 3: Fun and Entertaining, but Nothing Special

These are the superhero films you kind of like (maybe even secretly love), but they are just not that great.

63.)        X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), directed by Brett Ratner

62.)        Batman Forever (1995), directed by Joel Schumacher

61.)        Green Lantern (2011), directed by Martin Campbell

60.)        The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), directed by Marc Webb

59.)        Fantastic Four (2005), directed by Tim Story

58.)        Hancock (2008), directed by Peter Berg

57.)        The Crow (1994), directed by Alex Proyas

56.)        Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993), directed by Stuart Gillard

55.)        Tank Girl (1995), directed by Rachel Talalay

54.)        The Punisher (2004), directed by Jonathan Hensleigh

53.)        Zebraman (2004), directed by Takashi Miike

52.)        Batman: The Movie (1966), directed by Leslie H. Martinson

51.)        Orgazmo (1997), directed by Trey Parker

50.)        Superman Returns (2006), directed by Bryan Singer

49.)        The Green Hornet (2011), directed by Michel Gondry

48.)        Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008), directed by Guillermo del Toro

47.)        TMNT (2007), directed by Kevin Munroe

46.)        Iron Man 2 (2010), directed by Jon Favreau

45.)        The Incredible Hulk (2008), directed by Louis Leterrier

44.)        Spider-Man 3 (2007), directed by Sam Raimi

43.)        Blade II (2002), directed by Guillermo del Toro

42.)        Punisher: War Zone (2008), directed by Lexi Alexander

41.)        Push (2009), directed by Paul McGuigan

40.)        Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (1990), directed by Steve Barron

39.)        Hellboy (2004), directed by Guillermo del Toro

38.)        Darkman (1990), directed by Sam Raimi

37.)        Defendor (2009), directed by Peter Stebbings

36.)        The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), directed by Mark Webb

35.)        Megamind (2010), directed by Tom McGrath

34.)        Kick-Ass 2 (2013), directed by Jeff Wadlow

33.)        Constantine (2005), directed by Francis Lawrence

32.)        The Wolverine (2013), directed by James Mangold

31.)        Superman II (1980), directed by Richard Donner & Richard Lester

30.)        The Rocketeer (1991), directed Joe Johnston

29.)        Unbreakable (2000), directed by M. Night Shyamalan

28.)        Batman Returns (1992), directed by Tim Burton

27.)        Big Hero 6 (2014), directed by Don Hall & Chris Williams

Tier 2: Very Good Superhero Films

These are the superhero films you love.

26.)        X-Men (2000), directed by Bryan Singer

25.)        Thor (2011), directed by Kenneth Branagh

24.)        Blade (1998), directed by Stephen Norrington

23.)        Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), directed by Joe Johnston

22.)        Man of Steel (2013), directed by Zack Snyder

21.)        Kick-Ass (2010), directed by Matthew Vaughn

20.)        X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), directed by Bryan Singer

19.)        Thor: The Dark World (2013), directed by Alan Taylor

18.)        X-Men 2 (2003), directed by Bryan Singer

17.)        Watchmen (2009), directed by Zack Snyder

16.)        Batman (1989), directed by Tim Burton

15.)        Superman (1978), directed by Richard Donner

14.)        Iron Man (2008), directed by Jon Favreau

13.)        Chronicle (2012), directed by Josh Trank

12.)        X-Men: First Class (2011), directed by Matthew Vaughn

11.)        Spider-Man (2002), directed by Sam Raimi

10.)        Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), directed by Anthony Russo & Joe Russo

With Phase II of their MCU, Marvel has taken their films to a new level of quality, fun and entertainment. Marvel also positioned their solo-hero films to fit character specific genres (Iron Man 3’s 80s/90s style action movie, Thor: The Dark World’s adventure fantasy feel and Guardians of the Galaxy’s space opera vibe). Captain America: The Winter Soldier wonderfully works as an action spy/thriller, feeling just gritty enough while still holding onto the MCU’s overall lighter tone.

9.)           Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993), directed by Eric Radomski & Bruce Timm

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is the feature film incarnation of Batman: The Animated Series. It is just brilliant, bring fans what is probably the best versions of Batman, the Joker and a Batman movie (until Christopher Nolan made his Dark Knight Trilogy).

8.)           Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), directed by James Gunn

First there was Star Wars; next there was Firefly; now there is Guardians of the Galaxy. The film is just plain fun, mixing great sci-fi elements with awesome action, funny writing, maybe the year’s best soundtrack, and a stellar group of characters (and our latest Han Solo/Malcolm Reynold in Star Lord).

7.)           The Incredibes (2004), directed by Brad Bird

Brad Bird’s first Pixar film showcases a family of superheroes in a world of superheroes, but the genius of the film is that he takes these extraordinary characters and makes them first exist in the mundane tediousness of normal, everyday life.

6.)           Iron Man 3 (2013), directed by Shane Black

 Shan Black is known for writing some of Hollywood’s best action films in the 80s and 90s (most famously Lethal Weapon). With Iron Man 3, he gives the Tony Stark adventure the same vibe, while also giving Robert Downey Jr. some of his best dialog to date (recapturing the magic of their Kiss Kiss Bang Bang collaboration).

Tier 1: Simply the Best

These are the films that changed the rules, making superhero films the massive critical and commercial successes they are today.

5.)           The Avengers (2012), directed by Joss Whedon

The first half to two-thirds of The Avengers is a little rocky, but once things finally kick off in New York the film is nothing but pure gleeful joy.

4.)           Batman Begins (2005), directed by Christopher Nolan

Origin stories are the hardest to tell, as so much story is devoted to the how and why. Christopher Nolan, however, set the new standard with Batman Begins, one that has not yet been eclipsed.

3.)           The Dark Knight Rises (2012), directed by Christopher Nolan

Epic is a simple and short way to describe the last chapter of the Dark Knight Trilogy. Nolan’s film feels massive in scale, but everything is rooted in character and emotion.

2.)           Spider-Man 2 (2004), directed by Sam Raimi

Spider-Man 2 is the perfect mix of Sam Raimi’s campy style and great storytelling, creating the best comic book feeling superhero film. It is infinitely watchable, and always enjoyable.

1.)         1.)           The Dark Knight (2008), directed by Christopher Nolan

            Brilliantly capturing the essence of Michael Mann, Nolan creates a superhero film that completely transcends the genre (forcing the Oscars to change their rules so they do not look like fool again after they snubbed it in 2009), rewriting the rules of what a superhero film could aspire to be. It is a magnificent piece of entertainment and art (and let us not forget Heath Ledger’s chilling portrayal of the Joker – it is breathtaking).