2025’s Best Superhero Movies & TV Shows According to Our Comic Book Expert

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Superhero movies hit a rough patch in 2024, reaching a low not seen in nearly two decades. Thankfully, 2025 brought a welcome resurgence of the genre. Superheroes made a strong comeback across all platforms – in theaters, on TV, and even in video games like the critically acclaimed Dispatch. Despite changes in television, with the end of the CW’s Arrowverse and fewer Marvel series on Disney+, there was still a wealth of quality superhero content available for audiences to enjoy.

2025 was a fantastic year for superhero fans, with new releases from the DC Universe, different parts of the Marvel multiverse, and even two shows produced by Seth Rogen for Prime Video. We saw movies inspired by classic superhero styles and continued to enjoy amazing storytelling through animated series. Here are the ten best superhero movies and TV shows of the year.

10
‘Marvel Zombies’


Disney+

The animated miniseries Marvel Zombies expanded on the popular “What If…Zombies!” episode from Season 1 of Marvel’s What If…?, bringing the classic Marvel Zombies comic to life with characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was a great watch for the Halloween season, and it cleverly highlighted characters introduced in Phases Four and Five who hadn’t gotten much attention in the films. The series featured fun interactions between heroes like Shang-Chi and Ms. Marvel, brought back a character from Eternals, and even gave fans their first look at Blade before his upcoming movie. Ultimately, Marvel Zombies delivered the Avengers-style team-up that the Multiverse Saga had been missing.

9
‘The Sandman’ Season 2


Netflix

While not a traditional superhero show, The Sandman originates from DC Comics. Discussing the series is complicated by controversies surrounding its writer, Neil Gaiman, which likely explains the quiet release of Season 2 on Netflix. Despite this, the team behind the show did a great job adapting the famous comics, condensing the remaining story into a manageable format and focusing on the core narrative of Dream. The series could have used more episodes to fully explore some of the more unusual comic book issues, but considering the circumstances, it’s impressive that they were able to bring this beloved story to life in a way that fans will enjoy.

8
‘Ironheart’


Disney+

After appearing in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams finally got her own series with Ironheart on Disney+. The show quickly proved it wasn’t just trying to be a new Iron Man, instead focusing on how Riri’s background differed from Tony Stark’s and the unique challenges she faced building her armor. Like other Marvel series on Disney+, Ironheart feels like a movie spread out over six episodes, but it stays engaging thanks to a strong cast and characters we hope to see again. While the surprising appearance of Mephisto at the end grabbed a lot of attention, overall Ironheart delivered a fun and fresh take on a superhero origin story for one of Marvel’s latest heroes.

7
‘Invincible’ Season 3


Amazon Prime Video

Season 3 of Invincible remains a fantastic adaptation of the original Image Comics series. The animation is consistently top-notch, allowing for incredibly dynamic and over-the-top fight scenes – especially in the season finale, which feels like a high-octane, mature-rated Dragon Ball Z battle. The show continues to offer a fresh take on classic superhero tropes, notably by transforming the “Invincible War” storyline into a sprawling, multiversal story that fundamentally alters the series. However, Invincible‘s greatest strength has always been its characters, and Season 3 delves even deeper into their emotional lives and personal struggles, making the distinction between heroes and villains increasingly complex. Invincible is one of two superhero series created by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg that are featured on Prime Video.

6
‘Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’ Season 1


Disney+

“Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man” became a huge and unexpected hit in the superhero world of 2025. Initially planned as a backstory to the Spider-Man movies within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the show evolved into its own unique story. It reimagines Spider-Man’s origins with a fresh supporting cast, drawing characters from across the Marvel Universe—including those from “The Runaways” and his classic enemies. Colman Domingo’s performance as Norman Osborn is particularly noteworthy. The series successfully captures the spirit and look of the original Spider-Man comics by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, while still feeling current and relevant, much like the Ultimate comics did years ago. What could have been just another Spider-Man cartoon has become one of Marvel’s best animated shows, and fans are already excited for Season 2 in 2026.

5
‘Peacemaker’ Season 2


HBO Max

Season 2 of Peacemaker focuses more on its characters and their emotional journeys than the first season. While the finale left some viewers wanting more, the season overall lived up to the quality of its predecessor. John Cena continues to impress as an actor, and the supporting characters are developed into complex, well-rounded individuals who feel like important parts of the DC Universe. The season’s exploration of a Nazi-inspired world felt particularly relevant given the current rise in white nationalism, and it was a daring choice for a show in a shared universe. Peacemaker Season 2 also deserves praise for seamlessly transitioning the story from the old DCEU into the new DCU without relying on complicated multiverse explanations.

4
‘Gen V’ Season 2


Prime Video

It might seem ironic that The Boys – a show known for satirizing corporate decisions – would get its own spin-offs, but Gen V has truly delivered. In fact, it’s often exceeded expectations. Season 2 expertly builds on the events of the first season, setting up storylines for The Boys Season 5 while still focusing on its own characters and paying tribute to the late Chance Perdomo. With a fantastic performance by Hamish Linklater as the villain Dean Cipher, sharp and timely social commentary, and a talented young cast, Gen V Season 2 is a significant improvement over its first season and leaves fans eager to see what’s next for this universe.

3
‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’


Disney

After several disappointing movie adaptations, The Fantastic Four: First Steps successfully brings Marvel’s first family to life. The film takes place in a separate reality, outside the main Marvel Cinematic Universe, and features a unique, retro-futuristic style that sets it apart from many modern superhero films. The Fantastic Four: First Steps not only does a great job with the classic “Galactus Trilogy” storyline—improving on the previous film’s portrayal of Galactus—but also feels more like a thrilling sci-fi disaster movie than a typical superhero story.

The actors truly bring the Fantastic Four to life, feeling like they’ve stepped right out of the comic books. You’ll genuinely root for these heroes and want to see more of their stories. Vanessa Kirby is particularly impressive as Sue Storm, shining in a strong ensemble cast. And the music is fantastic too! Michael Giacchino’s score, especially the Fantastic Four theme, is arguably the best superhero theme Marvel has had since The Avengers, and it was a classic even before the movie came out.

2
‘Thunderbolts*’


Marvel Studios

The Thunderbolts could be the MCU’s most pleasant surprise since Guardians of the Galaxy. Similar to Guardians, this new team is made up of flawed and complex characters. However, Thunderbolts particularly emphasizes the emotional struggles of individuals the MCU—and viewers—previously considered unimportant, and explores how they can come together to become something truly extraordinary, essentially forming a new version of the Avengers.

As a critic, I have to say Thunderbolts really nailed that special Avengers-style chemistry – the way characters from all over the MCU universe interact and build genuinely interesting relationships. What struck me most was how relevant it felt; these characters aren’t just physically exhausted, they’re emotionally drained and dealing with a real sense of hopelessness. The film tackles mental health in a surprisingly thoughtful way, and honestly, it’s funny, heartwarming, and feels incredibly fresh. Thunderbolts proves the MCU still has a lot of great stories to tell.

1
‘Superman’


Warner Bros. Pictures

Highly anticipated and set to launch James Gunn’s new DC Universe, the 2025 film Superman faced enormous expectations – fitting for a character known for his incredible power. This wasn’t just another superhero movie; it was the third attempt to reimagine Superman for modern audiences, and it took a surprisingly lighthearted approach with elements like a super-powered dog and a charmingly wholesome tone. The film was a resounding success, quickly becoming a classic and, like Batman Begins or Iron Man, signaling a fresh and exciting direction for the superhero genre.

David Corenswet shines as the new Superman, bringing both a classic feel to the character and his own fresh take. After years of audiences feeling disconnected from Superman, director James Gunn has made him instantly likable, even for those who were skeptical. With lines like, “He’s alone, and he’s scared,” and “Maybe that’s the real punk rock,” the film resonated deeply, and many viewers found themselves humming the song “Punkrocker” long after leaving the theater.

The new Superman movie takes inspiration from the comics and, whether planned or not, mirrors the time it was made. Like the original 1938 comic and the 1978 film, this Superman appears at a moment when people really need a hero. It’s a promising sign, and the future looks bright for DC films.

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2025-12-11 00:35