The Greatest Superhero Movie From Every Year of the 2000s So Far

Before the year 2000, superhero movies were rare, and Marvel films were almost nonexistent, with only a couple of exceptions like Howard the Duck and Blade. Most attempts were weak adaptations of old comic strips such as The Shadow and The Phantom. There were a few bright spots – Tim Burton’s Batman films were excellent, while Joel Schumacher’s sequels were just okay, and the four Christopher Reeve Superman movies had mixed quality. Over the last 25 years, the number of superhero films has exploded, but, similar to those earlier franchises, the quality has been very inconsistent.

Here’s a look back at the last twenty-five years of superhero films, with a spotlight on the very best movies from that era.

26) 2000 — X-Men

In the beginning, some films will succeed simply because there aren’t many alternatives. But even with competition, it’s difficult to picture Bryan Singer’s delightful and relatively simple X-Men movie not being the clear winner, especially considering how over-the-top blockbusters are now.

The movie excels at introducing characters that feel authentic to longtime fans and are easily understood by new viewers. Like Spider-Man, it played a crucial role in making Marvel movies box office hits. With strong casting choices and a well-maintained pace, it’s a fantastic film, even though the next installment would ultimately be even better.

Stream X-Men on Disney+.

25) 2001 — No Winner Because No Superhero Movies

Let’s keep this short and sweet: no superhero films came out in 2001. That year belonged to fantasy epics like The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. And then… there was Pootie Tang?

24) 2002 — Spider-Man

Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man had an even bigger impact than X-Men when it came to shaping the early Marvel movies before the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was a huge blockbuster, appealing to a wide range of audiences who eagerly went to see it.

Simply put, the massive success of this film proved that comic book movies – especially those from Marvel – could appeal to everyone, from dedicated fans to casual viewers. It remains incredibly enjoyable even now, over two decades later, and Willem Dafoe is fantastic as the Green Goblin. Blade II also came out that year and was good, but it didn’t reach the same heights as Spider-Man.

Stream Spider-Man on Disney+.

23) 2003 — X2: X-Men United

While X-Men did a good job introducing the characters, X2 is a significant step up. It’s more complex, with higher stakes and a deeper connection to the characters we care about – everything you’d want in a superhero sequel.

This movie is packed with iconic scenes – Nightcrawler’s initial assault on the White House, Stryker’s team breaching the X-Mansion, and Jean Grey’s ultimate sacrifice, to name a few. It really brings together the best moments from the original X-Men trilogy. It’s unfortunate that the sequel didn’t live up to this film’s potential, as it had set up some exciting possibilities. X2 came out during a surge in superhero movies following the success of Spider-Man, alongside films like Daredevil and Hulk. Honestly, it’s tough to say which of those two was the weaker film – neither one ever got a sequel, and for good reason.

Stream X2: X-Men United on Disney+.

22) 2004 — Spider-Man 2

In 2004, Marvel led the way in superhero films, though DC released one movie too: Catwoman. Marvel’s offerings included the final film in the Blade series, Blade: Trinity, and a somewhat campy The Punisher. However, the year is best remembered for Spider-Man 2, which is considered one of the greatest superhero sequels of all time.

Despite competition from Guillermo del Toro’s Hellboy, Spider-Man 2 easily outperformed it. Like X2, it showed filmmakers how to create a great Marvel sequel by making the villain’s threat directly connected to the hero’s personal life – and it worked brilliantly. Even now, many consider Spider-Man 2 to be one of the best superhero sequels ever made.

Stream Spider-Man 2 on Disney+.

21) 2005 — Batman Begins

2005 was a strong year for DC Comics. Constantine gained a dedicated following, and Batman Begins successfully rebooted the Batman franchise with a more serious tone after the widely criticized Batman & Robin. Marvel’s offerings weren’t as successful; Elektra failed to resonate with audiences, and while Fantastic Four showed promise, it ended abruptly and wasn’t particularly memorable.

Despite being surpassed by the next film in the series, Batman Begins is a memorable and impressive reboot thanks to its grand scale and focus on both character development and world-building.

Stream Batman Begins on HBO Max.

20) 2006 — Superman Returns

Looking back at 2006, the superhero movie scene was pretty bare bones. Marvel and DC each released one film that year, but honestly, neither one really made a splash. It was before the big boom, you know?

Ultimately, we chose Superman Returns over X-Men: The Last Stand. However, we still feel it would have been better if Superman Returns hadn’t been made, and Bryan Singer had directed The Last Stand as originally planned.

Stream Superman Returns on HBO Max.

19) 2007 — Spider-Man 3

You might remember Spider-Man 3 as a letdown, and it’s true it wasn’t perfect. However, we’re not discussing it here because of any particular strengths it had.

This film is the least bad of a weak year for superhero movies, which is why it ranks here. Both Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and its earlier film were pretty forgettable, Ghost Rider was actually difficult to sit through, and DC didn’t release a movie in 2007. So, Spider-Man 3 ends up on top, by default.

Stream Spider-Man 3 on Disney+.

18) 2008 — The Dark Knight

Summer 2008 was a huge year for superhero movies, with two instant classics released within three months. While often overlooked, films like The Incredible Hulk and Hellboy II: The Golden Army – which many fans actually prefer to the first Hellboy – also came out that year. And rounding out the year was another underrated gem, Punisher: War Zone.

Every film in the selection was excellent, but the final choice came down to Iron Man and the hugely successful The Dark Knight. While Iron Man launched a whole interconnected film universe – and essentially popularized the idea of cinematic universes – The Dark Knight ultimately stood out as the better film. It’s widely considered, and likely will remain, the greatest superhero movie of all time.

Stream The Dark Knight on HBO Max.

17) 2009 — Watchmen

Following a surge of similar movies in 2008, 2009 saw a slowdown in the superhero genre. That year only brought us a lesser-known DC film and a poorly received X-Men movie. Notably, it was the only year after the release of Iron Man that Marvel didn’t release a new film in what would become the MCU.

Zack Snyder’s Watchmen easily triumphed over the poorly received X-Men Origins: Wolverine. This wasn’t just due to the weakness of Origins, but primarily because Watchmen is a visually stunning and thought-provoking film that wisely avoided a silly, over-the-top climax. Even now, it remains one of the most overlooked gems in superhero movie history.

Stream Watchmen on HBO Max.

16) 2010 — Kick-Ass

And here’s the only superhero film on our list that isn’t from Marvel or DC. Kick-Ass isn’t just the best movie based on an Image Comics title – it’s better than adaptations like The Crow remake and both The Old Guard films – it’s genuinely one of the best superhero movies from the 2010s.

Kick-Ass is a clever, entertaining, and well-acted film that really launched Chloë Grace Moretz’s career, with her delivering a fantastic performance as Hit-Girl. The movie smartly toned down some of the darkest parts of the original comic book, but still managed to keep its blend of witty humor and realistic, impactful consequences. It also benefited from being released at a time when other superhero movies like Jonah Hex and Iron Man 2 weren’t particularly strong.

Stream Kick-Ass on MovieSphere+.

15) 2011 — Captain America: The First Avenger

Similar to the summer of 2008, 2011 saw a lot of superhero movies released, but the quality varied quite a bit.

Looking back at superhero origins, DC really dropped the ball with Green Lantern. But Marvel nailed three of them! Thor was a fun start, but Captain America: The First Avenger and X-Men: First Class are truly fantastic. If I had to pick one, it’s Captain America. It’s such a sweet, big-hearted movie that really focuses on its characters, and it feels different from a lot of what the MCU became. Some even say it’s the best Marvel movie, and honestly, I can see why. Later films often fall into familiar patterns, but The First Avenger feels fresh and stands completely on its own.

Stream Captain America: The First Avenger on Disney+.

14) 2012 — The Avengers

2012 was marked by two big events and a movie reboot that many felt happened too quickly. That reboot was, of course, The Amazing Spider-Man.

Let’s talk about the big event movies of the year – The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises. The Avengers absolutely delivered on the hype, solidifying the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a blockbuster force that everyone could enjoy. The Dark Knight Rises, though? That one really split audiences. Now, I know what you’re thinking: what about Dredd? While it’s an amazing film, it doesn’t quite fit the superhero mold. But don’t worry, we’ll definitely be covering it when we get to our picks for the best action movies of the year.

Stream The Avengers on Disney+.

13) 2013 — Man of Steel

We mentioned The Avengers really launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe into mainstream success. A great example of this is 2013: both Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World earned significantly more money worldwide than their previous installments.

Despite some controversy, DC’s Man of Steel was the biggest superhero movie of 2013. It was praised for its grand scale, exciting final battle, and excellent choices for the actors playing Superman and General Zod. The Wolverine came in a close second.

Stream Man of Steel on Warner Bros.

12) 2014 — Captain America: The Winter Soldier

In 2014, Marvel released four movies, and only one of them—The Amazing Spider-Man 2—wasn’t well-received.

Besides those, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and Guardians of the Galaxy are all key movies in this type of story. While Guardians is unique, The Winter Soldier is a truly captivating political thriller and remains a particularly important film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Stream Captain America: The Winter Soldier on Disney+.

11) 2015 — Ant-Man

Like 2014, Marvel dominated the box office in 2015 with three film releases. Unfortunately, the quality of Fantastic Four makes us wish they’d only released two.

That just leaves Ant-Man and Avengers: Age of Ultron. While neither film is considered a masterpiece, Ant-Man is generally more fun and consistently engaging. It does rely a little too heavily on the common Marvel trope of having a villain who mirrors the hero, but it’s still a more enjoyable watch.

Stream Ant-Man on Disney+.

10) 2016 — Deadpool

2016 saw a huge number of superhero movies released, with four from Marvel and two from DC. While some were hits, others missed the mark, resulting in a mixed bag of success. Films that didn’t quite work out included the divisive Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the troubled Suicide Squad, and the poorly received X-Men: Apocalypse.

The winners are Doctor Strange, Captain America: Civil War, and Deadpool. The final decision came down to Deadpool and Civil War, with Deadpool ultimately winning because it’s such a fantastic portrayal of the character. Ryan Reynolds was perfectly cast as Deadpool, and it’s clear he was truly dedicated to the role. Civil War deserves recognition for adding depth to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and focusing on character development. While it attempts to do a lot in one film, sometimes feeling a bit uneven, it ultimately succeeds.

Stream Deadpool on Disney+.

9) 2017 — Thor: Ragnarok

This year marks the start of some difficult choices. We have six superhero movies to consider – two from DC and four from Marvel. Let’s start by removing the weakest one: Justice League.

However, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) delivered three consecutive hits with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Thor: Ragnarok. Add in Logan and Wonder Woman, and 2017 was an exceptionally strong year for superhero movies. While Thor: Ragnarok stands out as the peak of that franchise, Guardians Vol. 2 is a strong contender for the best in its trilogy. Wonder Woman proved that the DC Extended Universe could create a truly meaningful film, and Logan was a powerfully emotional story, remarkably grounded in reality for a movie about a character with claws.

Stream Thor: Ragnarok on Disney+.

8) 2018 — Black Panther

Both Wonder Woman and Black Panther were hugely significant films, not only for the DC and Marvel cinematic universes, but for superhero movies in general. Black Panther was particularly groundbreaking because it allowed a wider range of people – not just young people, but adults too – to finally see themselves represented as superheroes on the big screen, something that was harder to achieve with characters like Blade.

2018 was a great year for superhero movies, with popular releases like Aquaman, Avengers: Infinity War, Deadpool 2, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Venom. However, despite the success of Infinity War, Black Panther was the clear frontrunner.

Stream Black Panther on Disney+.

7) 2019 — Avengers: Endgame

2019 was a fairly unremarkable year for superhero movies, with most releases being either mediocre or outright failures. Films like Captain Marvel, Dark Phoenix, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Shazam!, and the poorly received Hellboy reboot didn’t offer much challenge to Avengers: Endgame, which was the clear standout. Joker did gain a dedicated following, though some fans may have changed their opinions after seeing its controversial sequel, questioning the original film’s lasting impact.

Avengers: Endgame truly felt like the ultimate superhero movie. Although the time travel aspects are a little complicated, the film impressively manages to tie up so many storylines. Every character gets a satisfying arc, and the emotional scenes are incredibly powerful. Plus, it’s difficult to picture a more thrilling moment in the superhero genre than Captain America’s call to ‘Assemble’.

Stream Avengers: Endgame on Disney+.

6) 2020 — Birds of Prey

It’s no surprise that 2020 saw fewer movies released – and that includes superhero films. However, we still managed to get three of them that year.

Marvel finally released The New Mutants, but it’s a film most people wouldn’t notice was missing. DC had a more varied year, with the very enjoyable and lively Birds of Prey alongside the disappointing and confusing Wonder Woman 1984. Margot Robbie should definitely keep playing Harley Quinn if she’s interested.

Stream Birds of Prey on HBO Max.

5) 2021 — The Suicide Squad

Man, The Suicide Squad was such a letdown, especially considering how much hype there was! But thankfully, Warner Bros. saw something special in James Gunn and gave him control over the DC Universe, which is awesome. I’m really excited to see what he does with it!

2021’s The Suicide Squad was a standout film, thanks to its unique, non-traditional structure, clever writing, and excellent cast. While Marvel released five movies that year, offering some competition, we rank those as follows: Spider-Man: No Way Home, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Black Widow, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, and Eternals. However, all of those films feel like they’re competing for second place, because The Suicide Squad is truly one of the best superhero movies ever made. We see it as the real start of the DC Extended Universe, and it’s hard to think of it as one of the last films in that series.

Stream The Suicide Squad on HBO Max.

4) 2022 — The Batman

While not as groundbreaking as Batman Begins, The Batman still offers many impressive features. The music, distinctive orange and black visuals, and casting choices are all strong points, even though the mystery elements sometimes make it feel like the audience solves the puzzles before Batman does.

2022 wasn’t a particularly competitive year for superhero movies. The Batman was clearly superior to films like Black Adam, Morbius, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Thor: Love and Thunder. However, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was a strong contender, not far behind The Batman in quality.

Stream The Batman on HBO Max.

3) 2023 — Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Choosing the best movie of 2023 wasn’t difficult. James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 beautifully wrapped up his trilogy and was a big success. While Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem was the best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie yet, we still think Gunn’s film was the best overall.

Most of this year’s superhero movies were just okay – we didn’t strongly love or dislike The Flash, Blue Beetle, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, or The Marvels. However, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was definitely a miss.

Stream Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 on Disney+.

2) 2024 — Deadpool & Wolverine

In 2024, DC released Joker: Folie à Deux, but it wasn’t enough to compete. Marvel had five superhero movies: Madame Web, Venom: The Last Dance, Kraven the Hunter, and Deadpool & Wolverine. While most didn’t perform well, Deadpool & Wolverine was a clear success both critically and financially, making Marvel the winner of the year in superhero films.

Stream Deadpool & Wolverine on Disney+.

1) 2025 — Superman

The recent Superman movie successfully launched the new DC Universe. It’s created a more optimistic and unified DC world, moving away from the previously consistently dark and gloomy atmosphere.

Both Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four: First Steps were good movies, but Superman was the standout superhero film of the past year. Despite that, it wasn’t a bad year for Marvel, even if Captain America: Brave New World didn’t leave a lasting impression.

Stream Superman on HBO Max.

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2026-01-15 01:20