Although some may believe thesuperherogenre is dying, these movies still make an insane amount of money and receive great critical and audience scores. With James Gunn’sSupermanscoring some of the best reviews for a Superman movie andThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsreceiving a better Rotten Tomatoes score than every other Fantastic Four movie ever, the superhero genre is nowhere near extinction. Marvel and DC may have been mixed in recent years from releasing solid comic book films, but the construction of the DCU and Marvel’s cutback on their content output means there will probably be a stronger selection of films released in the future.
From grounded crime thrillers to MCU space epics, the2020shave brought many of the best superhero movies of all time. Some may not have been major financial successes, but they had a huge cultural impact that people will be watching for generations.
Here are the best superhero movies of the 2020s so far.
8’Deadpool & Wolverine' (2024)
Deadpool & Wolverine
Say what you will about the storytelling, butDeadpool & Wolverinedelivered on everything a Deadpool movie should do. From a sharp satire on the current state of superhero movies to insane cameo appearances, the film knew exactly what audiences were eager to see and capitalized on it. The return of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine was something many people were worried about, but Jackman acted like he had never left, putting on an emotionally charged performance as well as having amazing comedic chemistry with Deadpool. The plot may lack coherence in some respects, but its drive for entertainment makes it one of the best MCU movies of phase five.
Should Deadpool Join the Avengers?
Now that Deadpool is officially an MCU character, people wonder if he will end upjoining the Avengers in their upcoming filmor if he will stay in his own universe. Although it would be amazing to see Deadpool interact with the Avengers, keeping him in his own movies would be the smarter choice. The Deadpool films work so well because they feel different and refreshing compared to the other superhero movies out there, with a distinct tone and pace that make them stand out. Putting Deadpool in an Avengers movie would make for a major tonal shift that could derail the film entirely. Unless the filmmakers behind the Avengers movies want to make a film with the same tone as the Deadpool movies, they shouldn’t include him.
7’Superman' (2025)
There was a lot of pressure for James Gunn’sSupermanto succeed, and luckily it did. Gunn’s clear love for the character as well as faithful comic book elements are on full display, creating a lived-in universe filled with likable characters and setting up a great future to come. David Corenswet is fantastic as Superman, delivering hope in every frame while excelling in the action set pieces. The film does feel overstuffed at times, but the light-hearted tone and love for comic book filmmaking are felt in every scene. DC is in good hands with James Gunn at the wheel.
‘Supergirl’ Has All the Ingredients To Be Great
AlthoughSupermanwas a great introduction to the DCU,Supergirlhas the chance to be even better. Witha great introduction in the final moments ofSuperman,Supergirlis set up to be a darker depiction of the Superman character, looking to discuss what would happen if Superman was adopted by a bad family. As well as the film having less pressure to build a universe,Supergirlhas the chance to be something special and give audiences a completely different superhero experience. It’s rare to even see a female-led superhero film, and to see one be taken as seriously asSupergirlis extremely exciting.
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6’Thunderbolts*' (2025)
Thunderbolts*
Thunderbolts*is easily the most surprising MCU film in a long time. Centering on a group of B-tier Marvel characters, the film stands out among their other films by telling a story with a strong message. The mental health theme is executed brilliantly by Jake Schreier, providing some of the most emotional sequences in an MCU film while giving characters fulfilling arcs and redemptions. Florence Pugh shows that she is one of the best actresses in the MCU with her empathetic performance as Yelena, driving the film’s narrative in the most satisfying way. The scale of the film may be small, but it leaves a heavy impact on the viewer.
Marvel Should Take Note of How ‘Thunderbolts*’ Performed
With films likeCaptain America: Brave New WorldandThe Marvels, the MCU has struggled to tell individual stories that build the future of the MCU. Easily the best project that achieves this in phase five isThunderbolts*, which brings together minor MCU characters and makes them into a Guardians of the Galaxy-like team. Centering on a main takeaway is also something that the MCU has been missing, with most of their recent films lacking any discussion after experiencing. It is clear that they like what Jake Schreier did withThunderbolts*, ashe is now set to do an X-Men movie.
5’Spider-Man: No Way Home' (2021)
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Films likeThe Flashhave attempted to recreate the experience ofSpider-Man: No Way Home, but nothing has come close to the nostalgia it brought to audiences. Seeing Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire return as their beloved characters made for an emotionally satisfying experience, but the story surrounding it is just as strong. Seeing Peter Parker make poor decisions that lead to harsh consequences was a surprising direction to take in an MCU film, but it is all the better for it. As well as Willem Dafoe turning in another stellar performance as the Green Goblin,Spider-Man: No Way Homestands as one of the best live-action Spider-Man movies by telling a nuanced story while providing the nostalgia that fans were eager for.
Spider-Man Should Stay a Street-Level Character
WithJon Bernthal set to appear inSpider-Man: Brand New Day, it looks like the Spider-Man franchise is swaying away from the multiverse and going back to its street-level roots. With the wayNo Way Homeended, this was the best move for the character. Seeing Spider-Man involved in Avengers-level threats has been fun to see, but audiences are clamoring for him to return to small-scale battles and introduce other iconic Spider-Man villains. Doing this allows for more intimate storytelling and allows for Peter to grow. Although it would be nice to see him return for some of the Avengers films, having him remain in his home city is the better move with regard to storytelling.
The Suicide Squad
After the critical failure that wasSuicide Squad, James Gunn showed that these characters can be faithfully adapted in the most “comic book” way possible.The Suicide Squadis entirely self-aware, embracing its silliness to provide an experience unlike any other superhero film. With the inclusion of characters like the Polka Dot Man and King Shark, the film’s absurdity is its biggest strength. The small-scale plot and comedic sensibilities also give the film a unique quality compared to most comic book movies, focusing more on adapting the source material and providing an entertaining experience instead of going for anything overly ambitious. It may not have done well at the box office, especially compared to its predecessor, but it is more than worthy of being in the conversation forthe best superhero movies in recent years.
James Gunn Could Be the Best Comic Book Director
With hisGuardians of the Galaxytrilogy and nowSuperman, James Gunn has provided strong evidence that he is the best comic book director. His love for superhero content is felt in every movie, adapting even the smallest characters just to stay faithful to the original stories. Although directors like the Russo brothers have delivered numerous excellent superhero films, Gunn stands out by showing his diversity as a filmmaker. Even many all of his films follow an ensemble of heroes, each film feels extremely different from each other, juggling different tones and themes in each film. While he may be taking a break from directing due to being the head of the DCU, his work will stand the test of time.
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3’The Batman’ (2022)
The Batman
Going through production hell for years, it is astonishing thatThe Batmanturned out as good as it was. Originally going to be a Ben Affleck-starring and directed movie, the film is a simultaneously grounded yet comic-accurate look at the Batman character that tests his moral judgment. Robert Pattinson is the best Batman iteration put on screen, with his engaging presence and moving performance elevating the character to heights yet to be seen in a live-action film. Although the sequelis slowly getting into production,The Batmanwill easily stand as one of the best Batman films of all time.
The Best Part of ‘The Batman’ Is the World Building
Although the character work is great inThe Batman, arguably the best part of the film is the world-building. Gotham City has never felt this lively in a live action, with its aesthetic and scope captured by cinematographer Greg Fraser beautifully portraying the corrupt city. The way the film depicts the criminal underworld and the evil that runs Gotham feels so real and lived-in despite its comic book tendencies. WithThe Penguinexpressing more of what the Gotham world is like, it would be a shame if this world was never depicted on screen again after the upcoming sequel.
2’Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' (2023)
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verseis one of the most influential animated movies of the 21st century, with its blend of 2D and 3D animation styles making for a wholly unique experience that felt like a comic book come-to-life.Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Versetakes what the first film did and enhances it, blending even more animation styles together that further push the boundaries of what animation can accomplish. Miles Morales easily becomes one of the best Spider-Men in this film, with his story of legacy and self-worth taking the Spider-Man character to emotional heights that have yet to be depicted in any Spider-Man film. The ending may be a massive cliffhanger, but the film is well worth watching despite it.
The ‘Spider-Verse’ Films Could End Up as the Best Spider-Man Trilogy
DespiteBeyond the Spider-Versebeing delayed constantly, the wait will be well worth it if the quality is equal to the other two films. The twoSpider-Versefilms stand as the best Spider-Man movies not just because of their gorgeous animation style, but because they are the most faithful Spider-Man adaptations yet. A main trait of Spider-Man is his struggle to define heroism, and that is his main development in both movies. Shameik Moore adds so much life to the character of Miles Morales, but it’s the writing that makes the character so engaging and interesting. TheSpider-Versemovies are not only great comic book movies, but movies that any film fan can get something out of.
1’Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' (2024)
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
James Gunn built some of the most likable comic book characters in his first twoGuardians of the Galaxyfilms, butGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3delivers on the satisfying payoff and end of this collection of heroes. Despite no major deaths, the film is a constant tear-jerker. Whether it’s Rocket’s backstory or an all-time dance number involving Florence and the Machine’s “Dog Days Are Over,” Gunn knows how to evoke emotions out of the viewer while simultaneously telling a fantastic story. There may not be anything in the film that changes the game for the superhero genre like theSpider-Versefilms, but its strong storytelling and incredible set of characters make itone of the best superhero movies of the decade.
The ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Might Be the Best Superhero Trilogy
With The Dark Knight trilogy and Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy being worthy additions to the comic book genre, James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy stands tall as the best superhero trilogy due to its incredible character growth and the overall high quality of each film in the trilogy. Unlike other comic book trilogies, there is no weak link in the Guardians films. While there are definitely better individual comic book films, there is no better three-film comic book movie run than theGuardians of the Galaxytrilogy.
