Spider-Man 2
The visuals and story of Spider-Man 2, highlighted by iconic moments, an unforgettable villain, and a compelling arc for Peter coming to terms with his role as both person and superhero, make the film not just one of the best superhero films of all time but simply one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
Iron Man
With the inspired casting of Robert Downey Jr. in the lead role and Jon Favreau’s creative liberties with the comic books, Iron Man became an instant classic, and it continues to shape the public’s perception of superhero films and blockbusters, cementing a place of greatness in cinematic history.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
What could easily have been a cheap attempt at using nostalgia to build an audience ends up being the powerful denouement of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker’s hero’s journey, accentuated by strong performances, fun moments, and gripping action that make Spider-Man: No Way Home one of the Best Films of All Time.
Guardians of the Galaxy
An iconic soundtrack brings together thrilling sci-fi action sequences, a fun team-up, and quality jokes in Guardians of the Galaxy, making James Gunn’s first MCU film not just one of the best in the franchise, but also one of the best superhero films ever and one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
Logan
Whether you agree with the intensity of my above statement, there’s no denying that Logan is one of the best superhero films of the 21st century, offering audiences more depth of character and story combined with more intense action and quality acting than they often expect, making this one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
Incredibles 2
The constant improvements of the Pixar animation team combined with Brad Bird’s solid blend of comedy and action help keep Incredibles 2 familiar and worth watching, deserving of a mention next to the other film greats.
The Dark Knight Rises
Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy is brought to a satisfying and exciting conclusion in The Dark Knight Rises – a film full of thrilling action sequences and plenty of closure for one of the greatest trilogies ever made.
The Batman
With excellent visuals and casting to set the tone, The Batman provides a satisfying and rewatchable return to the world of the Caped Crusader, capturing the essence of the Batman stories in a way that few other films have been able to, fully earning its spot among the greats.
Big Hero 6
Big Hero 6 shines in its fresh take on the superhero genre and its source material, crafting a truly moving piece of cinema about grief and our need for friendship, marking it as one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Led by its primary performances, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever provides a unique take on the superhero film, allowing its audience to mourn even as they watch epic sequences of action and worldbuilding unfold, making its place among the greats fairly unsurprising.
X-Men: Days of Future Past
Days of Future Past is an at-times overlooked great in the world of superhero films, getting so much right in its execution of its ambitious premise and providing a satisfactory conclusion (that was immediately undone by Apocalypse, Logan, and Dark Phoenix) to the story of the X-Men.
Thor: Ragnarok
By utilizing its director’s brand of comedy for Thor, showcasing consistently entertaining action sequences, and delivering a consistently beautiful visual tableau, Thor: Ragnarok cements itself not only as one of the best superhero movies of all time but also one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
Captain America: Civil War
Some phenomenal superhero action pieces that highlight basically every hero in the film, a fast-paced story about conflict in the Avengers, and a villain that wins and ties everything together – these are the pieces that make Captain America: Civil War one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
The Avengers
Great team-up action that consistently hits key story points and a high-caliber villain in Loki are what keep The Avengers worth watching and make it one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Authenticity in its subject matter, great casting, and solid kung-fu action sequences are what make Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings not only one of the best MCU films but also one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
Avengers: Infinity War
Avengers: Infinity War is one of the most ambitious films in the history of film, managing to bring together ten years of worldbuilding into one satisfying film with a seriously iconic villain.
Wonder Woman
Despite some minor plot holes and a less-than-satisfying final fight, Wonder Woman delivers a solid, funny, engaging superhero origin film with some of the best action sequences from the last ten years.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Captain America: The Winter Soldier stands apart as its own unique offering in the pantheon of Great Films; equal parts superhero film and spy thriller, it reflects some of the greatest aspects of both genres.