Top Ten #6 - Best Superhero Movies (since 2000)

Top Ten #6 - Best Superhero Movies (since 2000)

Since the beginning of the 21st century, comic book films have exploded onto the scene, bringing in critical praise and financial success for many studios. In this list, we're going to look at my entirely subjective top ten favorite comic book movies from DC and Marvel since 2000. Also, minor spoiler alert for films released from 2000-2017, although I will try not to spoil major plot points. 

10. Spider-Man 2: While very much a product of its time, this is a brilliant film. Especially before the explosion of the comic book film that came several years later. Tobey Maguire reprises his role as Peter Parker and Spider-Man, and I believe that what makes this film great is the duality that he shows in both sides. While he is struggling with being Spider-Man, his struggles and internal conflict as Peter Parker is what makes him as a compelling character. It remains to be seen whether or not Spider-Man: Homecoming will dethrone this film after it is released, but right now, this is the hands down the best Spider-Man film ever. 

9. X-Men: Days of Future Past: After the steady and steep decline of the X-Men franchise, Matthew Vaughn brought it back into good light with X-Men: First Class, which, while not a fantastic film, is a solid film and hearkened back to the days of Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen while still bringing a fresh spin on it. Days of Future Past took what fans loved about First Class, took what fans loved about the original trilogy, and took what all fans of the X-Men franchise which is Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, and put them all together. The result, under the direction of Bryan Singer, was a great action film with some emotion and dramatic tension that I believed to be one of the best comic book movies that summer. 

8. Batman Begins: After the horrific failure that was Batman and Robin, Warner Brothers and DC needed to rethink their strategy when it came to the character. What did they do? They brought in amazing and visionary director Christopher Nolan. And once he took the lead, there was no looking back. The first film, starring Christian Bale and Liam Neeson, set up a universe in which Batman exists with no supernatural powers and entities. They set up a gritty, real Gotham City with amazing performances and real stakes that made you care about the characters. 

7. Wonder Woman: The most recent entry into the DC film franchise, if you've read my review, you know how much I liked this film. While I didn't quite love it, I enjoyed it so much and had such a great time in the theaters. There were laughs, there was heart, and there was action. It almost felt like a movie for everyone that everyone could enjoy. Chris Pine and Gal Gadot led this film to the first critical success for the DCEU and I hope that the future films follow in their footsteps. 

6. The Avengers: When the Avengers lined up in the circle and the camera panned around them as the theme song began to play, there was a sense of awe and wonder as you realized that these separate characters could all appear on the big screen at the same time in the same place. The awe factor was a big reason that this film did so well. Not only that, but it had one of the only compelling villains in the MCU in Loki, who brought a charisma but also a cunning that made him scary, but also compelling as you looked into his motivation. 

5. Captain America: The Winter Soldier: When Kevin Feige brought on Joe and Anthony Russo, fans scratched their heads. While the first Captain America film was decent, Joe Johnston was not coming back to return, and rightly so as this film was going to be set in the present day and needed a new edge to it. However, upon seeing this film, fans realized that the Russo brothers were for real. The drama and dialogue were sharp and felt real, but most of all, the action was almost perfect. The hand-to-hand action and fighting brought a new edge to Steve Rogers as fans began to realize that he could stand his own. 

4. Guardians of the Galaxy: If you're talking about risks, this was one of the biggest risks that Marvel has ever taken and may ever take to date. A group of space aliens led by Chris Pratt sounded ridiculous when you stopped and realized that they had a tree and a raccoon. But this movie, under James Gunn, was fantastic. Pitched as an action-comedy, the humor and the chemistry between the team made them so lovable and made us care so much about them. 

3. Captain America: Civil War: How do you follow up the Winter Soldier? You bring in Tony Stark and the rest of the Avengers and call it a Captain America film. Except, they actually made it a Captain America. Somehow, amidst the fighting, Black Panther and Spider-Man, and the incredible action, this was a Captain America story, and that was what impressed me the most. And who could forget the airport scene. 

2. The Dark Knight: Hailed as the best comic book film ever, I thought it was too for the longest time, until a mother film dethroned it, in my opinion. While many still think that this is the best one, I believe there is another that is better, but only to me. However, the Dark Knight is brilliant. Heath Ledger is the linchpin of the film. I believe that if Heath Ledger's Joker was not in the film, I would enjoy it much, much less than I do. But his haunting, frightening, and chaotic performance opposes Batman (Christian Bale) perfectly - one of the best comic book films. 

1. Logan: Many will disagree with me - many will say that the Dark Knight is the better film and I have no problem with that. But in my opinion, Logan is the better film. Slightly. Hugh Jackman should receive Oscar buzz for his performance, and so should Patrick Stewart. Their nuanced, tired, haggard characters carry themselves through the film. Dafne Keen also gives one of the best child performances ever and James Mangold's direction is golden. I believe that there is almost nothing wrong with the film.