There are so many reasons that superhero films have absolutely taken over the Hollywood landscape, and one of them is the fact that they typically have a lot of work put into them. Because of how much money these movies tend to make, it only makes sense that the studios would put a lot of money into them to ensure their continued success. Heck, Marvel Studios has been putting budgets of $356 million into their flicks.
Many superhero movies end up being great, and with the right director, they can even become masterclasses in filmmaking. Indeed, some amazing directors have taken on superhero stories, including Oscar winners like Christopher Nolan, pop culture giants like James Gunn, and cult icons like Sam Raimi. Some movies are better than others, though, and often are credited as some of the best of the best.
‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ (2014)
Everyone knows James Gunn at this point—mostly for his superhero adventures, with the first being Guardians of the Galaxy. His first foray into superhero content was such a massive success that he turned some of Marvel’s misfit toys into some of the company’s most popular superheroes. If there’s one thing Gunn is good at doing, it’s getting an audience to invest in people who should be unlikable characters, eventually falling in love with them.
The cast of Guardians of the Galaxy are all selfish jerks (except for Groot (Vin Diesel), of course), but he quickly gets the audience to absolutely fall in love with them. It’s this writing, which is astoundingly vulnerable without becoming a straightforward drama—it is still, in fact, a comedy at the end of the day. Everyone adores these guys, and it’s because Guardians of the Galaxy is a masterclass in tone balancing.
‘X-Men: First Class’ (2011)
X-Men: First Class is commonly considered one of, if not the best, X-Men movies ever made. Just one year after Kick-Ass, director Matthew Vaughn returned to the superhero space—just in the Marvel universe, this time—with X-Men: First Class. Acting as a prequel film to the main X-Men movies, this project is super special and has lived in the hearts of comic book movie fans for quite some time.
This movie is a perfect example of how to perfectly make a character-focused, character-driven superhero movie. This project takes its time with these heroes, their dynamics, power developments, and arcs, focusing on the basic superhero stuff secondly—not to say that it’s not there at all, or else it would be boring. Yet, First Class is, first and foremost, a tale of brotherhood and how easily a strong bond can fracture.
‘The Lego Batman Movie’ (2017)
It’s kind of surprising to many that one of the best Batman movies of all time is the animated Lego film, The Lego Batman Movie. This Chris McKay-directed flick takes a typically dark hero and makes a total satire that also manages to capture the heart and soul of the character. As funny as it is, The Lego Batman is also a profoundly heartfelt movie that depicts exactly what it means to be Batman (Will Arnett) and why he’s such an important character.
Director Chris McKay does an exceptional job blending comedy with heart. More importantly, and despite Batman being a total goofball and ridiculous here, he still is The Dark Knight at his core, which is super impressive for a satirical project. If it isn’t already obvious, this balance is quite difficult for a filmmaker/writer to do, and the fact that McKay pulled it off is wild.
‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)
Speaking of Batman, while The Lego Batman Movie is one of the best Batman movies out there, many consider the best of the best to be none other than Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. In fact, some even call it the best superhero movie ever made. It didn’t get this reputation for nothing; it truly is a phenomenal movie and a masterclass in filmmaking in many different ways.
The most impressive part is, without a doubt, the screenplay. Co-written by Nolan and his brother, Jonathan Nolan, the screenplay is studied by writers all around the world for how well-paced it is, the natural dialogue, and the messages within the plot. Adding to that, the jaw-dropping performances by Heath Ledger as the Joker and Christian Bale as Batman prove that, with good casting, a screenplay can jump to life better than anyone could have ever imagined.
‘Avengers: Infinity War’ (2018)
On paper, the massive Avengers: Infinity War should have been an absolute disaster in every single way. However, by some miracle, Joe Russo and Anthony Russo delivered one of the best Marvel movies and, quite easily, the best entry in the Avengers franchise. This gargantuan superhero team-up juggles a gigantic cast of characters while keeping it focused and well-paced.
Despite needing to focus on and give moments to all the major players in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Avengers: Infinity War still holds Thanos (Josh Brolin) as the protagonist, and does it well. The Russos also manage scale with prowess, making it a perfectly done adventure film. The pacing is fast, with strong momentum, but it doesn’t move so fast that it’s hard to focus. It still finds the time to slow down to bring some incredibly emotionally compelling moments that work very well.
‘Spider-Man 2’ (2004)
Spider-Man 2 is not only known as one of the best superhero movies of all time, but one of the best movie sequels of all time. Sam Raimi is an excellent filmmaker who went from horror to the superhero space, and viewers can tell in the best way. He balances multiple tones throughout the runtime, blending camp with an impactful and personal narrative about self-discovery in a way that makes Spider-Man 2 such a ride to watch.
Not to mention, Spider-Man 2 also serves as an example of exactly what a sequel needs to do in order to be a success. It takes everything that worked about Spider-Man, expands upon those things, adds more, and continues character arcs—Peter Parker’s (Tobey Maguire), specifically—in a natural and relatable yet no less satisfying manner. It’s a perfect sequel through and through.
‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ (2018)
This animated Spider-Man film was not only almost perfect, but it had a gigantic impact on the industry as a whole, shaking the ground beneath it and changing almost every animated film to come after. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse brought a style unlike anything audiences had seen before through an attention to detail that is beyond belief.
This movie proved that studios could take a chance and get expressive and unique with their visual styles. The storytelling was profound, but it was the sheer style that made such an explosively creative treat. This approach inspired multiple subsequent movies like Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and shows like Arcane. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse takes the realm of animation and does absolutely everything possible with it, as every animated film should.
‘The Incredibles’ (2004)
Pixar has made some astounding films over the years, and one of the best is, undoubtedly, Brad Bird‘s The Incredibles. Bird is one of the best animated directors out there—The Iron Giant and Ratatouille are seminal, foundational triumphs of modern cinema—and The Incredibles might just be his magnum opus. The movie shows that animated films can be made for all ages, even adults who would otherwise might not be interested in the heroic exploits of men in tights.
The movie has jokes, themes, and messages only adults can understand, but executes them in a way that doesn’t become crude or too dark for kids. This Oscar-winning masterpiece is genuine and raw with its storytelling, and Bird’s staging makes it exciting while never losing the emotional core. It is the perfect example of how to write an animated film that can appeal to almost every demographic in the audience, making it lovable for everyone.