With the Marvel Cinematic and DC Universes in full film making gear wheel with superhero films likeBlack Panther : Wakanda ForeverandShazam ! Fury of the Godsin their 2022 release dockets , they ’ll be guess against best in their genre — but which movies are the " best?“Rolling Stonemagazine   dig late into the Fortress of Solitude and African savannahs to find the chef-d’oeuvre .

From the matinee serialThe Adventures of Captain Marvel(1941 ) to today , Americans and the world have been obsess with superheroes . With so many big films in the running , theRolling Stonejudges must count variable like diachronic and cultural influence on the way to choose the dear of the dear in genre storytelling and cinematic excellence .

The Incredibles (2004)

A computing machine - liven up film bring on by Pixar and released by Disney , The Incrediblesfollows the journey of a typically nonadaptive suburban family of superheroes trying to lie low in the suburbs . roll Stonewrites that the superior voicework on the graphic symbol by stars including Craig T. Nelson , Holly Hunter , Jason Lee and Samuel L. Jackson , was the independent intellect the movie surge into the number four position of box office knock of 2004 ( viaIMDb ) .

Zeroing in on the patrician , orchard apple tree pie family sitcoms of the 1950s and 60s combined with superhero and spy projects of the same earned run average , The Incredibleswon filmgoers ' heart with a close , playful , and exciting narrative powered by cut - edge vitality . Reinforcing Rolling Stones ' opinion and giving the movie three and a half stars out of four , motion picture critic Roger Ebert described the journey of Mr. Incredible , Elastigirl , Violet , Dash and Jack Jack as " … another example of Pixar ’s mastery of popular animation " ( viaChicago Sun - Tribune ) .

Wonder Woman (2017)

Set in the First World War with a sport beloved storey and a willingness to step into the shadow , DC’sWonder Womancaptivated theater audience . Having first appeared inBatman v Superman : Dawn of Justice(2017 ) , Gal Gadot ’s character feel the public eye in her own feature and achieved box office achiever .

The narrative wrap around the glow Gal Gadot ’s charismatic personation of the famous Amazon warrior , a woman - out - of - sentence who is insightful and ego - assured but anachronistically uninstructed . repulse by managing director Patty Jenkins ' breathtaking activity sequences and cinematics , Wonder Womanproved how well strong female characters(and director ) could kick back a**;Rolling Stonedescribes the No Man ’s Land battle sequence as " indelible . "

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

As the third instalment in the MCU ’s popular Thor moving-picture show serial , Thor : Ragnarokbecame the highest - grossing film in the Thor Trilogy . Directed by the wildly inventive Taika Waititi ( Jojo Rabbit ) and starring Chris Hemsworth , Tom Hiddleston , and Idris Elba , the cosmic adventure movie wow audiences and critic likewise .

While a superb narrative and director Waititi ’s rollicking , lighthearted trend made the film an crying genre classic , the handwriting ’s witty banter also madeThor : Ragnarokthe funniest moving-picture show in the MCU library . roll Stonecites the pic as a " staring addition , " and " a general skewering of the integral dealership . " Star Chris Hemsworth ’s drooping interest in his Thor character was regenerate by his experience with Waititi and he signed on for moreThorprojects .

The Dark Knight (2008)

The Dark Knightwas the second installment in conductor Christopher Nolan ’s Batman trilogy with Christian Bale as the lead . The movie smash loge office record and became the highest - gross motion picture of the year ( perIMDb ) .

The performance that hurls this superhero classic into the superhero firmament is the late Heath Ledger ’s legendary version of the Joker , making the character the amusive kind of maniacvillain thatThe Dark Knightfans could rout for . Rolling Stonedescribes Ledger ’s enactment of the Joker as a " stabby late - period Tom Waits " that " elevates " the film " into superhero canon . " Using IMAX projection with the intention of blowing aside theJames Bondfranchise ’s action sequences , Nolan construct one of the most engaging and immersive superhero experiences out there .

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)

In the animatedSpider - Man : Into the Spider - Versemovie thatRolling Stonedescribes as " a fulgent new take on an old story , " Afro - Puerto Rican graffito artist Miles Morales inherits the spidey costume , going on an exciting hero ’s journey through parallel worlds in the multiverse .   This installment   arrives like a happy wreck orchis in the Spider - Man realm , dancing around inside its visionary premiss .

Spider - Man : Into the Spider - Verseinvolves 6 Universes and 240 characters : it sounds like tracking the story would be difficult , but expert plotting and crisp , clear screenwriting make postdate the narrative tardily . The movie get out new ground with exuberance , color , humor , and a gravitationally - challenge pig . clean and innovative , this cinema is a delectation for lover of the viscous guy .

Superman (1978)

As the boxwood office winner that quetch off the superhero movie craze , the 1978Supermanshowed filmmakers that audiences had a ravenous appetite to see their risible book hero realized onscreen . While the former Christopher Reeve owned the cape for four films , the persona has been played by many stalwarts including George Reeves and Henry Cavill .

Though Superman was the most expensive moving picture ever made at the clock time ( $ 50 million budget ) , it unblock to near - cosmopolitan acclaim and earned over $ 300 million worldwide ( perIMDb).Rolling Stonequips , " … it was the film that made you consider a adult male could fly . " Christopher Reeve ’s fun but serious depiction of Clark Kent / Superman elated audiences and set the touchstone for the Man of Steel .

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

If Christopher Reeve’sSuperman(1978 ) ignite the superhero film stampede , then the brilliantAvengers : Endgamemay represent the peak of the long - lived genre ’s heyday . With the ultimate roster of actors playing MCU graphic symbol , let in Robert Downey Jr. ( Iron Man ) , Chris Evans ( Captain America ) , Chris Hemsworth ( Thor ) , and Scarlett Johanssen ( Black Widow ) , the film live up to its A - List dramatis personae .

As the capper to the " Infinity Stones " movie series , the motion-picture show takes loyal devotee on a rollercoaster ride of frisson , spills , elation and agony . Longstanding storylines collide and thunder to their decision with , asRolling Stoneraves , " … [ the ] finale to a tenacious , complicated , enormously entertaining narrative . " BelovedAvengers : Endgamecharacters die in the engagement against Thanos . Superb writing and limited effect give birth the whole enchilada , reward a generation of fans who followed the story for more than a decade .

Logan (2017)

Sometimes the most poignant superhero pic does n’t take place in the character ’s prime , but rather somewhere near a sodding , messy end . Critically acclaimed , Hugh Jackman’sLogandelivered the emotionally charged chronicle of the titular type ’s final act in the Wolverine motion picture trilogy .

localise in a dystopian universe where Logan ’s health is failing and Charles Xavier ( Patrick Stewart ) slips into dementia , Logan skip the typically glossy superhero scenery and treat into its uncompromising tale , an ambitious epicRolling Stonedescribes as " … where superheroic and American ambition are kick the bucket out together . " Audiences responded to the darker , more thoughtful final chapter , scurrying to movie houses in drove .

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

As Tobey Maguire ’s second sashay in the spidey causa , Spider - Man 2trounced Doctor Octopus and the box berth , gross more than $ 788 million worldwide ( perIMDb ) .

Charged with an insightful screenplay tackling the battle between Peter Parker ’s personal life and his superhero business , the narrative also explore the dangers of balancing dual existences . fireball performances by Kirstin Dunst as Mary Jane Watson and Alfred Molina as Dr. Otto Octavious reflect the struggle within Parker as well as the choices he must make . Rolling Stonetakes special promissory note of Molina ’s performance as " one of the good baddie performances in a comic book movie , " and the subway geartrain fight and its aftermath as " the musical style ’s individual most emotional bent slice to appointment . "   Super CGI action , report , and brains - what more could an audience ask for ?

Black Panther (2018)

seat atop the Marvel Cinematic Universe is T’Challa , king of the notional African nation call Wakanda . Black Pantherhit theaters in February 2018 and launched its charismatic go man the late Chadwick Boseman into the Hollywood stratosphere . Breaking numerous record , the picture was also the highest - gross movie by a pitch-dark filmmaker ( Ryan Coogan ) .

With its blast of visual Afro - futurism and deft blend of sincerity and humor , Black Pantherraises thoughtful questions effortlessly , just by being what it is . Representing Africa and Africans , the film was praised as an " emblem of a past that was refuse and a future that feels very present " ( viaNYT ) . Modern in its social significance with an quondam - fashioned heart , Black Pantheris a masterpieceRolling Stonecalls " the crown gem of the Marvel Cinematic Universe ; Coogan ’s film reminds audiences of how emotionally , intellectually , and culturally powerful some movies - even superhero movies - can be .

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Posters for The Dark Knight, Avengers: Endgame, and Wonder Woman

The Incredibles family ready to fight

Wonder Woman running in Washington DC.

Thor preparing to battle Hulk in Ragnarok.

Joker in a holding cell in The Dark Knight.

Miles Morales in Into the Spider-Verse

Superman standing on a rooftop in Superman: The Movie.

Avengers Endgame banner poster

An older Wolverine surrounded by neon light in the opening of Logan.

Spider Man on a moving train

Black Panther Poster

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