Superhero movie

Superhero movies are movies about superheroes. Superhero movies are generally, only always, based on comic books. There were a lot of superhero movies made during World War II. Sometimes superhero movies aren't really about DC and Marvel superhero characters but are independently produced or based on characters from other comic book companies.

This is a list of greatest superhero movies based on superhero comics are DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, etc.) and Marvel Comics (Spider-Man, Hulk, Iron Man, etc.).

The first successful "blockbuster" superhero movie was Superman, released in 1978. It got many sequels, but they weren't as successful as the first. A Batman movie released in 1989, and is credited with helping return Batman to darker themes and stories.

In the mid 90s, the superhero movie genre began to slow down, after the failures of the Superman Sequels, as well as Batman & Robin. The genre was considered "dead" until the commercial success of Blade (1998), X-Men (2000), and Spider-Man (2002) that interest in superhero movies would be brought back. A new Batman movie named Batman Begins released in 2005 while 2006 saw the release of Superman Returns.

In 2008, in a bid to save their company from bankruptcy, Marvel Studios released Iron Man, and it turned out to be a huge success. It began the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), which would become the most profitable film series in history.

In 2013, Warner Bros. Pictures released Man of Steel to compete with the MCU, beginning the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). It ended up short of expectations, and the DCEU officially ended with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom in 2023, in favour of beginning a new DC movie series.

In 2025, Superman (2025 movie) was released, beginning the new DC Universe (DCU). It was a success, and a sequel, Man of Tomorrow, is set for release in 2027. Supergirl will release in 2026. Several more movies are planned, including The Brave and the Bold, a Batman movie.

Adventures of Captain Marvel was a 1941 black and white movie based on the superhero Captain Marvel from DC Comics.

In 1943, Batman based on the DC Comics character of Batman.

In 1944, there was a serial called Captain America about a superhero called Captain America from Marvel Comics.

In 1948, there was a movie based on the DC Comics character of Superman.

In 1957, there was a television series called The Adventures of Superman based on DC Comics.

In 1966, CBS aired its television series Batman with Adam West and Burt Ward as Batman and Robin.

Also in 1966, Warner Brothers made a movie based on the Batman series.

In 1975, American Broadcasting Company aired its television series Wonder Woman, with Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman, the television movie The New Original Wonder Woman.

In the 1970s and 1980s, a number of television studios filmed made for television movies about Marvel Comics superheroes including Thor and The Incredible Hulk.

In 1978, Warner Brothers made the movie Superman and over the years filmed several sequels to it.

In 1989, they made the movie Batman starring Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne and Jack Nicholson as the Joker. Tim Burton and Joel Shulmacher filmed three sequels to it.

Also in 1989, they made the movie The Punisher based on the Marvel Comics antihero of same name starring Dolph Lundgren as Frank Castle/Punisher.

The 1990s saw the introduction of superhero television shows based on DC Comics including The Flash television series. The 1990s were also when they started to make movies about Blade, a superhero from Marvel Comics.

In 2000, 20th Century Fox filmed the movie X-Men, based on Marvel Comics, and made a series of it.

In 2002, Sony Pictures made the movie Spider-Man based on the character of Peter Parker and starring Tobey Maguire with Willem Dafoe as the Green Goblin.

In 2003, Universal Pictures made the movie Hulk.

Sony also filmed Spider-Man 2 in 2004 and Spider-Man 3 in 2007.

Pixar filmed the animated movie The Incredibles in 2004 as a parody of superhero movies.

In 2008, Heath Ledger earned the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor when he played the Joker in the movie The Dark Knight. He became the first actor ever to win an Oscar for a superhero movie. More recently, the movie Black Panther was nominated for an Oscar but did not win.

Also in 2008, Columbia Pictures made the movie Hancock starring Will Smith as the titular character, an alcoholic, reckless Los Angeles-based superhero.

In 2012, Marvel Studios superhero movie The Avengers.

In 2016, Marvel Studios superhero movie Deadpool.

In 2017, the stars of Gal Gadot, Warner Bros. and DC Comics superhero movie Wonder Woman.

In 2018, Warner Bros. and DC Comics superhero movie Aquaman.

In 2024, Marvel Studios superhero movie Deadpool & Wolverine.