Rank the Superhero movies!

[Trekker4747]

I pretty much just listed the ones I could think of, add others if you wish. Though I'd like to limit this to fairly "recent" movies (i.e. nothing too much before 1979/not any serials, etc.)

The Superman Movies:
Superman: The Movie
Superman 2
Superman 2: Richard Donner Cut
Superman 3
Superman 4: The Quest for Peace
Superman Returns

The Batman Movies:
Batman
Batman Returns
Batman Forever
Batman and Robin
Batman Begins
The Dark Knight

Spider-man Movies:
Spider-man
Spider-man 2
Spider-man 3

Hulk Movies:
Hulk
The Incredible Hulk

X-Men
X-Men
X-Men 2
X-Men 3
X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Other Movies:
Iron Man
Iron Man 2
The Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
The Punisher
Daredevil
Captain America (1990)
Supergirl
The Fantastic Four (1994)

God, I'm sure there's a ton of others. These are just from the top of my head.

 

[darkwing_duck1]

Here's a few you missed:

Blade
Blade II
Blade III

X-Men
X-Men II
X-Men III
X-men Origins: Wolverine

Ghost Rider
Elecktra
The Incredibles
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
The Rocketeer
at least 2 Punisher movies
Hancock
Meteor Man
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

I know there's more...

 

[Warped9]

The Superman Movies:
Superman: The Movie (B-)
Superman 2: (C)
Superman 2: Richard Donner Cut (C+)
Superman 3: (D)
Superman 4: The Quest for Peace (F)
Superman Returns (C)

The Batman Movies:
Batman (B)
Batman Returns (C)
Batman Forever (F)
Batman and Robin (F)
Batman Begins (A)
The Dark Knight (A)

Spider-man Movies:
Spider-man (A-)
Spider-man 2 (A)
Spider-man 3 (B-)

Hulk Movies:
Hulk (C)
The Incredible Hulk (B)

Other Movies:
Iron Man (A)
Iron Man 2 (haven't seen it yet)
The Fantastic Four (haven't seen it yet)
The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (haven't seen it yet)
The Punisher (haven't seen it yet)
Daredevil (B- for the Director's Cut)
Captain America (1990) (haven't seen it yet)
Supergirl (haven't seen it yet)
The Fantastic Four (1994) (F-)


Blade (B)
Blade II (haven't seen it yet)
Blade III (haven't seen it yet)

X-Men (B)
X-Men II (haven't seen it yet)
X-Men III (haven't seen it yet)
X-men Origins: Wolverine (haven't seen it yet)

Ghost Rider (haven't seen it yet)
Elecktra (haven't seen it yet)
The Incredibles (A)
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (F)
The Rocketeer (haven't seen it yet)
Hancock (C+)
Meteor Man (haven't seen it yet)
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (A)
Batman: Sub Zero (A)
Batman: Mystery Of The Batwoman (A)
Batman (1966) (D)
Kick-Ass (A)
Watchmen (B)
The Phantom (F)
Steel (F)
Green Lantern: First Flight (B+)
Wonder Women (B+)
Superman & Batman: Public Enemies (B-)
Superman: Doomsday (B-)
Justice League: New Frontier (B)
Justice League: Crisis On Two Earths (B-)

 

[darkwing_duck1]

If you're going to add DTDVDs, don't forget:

Ultimate Avengers
U Avengers II
Iron Man
Dr Strange
Next Avengers

As well as:
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
Batman/Superman: World's Finest
Justice Leage: Starcrossed

and

The Shadow


My ratings (asterisk indicates a "must see):

The Superman Movies
Superman: The Movie (A+)*
Superman 2: (A-)
Superman 2: Richard Donner Cut (haven't seen)
Superman 3: (C)
Superman 4: The Quest for Peace (D)
Superman Returns (A-)

The Batman Movies:
Batman (B)
Batman Returns (C)
Batman Forever (D)
Batman and Robin (F)
Batman Begins (C)
The Dark Knight (C)

Spider-man Movies:
Spider-man (A)*
Spider-man 2 (A)
Spider-man 3 (B-)

Hulk Movies:
Hulk (havent seen)
The Incredible Hulk (B)

Other Movies:
Iron Man (A+)*
Iron Man 2 (haven't seen)
The Fantastic Four (A+)*
The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (A)*
The Punisher [Lundgren](A-)
The Punisher (A-)
The Punisher [Zane] (B)
Daredevil (B)
Captain America (1990) (D)
Supergirl (C+)
The Fantastic Four (1994) (havent seen)

Blade (B)
Blade II (B)
Blade III (C)

X-Men (A-)
X-Men II (A-)
X-Men III (B)
X-men Origins: Wolverine (C+)

Ghost Rider (F)
Elecktra (F)
The Incredibles (A+)*
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (A)*
The Rocketeer (A+)*
Hancock (C)
Meteor Man (haven't seen it yet)
The Shadow (B)
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (A+)+
Batman: Sub Zero (A+)*
Batman: Mystery Of The Batwoman (havent seen)
Batman (1966) (C)
Kick-Ass (havent seen)
Watchmen (D)
The Phantom (havent seen)
Steel (havent seen)
Green Lantern: First Flight (A)*
Wonder Women (B)
Superman & Batman: Public Enemies (A)*
Superman: Doomsday (A)
Justice League: New Frontier (C)
Justice League: Crisis On Two Earths (A)*
Ultimate Avengers (A+)*
U Avengers II (A+)*
Iron Man (A-)
Dr Strange (C)
Next Avengers (B-)
Batman/Superman: World's Finest (A+)*
Justice Leage: Starcrossed (A+)*
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (A+)*

 

[Vasquez Rocks]

The Superman Movies:
Superman: The Movie (A)
Superman 2: (B+)
Superman 2: Richard Donner Cut (C)
Superman 3: (C-)
Superman 4: The Quest for Peace (D)
Superman Returns (C)

The Batman Movies:
Batman (B+)
Batman Returns (B)
Batman Forever (D)
Batman and Robin (F)
Batman Begins (B+)
The Dark Knight (A)
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (A)
Batman (1966) (C)

Spider-man Movies:
Spider-man (B)
Spider-man 2 (B+)
Spider-man 3 (B-)

Hulk Movies:
Hulk (B+)
The Incredible Hulk (C-)

The X-Men Movies:
X-Men (A-)
X-Men II (A+)
X-Men III (B-)
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (B)

Other Movies:
Iron Man (A)
The Fantastic Four (C+)
The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (B-)
The Punisher [Lundgren](C-)
The Punisher (C)
Daredevil (D)
Supergirl (C)
Ghost Rider (F)
The Incredibles (B+)
The Rocketeer (A-)
Hancock (C)
Watchmen (B+)
The Phantom (C+)
Unbreakable (A-)

 

[stj]

Don't forget Darkman!

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I haven't seen most of that list...

Iron Man: my favorite current superhero movie franchise by far.

Spidey movies: they've tapped the potential of the character pretty well. I don't see the burning need for a reboot.

Fantastic Four: I couldn't bring myself to see how badly they butchered this. Hoping for a recast/reboot.

Batman: They're okay but I've never been a fan of DC characters.

Superman: One of the great mysteries of life to me is why everyone doesn't share my opinion that Superman is B O R I N G!

X-Men: My favorite (big) comic book title, but for whatever reason, these movies seem to have missed the mark in really bringing these characters to life. What's up with that prequel movie w/young Magneto and Xavier?

Hulk: Casting Edward Norton was the right idea.

For the future:

Thor: I'll watch, if it's good and important to the overall Avengers multi-movie plotline that seems to be shaping up, but this character has never really been among my favorites. I'm curious to see how they can pull this off in a way that doesn't seem absurd.

Captain America: Ohpleaseohpleaseohplease let them not screw this up!

Characters who need movies: Sub-Mariner, Doctor Strange, The Inhumans.

 

[Warped9]

Just came back from seeing Iron Man 2. (B) It's close but too many characters and story felt cluttered and not as moving as the first film.

 

[Lord Garth]

Superman
1
2
(gap)
That one from 2006

Not to discount 3 and 4, I just haven't seen them, nor have I ever felt a burning urge to. I've always been more of a Batman fan. I can't get into Superman, so the fact that the first movie won me over is a huge achievement.

Batman
The Dark Knight
Batman Begins
Batman (1989)
Batman Returns
(gap)
Batman Forever
(larger gap)
Batman & Robin

Spider-Man
1
2
3 (Topher Grace left That '70s Show for this?!)

X-Men
1
2

I didn't see 3.

I haven't seen Iron Man 2 yet, but I will.

So, usually, I like the first movie the best, the second one less so, then the third one loses me. Sometimes I don't even see the third one at all. Not just with superhero films. After seven years, I finally just got around to watching Matrix Revolutions last week. The Dark Knight is one of those rare times when I think the sequel is better.

 

[Greg Cox]

Don't forget V FOR VENDETTA and CONSTANTINE.

 

[JacksonArcher]

I think The Dark Knight, Superman: The Movie and X2 are probably in my holy trinity of elite superhero movies. They are absolute examples of how you properly and exquisitely make a superhero movie. If there were ever an Academy Award category for Best Superhero Movie, and you could list all of the superhero films released over a period of time, I think those three would definitely be at the top of the list.

Then you have the really superior superhero movies, the ones that aren't in that high caliber quality bracket but are still very well-made and commendable nevertheless. I would lump Batman Begins, Spider-Man 2, Kick-Ass, and Iron Man into that category. Those movies are fine examples of how you make a superhero movie, and while they probably haven't impacted the genre the way The Dark Knight or Superman: The Movie have, they will undeniably leave a very strong impression on the genre and are worthy adaptations of their respective characters.

Then you have the "mediocre" quality or sub-bracket of superhero films, and in my opinion that label gives you films like Ang Lee's Hulk (which I very much enjoyed, but it is an incredibly uneven film), Bryan Singer's Superman Returns (which is far better than what most people proclaim it is), The Incredible Hulk, V for Vendetta, Tim Burton's Batman films, Superman II (the Lester components really drag it down, even though some of his contributions were really solid and noteworthy), Iron Man 2, Bryan Singer's first X-Men film and so on and so forth. These are enjoyable films, and manage to reasonably represent the material they are adapting, but as films they are either wildly uneven or missing that spark which elevates them into something a bit more special and unique.

Then you have the crappy sub-bracket of superhero films, which are at the bottom of the pyramid. Those such films include X-Men: The Last Stand, Batman Forever, Batman & Robin, Superman III, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, the Fantastic Four films, Daredevil, Ghost Rider, Elektra, Constantine, all of the Punisher movies, and the list continues. These are really lackluster films, and very poor representations of their comic-book counterparts.

Anyway, that's how I rank them.

 

[Greg Cox]

Rank-wise, I'd have to put SUPERMAN: THE MOTION PICTURE, X2, and BATMAN (1989) in my top three. Yes, I actually prefer the first Burton film to the modern, "realistic" versions. What can I say, I'm a sucker for the 1989's film pulpy, Gothic atmosphere.

At the bottom of the barrel: BATMAN & ROBIN, which didn't even have the excuse of a low budget to explain away its defects. Rarely has so much money and effort and talent been expended to produce such an unwatchable, migraine-inducing two-hour toy commercial.

 

[stj]

Most of them are dreck, like Spawn, which I think didn't make the list either.

The actually good ones are pretty slim: Tim Burton Batman movies, the first X-Man, the Iron Man movies, The Incredibles, The Rocketeer.

Very watchable: The first Superman, Constantine, Hancock, Sky High, The Shadow.

You pretty much have to be nostalgic for the comic to tolerate the superhero movie.

 

[JacksonArcher]

Yes, I actually prefer the first Burton film to the modern, "realistic" versions. What can I say, I'm a sucker for the 1989's film pulpy, Gothic atmosphere.

That's my main problem with that movie. It's all atmosphere, and not much else. I mean, I absolutely love the film noir vibe to the film, and the Gothic sensibilities. The set design, including the aesthetic for Gotham City, is timeless. I mean, just the look of that film, even down to the costumes and the score, has a genuinely timeless feeling to it that I think has allowed Burton's first Batman movie to have this instantly rewatchable effect.

However, with that said, the script is half-baked and the film feels uneven, with very enjoyable parts but not a satisfying whole. Bruce Wayne feels like an enigma in his own movie, and Kim Basinger and Robert Wuhl wear out their welcome fast. There are some crucial components to the Batman mythology that are missing (no mention of Wayne Enterprises, and Gordon's relationship with Batman is hardly touched on).

Still, it's a wonderful homage to the sort of pulpy Batman comics of the 1940's and I love it for that vibe. I just wish the film had more substance.

 

[Shazam!]

The Superman Movies:
Superman: The Movie (A) - The greatest Superhero film ever made and still the benchmark for all to follow. I love how Krypton, Kansas and Metropolis look like 3 films spliced together. The soundtrack is second-to-none.
Superman 2: (C) - Decent follow up, ruined by a mental ending, made up super powers and needless gags.
Superman 2: Richard Donner Cut (B-) - An interesting project, but obviously unfinished. I would have liked to have seen Superman with it's original ending so that it's not repeated in this one.
Superman 3: (C) - More needless silliness, but Annette O'Tool is cute as a button and the junkyard fight is a classic.
Superman 4: The Quest for Peace (F) - WTF
Superman Returns (B-) - Looks amazing, but is quite dull, really. The finale is Superman lifting a big rock. : |

The Batman Movies:
Batman (A-) - The best Batman movie. The more serious Batman gets the sillier it is. This one strikes the perfect tone and is probably the most re-watchable superhero movie to date.
Batman Returns (C) - Burton Returns.
Batman Forever (C) - Nice little family adventure film. Carey and Lee Jones hamming it up ruin a potentially decent entry in the Bat-franchise.
Batman and Robin (F) - WTF
Batman Begins (B) - The better of the Nolan Bat-films, but do we really care where all of Batman's Bat-gear comes from, right down to the cowl? Also, LOL@the Bat-voice.
The Dark Knight (B-) - Overrated the point of absurdity. They kill Dent, FFS. How is that okay? Two-Face should've been it's own film, not crow-barred into this one.

Spider-Man Movies:
Spider-Man (B) - About as good a Spidey movie as you could hope for (until Spidey 2). Could've done without Power Goblin and could've done with some more wisecracking.
Spider-Man 2 (A-) - They got the villain right, but still lacking on the wisecracks.
Spider-Man 3 (B-) - Waaay too much crammed into this. Give me a Sandman film and give me a Venom film, but not at the same time.

Hulk Movies:
Hulk (B) - Great first two-thirds. Naff ending.
The Incredible Hulk (B) - They had the right idea by giving Hulk an 'evil' Hulk to fight, but it was all a bit lightweight.

Other Movies:
Iron Man (A-) - Did anyone really think an Iron-Man movie would work as well as this did?
Iron Man 2 (B) - Some genuine criticisms (the magic element that magically cures Tony) but if you like the first, you'll like this. No evil Iron-Man as the villain in the next one, please.
The Fantastic Four (D) - WTF
The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (C-) - The surfer looks cool.
The Punisher (C) - The fight scene with The Russian is awesome.
The Punisher: War Zone (B-) - Totally ridiculous and over-the-top but I think it knew it. Suitably violent and the most 'Punishery' of all The Punisher films.
Daredevil (C) Director's Cut (B-) - The Director's Cut is actually great. Matt gets to actually be a lawyer (a defense lawyer at that, unlike the lawyer scenes in the theatrical were he's prosecution for some reason...) and the relationship with Elektra is much more believable.
Supergirl (C) - Helen Slater is cute as a button.

Blade (B) - The first of Marvel's modern movies slipped under the radar of many, but it's a really cool little flick.
Blade II (B-) -Some shoddy CGI, but still kinda fun. Ron Pearlman is in it which instantly makes it watchable.
Blade III (C-) - Laaaaaame.

X-Men (B) - About as good as it could have been.
X-Men II (A-) - Blows its load too early. Opening scene has Nightcrawler in White House taking out guards in unique and unseen ways. The final scene has everyone running away from water.
X-Men III (B-) - I think it's kinda fun. Kelsey Grammer is Hank McCoy!
X-men Origins: Wolverine (B-) - Doesn't make a lick of sense, but Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson was kinda cool. I don't think we'll ever see a spin-off though.

Ghost Rider (C-) - Nice effects, I guess.
Elektra (D-) - A movie no-one wanted to see.
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (F) - Jesus Christ.
Kick-Ass (B) - Bit of a let down.
Watchmen (B-) - Like the shot-for-shit remake of Psycho. It all felt a bit by-the numbers.

 

[darkwing_duck1]

Most of them are dreck, like Spawn, which I think didn't make the list either.

The actually good ones are pretty slim: Tim Burton Batman movies, the first X-Man, the Iron Man movies, The Incredibles, The Rocketeer.

Very watchable: The first Superman, Constantine, Hancock, Sky High, The Shadow.

You pretty much have to be nostalgic for the comic to tolerate the superhero movie.

If that were true, no superhero movie would have made the numbers some of these have done. The "mainstream" has finally discovered superheroes, it seems.

And it continues to amaze me (though it shouldn't by now) how much crap gets thrown at the two F4 movies. Granted they weren't the "blow shit up" action fests many of the others were, but they very much captured the family spirit of the book, and the casting was absolutely supurb. Chris and Michael in particular ARE Johnny Storm and The Thing.

 

[Shazam!]

the casting was absolutely supurb. Chris and Michael in particular ARE Johnny Storm and The Thing.

Yeah but, Jessica Alba.

 

[darkwing_duck1]

the casting was absolutely supurb. Chris and Michael in particular ARE Johnny Storm and The Thing.

Yeah but, Jessica Alba.

I quite liked her. It's hard to do much with Sue as a character (unless it's "Malice Sue"). She's the superpowered housewife/den mother to the team. Jessica played her with an empathy and simplicity that I thought suited the character, but still pulled her weight as a member of the team, particularly in F4 2.

 

[Greg Cox]

Okay, the editor is me has to point out that it's ELEKTRA, not "Elecktra."

For some reason, that's a name that seems to be misspelled more often than not. Kind of like Khan (as opposed to "Kahn").

 

[Shazam!]

I'd actually never seen it misspelled like that before.