Comic book films may be a regular attraction at the box office these days, but not all superhero adventures are created equal. Here are five of the best films in the genre thus far. For the record, we’re limiting this list to just one entry per character/team.
Superman: The Movie (1978)
Director Richard Donner laid the foundation for all other superhero films to follow with this bright adventure starring Christopher Reeve in the title role. More than simply the Man of Steel’s first true big-screen feature, this film established many of the genre’s tropes and set the stage for Batman’s ascension to box office success more than a decade later. Even after actors like Brandon Routh and Henry Cavill have donned that signature blue-and-red outfit, Reeve’s interpretation stands out as the most iconic. From its John Williams score to supporting turns by Gene Hackman and Margot Kidder, Superman: The Movie made audiences believe a man could fly. Along the way, it invented modern superhero cinema.
