The Marvel Cinematic Universe undoubtedly changed the landscape of superhero movies forever, but that’s not to say that there aren’t any films worth watching from before the series took over. Ever since 2008’s Iron Man, MCU movies have become a dominant global force of pop culture, forever altering the trajectory of superhero movies both under the Marvel banner and from other studios. Though the average quality of the MCU’s films speaks for itself, there are some crucial moments in comic book cinema that came about before 2008.
The earliest superhero movies were responsible for laying out the foundation of the genre long before the MCU was even a twinkle in Marvel’s eye. While superheroes were originally seen as campy affairs primarily aimed at children, time and time again, groundbreaking movies would expand their appeal to all four quadrants, diversifying the tones films of the category could take. As influential as Marvel is, some of the best superhero movies ever came and went before Iron Man‘s time.
10. X-Men (2000)
The First Real Superhero Team Movie
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The Avengers broke ground as the first superhero movie to feature a team-up between characters from their own solo films, but it’s easy to forget that it didn’t pioneer the concept of a superhero team in general on the big screen. That honor goes to Bryan Singer’s X-Men, released at the turn of the millennium.
Introducing audiences to Fox’s mutant universe for the first time, the film introduced many iconic, long-running performances, such as Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, Ian McKellen’s Magneto and Patrick Stewart’s Professor X. X-Men: The Animated Series may have been many audiences’ first exposure to the X-Men, but the live-action movie further popularized the group with general audiences.
The first superhero movie to nail an ensemble cast, X-Men gave each of its characters at least some time to shine, even if Wolverine would remain the star of the show. Also touching on the series’ long-running themes of discrimination and ostracization, the first film is rounded out with great casting, exciting fight scenes, and social commentary.
9. Spider-Man (2002)
Sam Raimi’s Classic Is Still Beloved For Good Reason
Even today, when many audiences think of Spider-Man, Sam Raimi’s iconic Spider-Man trilogy is the first thing that comes to mind. Of course, none of it would’ve been possible without 2001’s Spider-Man, which catapulted the already-popular webslinger into lasting pop-culture stardom.
Even if Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy is flawed, it’s endlessly entertaining, still commonly referenced more than twenty years after its initial debut. What gave the first film such lasting appeal is the campy earnestness with which it prevents itself.
Without a trace of the ironic MCU sarcasm that festers in modern superhero media like a stubborn weed, Toby Maguire’s dorky Peter Parker stumbled through his first heroic outing opposite Willem Dafoe’s career-defining split performance as the Green Goblin and Norman Osborn. Spider-Man truly broke new ground for how popular a Marvel character could be, and the MCU owes it as a worthy predecessor.
8. Superman (1978)
Still The Most Faithful Version Of The Man Of Steel
Of the “big three” comic book superheroes, Superman has had a bad rap in recent years. His most recent portrayal in the DCEU dissolved him into a messianic martyr detached from his humanity, and popular superhero media is plagued with evil versions of the character, like Homelander and Omni-Man.
To truly experience the wonder Superman has to offer, one has to look no further than the original 1978 film starring Christopher Reeve, Superman. Other Superman actors to inherit the role since may do a convincing job merely playing Clark Kent and his crime-fighting alter ego, but it’s hard not to assert that Christopher Reeve simply was Clark Kent.
The film is drenched in the relentless optimism the character is known for in the comics, having fallen out of sight in recent years. Even within the typically lighthearted MCU, the dour villains and disingenuous sarcasm keep any film from reaching the same feel-good heights as the stunning blue skies of Richard Donner’s Superman.
7. Batman (1966)
Made DC’s Caped Crusader A Household Name
Even if 1966’s Batman isn’t highly regarded among the list of live-action Batman movies, it deserves special credit for popularizing the character in the first place. Although Bruce Wayne and his dark vigilante persona have evolved into a very different character since the 60s, without Adam West’s irreverent take on Batman, he may have never reached the same peak of popularity.
Beyond its importance as a vehicle for Batman’s pop culture staying power, Batman is very much still worth watching. The slapstick comedy hi-jinks of 1966’s Batman were actually somewhat lost on audiences at the time, but in a post-irony pop culture landscape, Batman‘s humor truly shines, having aged like a fine wine.
With basic action adventure fare fun enough to keep kids invested and tongue-in-cheek comedic performances for adults to enjoy, Adam West’s Batman is a true four-quadrant movie that isn’t likely to have its success re-created any time soon. From the anti-shark spray to the comically oversized bomb, Batman‘s legacy is set in stone.
6. Batman (1989)
Established The Potential For A Serious Batman
As iconic as the 1966 film was, it undeniably painted Batman in an unfairly goofy light in the general public’s eyes for years to come. It wouldn’t be until 1989’s Batman, directed by Tim Burton, that the true dark potential of the character would be allowed to truly shine.
Batman was an utter box office sensation, being one of the biggest blockbuster hits based off a superhero movie to inform the success of all subsequent comic book films, including the MCU. Tim Burton’s Batman offered a refreshingly faithful take on The Dark Knight that was still accessible to general audiences, creating a powerhouse of a superhero film that had audiences from all walks of life hooked.
Toeing the line of being too dark for kids, the film managed to pull its punches just enough to draw in as wide an audience as possible without sacrificing the integrity of the story. Michael Keaton’s excellent doubly-duty performance as Bruce Wayne and Batman also shocked skeptical audiences, doubtful that the primarily comedic actor could embody a serious character.
5. Hellboy (2004)
Proved There Was Room For More Than Just Marvel And DC
It goes without saying that Marvel and DC will forever be the kingpins of comic book characters, but Guillermo del Toro’s moody gothic fantasy hero Hellboy made room for a Dark Horse. Adapting the stunning comics written and drawn by Mike Mignola, Hellboy infused the superhero genre with a healthy dose of horror, mysticism, and humor, resulting in an utterly unique comic book movie that went on to become a surprising success.
Even today, Hellboy remains one of the most popular non-Marvel or DC superhero movies, and for good reason. Much like Christopher Reeve and Superman, Ron Perlman might as well be Hellboy, with perfect flat delivery of the gruff supernatural detective’s matter-of-fact dialogue while rocking the impressive makeup needed to transform him into a walking demon.
The film offered some surprisingly poignant moments as well, with the death of Hellboy’s adoptive father being a particularly heart-wrenching sequence and his final kiss with Liz being a rare instance of superhero romance done right. It’s a shame the 2019 Hellboy reboot failed to capture this movie’s charm.
4. The Incredibles (2004)
So Far, Still The Best Fantastic Four Movie
While the early 2000s Fantastic Four duology courtesy of Fox weren’t altogether terrible, they pale in comparison to the success of Pixar’s The Incredibles, which was the first film to truly nail the concept of a superhero family. Its main cast even having similar powers to the Fantastic Four’s members, The Incredibles is one of the most marvelous balancing acts ever put to screen.
Kid-friendly but genuinely dramatic, action-packed but never moving too quickly, it would be easier to describe the film by listing what it couldn’t do. The crux of the film’s success is director Brad Bird’s understanding of a realistic family dynamic. The Parr family truly love each other, but genuinely get on one another’s nerves, just like a real family, and have tension between them that doesn’t feel artificially manufactured.
Of course, Syndrome is also a world-class villain, being despicable but still endlessly entertaining. If the MCU’s upcoming The Fantastic Four is successful at all, it’ll be hard not to invite comparison to the genius of the animated film.
3. Blade (1998)
Brought Blood And Superheroes Together For The First Time
The first superhero film based on a Marvel or DC character to be rated R, Blade deserves far more credit for showing off the first superhero to slice through bad guys with a katana long before Deadpool showed up. Admittedly, the film isn’t a critical masterpiece, having its share of bad performances, cheesy dialogue, and quizzical narrative choices.
However, the film at least puts the “style” in “style over substance,” conjoining comic book lore with horror for the first real time in a blockbuster film. Another iconic performance, it’s hard to imagine anyone else as Blade other than Wesley Snipes, effortlessly cool even in the face of snarling undead hordes. Unleashing baffingly awesome witticisms like “Some mother******s always trying to ice skate uphill,” it’s no wonder that Blade became a cult classic.
Even if the legacy of Blade’s threequel – Blade: Trinity – leaves much to be desired, the original was groundbreaking in more ways than one, from its famous opening scene to its unbelievable final battle. Without it, the idea of Mahershala Ali’s upcoming Blade movie being a viable MCU prospect simply wouldn’t exist.
2. V For Vendetta (2006)
Ideas Are
Admittedly stretching the definition of a “superhero” movie, V for Vendetta technically qualifies, based on an Alan Moore story featuring a masked vigilante. The reason James McTeigue’s subversive dystopian masterpiece feels so out of place among the cadre of Marvel and DC comic book movies is because of just how different it is from the average superhero spectacle.
V isn’t a simple force for good, but a champion of a way of life. The antagonist in V for Vendetta isn’t a criminal gang, megalomaniac supervillain or even a supernatural entity. It’s the oppressive shackles of a totalitarian regime, one which its hero is determined to overcome both physically and ideologically.
Few films in the genre have presented as pointed a political commentary as V for Vendetta, making it an absolutely essential film for any comic book movie lover willing to ponder the messaging — Or that simply appreciates some awesome knife fighting.
1. Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm (1993)
Gave Kevin Conroy’s Batman A Much-Deserved Theatrical Release
In the eyes of many, the quintessential Batman isn’t a live-action performer, but Kevin Controy’s iconic voice performance made famous by Batman: The Animated Series. Having reprized the role in a variety of other movie, TV show, and game continuities, Conroy got his much-deserved theatrical release as Batman in 1993 with Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.
Proving that animation would always be able to keep up with Batman’s wild new popularity, the film propelled the continuity of Batman: The Animated Series without relying too heavily on knowledge of the show. One of the rare Batman films to present a unique villain, the titular Phantasm is a dark reflection of Bruce Wayne’s vigilantism, calling into question his very values.
It’s all the more compelling that the character pulls double duty as perhaps Batman’s best-done love interest, enhancing the physical stakes with palpable emotional ones. Pepper in stunning animation, fascinating character development and the enduring vocal talents of both Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamill as Joker, and Batman: Mask of the Phantasm became the trailblazer for serious animated superhero movies.
