Across the many superhero movies of theMCU, theDCU, and beyond, there have been many entries into the genre that have gone completely underappreciated and underrated. The rise of the modern comic book has seen the genre become one of the most consistent earners at the global box office. Themovies of the MCUin particular have broken numerous records in their success, cementing the genre as a force to be reckoned with.
However, not all comic book movies have proved so successful. Many superhero movies have in fact been distinctly underappreciated, leading to underwhelming box office performances - such as with somemovies in the DCEU- or simply a poor reputation. Even so, many of these movies are in fact incredibly underrated, and deserve more recognition for their individual merit or quality. With that in mind, here are the 10 most underrated superhero movies, ranked.
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10Spider-Man 3 Has Aged Better Than People Admit
Released: 2007, Director: Sam Raimi
The first two installments in Sam Raimi’sSpider-Mantrilogy are considered among the best Spider-Man movies ever made, but the third movie is widely considered one of the worst. Its place in Raimi’sSpider-Manmovie timelineshould have contributed to huge success, but its simultaneous use of three villains led to widespread criticism. Though it’s the weakest entry in the trilogy, it’s still a distinctly underrated movie.
One thing that stands out aboutSpider-Man 3is that its costume and character designs still hold up remarkably well. Its action sequences are also impressively presented, with eye-catching moments that have proven to live long in the memory.Considering the incredibly high bar set by its predecessors, it’s unsurprising thatSpider-Man 3is considered disappointing, but time has shown that it’s a far better movie than it receives credit for.
9Hulk Bridged The Gap Between Mediums
Released: 2003, Director: Ang Lee
Despite being one of Marvel’s most recognizable heroes, the Hulk hasn’t fared well in his solo movie history. 2003 saw Ang Lee adapt Marvel’s green behemoth in live-action, with Eric Bana in the lead role and a supporting cast including Jennifer Connelly, Nick Nolte, and Sam Elliott.Hulkwas only able to earn mixed reviews from critics, and is widely considered one of the more underwhelming titles in the superhero genre.
Hulkmight be lacking somewhat in its execution, but Lee’s approach to its story is commendable. The use of comic-book style visuals and a story that treats its narrative as something of a Greek tragedy makes for fascinating viewing. Regardless of the end product,it’s clear that Lee had a specific vision for the filmthat makes it a consistently entertaining and worthwhile movie.
8Daredevil May Not Be Perfect, But Has Its Merits
Released: 2003, Director: Mark Steven Johnson
Of all the superhero movies made during the early 2000s, there are a few that are considered the worst. Among them,Daredeviloften ranks highly, with even its stars denouncing the film over the years since its release. However,Daredevil’s poor reputation isn’t entirely fair, as the movie has some specific qualities that earn it its underrated status.
Certain elements ofDaredevilhave aged poorly, with some ill-conceived set pieces and character designs that do nothing to help its reputation. It also possesses some often-overlooked positives, however: it brought the character to life on the big screen in a way that few had ever imagined could be achieved, and it helped shape the future of superhero blockbusters. ThoughDaredevilis far from a great movie,it’s nowhere near as bad as its reputation suggests, making it uniquely underrated.
7Sky High Is An Often Overlooked Family Gem
Released: 2005, Director: Mike Mitchell
Though some superhero movies are underrated due to poor reception and reputations, there are some that have simply been unfairly forgotten. 2005’sSky Highis one of these films, as it boasts general popularity among those who remember it, but has unfortunately been forgotten by many. It follows a teenager starting high school for children with superpowers, who, despite having two incredibly famous parents, has yet to manifest his own powers and is labeled a sidekick.
One ofSky High’s biggest draws is that it is a truly family-friendly film, making it a legitimate all-ages entry into the superhero genre. It also boasts a staggeringly talented cast, featuring Kurt Russell, Kelly Preston, Mary Elizabeth Winstean, Dave Foley, Cloris Leachman, and Bruce Campbell. There are very few elements ofSky Highthat aren’t enjoyable in one way or another, andit has been consistently criminally underratedin the years since its release.
6Power Rangers Fused Nostalgia With Modern Superhero Tropes
Released: 2017, Director: Dean Israelite
There are very few superhero franchises that have achieved the levels of consistent success asPower Rangers, but its popularity has never translated particularly well to the big screen. Despite being ever-present on TV screens around the world, the 2017 attempt to reboot the most popular iteration of the heroes –Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangersof the late 1990s – was widely considered a huge flop. Even so, the reboot stands out as an underrated movie.
Despite tonal inconsistency with the source material, 2017’sPower Rangerswas a solid example of a modern superhero movie that makes use of an existing IP. Its central characters were well-cast and well-written, with Elizabeth Banks and Bryan Cranston lending star power to proceedings. It’s far from a perfect film, but it certainly deserved far more appreciation than it ultimately received upon release.
5Fantastic Four Helped Pioneer Modern Superhero Cinema
Released: 2005, Director: Tim Story
Long before theMCU’s Fantastic Four reboot, the heroes were brought to life in a modern superhero blockbuster in 2005. Despite achieving some success and earning a sequel, the film was widely considered a disappointment, and went down in history as a poor example of superhero cinema from the modern genre’s earlier days. However, the years since have seen a slightly more favorable reappraisal of the film, and it highlights just how underrated it is.
Considering it was made in 2005,Fantastic Four’s CGI and character design holds up remarkably well. Though it was lacking in terms of strict comic accuracy, it served as an accessible entry point into the heroes’ story while also delivering everything expected of a large-scale action blockbuster. 2005’sFantastic Fourwas able to balance a number of narrative elements and considerations, and deserves to be remembered more fondly than it typically has been.
4Kick-Ass Brought Dark Comedy And Grounded Realism To The Genre
Released: 2010, Director: Matthew Vaughn
When talking about the boom in modern superhero movies, the MCU and Christopher Nolan’sDark Knighttrilogyare most often credited with bringing the genre into the 2010s. However, 2010 also saw the release of a truly brilliant superhero movie that is all too often overlooked by fans of the genre, simply because it doesn’t belong to a more extensive franchise.Kick-Ass, though well-received, is an underrated gem.
Kick-Asstakes its grounded superhero story and injects dark comedy and over-the-top violence into proceedings. It’s hilarious, gritty, and shocking by turns, and boasts great performances from a cast positively stacked with talent.It’s a movie that achieved general success by most merits, but is still underrated due to just how overlooked its best qualities are, particularly where it pertains to the ways in which it helped the genre break new ground.
3Batman Forever Is Unfairly Judged On Multiple Levels
Released: 1995, Director: Joel Schumacher
Joel Schumacher’s two Batman movies are often considered the worst in the character’s history. However, there arepositives of rewatching Schumacher’s Batman movies,many of which stem from 1995’sBatman Forever. Starring Val Kilmer in the title role, the first of Schumacher’s movies focuses on Batman taking on Robin as a sidekick and facing off against both the Riddler and Two-Face.Batman Forevermay not be perfect, but there’s a depth to it that is regularly overlooked.
It may be a wacky take on the Batman mythos, but it evokes some of the campier adaptations of the ‘60s while also attempting to appeal to the sensibilities of the ‘90s. It grapples with themes of duality and envy, and what it lacks in execution it makes up for in intent. As it’s too often paired alongside its disappointing sequel,Batman Foreveroften finds itself being unfairly underrated.
2Birds Of Prey Was Forgotten Despite Being One Of The DCEU’s Best Movies
Released: 2020, Director: Cathy Yan
The point at whichBirds of Preywas released in theDCEU’s movie timelinewent against the film in a major way. Released just as the world plunged into a pandemic, as well as at a point when interest in the DCEU was waning, the female-led movie failed to find its audience. However, when considered alongside its contemporaries, it’s one of the best movies the DCEU had to offer.
Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn was widely considered one of the DCEU’s best castings, and she shines as the heart ofBirds of Prey.The introduction of important supporting characters and the use of a stellar cast also helped the film, contributing to a movie that delves into its thematic subtext while still feeling light and comedic. There’s a lot to love aboutBirds of Prey, and its place in the DCEU meant it simply wasn’t afforded the praise it deserved.
1Mystery Men Is Entirely Unique Within The Superhero Genre
Released: 1999, Director: Kinka Usher
There is perhaps no superhero movie that is as criminally underrated as 1999’sMystery Men. Considered a cult classic, it boasts a cast of comedic titans including Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, William H. Macy, and Janeane Garofalo, and celebrated actors Greg Kinnear and Geoffrey Rush, to name a few. Its story follows a group of heroes with underwhelming powers who are forced to step up to save the city from a renowned villain.
Mystery Menis a rare example of a film that perfectly satirizes its own genre, maintaining both a comedic and a respectful tone throughout. It pokes fun at superhero movies long before they became mainstream in the industry, and does so using an utterly unique visual and narrative style. Even considering its cult following,Mystery Menremains the most underrated superhero movie beyond theMCUand theDCU, simply because it rarely receives the attention it thoroughly deserves.
