Founded in the 1930s as Timely Publications and given its famous, current name in the 1960s, Marvel Comics has become a worldwide pop culture icon and has remained a powerhouse of the comic book industry to this day. The so-called “House of Ideas” has no shortage of creative, remarkable, and exciting ideas in the forms of its fictional worlds and characters. For thirty years, Hollywood has taken some of Marvel’s greatest creations and given them their time on the silver screen. The list below celebrates the ten best films based on a Marvel Comics property.
As a quick note, the eligible films for this list are any of those that feature a Marvel Comics superhero, superheroine, or superhero team. Thus, every Marvel film besides those connected to the Marvel Cinematic Universe is fair game, in addition to the films that are in the Cinematic Universe (such as “Captain America: The First Avenger”). With that said, on with the list!
10. “X-Men: First Class” (2011)
After the disappointment of “X-Men: The Last Stand” and the abysmal “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” Marvel’s famous mutants were in serious need of a good film. Director Matthew Vaughn answered the call with a fun, energetic X-film that also doubles as a period piece. “First Class” helped inject new life into the franchise by taking on a new tone characterized by more action and a spot of humor to boot. Additionally, it was definitely more along the lines of the first “X-Men” and “X2: X-Men United” in terms of a cohesive, engaging, and thoughtful narrative. It is a generally welcomed and appraised prequel that made moviegoers take a second look at the merry mutants on screen and allowed X-fans to sigh in relief.
9. “Ant-Man” (2015)
General audience expectations for a film based on Marvel’s resident shrinking superhero may have been pretty low, but thankfully “Ant-Man” was able to defy those expectations. On an effects and camerawork level, it is truly astounding, manipulating size and scale in a clearly well-developed and realistic way. One other thing that “Ant-Man” must be commended for is its adherence to its setup and structure. Specifically, it tries very hard not to bog audiences down with comic book lore and references, instead opting to just focus on a coherent, heist film-like story with well-developed characters. “Ant-Man” is certainly a comic book movie that tries to be something more than just a film for the comic book fans to enjoy, with its down-to-earth attitude, comedic timing, and impressive, immersive special effects.
8. “Deadpool” (2016)
“Deadpool” stands as a shining example of a comic book movie that strays outside the norm to make something new. The film is a satirical and self-aware romp bursting at the seams with rapid-fire humor that really lands and realistic fight sequences. All of the actors and actresses gave fine performances, but one absolutely must give props to Ryan Reynolds, who plays the titular, psychotic mercenary-turned-antihero. Reynolds embraces the ridiculousness of it all, delivering one of the most genuinely comedic performances I have seen in a long time. Action-packed, incredibly hilarious, and as lovably insane as its protagonist, “Deadpool” is a comic book movie you won’t want to miss.
7. “The Avengers” (2011)
By now, I think anyone can sing this movie’s praises; after all, whether you like it or not, you can’t deny the impact it has had on superheroes in cinema. This is the film that changed everything about comic book movies and has helped raise this type of film to the pedigree it has today. It’s the one that proved that large-scale superhero ensemble flicks could be done right, the importance of character interaction and focus in comic book movies, and the benefits of and proper buildup for a shared universe. Although the plot may be simple, the title characters are at the forefront of this ambitious project and make the overall film something special, explosive, and unique. Moreover, it is pure fun and sure to be a treat for practically any audience.
6. “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014)
Be honest with yourself: before you saw this movie, you had no idea who or what Groot was. That’s the first positive that I can give writer-director James Gunn’s “Guardians of the Galaxy”: taking an obscure section of the Marvel Universe that people normally wouldn’t care about and then proceeding to make people care about them. Second, the screenplay is entertaining from a dialogue and from a story standpoint, with enough jokes, dazzling effects, and brawls to satisfy the appetite of the average audience member. Third, it has some legitimately humanizing and engrossing drama and themes. Topped with an infectious soundtrack filled with 60s and 70s songs, “Guardians of the Galaxy” is the sleeper hit of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
5. “X-Men: Days of Future Past” (2014)
By the time “Days of Future Past” came out in theaters, many people were probably both confused by and tired with the “X-Men” film franchise. However, this film continued what “X-Men: First Class” tried to do: reignite life and interest in the series. In fact, it managed to surpass “First Class” in every way and is currently my favorite “X-Men” film so far. The selection of characters is pleasing for X-Men fans and each is interesting in their own way. The story is the strongest yet, paying homage to the good (and even the bad) of what has come before, paving the way for what comes next, and delivering a rousing, time travel-charged adventure that will shock and thrill the whole way through.
4. “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014)
The “Captain America” series of films is really the only Cinematic Universe franchise that continues to get better and better with each installment. The unfortunate ramifications of that aside, “The Winter Soldier” is one of the most thrilling and enthralling Marvel films to date. It has a surprising amount of mystery and political intrigue for a superhero film; this mystery is as shocking as it is compelling, and answers are given in so tantalizingly small amounts that it convinces audiences to keep watching. Supporting the kinetic and puzzle-like narrative are very strong characters and character drama, especially from Captain America and the titular Winter Soldier. Most importantly, it is a legitimate example of comic book movies that eschew the sophomoric qualities of their source material in favor of a mature, gripping story that can be taken seriously.
3. “Iron Man” (2008)
“Iron Man” began the Marvel Cinematic Universe and helped change people’s outlook on superheroes and superhero films. It was one catalyst that opened studios’ eyes to the potential that comic books could have and their adaptability for the screen. With a fresh, exhilarating atmosphere, well-done special effects, high production values, and outstanding performances from a star-studded cast, it achieved this goal with flying colors. “Iron Man” was a phenomenon that was a definite indicator of many good things to come from superhero films and especially from Marvel. Even today, its influence can be observed in Marvel films and even some recent DC outings.
2. “Captain America: Civil War” (2016)
On paper, this movie should be bad. It should be unfocused, at best mediocre only because of the action sequences, and clearly just a filler movie to get people excited for the third “Avengers” film. Yet, against all odds, directors Joe and Anthony Russo helped bring to the screen the best Cinematic Universe film yet. The pacing is excellent, characters are given equal amounts of time to shine, and the narrative is stronger than most of the recent comic book films combined. The strongest part of this film is its ability to maintain focus and audience interest, even when packing the largest cast of comic book characters ever and having many plot points to explain.
By the way, props to this movie for getting me hyped for both Black Panther and Spider-Man’s upcoming films. And speaking of Spider-Man…
1. “Spider-Man 2” (2004)
“Spider-Man 2” is very much one of the best superhero films ever made. It captures the most human and the most compelling aspects of Spider-Man: what it means to be a hero, what sacrifices one must make to protect others, and overcoming the struggles associated with change and maturity. The humor lands and the action is very well done—just check out the frenetic and energized train battle scene—but what really matters here is the drama and the character development. That’s not to say the film is broody or angst-ridden; rather, it is serious and dramatic for all the right reasons, really explaining why people like Spider-Man in the first place by emphasizing the relatability of the character. It is my hope that next year’s “Spider-Man: Homecoming” can surpass this title and take some notes from it as well.
