Superhero films have dazzled and delighted moviegoers for years, providing countless entertainment for fans of the action-ridden subgenre. Though it may have taken critics a while to warm up to the film and storytelling style, such flicks have since become box office gold and have earned the respect of movie reviewers. Only the best of the best releases receive a certified fresh stamp of approval by critics on Rotten Tomatoes, an impressive feat in itself; if a movie is given a rating of 60% or higher it is deemed “fresh,” and anything lower is considered “rotten.”
From the crime-fighting superhero clan in The Incredibles to Batman facing off with the devious Joker in The Dark Knight, to Robert Downey Jr. becoming the face of a franchise with Iron Man, many superhero films of the past two decades have become critically-acclaimed. Let’s dive in and look at the highest-rated superhero films according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Superman: The Movie (93%)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Christopher Reeve became a household name when he appeared as Clark Kent and donned the iconic red cape in 1978’s Superman: The Movie, beating out over 200 actors to win the role of the profoundly powerful Krypton-born superhero watching over Metropolis.
Reeve is joined by Hollywood legends Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman in the successful flick, with Superman fighting against his villainous nemesis Lex Luthor as he attempts to expose the champion’s true identity. Superman: The Movie was a knockout with audiences and was groundbreaking for its use of special effects and fantasy storytelling, demonstrating the mass appeal of the superhero genre.
The Incredibles 2 (93%)
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
The lovable, crime-fighting Parr family are back and bigger than ever in Brad Bird’s 2018 animated sequel The Incredibles 2, which follows the eponymous clan as they struggle to reclaim the public’s faith in superheroes. Original film stars Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, and Sarah Vowell reprise their roles as the Incredibles, with Samuel L. Jackson also returning as Lucius Best/Frozone; Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk joins the award-winning picture as the conniving superhero fan Winston Deaver. Though it took 14 years for a sequel to hit theaters, the wait paid off as fans and critics fell in love with the endearing family all over again, with The Incredibles 2 earning over $1.2 billion.
Wonder Woman (93%)
Warner Bros.
Gadot stars alongside Chris Pine and Robin Wright in the epic picture, wowing audiences with her rousing portrayal of the butt-kicking Diana and making Wonder Woman her own; on taking on the cherished heroine, Gadot once expressed, “I feel very privileged that I got the opportunity to portray such an iconic, strong female character. I adore this character and everything that she stands for and everything that she symbolizes.”
Spider-Man: No Way Home (93%)
Marvel StudiosSony
Fans of the charming hero Peter Parker were given a triple dose of the delightful web-slinger in the action-packed 2021 flick Spider-Man: No Way Home, in which Tom Holland’s Peter seeks out Dr. Strange for help in making his identity a secret again; the magic spell goes awry when the teen’s actions cause the multiverse to fracture, causing both good and bad visitors to break into his world.
Holland is joined by fellow Spider-Man stars Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, with the latter two actors appearing as an alternate version of the character in the big-screen juggernaut. Moviegoers couldn’t get enough of the thrilling Peter Parker reveal, with many delighted over the Spidey actors uniting as the lovable character.
Thor: Ragnarök (93%)
Taika Waititi directed the spectacular third installment centered on the hammer-wielding God of Thunder with 2017’s Thor: Ragnarök, depicting the Asgardian character as he attempts to save his beloved home from the Goddess of Death Hela and looming Ragnarök. Thor is joined on his vital quest by the Hulk, Valkyrie and Heimdall, with a little help from his trickster adoptive brother Loki.
The box-office hit is much more light-hearted than its predecessor Thor: The Dark World and is widely considered the best Thor film thus far. The decision for Waititi to join the Marvel universe as director was praised, with The Daily Beast declaring he has “transformed Chris Hemsworth’s buff, brooding superhero into a comedy god in this highly entertaining threequel.”
Spider-Man 2 (93%)
Sony Pictures
Sam Raimi directed the second entry in his compelling superhero trilogy with 2004’s Spider-Man 2, in which Tobey Maguire reprises his role as Peter Parker and battles to stop the diabolical Dr. Otto Octavius/ Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina) while struggling with handling both his personal life and Spider-Man persona.
Critics raved about the installment’s emotional storyline, dynamite performances and cutting edge special effects, and it went on to win the Saturn Award for Best Director and Best Fantasy Film, as well as the Oscar for Best Visual Effects. Roger Ebert deemed it, “the best superhero movie since the modern genre was launched with Superman” and praised it for “effortlessly [combining] special effects and a human story, keeping its parallel plots alive and moving.”
The Dark Knight (94%)
In Christopher Nolan’s 2008 superhero masterpiece The Dark Knight, the masked vigilante Batman takes on arguably his most notorious foe as he fights to protect Gotham City from the demented anarchist the Joker, portrayed to perfection by the unparalleled Heath Ledger.
Touting a phenomenal ensemble cast including Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, and Maggie Gyllenhaal, the gripping picture has been deemed one of the greatest movies ever made and is regarded as the archetype for the modern day superhero film. Ledger delivered one of cinema’s finest performances and posthumously won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor following his passing in 2008.
Logan (94%)
20th Century Studios
Hugh Jackman bid adieu to his celebrated on-screen alter ego Wolverine in the riveting 2017 film Logan, which follows the aging X-Men hero in the year 2029 as he finds his powers waning while he cares for a deeply ill Professor X; Logan is compelled to come out of hiding in order to protect a mutan girl who exhibits his superhuman abilities.
Logan features a career-defining performance by Jackman and serves as a swan song for the character, with the actor having revealed, “This will be my last one, it is my last time. It just felt like it was the right time to do it, and let’s be honest, 17 years. I never thought in a million years it would last, so I’m so grateful to the fans for the opportunity of playing it.” However, in 2022, it was revealed that Jackman would reprise his Wolverine role for the third Deadpool film.
Avengers: Endgame (94%)
Marvel StudiosDisney
Passionate fans of the MCU anxiously flocked to theaters to witness their beloved heroes reverse Thanos’ devastating destruction in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, chronicling the epic efforts of the surviving Avengers as they fight to eliminate the supervillain once and for all while restoring order to the world.
The massively theatrical blockbuster hit broke numerous records during its release, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time and surpassing Avatar (though the James Cameron film reclaimed the top spot in 2021 upon its re-release), raking in over $2.7 billion. Avengers: Endgame was lauded for its fantastic performances, thrilling action, and emotional screenplay, earning a rare A+ CinemeScore rating from audiences.
Iron Man (94%)
Paramount Pictures
Robert Downey Jr. helped redefine his career and became the face of Marvel films when he starred as the titular hero in 2008’s Iron Man, which saw the actor don the iconic mechanized suit of armor and completely embody industrialist and genius engineer Tony Stark. Downey Jr.’s incomparable performance as the cocky playboy-turned-hero firmly established the MCU as a popular and money-making franchise, with fans across the world becoming devoted to following Stark’s many adventures as Iron Man. He would go on to portray the fan-favorite character in 10 films within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, concluding his enduring tenure with 2019’s Avengers: Endgame.
Black Panther (96%)
The late and great Chadwick Boseman was brilliant as the king of Wakanda T’Challa in Ryan Coogler’s 2018 blockbuster triumph Black Panther, leading the star-studded picture alongside talented actors such as Michael B. Jordan, Angela Bassett, and Lupita Nyong’o, and bringing the fictional African nation to life in breathtaking fashion. The Oscar-winning film was praised as one of the best in the MCU and went on to become the highest-grossing film directed by a Black director, grossing a massive $1.3 billion.
For the 2022 sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Coogler opted not to recast T’Challa following Boseman’s passing in 2020, with producer Nate Moore stating he “was such an integral part of that character for us, both as the character and as a person, that we could not conceive of a version with having someone else on set.”
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (97%)
Fans of the beloved web-slinging Marvel hero were in for quite the treat with the 2018 big screen extravaganza Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, which centers on the rebellious-yet-savvy teenager Miles Morales as he becomes bitten by a mutated spider and gains spectacular superpowers; he quickly learns that he is the chosen Spider-Man for his world and teams up with a dynamic group of other Spider-People to protect the universe.
The visually-stunning picture went on to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and helped launch a new franchise surrounding the distinguished character, with two direct sequels set to be released and a spin-off in the works.
The Incredibles (97%)
DisneyPixar
Brad Bird’s Oscar-winning, 2004 animated hit The Incredibles famously follows the endearing Parr clan as they attempt to hide their superhero powers in an effort to blend in as a normal, everyday family. When patriarch Bob (Craig T. Nelson), known fondly in the media as Mr. Incredible, begins to feel the pull to protect citizens once more, he unknowingly attracts the unwanted attention of a supervillain former fan that puts his family in jeopardy.
The Incredibles was a slam dunk with both moviegoers and critics, with its dazzling animation, voice performances, underlying themes and overall mass appeal being lauded; a successful and highly-anticipated follow-up sequel was released in 2018.
