The 2000s marked a turning point for the superhero film genre as The Dark Knight was both a critical and commercial hit in unprecedented ways. That set the stage for the 2010s to truly be the decade of the superhero on the big screen.
The DCEU was born. There were also popular films featuring mutants and some classics on the animation side of things. Combine the billions of dollars these movies made with their strong acclaim from critics and it's no wonder some of the decade's highest-rated films on Letterboxd are superhero fare.
Big Hero 6 (2014) - 3.77
Stream On Disney+
A lot of people are unaware that Big Hero 6 is actually a Marvel Comics property. Not set in the MCU, this is a Walt Disney Animation Studios film centering on the bond that forms between a young genius prodigy and a helpful inflatable robot named Baymax. Together with their friends, they form a superhero team and fight crime.
Big Hero 6 is one of the highest-rated Disney movies on Letterboxd, putting it in elite company. The film was praised for the animation style, heartwarming relationship at the core, emotional moments, and some of the action sequences. It also spawned two spin-off TV series.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) - 3.78
Stream On Disney+
Although Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Many still consider it the best solo film in the entire MCU. It manages to tell a story about Steve Rogers adapting to the modern era while also dealing with a returning figure from his past and a massive conspiracy that changed the face of the franchise. Visceral action scenes with Captain America and a strong ing cast helped make this special.
Batman: Under The Red Hood (2010) - 3.81
Stream On HBO Max
In the midst of Christopher Nolan's celebrated Dark Knight trilogy, DC was still putting out quality animated films that weren't theatrical releases. Batman: Under the Red Hood was one of them and has gone on to become pretty iconic within Batman lore.
One of the better mysteries of the decade, the film sees the Caped Crusader take on a new villain in the Red Hood, which leads to unexpected ties to Bruce Wayne's past. The unexpected emotional weight of the story, along with the great voice acting performance of Jensen Ackles are the two main things praised about this film.
Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014) - 3.82
Stream On Disney+
The arrival of Guardians of the Galaxy was all the proof needed that the MCU could kind of do no wrong. In the comics, this ragtag team of misfits is "D-list" level at best and even some diehard fans had no idea about them but the movie turned out to be a massive success.
Thanks to the creative mind of James Gunn and the talented cast, characters like Star-Lord, Gamora, Groot, and more have become household names. The movie does a great job of blending the comedic aspects with some impressive sci-fi visuals. The sequel was almost as well-received and more from the franchise is on the horizon.
The Dark Knight Returns Part 2 (2013) - 3.86
Stream On HBO Max
One of the most famous Batman comic book stories is The Dark Knight Returns. The story focuses on the return of a previously retired Batman while he's in his 50s. The concept was adapted into an animated film and the first installment nearly ranked among the top ten (it has a 3.77 average, tied with Big Hero 6).
A year later, The Dark Knight Returns Part 2 followed suit and wrapped up the story in incredible fashion. The tale takes captivating twists, involving the Joker, Superman, and more. Michael Emerson as the Joker and several other voice acting performances were met with critical acclaim.
Thor: Ragnarok (2017) - 3.88
Stream On Disney+
The first two movies starring Chris Hemsworth as Thor were seen as mixed bags at best. It wasn't until Thor: Ragnarok that things really clicked as he injected the series with humor and got creative with many aspects of the filmmaking process.
This entry sees Thor have to team up with Loki, Hulk, and a new friend named Valkyrie to save Asgard from the destruction caused by his long-lost sister, Hela. In a lot of ways, audiences simply love this film because it's a ton of fun, is endlessly rewatchable, and features the usual tremendous MCU cast.
Avengers: Endgame (2019) - 3.92
Stream On Disney+
Speaking of great MCU casts, they all came together for Avengers: Endgame. This was the long-awaited culmination of over a decade of storytelling and it delivered in spades. Following the tragic events of the previous film, the surviving heroes embarked on a time heist to try and bring back everyone who died.
Avengers: Endgame worked as a way to take fans back down memory lane through several iconic films and brought back characters they thought they might never see again. A three-hour epic, this film wrapped up major stories and set the stage for others down the line. It also became the biggest commercial movie ever for a while.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018) - 3.97
Stream On Disney+
Before Avengers: Endgame could tell its story, everything had to be set up, which happened in Avengers: Infinity War. This marked the biggest gathering on-screen of heroes ever as the Avengers came together with the Guardians of the Galaxy and characters like Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, and more.
The film was lauded for being non-stop action as there's almost no slow down throughout its runtime. It balances the characters well and actually makes Thanos, the villain, the protagonist during his quest to collect Infinity Stones and wipe out half of all life. His success at the end of the story makes for one of the most shocking and talked-about conclusions ever.
Logan (2017) - 4.05
Stream On Hulu
Although the MCU is certainly the biggest superhero franchise in history, the Logan.
Set years after the other films, this sees an elderly Wolverine struggling with his diminishing powers in a world where no new mutants have been born in over 20 years. Hugh Jackman was arguably better than ever in his legendary role and was ed by Dafne Keen and Patrick Stewart with great performances.
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018) - 4.44
Stream On FXNow
Although Spider-Man has been the star of multiple live-action franchises, many still agree that the best film featuring the character is actually the animated Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse. In it, young Miles Morales gets the superhero powers and is mentored by Peter Parker and other Spider-People from various dimensions.
Every aspect of this Best Animated Feature Academy Award winner was praised from the unique visual style to the emotional story beats to the characters being likable and true to the comics. A sequel is on the horizon and fans everywhere are excited about more from these heroes.
