10 Great Comic Book Movies That Most Defined The Genre

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Some of the greatest comic book movies of the MCU, the DCU, and other continuities have helped to define the genre with their unique or interesting characteristics. Though the movies of the MCU have helped to establish the comic book genre as the biggest in modern cinema, the idea of adapting heroes from the pages of comic books to the big screen predates any major franchise. The genre has seen many movies of varying quality, with only the best earning a reputation as particularly influential titles.
Even long before the beginning of the DCEU or the MCU’s movie timeline, there were hugely important and thoroughly excellent comic book movies. Only the best movies have been able to define the genre in new and exciting ways upon their release, taking comic book adaptations to new levels or in interesting directions. With that in mind, here are 10 great comic book movies that most defined the genre.
10 Watchmen (2009) Close Years before he masterminded the movies of the DCEU, Zack Snyder set out to make one of the most ambitious comic book adaptations ever. Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen was one of the most celebrated comic book series of all time, telling an imaginative and dark story set in an alternate history. Once considered unmakeable, 2009 saw the release of Watchmen, and it brought the genre forward in an often-overlooked way.
What Watchmen Defined About The Comic Book Movie Genre Adapting the sci-fi noir epic was no mean feat. Bringing the characters of Rorschach and Doctor Manhattan to life in live-action was previously considered impossible, but Snyder’s vision felt both relatively true to the source material and appropriately grandiose for the stature of its story. Watchmen not only pushed the boundaries of the comic book genre, but helped redefine exactly what could be achieved in an adaptation of a superhero story.
9 Batman (1989) Close Batman is undoubtedly one of the most iconic and instantly recognizable heroes in pop culture, and he has been adapted to the screen countless times since his creation. However, Tim Burton’s 1989 movie Batman ushered the hero into the modern era of cinema, with Michael Keaton cast as the eponymous vigilante. Decades after its initial release, Batman is still well-loved and well-respected, marking both its quality and longevity.
What Batman Defined About The Comic Book Movie Genre Burton’s Batman not only brought its titular hero into the modern era of cinema, but it also developed the genre as it exists today. Its gentle blend of lighthearted levity with its more serious moments of action and drama is something that has since become a staple of comic book movies. Additionally, Batman set a precedent for adapting comic book characters to the big screen, offering faithful yet imaginative takes on iconic characters in a way that is still being used decades later.
8 Blade (1998) Close 1998’s Blade is hardly known as one of the greatest comic book movies ever made, but it still enjoys a solid reputation as an entertaining movie that serves as an important part of the genre’s development. Adapting Marvel’s resident vampire hunter to the big screen in the late ‘90s was a significant feat, perfectly capturing the alternative culture of the time alongside bringing Blade’s story to life. As a result, Blade remains a great movie decades after its release.
What Blade Defined About The Comic Book Movie Genre Released as it was in 1998, Blade was something of a gamble. The comic book genre had yet to be established as a significant box office earner, and was seen as more high-risk than some other types of movies. Blade definitively proved that more mature content and R-rated action could find a place in superhero cinema, and that adapting comic books didn’t automatically have to translate to toy tie-ins and a young target demographic.
7 Logan (2017) Close Widely considered the best of the X-Men movies, 2017’s Logan concluded the titular mutant’s story in a story as emotional as it was visceral. Adapted from the Old Man Logan story arc from Marvel Comics, the 2017 movie set itself apart from the other films in the franchise, opting to instead chronicle Logan’s survival in a dystopian future in which mutants have all but died out. The movie earned the praise of critics and audiences alike, cementing it as a truly great comic book movie.
What Logan Defined About The Comic Book Movie Genre Logan helped redefine the genre in a handful of subtle ways. After 17 years of playing Wolverine, Hugh Jackman’s iconic take on the character seemingly met his end, marking one of the few modern comic book movies unafraid of killing off its hero. Logan helped establish new parameters for the genre, blazing a trail into new narrative territory in which superheroes can actually die on-screen.
6 Deadpool (2016) Close After the character made his live-action debut in the maligned X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Marvel was lobbied to make a more comic-accurate Deadpool adaptation. Among those pushing for the film was the actor cast to play the role, Ryan Reynolds, who was able to achieve his goal in 2016 with Deadpool. Redeeming the X-Men franchise’s previous poor handling of the character, the 2016 movie brought comic-accuracy to a new level, depicting Marvel’s R-rated, fourth-wall-breaking, foul-mouthed antihero in all his glory.
What Deadpool Defined About The Comic Book Movie Genre Deadpool helped define the genre’s approach to comic-accuracy, which had, at times, been employed loosely until its release. The movie showed that following what makes a character popular is imperative, and visual design is also majorly important. As a result, Reynolds’ second outing as Deadpool was far more popular, securing it a place as an excellent and influential title in the comic book movie genre.
5 X-Men (2000) Close The first movie in Fox’s X-Men franchise introduced the eponymous mutant heroes to the big screen in live-action for the first time. 2000’s X-Men featured several iconic characters, including Wolverine, Professor X, Magneto, Cyclops, Storm, and Jean Grey. It spawned a franchise that lasted for 20 years, and despite its shortcomings, it remains an excellent example of the entertainment potential of live-action comic book movies.
What X-Men Defined About The Comic Book Movie Genre X-Men was released at a time when the comic book genre was beginning to build momentum, but it wasn’t formative for that reason. The movie balanced a team of heroes remarkably well, establishing a framework for future superhero ensembles that has influenced some of the most successful movies of all time. X-Men also helped build the wave of excitement regarding comic book movies, proving an influential and noteworthy entry into the early days of modern superhero movies.
4 Iron Man (2008) Close 2008 was a landmark year for the comic book movie genre, as it saw the birth of the MCU, which has since grown to become the biggest franchise in cinematic history. It all started with Iron Man, introducing Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark and laying the foundation for an expansive shared universe that continues to grow with each passing year. Iron Man remains an incredible movie, and one of the most popular superhero films ever made.
What Iron Man Defined About The Comic Book Movie Genre The ways in which Iron Man defined the genre are relatively obvious. The film sparked the first major shared cinematic universe, teasing connected Marvel movies with a post-credits scene in a way that has since become the norm. By establishing a shared universe, Iron Man was able to mirror one of the greatest draws of comic books by teasing a crossover, forever transforming comic book movies in the process.
3 Spider-Man (2002) Close After a few earlier attempts that failed to make a significant splash, Spider-Man"s movie timeline truly began in 2002 with the release of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man. The movie starred Tobey Maguire in the title role, and it brought Marvel’s most beloved hero to life on the big screen in a way that few fans had ever imagined possible. It was a major box office success, and spawned two equally successful sequels.
What Spider-Man Defined About The Comic Book Movie Genre Spider-Man defined the comic book genre in a deceptively major way. Though it wasn’t directly influential on other comic book movies, its huge box office success cemented the potential of superhero movies in the 21st century. Spider-Man"s use of both CGI and practical visual effects proved that comics could be brought to life more convincingly than ever, and transformed studios’ perception of the genre significantly, paving the way for countless other comic book movies to be made.
2 Superman (1978) Close Superman is the quintessential superhero, and has always been an important figure within the wider world of pop culture. 1978 saw the release of Superman, widely considered the first major modern superhero movie, starring Christopher Reeve as DC’s iconic Man of Tomorrow. The film was more than a simple success; it was a sensation, capturing the imagination of critics and fans alike and earning a place in cinematic history as an especially important film.
What Superman Defined About The Comic Book Movie Genre Superman did more than just define the genre: it established it. As the first modern superhero movie, its use of visual effects and live-action comic book storytelling was utterly groundbreaking, capturing the essence of its titular hero in a way that had never been achieved before. As such, 1978’s Superman remains one of the most influential titles in the history of the comic book movie genre.
1 The Dark Knight (2008) Close 2008 was not just a great year for Marvel movies, but it saw the release of perhaps the best ever DC movie. The second film in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, The Dark Knight, saw Christian Bale reprise his role from Batman Begins alongside Heath Ledger’s Joker. The movie earned massive critical acclaim, commercial success, and multiple major awards, and is hailed as one of the best movies ever made across all genres.
What The Dark Knight Defined About The Comic Book Movie Genre The Dark Knight completely redefined what superhero movies could be. It established that the comic book genre had the potential to produce artistic, thought-provoking cinema with significant depth, impressing critics and audiences alike. The Dark Knight set a new bar for the genre as a whole, making it a hugely important entry into the history of the comic book genre across the DCU, the MCU, and beyond.
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