Remember the days when a good superhero movie was few and far between? For every Batman Begins, we got a Ghost Rider, Jonah Hex, and Catwomen. Thankfully, we have been spoiled with fantastic superhero movies over the past decade or so (mostly thanks to Marvel), and since it's National Superhero Day, here are some of our favorites (along with a few you maybe haven't seen yet).
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
The best superhero movies are ones that could stand on their own if you get rid of the superheroes. If you strip away Captain America, Black Widow, and The Falcon, The Winter Soldier is still a superb spy thriller, it doesn't rely on its characters as a substitute for good writing, they just enhance it. Add witty banter, amazing action, and fantastic character development and you have one of the best movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Stream it on Disney Plus.
Shazam!
It's rare to see a superhero movie come out with no affiliation or tie to a larger universe. Shazam! manages to be a fun superhero movie that stands on its own (well, besides an upcoming sequel). When a 12-year-old boy inherits godlike powers and can transform himself into a man-sized body, it leads to some hilarious and sometimes selfish endeavors. Shazam! is a fun ride and Mark Strong is fantastic as the villain, Dr. Sivana. Stream it on Crave.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
While Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home are both excellent tie-ins to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a standalone animated movie that is equally fun for kids and adults alike. It has an eye-catching visual style, funny dialogue, and if you've always thought one Spider-Man wasn't enough, now you get way more. Steam it on Crave.
Megamind
Let's flip the script a little bit here. Instead of following the superhero, Megamind's lead character is a supervillain who goes through an existential crisis while battling his nemesis, Metro Man. With some "mega" talent voicing the characters including Will Ferrel, Brad Pitt, and Tina Fey, Megamind is another terrific family-friendly superhero movie to add to your list. Stream it on Netflix.
Watchmen
While it got somewhat of a bad rap when it released, (mostly from comic fans) Watchmen is a grim look at a darker superhero universe. A sprawling plot of betrayal and intrigue weaves its way throughout history including the Vietnam and Cold War. If you enjoy the film you should also check out the new HBO mini-series of the same name. Stream it on Crave.
The Incredibles (1 and 2)
A superhero movie wrapped in a family comedy/drama, The Incredibles and The Incredibles 2 are a couple more amazing addition to the well know Pixar library. Forced to adopt a normal life, Mr. Incredible wants nothing more than to get back into his former glory days. It's rare, but both movies live up to the name incredible and you should watch both immediately. Stream it on Disney Plus.
Featured image courtesy Life of Wu via Pexels.com
