In the past 20 years, cinema has been crowded by the world of superheroes. Though superhero films like Batman or Spider-Man existed before, Kevin Feige‘s expansion of the MCU kicked off the genre that’s still alive today. Marvel has made 71 movies. This includes films like The Punisher, Blade, and of course, everything in the current MCU.
There are at least 30 DC films. It can be hard to start a new franchise. Oftentimes, the origin story of a superhero film can be the weakest part of the series. However, films like The Batman or Black Panther prove that the first feature can come out swinging. This list will focus on the five superhero films that are better than the first film in the respective series. Whether it’s direct to DVD or a cinema release, any and every sequel is qualified for this list.
Captain America: Civil War
To think, Captain America: Civil War only exists because Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice was announced. The original Captain America was solid, but Winter Soldier was a vast improvement over its processor. It featured a compelling villain and challenged the morals of Captain America as he was forced to fight a former ally.
Civil War somewhat expands on that notion, but this time, allies turned into enemies. The Russo Brothers do an excellent job of creating a rift because of Tony Stark and Steve Rodgers. Stark was the perfect man for this role. He’s nearly the complete opposite of what Captain America represents, and the differences between the two MCU leaders organically spawn a compelling narrative that would masterfully play out in Avengers: Endgame.
Gritty and somewhat darker than Winter Soldier, this all-star film featured the live-action debuts of Black Panther and Tom Holland‘s Spider-Man, and somehow those two aren’t even the best thing in the film! An excellent film that was accidentally triggered by DC’s rush to Batman vs. Superman.
The Dark Knight
The praise for The Dark Knight feels repetitive at this point, but it is genuinely one of the best Batman sequels out there. It revolutionized the way superhero films can be done and shot past being an ordinary blockbuster. It was a complex story that had elements of film noir, mystery, and thriller incorporated. It challenged the perception of how to craft a strong villain who isn’t only looking to destroy the world.
Joker looking to showcase that the people of Gotham were just like him pushed the morality that only comic books truly showcased. The only negative about The Dark Knight is that Two-Face’s time was short-lived. It would’ve been cool to see Harvey Dent be the prime villain of the third and final film, but his quick death doesn’t derail a tremendous film that’s anchored by tremendous performances.
Spider-Man 2
Like The Dark Knight, the praise for Sam Raimi‘s second film feels repetitive, but it stands the test of time. Spider-Man 2 does something that superhero films often neglect – they give dimension to both the hero and villain. Peter Parker’s internal conflict about his life as Spider-Man was a strong next step in the character’s story.
The tragic backstory of Doc Ock was also well done. Raimi wisely doesn’t turn him evil for the sake of it. He keeps the morality of the character, and the film ending with Doc Ock’s sacrifice is genuinely one of the best climaxes in a superhero film. Spider-Man 2 also advances the story between Harry and Peter engagingly. An emotional and gut-wrenching superhero picture that remains the best live-action Spider-Man to date.
Avengers: Endgame
The finale to Phase One through Three was simply incredible. Marvel and Kevin Feige did a masterful job building up the entire universe to get to this point. Thanos remains Marvel’s best villain to date; a compelling character that has a nice complexity that challenges the world itself.
More importantly, the story of Tony Stark coming full circle on his journey was a tear-jerking moment. It’s highly doubtful whether Marvel and Kevin Feige can top Tony Stark’s self-sacrifice. The grand scope of the story and the smart use of characters made this an unforgettable entry that has yet to be topped in the Marvel canon.
Logan
The solo Wolverine films started rocky, but it ended with one of the best superhero films ever made. Turning this into a Rated-R feature allowed James Marigold to tell a very gritty and sad story of a beaten and broken down Wolverine whose biggest battle is father time. Logan isn’t packed with insane set pieces or a villain that just wants to take over the world. It’s a character-driven story that brings out the best performance in Patrick Stewart and Hugh Jackman while showcasing how incredible an X-Men story can be. For my money, Logan deserves its place at the top alongside films like The Dark Knight or Endgame.
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