10 Most Underrated Superhero Movies Of All Time, Ranked

Across the many superhero movies of the MCU, the DCU, and beyond, there have been many entries into the genre that have gone completely underappreciated and underrated. The rise of the modern comic book has seen the genre become one of the most consistent earners at the global box office. The movies of the MCU in particular have broken numerous records in their success, cementing the genre as a force to be reckoned with.

However, not all comic book movies have proved so successful. Many superhero movies have in fact been distinctly underappreciated, leading to underwhelming box office performances – such as with some movies in the DCEU – or simply a poor reputation. Even so, many of these movies are in fact incredibly underrated, and deserve more recognition for their individual merit or quality. With that in mind, here are the 10 most underrated superhero movies, ranked.

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10 Spider-Man 3 Has Aged Better Than People Admit

Released: 2007, Director: Sam Raimi

The first two installments in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy are considered among the best Spider-Man movies ever made, but the third movie is widely considered one of the worst. Its place in Raimi’s Spider-Man movie timeline should have contributed to huge success, but its simultaneous use of three villains led to widespread criticism. Though it’s the weakest entry in the trilogy, it’s still a distinctly underrated movie.

One thing that stands out about Spider-Man 3 is that its costume and character designs still hold up remarkably well. Its action sequences are also impressively presented, with eye-catching moments that have proven to live long in the memory. Considering the incredibly high bar set by its predecessors, it’s unsurprising that Spider-Man 3 is considered disappointing, but time has shown that it’s a far better movie than it receives credit for.

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Director Sam Raimi Release Date May 4, 2007

9 Hulk Bridged The Gap Between Mediums

Released: 2003, Director: Ang Lee

Despite being one of Marvel’s most recognizable heroes, the Hulk hasn’t fared well in his solo movie history. 2003 saw Ang Lee adapt Marvel’s green behemoth in live-action, with Eric Bana in the lead role and a supporting cast including Jennifer Connelly, Nick Nolte, and Sam Elliott. Hulk was only able to earn mixed reviews from critics, and is widely considered one of the more underwhelming titles in the superhero genre.

Hulk might be lacking somewhat in its execution, but Lee’s approach to its story is commendable. The use of comic-book style visuals and a story that treats its narrative as something of a Greek tragedy makes for fascinating viewing. Regardless of the end product, it’s clear that Lee had a specific vision for the film that makes it a consistently entertaining and worthwhile movie.

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Director Ang Lee Release Date June 19, 2003

8 Daredevil May Not Be Perfect, But Has Its Merits

Released: 2003, Director: Mark Steven Johnson

Of all the superhero movies made during the early 2000s, there are a few that are considered the worst. Among them, Daredevil often ranks highly, with even its stars denouncing the film over the years since its release. However, Daredevil’s poor reputation isn’t entirely fair, as the movie has some specific qualities that earn it its underrated status.

Certain elements of Daredevil have aged poorly, with some ill-conceived set pieces and character designs that do nothing to help its reputation. It also possesses some often-overlooked positives, however: it brought the character to life on the big screen in a way that few had ever imagined could be achieved, and it helped shape the future of superhero blockbusters. Though Daredevil is far from a great movie, it’s nowhere near as bad as its reputation suggests, making it uniquely underrated.

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Director Mark Steven Johnson Release Date February 14, 2003

7 Sky High Is An Often Overlooked Family Gem

Released: 2005, Director: Mike Mitchell

Though some superhero movies are underrated due to poor reception and reputations, there are some that have simply been unfairly forgotten. 2005’s Sky High is one of these films, as it boasts general popularity among those who remember it, but has unfortunately been forgotten by many. It follows a teenager starting high school for children with superpowers, who, despite having two incredibly famous parents, has yet to manifest his own powers and is labeled a sidekick.

One of Sky High’s biggest draws is that it is a truly family-friendly film, making it a legitimate all-ages entry into the superhero genre. It also boasts a staggeringly talented cast, featuring Kurt Russell, Kelly Preston, Mary Elizabeth Winstean, Dave Foley, Cloris Leachman, and Bruce Campbell. There are very few elements of Sky High that aren’t enjoyable in one way or another, and it has been consistently criminally underrated in the years since its release.

Sky High

Director Mike Mitchell Release Date July 29, 2005

6 Power Rangers Fused Nostalgia With Modern Superhero Tropes

Released: 2017, Director: Dean Israelite

There are very few superhero franchises that have achieved the levels of consistent success as Power Rangers, but its popularity has never translated particularly well to the big screen. Despite being ever-present on TV screens around the world, the 2017 attempt to reboot the most popular iteration of the heroes – Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers of the late 1990s – was widely considered a huge flop. Even so, the reboot stands out as an underrated movie.

Despite tonal inconsistency with the source material, 2017’s Power Rangers was a solid example of a modern superhero movie that makes use of an existing IP. Its central characters were well-cast and well-written, with Elizabeth Banks and Bryan Cranston lending star power to proceedings. It’s far from a perfect film, but it certainly deserved far more appreciation than it ultimately received upon release.

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Director Dean Israelite Release Date March 24, 2017

5 Fantastic Four Helped Pioneer Modern Superhero Cinema

Released: 2005, Director: Tim Story

Long before the MCU’s Fantastic Four reboot, the heroes were brought to life in a modern superhero blockbuster in 2005. Despite achieving some success and earning a sequel, the film was widely considered a disappointment, and went down in history as a poor example of superhero cinema from the modern genre’s earlier days. However, the years since have seen a slightly more favorable reappraisal of the film, and it highlights just how underrated it is.

Considering it was made in 2005, Fantastic Four’s CGI and character design holds up remarkably well. Though it was lacking in terms of strict comic accuracy, it served as an accessible entry point into the heroes’ story while also delivering everything expected of a large-scale action blockbuster. 2005’s Fantastic Four was able to balance a number of narrative elements and considerations, and deserves to be remembered more fondly than it typically has been.

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Director Tim Story Release Date June 29, 2005

4 Kick-Ass Brought Dark Comedy And Grounded Realism To The Genre

Released: 2010, Director: Matthew Vaughn

When talking about the boom in modern superhero movies, the MCU and Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy are most often credited with bringing the genre into the 2010s. However, 2010 also saw the release of a truly brilliant superhero movie that is all too often overlooked by fans of the genre, simply because it doesn’t belong to a more extensive franchise. Kick-Ass, though well-received, is an underrated gem.

Kick-Ass takes its grounded superhero story and injects dark comedy and over-the-top violence into proceedings. It’s hilarious, gritty, and shocking by turns, and boasts great performances from a cast positively stacked with talent. It’s a movie that achieved general success by most merits, but is still underrated due to just how overlooked its best qualities are, particularly where it pertains to the ways in which it helped the genre break new ground.

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Director Matthew Vaughn Release Date March 22, 2010

3 Batman Forever Is Unfairly Judged On Multiple Levels

Released: 1995, Director: Joel Schumacher

Joel Schumacher’s two Batman movies are often considered the worst in the character’s history. However, there are positives of rewatching Schumacher’s Batman movies, many of which stem from 1995’s Batman Forever. Starring Val Kilmer in the title role, the first of Schumacher’s movies focuses on Batman taking on Robin as a sidekick and facing off against both the Riddler and Two-Face. Batman Forever may not be perfect, but there’s a depth to it that is regularly overlooked.

It may be a wacky take on the Batman mythos, but it evokes some of the campier adaptations of the ‘60s while also attempting to appeal to the sensibilities of the ‘90s. It grapples with themes of duality and envy, and what it lacks in execution it makes up for in intent. As it’s too often paired alongside its disappointing sequel, Batman Forever often finds itself being unfairly underrated.

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Director Joel Schumacher Release Date June 9, 1995

2 Birds Of Prey Was Forgotten Despite Being One Of The DCEU’s Best Movies

Released: 2020, Director: Cathy Yan

The point at which Birds of Prey was released in the DCEU’s movie timeline went against the film in a major way. Released just as the world plunged into a pandemic, as well as at a point when interest in the DCEU was waning, the female-led movie failed to find its audience. However, when considered alongside its contemporaries, it’s one of the best movies the DCEU had to offer.

Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn was widely considered one of the DCEU’s best castings, and she shines as the heart of Birds of Prey. The introduction of important supporting characters and the use of a stellar cast also helped the film, contributing to a movie that delves into its thematic subtext while still feeling light and comedic. There’s a lot to love about Birds of Prey, and its place in the DCEU meant it simply wasn’t afforded the praise it deserved.

Birds of Prey

Director Cathy Yan Release Date February 7, 2020

1 Mystery Men Is Entirely Unique Within The Superhero Genre

Released: 1999, Director: Kinka Usher

There is perhaps no superhero movie that is as criminally underrated as 1999’s Mystery Men. Considered a cult classic, it boasts a cast of comedic titans including Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, William H. Macy, and Janeane Garofalo, and celebrated actors Greg Kinnear and Geoffrey Rush, to name a few. Its story follows a group of heroes with underwhelming powers who are forced to step up to save the city from a renowned villain.

Mystery Men is a rare example of a film that perfectly satirizes its own genre, maintaining both a comedic and a respectful tone throughout. It pokes fun at superhero movies long before they became mainstream in the industry, and does so using an utterly unique visual and narrative style. Even considering its cult following, Mystery Men remains the most underrated superhero movie beyond the MCU and the DCU, simply because it rarely receives the attention it thoroughly deserves.